HAGLEY, Monday, September 1st, 1873.
—Papa headed a monster expedition to the top of the Wrekin. It consisted of himself and Sybella, his 8 sons, 3 of his daughters, 2 sons-in-law, a grandson, 3 cousins (Pole Carews), a niece (G. G.) [FN: Gertrude Glynne, afterwards Lady Penrhyn], and Mr. Balfour. At Wellington Station (odd coincidence) we met Aggie [FN: Agnes Gladstone, engaged to Rev. E. Wickham, Head Master of Wellington, afterwards Dean of Lincoln.] and Mr. Wickham, chaperoned by Mazy, Harry, and Herbert. Poor Mr. W. must have looked on bedazed as the 21 came bubbling endlessly one after another out of the saloon carriage. We all set off up the hill, and I had the very appalling honour of walking tête-a-tête with Mr. W. for a good bit! At the top we perched all over the crags and revelled in the glorious, widespread, many-tinted view, while the dear posse of big brothers set up various part-songs, and the hero and heroine sat happily together.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
24Aug1873, Remembering Mamma
BOLTON, St. Bartholomew, 11th Sunday after Trinity, 1873.
—The usual dear Bolton Sunday, with an additional sacredness. It is the 1st S. Bartholomew's Day since that Funeral Day in '57 that I have been able to receive the Holy Communion. How well I remember the intense comfort of it when one's heart was all wrung and aching! And how I wrote of it: "It is like Holy Hands blessing and soothing one: Peace, be still." God grant it may always be so to me, in joy and sorrow, to the end.
—The usual dear Bolton Sunday, with an additional sacredness. It is the 1st S. Bartholomew's Day since that Funeral Day in '57 that I have been able to receive the Holy Communion. How well I remember the intense comfort of it when one's heart was all wrung and aching! And how I wrote of it: "It is like Holy Hands blessing and soothing one: Peace, be still." God grant it may always be so to me, in joy and sorrow, to the end.
08Aug1873, I Shall Have Him With Me
LONDON, Friday, August 8th, 1873.
—My Fred back from Holker at 6 a.m. this morning. If he takes the office, he vacates his seat; it was therefore to be kept back for a time, to get Registration matters, etc., forward, and to consult influential constituents. But by some unaccountable blundering the cat came out of the bag in the paper this morning, and he is in for it. It will be a horrid business if he has a contest, Greenwich and East Staffordshire having just been won by the Tories owing to the split caused by the precious League. But we hope better of the stout old Riding, and, if it only shows a firm front, the Tories won't be mad enough to contest it. Poor F., however, has to post off again at 3 to Bradford.
I saw Uncle W. at his window when we got home; he called me in and was delightful about F., calling him "such a compound of gallantry and good sense" and saying "I shall have him with me" with great pleasure and affection.
—My Fred back from Holker at 6 a.m. this morning. If he takes the office, he vacates his seat; it was therefore to be kept back for a time, to get Registration matters, etc., forward, and to consult influential constituents. But by some unaccountable blundering the cat came out of the bag in the paper this morning, and he is in for it. It will be a horrid business if he has a contest, Greenwich and East Staffordshire having just been won by the Tories owing to the split caused by the precious League. But we hope better of the stout old Riding, and, if it only shows a firm front, the Tories won't be mad enough to contest it. Poor F., however, has to post off again at 3 to Bradford.
I saw Uncle W. at his window when we got home; he called me in and was delightful about F., calling him "such a compound of gallantry and good sense" and saying "I shall have him with me" with great pleasure and affection.
06Aug1873, Government Positions
LONDON, Wednesday, August 6th, 1873.
—A notable day, F. being offered a Lordship of the Treasury and thus entering upon official life. Uncle W. takes the Chancellorship of the Exchequer on himself, and F. will be an extra Lord, owing to the double work this will give Uncle W. Mr. Lowe is bowed off the Exchequer of which he has made a grand muddle, and becomes Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce getting a peerage and Presidency of the Council. F., of course, can't accept without asking the Duke, so went off to Holker this evening. Atie. P. and I to The Coppice.
—A notable day, F. being offered a Lordship of the Treasury and thus entering upon official life. Uncle W. takes the Chancellorship of the Exchequer on himself, and F. will be an extra Lord, owing to the double work this will give Uncle W. Mr. Lowe is bowed off the Exchequer of which he has made a grand muddle, and becomes Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce getting a peerage and Presidency of the Council. F., of course, can't accept without asking the Duke, so went off to Holker this evening. Atie. P. and I to The Coppice.
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