c
doubt as to whether the diarist's Christian name should be Abbé; but the initials
H.D. are given, which should indicate something. The diary deals with periods
Jan-Feb. 1683 and Apr-Sept. 1683. The latter period is that which covers the
Rome Journal. First of all the diarist tells of a journey across the Alps. He is on
his way from France to Italy as a member of the entourage of the Duchess di Brac-
ciano. She became known later as the 'Princesse des Ursins' and is famous for
her major shaie in the domestic and foreign policies of Spain, as agent for Louis
XIV at the court of his grandson. In 1683 there was war between France and
Spain and in 1684 the truce of Ratisbon was concluded between the Empire and
France for 20 years, only to be flaunted by a resumption of war by Louis XIV in
1688 without declaration. In the same year Louis XIV declared war on Holland
and a year later in 1689 England and Holland joined the League of Augsburg,
1683 saw the Association of the Hague against France.
In the company of De La Fontaine was also Louise-Angélique de la Tremoille -
Noirmoutier, the younger sister of the Duchess di Bracciano. Louise-Angélique
A'as on her way to a marriage which made her Princess di Belmont, later Lanti,
Besides this journey over the Alps a large portion of the diary is devoted to perio
dic accounts of sight-seeing in Rome and Naples. The first portion has some
historical value; for it gives us a glimpse at what is possibly a hitherto unknown
chapter in the life-story of the 'Princesse des Ursins'.
We see another type of Grand Tour in the Diary of a Mr. Windham, gentleman.
He belonged, it seems, to the Windhams of either Somerset or Wiltshire3. In the
diary4 the arts and architecture are scrupulously discussed: pungent comments
appear relating to foreign matters. Perhaps a contemporary indication of English
insularity is to be detected here. The period covered is 7th July, 1769 to 9th January,
;770. Some heart-felt opinions are to be noticed in coarser references to continen
tal habits and hygiene.
We now jump on to 1814. A. S. Barlow from Middlethorpe Hall near York is the
diarist. The diary"' runs from 1st January, 1814 to 13th December, 1815. The
diarist seems to have an irascible temperament and hence he is often involved in
quarrels with inn-keepers and similar persons. The journal has an additional
importance. For the diarist's two journeys to the continent were performed before
and after the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815 where Wellington and Bliicher
uefeated Napoleon. A glimpse at fluctuating popular attitudes may be revealed
by an analysis of the diary.
Here not all the foreign diaries appear, but only those for countries near Holland,
Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, etc., etc. have been omitted. But the next diary
to examine is that of an engineer on the Steam Paddle-barge 'Kurier' of Berlin.
Is is a private log of voyages between Hamburg and Berlin. Later-on this engineer
travels on the Ship 'Statt Magdeburg'. It is a diary important to the historian of
3 This is Edward Hall's own note.
4 EHC/20 - Acc. No. M788 - B/D page 102.
a EHC/190 - Acc. No. M982.
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Technology. It gives details of the technical difficulties experienced during the
early steam-boat days.
Part 11
We now turn to the diary of the gentleman, Montagu Garrard. The diary held
atWigan Record Office runs from 16th May, 1710 to 3rd September, 1711°. It is
a brief and somewhat intermittent account of a Grand Tour through the Nether
lands and Italy. France and Germany were visited en route. It was an enterprising
series of sojourns under the shadow of the Alliance of the Hague7. Journeying
ihrough Germany meant travelling in a previously unsettled land. In the diary are
glimpses of students walking about in their night-gowns, but armed with a sword
ready to avenge themselves of any insult. There is an event which reflects the
social situation of that time. A small boy accosted the diarist, soliciting custom
for his mother's brothel. These were times when children were the instrument of
all evil. His itinerary for 1710 is shown in the Appendix at the end of this article.
On Tuesday 29th, May, 1710, they set out on their trip from London. The weather
seemed to prevent their sailings a reflection on times when prospective visitors
to the continent travelled by sail and not diesel or steam. On the average a journey
across the Channel takes 5 hours today. But we would have taken much longer in
17109. They landed at Helverssluys10 which did not impress the diarist much. He
thought it was small and he remarks that it was of 'little Note'. Here they stayed
fora short time. They walked from Helverssluys to what the diarist calls the 'Brill11.
This he describes in 1710 as a 'very pleasant, neat town, strongly fortified'.
On the next morning, Whitsunday, they hired a boat and in about 5 hours they
reached Rotterdam. He describes it as being very large and populous. He visits
the Great Kirk or Church and he is very impressed with the organs within. They
had a reputation at that time of being the finest in Holland, though, as the diarist
says, Amsterdam disputed this. He mentions the steeple, the details of which ob
servation may still have value today. The diarist says that some years ago (i.e.
prior tot 1710) the steeple inclined above 3ft. forwards, which had been put right
by his time. He also describes the English Church in Rotterdam as only having
been built some 3 years prior to his visit (i.e. 1707). It was built with a contribution
from Queen Anne. He also mentions an English Presbyterian Church in Rotterdam.
EHC/144 - Acc. No. M929.
7 On March 31st and May 4th, 1710 the Alliance of the Hague was formed and it
established the neutrality of Swedish possessions in Germany.
8 wegot to Harwich ye. 18th: where we were forced to stay the winds
being contrary til friday ye 27th') EHC/144 - p. 1.
11 then going aboard the Eagle Packett in about 30 hours sail we reached land
at Helverssluys.') EHC/144. - p. 2.
10 Helverssluys: this was a very small harbour on the Voorne Island (Hellevoetsluis).
11 The Brill or Brielle: South Holland province, South West Netherlands, on North
East coast of Voorne Island, at the mouth of Brielsche Maas River and 13 miles West
of Rotterdam. It was the first town taken from the Spaniards (1572) by the 'Beggars
of the Sea'.
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