Sunday, January 28, 2007

27Aug1862, A Perverted Game of Croquet

HAGLEY, Wednesday, August 27th, 1862.
—Papa, the Sp. Lytteltons, and I went to the county bow meeting held this year at Hewel1. [FN: The house of Lady Windsor, great-grandmother of the present Earl of Plymouth.] It went off very well; and it was nice seeing a good deal of Victoria Clive, who is charming. Also I saw Mrs. and Amelia Claughton, Ly. Mary Clive with her fair small children (the little boy a merry dot,[FN: The late Lord Plymouth.] his birthday to-day, so his health was drunk), Bennetts, Sandys, Fosters, Bakers, Wake-men, etc. We played a portentously long and frightfully perverted game of croquet, which was amusing nevertheless. The dancing for abt an hr and 3/4 great fun, as there was only one valse, one galop, and one quadrille; the rest being double lancers, and one merry country dance. My partners: Messrs. Mordaunt, Lygon, Leigh and Wakeman. We brought home with us for 2 nights said Mr. Leigh,[FN: Afterwards Dean of Hereford.] young clergyman brother of Lord Leigh.

25Aug1862, Tiny George

HAGLEY, Monday, August 25th, 1862.
—Tiny George has fairly found his feet, and goes staggering about, jabbering and laughing triumphantly, with one arm high above his head, just as if he was hoisting a sail.

20Aug1862, No Bull's Eye Today

HAGLEY, Wednesday, August 20th, 1862.
—We shot with the rifle, which I do enjoy: no bull's-eye to-day, however.

19Aug1862, Shooting the Pea Rifle

HAGLEY, Tuesday, August 19th, 1862.
—We shot with the pea rifle till church time. I never fail to hit the target (at 70 yds.), and grazed the bull's-eye once.

15Aug1862, A Tiff With The Grim One

HAGLEY, Friday, August 15th, 1862.
—At. H., children and I made heroic and partially successful efforts to take a wasps' nest. The Misses Rogers called on M. and were gt audience to Baby, who looked her best. I had a terrific tiff with the Grim One. [FN: Her maid.]

22Jul1862, Butterer and Butteree

WORCESTER, Tuesday, July 22nd, 1862.
—Came with Papa to Canon Wood's, Worcester, for the Archaeological Society's doings. Went to a meeting where the Mayor and Corporation buttered the Archeologists and the Archaests. (with Papa presiding) buttered the Mayor and Corpn. After every individual had been both butterer and butteree, we set off to do the interesting things in the town, which I was very glad to see, as it's scandalous not to know the lions of one's Cathedral and county town. Mr. Severn Walker and Mr. Parker ciceroned, and we did SS. Andrews and Alban, the Commandery and the Museum. At which last place mem. especially the gloves King Charles I gave to Bp. Juxon on the scaffold. After dinner, lectures in a gt room on the ecclesiology of Worcester in general by Mr. S. Walker (horribly dull), and of Pershore Abbey in particular by Mr. Freeman [FN: No doubt the historian, E. A. Freeman.]; also on little historical and antiquital points by Mr. Something. Sleepiness a little assailed me.

21Jul1862, Federals Have Not Capitulated

HAGLEY, Monday, July 21st, 1862.
—The Federals have not capitulated, as far as we yet know; but are in the last extremity, their general (McClellan) bragging to the last, and lying most tremendously. They must be too ruined, thinned and done for, I shd hope, to attack Canada, where there are 2,000 Guards.

19Jul1862, Canada Must Look Out

HAGLEY, Saturday, July 19th, 1862.
—Wonderful but probably false report that the whole northern army in America has capitulated. If so, Canada must look out!

12Jul1862, Deal Old Hagley

HAGLEY, Saturday, July 12th, 1862.
—Home! Oh dear, dear, how lovely, how deeply green the precious old place looks! And it is delicious repose and refreshment coming back. The children all look well: poor little Win, tho', is still headachy, and we are going to take her to Evans. Dear Rectors are established here, to chaperone the tutor (Mr. Richmond [FN: Mr. D. C. Richmond, afterwards Auditor-General.]) and me. I am too happy sitting in my fresh little room again. Before leaving London I finished Vol. VIII of Alison, reading 50 p.; quicker than any other vol. I have read. Miss W., Elly, and Newmany all looked well. I feel I have been away ages! Can't but be so glad I haven't married or anything upsetting! but have fallen back upon dear old Hagley's loving arms.

11Jul1862, Last London Day

LONDON, Friday, July 11th, 1862.
—Last London day! This is a joyful reflection; and yet, how odd it is! I believe I never say "the last" of anything without an indefinable "serrement de coeur." It must be the secret feeling of the uncertainty of things — the dread of all that may happen before next time, and above all, the shrinking from that pathetic possibility of Never More.
Read 170 p. of Alison. Had luncheon in St. St., whence kind Mrs. Robartes lifted At. C. and me in her carriage to Lord's for the Eton and Harrow match. We saw the Harrow 1st innings and most of the Eton 2nd. Scores: Eton 1st innings 96. Harrow 1st inn. 56. Eton 2nd inn. 170, with 2 wickets to go down. From which the result may be guessed pretty well! Old Nevy has just got into the 11; he got 6 in the 1st inn. not out. The ground was crowded — lots of fashionable people. Saw Lord Lorne and Lord Archibald Campbell, pretty fair boys on ponies. Dined with Papa at Ld. George Quin's, wherewith Ends My London Gaieties. Have been to 14 balls, 15 parties, 5 dinners.