17Jun1869, Irish Church Bill Second Reading

LONDON, June 17th, 1869.
—Oh dear, dear ! political life has quite dropt out amid this excitement [FN: I.e. of her sister Lavinia's engagement to Edward Talbot : and her younger sister May's very brief engagement to Edward Denison. The latter had to be broken off, as his uncle, Speaker Denison, would not consent.] ! On Tuesday afternoon I had what was a huge treat in spite of other thoughts : a place with Mrs. Byng at the H. of Lords. They are debating upon the second reading of the Irish Church Bill, and we heard the Bp. of Peterborough (Magee) speak splendidly : wonderfully eloquent, brilliant and witty, and almost persuasive in spite of the badness of his case, for he is dead against the 2nd reading, and ended his speech with a fiery appeal to the Lords to run their heads against the wall by turning out the Bill. We also heard Ld. Grey ; it was good but difficult to hear ; he is a "leveller-up." Archbishop Trench was so fearfully grubous and grim, it was like nothing so much as a passing bell, and he is said to have called the House "my brethren" more than once !

10Jun1869, Papa and Sybella are Married

LONDON, June 10th, 1869.
—Papa and Sybella were married at her parents' place, Perrystone in Herefordshire.

02Jun1869, Dined Dullissimus Major

LONDON, June 2nd, 1869.
—Workhouse with Lavinia. Spencer breakfasts every morning with us. We had some snug reading, and went together at 5 to the R. Academy in its fine new rooms. Some good Millais and Landseers. Dined (dullissimus major) at Ly. Milton's ; I was lucky enough to sit by Aunt Fanny, or I should have gone to sleep.

25May1869, The White May is Coming Out

CHATSWORTH, May 25th, 1869.
—It is a sad blow having to wear one's winter things and have regular fires at this time of year. It was pretty fine in the afternoon, and even E. winds can't help things smelling sweet ; the white May is coming out at last. May and I rode with F., who came back to luncheon ; I on Salvolatile, a charming little beast. China went on merrily, specially the clearing out of a wonderful ménagerie of odds and ends, knick-knacks and gimcracks, from the cabinet in the 1st state-room. [FN: This was china brought from Chiswick and now being placed at Chatsworth. Chiswick was not inhabited by any of the Duke's relations after the Duchess of Southerland's death.]

24May1869, Auntie P Overworked

CHATSWORTH, May 24th, 1869.
—I wrote a solemn appeal to Uncle Wm. to talk to Auntie P. about her overwork.