Holograph diary of a stay in Brussels and France after the Battle of Waterloo. Many of the author's observations reflect the recent battle; she reports, for example, on the celebrations in Brussels when its inhabitants receive news of Napoleon's surrender; provides news about various acquaintances in the military as well as other military news after the Battle of Waterloo; and describes Paris as "a military camp for all the nations of Europe." She also makes numerous comparisons between French and English culture, as when she views a play at the Theatre Francaise and comments on the lighting techniques in French playhouses as compared to those in England. Elsewhere, she views as statue of King Henri IV and comments on his reign; vists the porcelain manufactory at Sevres; and describes acquaintances she makes in Brussels. The diary concludes with her road journey from Boulogne to Calais, where she meets several friends, and then to Dover, At the end of the volume is a table of inns in which the author stayed, and The work is the second volume of a set; see Osborn d186 for the first volume in the set. The author's diary was published in 1817
Description:
In English., Title from title page., Autograph on flyleaf: Jane Waldie., Written inside front cover: No. 118., and Binding: quarter red morocco.
Subject (Geographic):
France, Great Britain, and Belgium
Subject (Name):
Eaton, Charlotte Ann (Waldie), 1788-1859., Henry IV, King of France, 1553-1610., Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821., Waldie, John, 1781-1862., and Watts, Jane (Waldie), 1793-1826.
Subject (Topic):
Theater, Travelers' writings, English, Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815, Women authors, Description and travel, and Social life and customs
Holograph diary which chronicles a journey through France, Switzerland and Italy, compiled from several diaries of different journeys, the earliest being a tour in the summer of 1816. The author travels to Calais from London with members of her family. In Paris, she sees King Louis XVIII reviewing his troops in commemoration of his return to Paris last year; attends the theater; visits the Conservatorie des Arts et des Metiers to view the models of machines; and dines at Very's. She also visits the porcelain manufactory at Sevres; climbs Montanvert, describing the system of sticks used by their guides to protect them from falling; and spends the night in a monastery in St. Bernard, in the same room in which Napoleon stayed on his way to the Battle of Marengo. In Italy, she attends the opera in Turin, commenting on its lighting system, "which like the theatres in France is dark, the only lights being on the stage." She also vists churches, admires artwork and architecture, ascends Mount Vesuvius, and attends Mass at the Sistine Chapel. The diary concludes with a visit to the Devil's Bridge in Switzerland and The diary is annotated throughout, in the same hand, with further notes concerning the journey
Description:
In English. and Binding: quarter pigskin. Taped on spine: MS. Diary 1816.
Subject (Geographic):
France, Italy, Europe, Switzerland, and Vesuvius (Italy)
Subject (Topic):
Mountaineering, Alps, Theater, Travelers' writings, English, Description and travel, and Social life and customs