Sunday, February 13, 2011

16Sep1878, Beasts and Boys

HOLKER, September 16th-22nd, 1878.
—A wonderful sale of shorthorns came off on Wednesday, which has been absorbing Mr. Drewry for many a month. Lds. Calthorpe, Moreton, Skelmersdale, and Ellesmere, Sir W. Lawson, Sir Curtis Lampson, Col. Kingscote, "Peck" Hamilton, etc., all turned up for it. Ly. Ellesmere was the only lady: a very good-natured little plump lady is she. Thirty beasts were sold for £19,922 14s. —a glorious result: average £664 1s. 10d. The highest cow, £2,793; the highest bull, £1,732 10s. Eddy went off with Victor to school, Thurs. night. Frank with his two Friday morning. A black Friday !—poor little boys crying bitterly, and their elders not much better; didn't I see the Duke hastily wiping his eyes as he turned back into the house! William is a regular little chum to him!

09Sep1878, Colin Campbell for Argyleshire

HOLKER, September 9th-15th, 1878.
—I have not mentioned a pleasant event—the return of Colin Campbell for Argyleshire, Lorne having been appointed Gov.-Gen. of Canadaan excellent coup of Dizzy's. It is as good as a gain of a seat, Lorne having pursued a tolerably consistent course of voting against his party.

28Aug1878, Little Mary Cavendish

BOLTON, August 28th, 1878.
Mazy wrote me a dear letter full of little Mary Cavendish's excellencies. [FN: Her eldest brother Lord Lyttelton, who became 8th Viscount Cobham in 1889, had just become engaged to Mary Cavendish, daughter of the 2nd Baron Chesham.]

12Aug1878, Mixed Marriages with R.C.

BOLTON, August 12th-18th, 1878.
—He [FN: A friend who had married a Roman Catholic.] and his wife have at last come to an open row about the children's religion. He declares that he only gave the promise before marriage that they should be brought up Roman on the strength of some words of hers implying that she wouldn't hold him to the promise. But they certainly put no confidence in each other about it—he refusing to have any R.C.s in the house, she taking them to confession, etc., secretly. They have now been to law, with the astounding result of the judge laying down that whatever engagement a man may make before marriage as to his children's religion, he may break with perfect (legal) impunity. If this is clearly understood, I hope it will put an end to "mixed marriages" — R.C.s will no longer venture to risk them.

23Jul1878, More Derby-Salisbury Business

LONDON, July 23rd – 28th, 1878.
—Went on Tues. "by sea" to S. George's E. Workhouse to see my poor paralysed lad Stephen Perkins: found he had died in the spring: such a blessed instance of "Loose him, and let him go." Coming back, who should be on the Thames-tunnel landing-place but Ly. Granville!!! I wonder how many chances there were against our meeting on a penny boat. She had a brother with her, and had been to Ratclyffe Highway to buy a paroqueet. We talked of the horrid Derby-Salisbury business; Ld. Derby has found his mem. written at the time of his resignation, and fully bearing out what he has said, and has shown it to Ld. Granville. Whether he would have re-opened the personal matter, and crushed Lord Salisbury with the mem, I don't know; but he has been requested by the Queen to let the subject alone. Of course this is under pressure from Dizzy — the Queen could not be responsible—and most base it is of him. One can't give the reason, and I can see Johnny [FN: I.e. her brother-in-law J. G. Talbot, then at the Board of Trade.] and his colleagues conclude that the mem. is a figment, and that Ld. Derby had delirium tremens or something of the sort when he resigned.

15Jul1878, Parliament and Princesses

LONDON, Monday, July 15th – 22nd, 1878.
Dizzy has returned high-gee his horrid Anglo-Turkish Convention which he has signed and ratified without the knowledge, much less the consent of Parliament.

—Tuesday. Dizzy returned, with colours flying, from Berlin, Ld. Salisbury with him (the captive, says the Spectator, of his sword and of his bow). A triumphal entry was his into Charing Cross; red cloth, thrilling ladies, cheering crowd, and a fine bouquet handed to him in Downing Street from the Queen. I wouldn't go within earshot! Friends and foes alike will have it he is to be made a Duke; by all means, say I, if they will make him Duke of Jericho, and send him to administer his duchy.

—Friday. In the House of Lords came off a horrid scene. Ld. Derby explicitly stated that a main cause of his resignation was its being said in the Cabinet that Cyprus would have to be taken, with or without the consent of Italy, our ally. Hereupon Ld. Cranbrook was heard to exclaim, "That's the biggest lie I ever heard"; and Lord Salisbury deliberately (for Ld. Derby's speech lasted a good while after this statement) denies the fact; introducing into his denial, however, the words "the Cabinet came to a resolution," which Ld. D. had never said. Of course he modified this giving of the lie into Parliamentary language; but he was immeasurably bitter, comparing Ld. Derby to Titus Oates for revealing secrets. Ld. D. says he has a memorandum, made at the time, giving his reasons. We dined with the Selbornes, meeting the usual episcopal element. Bps. of Rupertstown, Long Island, and Nova Scotia. F. made great friends with Rupertstown, whose diocese he hunted buffalo in 20 years ago, but which is now a great thriving populous region, lately divided into 3 dioceses....

—Sat. Early to Compton Place. [FN: . The Duke's house at Eastbourne] Old Church in the morning. In front of us sat 3 very good little fair girls and one very good little knickerbocker boy, who turned out to be Princess Royal's younger children: very ugly though nice little phizzes. Edith and I in the evening to the new chapel of ease close to Compton Place, where were a whole bevy of Princesses, the number being swelled by 3 Hesse girls [FN: One of these girls became the unfortunate Empress of Russia, murdered by the Bolshevists.], who are pretty, slim, and distinguished-looking. Should have liked to have talked to them of their mother and Uncle Billy, who have made tremendous friends at Darmstadt: she is in England now.

09Jul1878, Ireland and its Improvement

WELLINGTON COLLEGE, July 9th-14th, 1878.
—Dined at Louisa Lady Ashburton's who had miscounted her guests so that poor Ly. Belper was puss in the corner for a time. Sat between Ld. Melgund [FN: Afterwards 4th Earl of Minto and Viceroy of India.] and a very pleasant old Bishop of Limerick who stuck up for Ireland and its improvement, said wages had doubled in his diocese in 22 years, that the Church has learnt no end of good in the salutary school of adversity, and that there had been little or no secession to Dissent.

01Jul1878, All 8 Brothers in London

LONDON, July 1st – 8th, 1878.
—University match; as I couldn't go in the morning I missed a grand innings of Edward's, and wouldn't go in the afternoon. B. Temple came to see me, looking pretty brisk. Old Albert came to sleep, and to-night all 8 brothers are in London: all but Nevy, Spencer, and Bob dined with us. Tues. to Lord's; Alfred made a grand long innings of 63, and Oxford was pitifully smashed—only making 32 in the 2nd innings—I should think an unrivalled fiasco.

—Wednesday. Devonshire House drum: good and pretty.

01Jun1878, Old Lord Russell Has Died

MOUNT CLARE, Saturday, June 1st, 1878.
—We walked with Hugh Smith to inquire at Pembroke Lodge, where old Lord Russell has lately died, his last illness having come on just after the 50th anniversary of the Tests Repeal Act. He was not able to receive the deputation, but Lady Russell, I believe, read the Address to him and made him understand something about it. The Amberley boy [FN: The present Earl Russell.] who succeeds is about 11: said to be very quick and sharp—an out-and-out Stanley.
[FN: Earl Russell had, as Lord John Russell, carried the Tests Repeal Act in 1828. It abolished the law requiring members of corporations to receive the Sacrament in Church.]

27May1878, Coffin Moved to the Abbey

LONDON, May 27th–June 2nd, 1878.
—On Monday evening the Coffin was moved to a chapel at the Abbey; and F.'s room put back into its usual state; it felt strange and half wrong after the hours when it seemed like a consecrated spot.