July 18th
Thursday 18th July 1822
Went to Mr Ritchie who gave me the note of hand for fifty pounds at six months—dated 6th May, and the copy of memorandums signed by Mr Hazlitt as follows
MEMORANDUMS APRIL 23RD 1822
William Hazlitt to pay the whole expence of board, clothing and education for his son WilliamHazlitt, by his wife Sarah Hazlitt (late Stoddart) and she to be allowed free access to him at all times, and occasional visits from him.
Agreed to, W. H.
2. William Hazlitt to pay board, lodging, law, and all other expences incurred by his said wife during her stay in Scotland on their divorce business, together with travelling expences.
Agreed to, W. H.
3. William Hazlitt to give a note of hand for fifty pounds, at six months, payable to William Nettlefold or Order, Value received.
Agreed to, W. H.
Of these things Mr Ritchie took copies for himself; to which he desired me to add a memorandum of having received twenty four pounds from Mr Hazlitt on account of expences in Scotland: which I did, and further mentioned that I had also spent the £37 - 10, which Mr Hazlitt undertook to repay me. He said he had expected him and Mr. Henderson to supper last night, but they did not come. I told him he wished to go to London by the Mail and probably had done so. and that Mr Henderson was desiring him to set out with him for the Highlands that afternoon; but that I did not know which he had done. He said he had requested money of him to take him up; but that he had none to spare. he had a great deal out that he could not get in; that he was willing to be of any personal assistance either to him or me, but that he could not inconvenience himself about money matters. I said that the waiter at the Black Bull had undertaken for his journey in the Mail; and that he was to remit the money to him when he got to town: as well as to send Mrs Dow what he owed her; so that he had none to give me, but said if I got £5 of my brother, or any one else, he would repay it when I arrived in town. He said he must repeat that he thought we had taken the step most advisable for both parties. and now I was free and at liberty to marry again. I replied that we had certainly been in a very uncomfortable state for a long time; and at all events, it could not be worse. He said no. it must be much better. Called at his lodgings to enquire if he went by the Mail. Mrs Dow said, yes, he left there about eight o'clock. I mentioned to her that if I went, I should leave a note with Mrs Pillans, that the twenty shillings might be paid to her; and she said whenever the money came she should have it, if she would take her word for it; but desired me to explain to her, that it depended on her receiving it herself. Called at the Coach Office, and they said Mr Hazlitt did not go by the Mail. Saw the waiter at the Inn door who said he went by the Steam boat at eight o'clock this morning. He would rejoice at that, as he was lamenting that the delay of the business had prevented him. as she was to have sailed the day before, but the weather was so rough the ladies could not get on board. Carried back Mrs Bell’s book. Mr Bell set at me, as soon as I got in, that Mr Hazlitt was gone of that morning by the steam boat, without even calling or sending a note to him after all the friendship he had shown him, and the service he had done him by taking that infernal oath. which no earthly power should ever compel him to do again. and without which he could never have obtained the divorce. there was no other way. and what right had people to bring a parcel of lawyers and people to his house and terrify his poor wife out of her senses. by compelling her to kneel down upon her knees and take it too. because they had been induced to acknowledge that they knew us. and he wished he had never happened to see him at Leith, but that it was his own folly and good nature that had occasioned it. And now he had got off by the steam-boat to avoid his debts and owing the lawyers forty pounds, and he looked on him as a scamp. I told him I understood from Mr Ritchie that the forty pounds he had already paid to Mr Prentice, was likely to cover the whole expence, or nearly so. And as to calling or sending to take a formal leave; it was what I never knew him do to any body, and I also believed he was uncertain about going till the very last. He advised me to go directly to Sir William Forbes's bank, and get a bill drawn on him for the £37 - 10, he owed me, and he would be obliged to pay it. I said he had not money to give me to return, but had advised me to get five pounds of my brother, and he would repay me in London, therefore it was useless to talk of getting the other now. He said I was a great fool to have conceded to his wish for a divorce but that it was now done; and he thought I had better get some old rich Scots Lord and marry here. I was now Miss Stoddart, and was not I glad of that. No. I had no intention of marrying, and should not do what he talked of; that my situation in my own opinion, was pretty much the same as it had long been. He said I must needs marry, and I told him I saw no such necessity: and that as Mrs Bell was not visible I must go. He said he would come at six o'clock and drink tea with me if I would permit him. I told him, to say the honest truth I would rather he did not. Why? I have several reasons. In the first place, I am now rather peculiarly situated, and do not wish to receive any men at all. And I think that quite sufficient. But I am not a man. I shall not enquire into that point & must wish you a good morning. So saying I got to the door, and called out to Mrs Bell that I had brought her book and wished her well if I did not see her again. Upon which she came out of the kitchen from pie making, and said she was ashamed to appear—upon which Bell remarked that she was a virtuous good woman, and an honor to her husband and her sex. that he would not eat a pie that his wife did not make. He hated those wretches who only washed their hands to admire their whiteness: it is quite disgusting to hear such blarney, hypocrisy, lies and impudence; and I set off though a heavy thunderstorm was coming on. which soon burst. in a most tremendous manner. I took shelter in the Panorama of the Bay of Naples, till it abated. In the evening, called and took leave of Mrs Bancks, the rain very violent all night.