tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218405052024-03-12T19:09:49.468-05:00Lady Lucy CavendishThe Diary of Lady Frederick Cavendish (or Lady Lucy Cavendish)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-23992133567837679542021-07-09T12:13:00.003-05:002021-07-09T12:13:52.658-05:00The index links to the left don't work anymore and I can't figure out how to edit them.
These are the fixed links:
<p> </p>
<a href="https://ladycavendishdiary.com/chronological-index/">Chronological Index</a>
<p> </p>
<a href="https://ladycavendishdiary.com/index-by-topic/">Index by Topic</a>
<p> </p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-29712505094925753492011-03-04T22:23:00.002-06:002011-03-05T09:25:45.045-06:0018Apr1882, Safe Back from DublinLONDON, Tuesday, April 18th, 1882.<br />—Stayed till Tuesday and found my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">Fred</a> at home, safe back from Dublin and horribly discreet as to state of things in Ireland. I don't know what o'clock I should have seen him but for a lucky count-out which brought him home to dinner. (N.B. The Tuesday counts-out are getting a bad scandal.)<br /><br />Wednesday, 19th.—Tory papers started the affected notion of Tories wearing primroses in his honour, announcing it his "favourite flower." Remarkably inappropriate.<br /><br />[Written some time after her husband's death.]<br />I must try and put down what I can of the end of my blessed 18 years' happiness—the end of all the bright hopes for the future, and the deep interest and anxiety of the present. All over now, and "my heart within me is desolate."<br /><br />(The remainder of the published diary does not work in weblog format and is continued in narrative form at the <a href="http://www.ladycavendishdiary.com/wp/?page_id=10">Index to the Lady Lucy Cavendish Diary</a> webpage.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-37800158767278168852011-03-04T22:16:00.001-06:002011-03-04T22:20:19.362-06:0013Apr1882, Visiting ExeterEXETER, Thursday, April 13th, 1882.<br />—My <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">Fred</a> had to go off to Dublin. We set off together at 7.40, and I came to Exeter,[FN: I.e. the Bishop's Palace.] getting here in time to sit down to dinner before 8. Little Frederic Temple, a fine bouncing fair rosy fellow, with round blue eyes: the baby [FN: Now the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Temple_(bishop)">Rt. Rev. William Temple</a>, Bishop of Manchester.] a very pretty dot with the gentlest expression. A great contrast to either Holker or London life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-90967091453530561122011-03-04T22:07:00.002-06:002011-03-04T22:12:21.502-06:0003Apr1882, Preparing a Peggy for ConfirmationLONDON, April 3rd-9th, 1882.<br />—Did not get away till Wednesday; so had the immense treat of S. Matthew's Passion-music in S. Paul's Cathedral on Tues. Every corner of the Church, galleries and all, filled with the throngs of people — their behaviour devout and most attentive. The music far <i>greater</i> than the S. John, tho' the S. John has special beauty of its own. <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Mary 1">Mazy</a> , <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Nevy">Nevy</a>, and <a href="http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/16704.html">Arthur</a> came with me, A. and <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p1436.htm#i14351">Kath.</a> being up for a bit.<br /> <br />— Wednesday, April 5th. Nevy and I to St. Paul's again, for Mattins at 10. Came home afterwards for a final lesson with my peggy [FN: I.e maid-servant] whom I am preparing for Confirmation. We got to Holker at 9. Found the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cavendish,_7th_Duke_of_Devonshire">Duke</a> alone, but <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Eddy">Eddy's</a> and boys come Thursday. Services very well attended both at Cartmel and Flookburgh.<br /><br />—Good Friday. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> and I went to Flookb.—they sang "The Story of the Cross" beautifully. Lovely day as usual; and so was Easter Day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-60904520664566814152011-03-04T21:55:00.002-06:002011-03-04T21:59:41.476-06:0001Apr1882, Helped Towards PrettinessLONDON, April 1st, 1882.<br />—Saturday to Holmbury, meeting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Leveson-Gower,_2nd_Earl_Granville">Lord Granvilles</a> with their nice little 15-year-old girl <a href="http://thepeerage.com/p1032.htm#i10318">Vita</a> [FN: Now Lady Victoria Russell. She married Harold, eldest son of Lord Arthur Russell.] who will be much helped towards prettiness by lovely figure and hair. <a href="http://thepeerage.com/p1162.htm#i11620">Fanny Leeds</a> and her pleasing eldest son [FN: The present <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Osborne,_10th_Duke_of_Leeds">Duke of Leeds</a>.] of 19: too like a very lanky pair of scissors, but nice-looking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-89120752523001303382011-03-04T21:38:00.002-06:002011-03-04T21:47:35.044-06:0019Mar1882, A Darby and Joan AfternoonLATIMER, March 19th, 1882.<br />—To Latimer, finding <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Grosvenor,_1st_Duke_of_Westminster">Duke of Westminster</a>, <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#May 2">May Lascelles</a>, and the family; including Will, grown into such a fine tall fellow. Poor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cavendish,_2nd_Baron_Chesham">Ld. Chesham</a> in very precarious health, but pretty well and very cheerful. Sunday lovely and mild as usual: F. and I had a Darby and Joan afternoon walk and pickt primroses and white violets; wild strawberry blossom and daffodils are out. We suspected nothing (who would have thought such a thing likely!), but heard afterwards that the Duke and <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p925.htm#i9249"><i>Katie Cavendish</i></a> settled after morning Church to marry each other. 32 years between them!... But he is so delightful, that I don't wonder at Katie. I set my cap at him myself and altogether showed marked want of tact.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-26738245770720401592011-03-04T21:29:00.002-06:002011-03-04T21:34:36.093-06:0015Mar1882, Defending GladstoneLONDON, March 15th, 1882.<br />—We dined with <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p3027.htm#i30265">Ly. Ashburton</a>. I sat by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Anthony_Froude">Mr. Froude</a>, and tho' I can't bear him (his writing proving to me that he doesn't know right from wrong), I expected to find him agreeable. But we unluckily got upon <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a>, and speaking of his oratory, he praised it, <i>qua</i> oratory alone; saying, "I never read anything of his that was not <i>essentially ordinary</i>! "Well," I said, "Mr. F., I should think you were unique in that opinion among friends and foes," and I asked if he really thought this country could be governed for so many years, off and on, by nothing but the music of eloquence — especially in the line of Budgets. He stuck to his assertion that there was nothing else about him which was not commonplace; and I was <i>that</i> disgusted, that I took refuge with my other neighbour, Lord Something, tho' a sad goose I found him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-35148183154588461442011-03-04T21:14:00.002-06:002011-03-04T21:19:47.889-06:0006Mar1882, Discussing Lord F.LONDON, March 6th-12th, 1882.<br />—The most enchanting mild spring: everything a month beforehand. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> had to go off Saturday for 3 nights to Holker; Barrow<a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/glossary-of-glynnese.html#ums">ums</a>. I dined <i>en garcon</i> at the Goschens', and sat by <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p998.htm#i9971">Lady Enfield</a> who was mighty civil and said many interesting things about F.—how some bitter anti-Forster man said all would have been well in Ireland if F. had been Chief Sec.! I said, "Heaven forbid!" but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Byng,_3rd_Earl_of_Strafford">Lord Enfield</a> agreed with the man. Bet me 2s. 6d., which I took, that F. would be Chancellor of the Exchequer the end of this session.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-81813489609880833022011-03-04T21:00:00.002-06:002011-03-04T21:04:29.139-06:0023Feb1882, A Marred Portrait of GladstoneLONDON, February 23rd, 1882.<br />—Went with <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Mary 1">Mazy</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake_Richmond">young Richmond's</a> and saw his wonderful new picture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a> It has a sort of "Vision of Ezekiel" look about it; he is in a red robe (splendidly managed) and looks over one's head right out to a distant horizon with a wild, inspired expression; the eyes are miracles of painting, and indeed so is all the face, and it is a most powerful likeness. (An engraving from it was much finer than the painting, '87.) But he has cruelly marred the effect by a perverse rendering of the skin, making it coarse and weatherbeaten to the greatest degree, as if he had been a Scotch shepherd; the hand too is a ploughman's. This is unaccountable, for, tho' Uncle W. has a very sallow and deeply-lined complexion, the texture of his skin is particularly fine. The picture makes him 10 years older than he is. Also the forehead is too high it is broad, not high. Dined with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brett,_1st_Viscount_Esher">Justice Brett</a> [FN: Afterwards Lord Esher.] and sat by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Stanley,_15th_Earl_of_Derby">Ld. Derby</a> who made himself mighty agreeable.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-42239763763137267242011-03-04T20:32:00.002-06:002011-03-04T20:43:26.886-06:0021Feb1882, Bradlaugh's Oath SprungLONDON, February 21st, 1882.<br />—Wretched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bradlaugh">Bradlaugh</a> "sprung" his "oath" on the House, producing a Testament out of his pocket and going thro' the form before anyone knew what to be at. I hoped this wd give a good handle to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a> to take the initiative agst the man, but he wouldn't, sticking to his original view that the House had exceeded its legal powers in preventing his taking the oath in due course; and therefore not choosing to take the responsibility of censuring him for taking the oath irregularly. I dare-say this is right and consistent from his point of view; but I can't hold with it! He did speak strongly agst this horrid move of Bradlaugh's. The upshot was that Sir Stafford,[FN: I.e., of course, <a href=" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Northcote,_1st_Earl_of_Iddesleigh">Sir Stafford Northcote</a>, leader of the Conservatives.] after 1st making a mild motion of keeping the man "outside the precincts," was sat upon by Woodcock (Randolph [FN: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Randolph_Churchill">Lord Randolph Churchill</a>; he was M.P. for Woodstock.]) and, seizing the opportunity of Bradlaugh's stalking in and taking his seat, moved his expulsion, which was forthwith carried out, without his even being allowed to speak in his defence. The division was very odd: Uncle W. and some other Ministers not voting at all; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Compton_Cavendish,_8th_Duke_of_Devonshire">Cavendish</a> voting with Sir Staffd., and the Liberals generally dividing their favours; it was a big majority. Things had come to such a pass that every course had something objectionable in it. There is no end of irrelevant talking on both sides. I see no sense in the line of the <i>Pall Mall</i> and <i>Spectator</i>, etc., which go off anti-tests, religious liberty, and so forth. The Parliamentary oath, tho' I daresay never so intended, is a test against atheists. If one hates tests, the only proper course is to make the oath optional or abolish it altogether. As long as it stands, it surely is proper to insist on its being respected. I never heard before of its being the correct line for friends of "religious liberty" to sanction the <i>profanation</i> of tests. Hitherto persons suffering under disabilities have waited for and agitated for the <i>removal</i> of tests, and Liberals have worked for that. Nobody but Bradlaugh has ever before dreamt of claiming the privilege of taking an oath after elaborately asserting that its sacred part is meaningless to him. I went in the evening with Susan Oldfield to a tea-party at dear old Limehouse, instead of Ishbel Aberdeen, who is a beloved "Lady Supplemental," but expecting a No. 3 baby and unable to come. We were hugely welcomed. <br /><br />—Ash Wednesday, 22nd. S. Martin's, and St. Margaret's. Revd. Fox, the extreme Low Church incumbent of Christ Church, Broadway, preacht beautifully. By the bye, the Bradlaugh business was to-day: a fit Ash Wedy. penance for England generally.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-17810972693600737162011-03-04T20:23:00.001-06:002011-03-04T20:26:45.272-06:0019Dec1881, All the Schoolboys at HomeCHATSWORTH, December 19th, 1881.<br />—All the schoolboys at home: <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p1002.htm#i10012">Wm.</a> frightfully big, with the dawn of a moustache and a gruff voice!! <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p1002.htm#i10011">Fritz</a>, tho' quite a little boy still, has launched in life, passing 9th out of 82 who went in for the <i>Britannia</i> entrance exam, and that without any special cramming or coaching. From quite a dot he was always a steady worker, with a great notion of doing what was to be done. <a href=" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Cavendish,_9th_Duke_of_Devonshire">Victor</a>, poor dear, a <i>very</i> strong development of the family "mouton qui rêve" countenance; but he may be a comely man yet, as he will be tall and long-legged, if he acquires a good big beard. Dick laid up with a feverish cold: he is rather a pretty fellow and very taking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-405207702718814482011-03-04T19:59:00.002-06:002011-03-04T20:09:51.396-06:0006Nov1881, The Comfort of his LifeHAWARDEN, November 6th, 1881.<br />—Eaton [FN: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton_Hall,_Cheshire">The new house</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Grosvenor,_1st_Duke_of_Westminster">Duke of Westminster</a>, a few miles from Hawarden.] meanwhile beautiful but bewildering; no end of rich and good detail; and the little semi-detached "living-house" very snug. But it's too great a conglomeration. <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p925.htm#i9242">Sibell Grosvenor</a> and <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p968.htm#i9680">Bibi Cavendish</a> did the honours; the Duke we only saw for a minute. Sibell a most engaging creature, and the comfort of his life: <a href="http://www.thepeerage.com/p925.htm#i9241">her poor husband</a> gets worse rather than better. She has 2 blooming pretty little girls; but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Grosvenor,_2nd_Duke_of_Westminster">the poor tiny boy</a> [FN: The present Duke of Westminster.] is a sad sight; so inanimate and waxen, tho' nothing ostensibly wrong.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-56141476797432778422011-03-04T19:29:00.004-06:002011-03-04T19:39:19.393-06:0004Nov1881, Gladstone's Thoughts on ResignationHAWARDEN, November 4th, 1881.<br />—<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> had talks with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a> about his resignation, which he is very seriously contemplating about Easter, on the strength of having carried out all the great foreign matters of policy that he took office to do. The conversation as I have it from F. was pretty much as follows. Uncle W. began by saying that resigning the Chancellorship of the Exchequer would have the great drawback of in a manner binding him to remain on as P.M. for an indefinite time. His reasons for wishing to give it up altogether he then went into.<br /><br />(I ought to have put in, after his words about the Exchequer, what he then proceeded to say as to his having been called to office. All the special reasons which justified his taking office were at an end or nearly so: the Berlin treaty carried out, Afghanistan evacuated, Transvaal settled, finance put on a satisfactory footing. Two matters that had since arisen no doubt still required his care—the state of Ireland, and Parliamentary Obstruction; but these were, he trusted, in a hopeful way of being settled.)<br /><br />Never liked the tone even of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Robert_Peel,_3rd_Baronet">Sir Robert Peel</a>, when he used to complain of the severity of public service; which, in his (Uncle W.'s) opinion, was fairly requited and not heavier than duty called for. At the same time, he considered that <i>after 50 years</i> of public service it was not well to be obliged to work with the intensity which office now entailed, nor was it desirable to look forward to end one's days in the contentions necessarily entailed by the office of P.M. In the next place, his position towards the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom">Queen</a> was intolerable to one who throughout life had reverenced her as a constitutional sovereign, inasmuch as he now had to strive daily with her on the side of liberty as opposed to jingoism. In the 3rd place he said it was only fair to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Leveson-Gower,_2nd_Earl_Granville">Lord Granville</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Compton_Cavendish,_8th_Duke_of_Devonshire">Hartn.</a>, who had led the party thro' difficult and disagreeable times. F. acknowledged the force of all this, but represented the practical impossibility. <i>While he retained his full powers</i>, the country would not let him resign and nobody else could lead. Uncle W. then suggested temporary abstention on his part as meeting these difficulties; though he acknowledged that a retired Minister was inevitably the centre which attracted all discontent.<br /><br />Subsequently, he mentioned the House of Lords, but said he thought of that with great reluctance. F. replied that to take a peerage was his only possible course if he was bent on retiring; that the country would otherwise always be turning to him and clamouring for him; that in the H. of Commons he could never occupy a 2nd place. Uncle W. laughed and said, "You have indeed put a serious bar in the way of my retiring." When he spoke of Ld. Granville, F. said he had heard on good authority (which he did not quote—it was a letter from Lord Acton to <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Mary 1">Mazy</a>) that Ld. G. meant to retire whenever Uncle W. did. At this he was greatly surprised; but said he did fear Ld. G.'s life was not a good one. He spoke of the effects of old age: said he was constantly reminded of Cobden's remark about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Temple,_3rd_Viscount_Palmerston">Ld. Palmerston</a> — that with age authority was apt to increase as powers of judgment decreased; and quoted the D. of Wellington as another instance of harm done by old men. Nevertheless he was obliged to confess that he had stood the hard work of the last session without harm, and was in perfect force, and better than he had been. Spoke of a former time when he could not sleep on one side without disquiet and bad dreams—was now quite free from that. He tried to make out that Ireland might be quiet and the regulation of the House all settled by Easter. F. thinks there is hardly any chance of this. Within this very week he has given F. to read an able and exhaustive paper (such as might furnish matter for a 3 hours' speech) on Local Government for the guidance of Mr. Dodson. How could this be launched and then left to others? (F., however, has learnt since that it is to be laid before a special Committee on which Uncle W. will not sit.) The talk ended by his saying he would consult Lord Granville.<br /><br />The impression F. gathered from the whole conversation was that the thought of retirement was not so much prompted by the personal longing for it (tho' without doubt it is a vision which refreshes and cheers him to turn to) as by conscientious scruples with regard to Ld. G. and Hartn., and as to his own conviction against old men going on at politics till they drop. He hates making himself the exception. (But N.B. <i>what</i> an exception he is, as a matter of fact!)<br /><br />The upshot seems to me that he will find it impossible to retire before there is some indication of serious overstrain in him, either mental or bodily. That otherwise, however he might seclude himself he would remain a great power in the country, such as would necessarily hamper his successors. That the only feasible way, supposing his powers anything like what they are at present, would be by taking a peerage. That, unless he <i>should</i> be in real danger of breaking down, it could not be right for him to leave the helm in the present state of politics; nor can the moment be foreseen when it would be right. I think the hope of being able to retire soon will continue to please him; but that he will find it impossible at any given moment except under the above-mentioned conditions. Taking a peerage and continuing to be P.M. might do ; but it could hardly be bearable for him to be P.M. with no power over the H. of C. and in a minority in the H. of Lords.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-90329494022045959752011-03-04T19:08:00.003-06:002011-03-04T19:22:06.462-06:0003Oct1881, New Marvel: A TelephoneHAWARDEN, October 31st—November 6th, 1881.<br />—That enchanting new marvel, a <i>telephone</i>, has been put up, whereby Castle and Rectory converse <i>ad libitum</i>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a>, who is in some respects the greatest Tory out, will have nothing to say to it. Sir John Lubbock came and 2 pleasant daughters, one a handsome Mrs. Mulholland and quite young, whose husband died some years ago on their honeymoon, 3 weeks after marriage: the other cock-eyed but agreeable and clever. Also came Mr. Goldwin Smith, and later in the week, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Vernon_Harcourt_(politician)">Sir Bow-wow Harcourt</a> (fresh from good big bow-wow speeches at Carlisle), wife and son; and Sir Ralph Lingen, whom <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> brought with him from Ireland, whither he flew on Wednesday for 2 nights. This company, with the addition of the frog Mr. MacColl and great <a href=" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Barber_Lightfoot">Bp. Lightfoot</a> (who is the image of a toad), made it a notable week, full of interest.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-66257188666102231832011-03-04T19:00:00.002-06:002011-03-04T19:04:00.585-06:0024Oct1881, Charles Has a SonHOLKER, October 24th, 1881.<br />—<a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Charles">Dear old big brother</a> wrote me word of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lyttelton,_9th_Viscount_Cobham">son-and-heir</a> [FN: The present Viscount Cobham.] with a hooked nose being born on Sunday the 23rd. A great event to us ! The little fellow is born with that most blessed of heritages—the good and noble examples of <i>three</i> generations of his name.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-53815691397172726322011-03-04T18:50:00.003-06:002011-03-04T18:59:19.121-06:0008Oct1881, Leeds: They Roared Like Many WatersMARTON HALL, October 8th, 1881.<br />—Leeds eclipsed all this [FN: I.e. the Middlesbrough festivities.] pretty completely ! and indeed the mighty enthusiasm there outstrips anything we saw or heard of last year at the general election. Unluckily dear old Sir Edward Baines could not receive us as he had intended, owing to his wife's illness, tho' she was getting better (she died shortly after), and his brother, who lives a long way out of the town, was a timid old boy who took pains to keep us out of the thick of events, much to my disgust. We left Middlesbrough early on Friday, hoping to come in for most of the 1st meeting; but were driven off remorselessly to the Baines's retreat and had to lunch there. Pleasant daughters and a benign old wife. The evening banquet made up for much: it was most beautifully done with white and red hangings, and lit up resplendently with the wonderful new electric lights, mixed with gas. The speech <i>we</i> missed in the morning was a first-rate demolition of the new craze called "Fair Trade," which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a> summarised very pat by saying it was an improvement on the old precept, inasmuch as it would make it read "If thine enemy smite thee on the one cheek, <i>thou shalt smite thyself on the other</i>." In the evening he spoke on Ireland, and never did he speak with more weight and power. I could see, sitting near him, how deeply he felt the awful responsibility of the moment; for what he had to do was to warn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_Parnell">Parnell</a> and Co., that the "long patience" of the Government had all but reached its term. He had to say that now the Land Act was law it was to have fair play. Parnell has been inciting the people to take no advantage of it until he is pleased to give them leave. He is now explicitly warned that if he persists in this line, he will be stopped. Uncle W. also dwelt with overwhelming force on all the incitements to lawlessness and violence in Parnell's speeches. It was as clear as possible that a new line was to be taken by Government. The applause was immense. After dinner he was escorted home by a procession of torch-bearers (again we were safely convoyed home, out of all the fun ! by poor old Frederick Baines).<br /><br />Other functions followed on Saturday, but <i>the</i> thing was the monster mass meeting of about 25,000 people. I was frightened to death for the 1st hour. The atmosphere was horrible; and the people, tired of waiting, would not listen to anyone except Uncle W. and Herbert, and took to that dreadful <i>swaying</i> which is the most awful thing to see in a great crowd. Air, however, was let in and all went well when once Uncle W. got up. The 25,000 cheers that uprose were something never-to-be-forgotten ! followed by "Kentish fire" and then by roars of "He's a jolly good fellow." At last came silence, and he began "Mr. Chairman." Hearing his clear voice throughout the hall started them afresh ! and they roared like many waters for several more seconds. The speech went into points of Foreign Policy chiefly, and, as always, I was struck with the keenness and quickness with which each point was taken. I never was more struck by his glorious gift of raising every subject on to a high moral platform with a power of conviction that carries these great multitudes up with him like one man. He was rather hoarse all along, but his voice rather improved as he went on.... Nice to see the intense affection for <a href=" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Gladstone,_1st_Viscount_Gladstone">"Herbert,"</a> as everyone calls him ("'towd mon and Herbert"). He made an excellent, perfectly-expressed little speech; his voice a beautiful flexible tenor, almost equal to his father's, tho' very different. After this back to Holker.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-5610716136931255192011-03-04T18:38:00.002-06:002011-03-04T18:41:58.762-06:0005Oct1881, Middlesbrough JubileeMARTON HALL,[FN: Mr. Bolckow's house] October 5th, 1881.<br />—Wednesday, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> and I went off on notable jaunt. First for 2 nights to Middlesbrough, to celebrate its jubilee and the inauguration of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Statue-Bolckow-Middlesbrough-Mayor-Furnaces/dp/images/B0014KZHYO">a statue to the late Bolckow</a>; then to Leeds, where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone">Uncle W.</a> had a magnificent reception. He has been due there ever since the election, to thank them, first for his own return (which they engaged to bring about before there was any idea of how the tide would turn), next for Herbert's.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-36065255461939129082011-03-04T18:26:00.000-06:002011-03-04T18:27:18.860-06:0026Sep1881, Crape on Their WhipsHOLKER, September 26th—October 2nd, 1881.<br />—The feeling throughout England for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield">Garfield</a> very strong; Monday was his funeral, and in London the Exchange and many shops were closed, and all the 'bus men had crape on their whips.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-18480195909383812692011-03-04T18:18:00.002-06:002011-03-04T18:21:11.911-06:0019Sep1881, President Garfield DiesHOLKER, September 19th, 1881.<br />—On the 19th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield">President Garfield</a> died, after a marvellous struggle for life of — weeks. A few days ago he was moved from Washington to fresher and purer air, the great heat having tried him; and he did not seem the worse for the journey which was managed with immense care and tenderness. The post-mortem reveals that there was no chance of his recovery from the first; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield_assassination">the bullet</a> was in quite a different place from what the doctors thought, and there were frightful signs of blood-poisoning. He must have lived on by dint of sheer vitality, and of calmness and courage; also his poor wife's devotion and sanguineness seem to have kept him alive. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom">Queen</a> has telegraphed her sympathy and inquiries constantly, to the intense gratification of the Americans, and has now sent a very touching message to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretia_Garfield">Mrs. Garfield</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-9631016981110377272011-03-04T18:08:00.002-06:002011-03-04T18:12:25.495-06:0005Sep1881, A Yankee Miss Who Knew F.BOLTON ABBEY, September 5th-10th, 1881.<br />—One day <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Frederick_Cavendish">F.</a> and I went to Keighley for a Church stone-laying he had to do for Mr. Longsdon, the Vicar: we had a sumptuous tea afterwards in a gorgeous Louix XV palace, outrageously inappropriate to its surroundings, entertained by Mr. ____, the owner, who, being a Yorkshire manufacturer, gets himself up as a French buck. Wonderfully he aired his villa at Nice and his "little coterie" of Comtesses and Duchesses there. The event of the day, however, was the meeting between F. and a certain Yankee Miss _____, a showy old-young lady much painted, who turned out to be no other than "Philadelphia," so called because he never could remember her name, but about whom I used to chaff him. They were acquainted when he was in America with <a href="http://thepeerage.com/p2720.htm#i27193">Evelyn Ashley</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Grosvenor,_1st_Baron_Stalbridge">Dick Grosvenor</a>, 22 years ago; the fair creature tried to make out that it was 20 years ago and that she was then only 14; but no: she has probably nearly reached my mature age. We were introduced to her aged Mamma in a flaxen wig, rather like Mrs. Skewton. What they are doing at Mr. _____'s I can't quite make out, but I suppose Miss will end by accepting his heart and hand and the villa at Nice and the "little coterie" and all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-33431914080600997802011-03-04T17:58:00.002-06:002011-03-04T18:02:30.554-06:0014Aug1881, Suspense About WestminsterTHE COPPICE, August 14th, 1881.<br />—Great suspense about the Deanery of Westminster. I believe it is hanging between Edwin Palmer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Granville_Bradley">Dr. Bradley</a>, Dr. Hornby, and Dr. Barry. The 1st would be excellent, tho' he is so little known.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-16801129367534145712011-03-04T17:46:00.002-06:002011-03-04T17:52:57.179-06:0008Aug1881, Bradlaugh's OathLONDON, August 8th-14th, 1881.<br />—I think it was last week that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bradlaugh">Bradlaugh</a> made a horrid scene at the House. His line is to insist on trying to take his seat by force; so he had to be stopped in the lobby and hustled downstairs by main force, fighting hard. The plea put forward by himself and all his backers irritates me to death: to listen to them, one would suppose he was the victim of intolerance and religious tests. Whereas the one and only point in question is whether an oath, taken by a man who has explicitly, in black and white, declared, <i>a propos of the very oath in question</i>, that its solemn words have no meaning for him, is a valid oath at all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-65707102244247543102011-03-04T17:40:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:41:52.445-06:0003Aug1881, A Concert For MeLONDON, August 3rd, 1881.<br />—The remarkable day of my first (and last) concert: got up for me by <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/names-and-initials-in-diary.html#Mary 1">Mazy</a> [FN: I.e. Mary Gladstone.] and <a href="http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/16710.html">Spencer</a>. Free Forester quartetts and quintettes (Spencer, Edward, Messrs. Ratliff, Bray, and Muir Mackenzie), a little violin and p.f. pair of Polish sisters called Bulewski, an American Miss Bube: brothers also each sang a solo and Mazy played. Company rather dowdy, but delighted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-45115263502010780682011-03-04T17:15:00.003-06:002011-03-04T17:38:26.054-06:0030Jul1881, The Spanish Prince ImperialRICKMANSWORTH, July 30th, 1881.—We came to Rickmansworth Park, the Birch's. Met the Spanish Ambassador, and certain Palmers; she in a nursing Sister's dress. It seems she is the head of the new Cancer Hospital, where a peculiar non-cutting system is adopted. How this goes with married life I know not ! but they seem very comfortable together. Mr. Birch the funniest specimen of all-round and unmitigated self-complacency I ever came across: impossible not to chaff him wickedly. Most hospitable.<br /><br />—Sunday, July 3st. Poured hard all the morning, but to my delight a little bus and one took us to a nice church at Chorley Wood, where an old Cornish curate preacht excellently. Pottered endlessly most of the afternoon, being audience to the Birch grounds, Birch trees, Birch cows, Birch dog, Birch glories of all sorts. The trees are magnificent. The Spanish Ambassador (who gave occasion for a little airing of Birch Spanish) a quaint person, amusing from his vehement gesticulation of hands, arms, shoulders, and above all eyes. He talked interestingly of the poor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napol%C3%A9on,_Prince_Imperial">Prince Imperial</a>: I felt more sympathetic over his longing to fight under the English flag than I ever did before: the Ambassador said he was a very high-minded and noble fellow, terribly hampered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A9nie_de_Montijo">his foolish mother's</a> attempts to keep him a baby, and wishing for something more manly than being petted thro' a London season. Of course there was also the desire to distinguish himself before the world. The Empress seems to tread hard on Bonapartist toes by constant slaps at parvenus and <a href="http://ladylucycavendish.blogspot.com/2006/02/glossary-of-glynnese.html#ring">showing her ring</a> about ancient blood, to which the Ambassador says he was always inclined to retort, "It was, however, a parvenu that made you an Empress!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21840505.post-54352394573769399762011-03-04T17:06:00.002-06:002011-03-04T17:09:15.426-06:0026Jul1881, I Can't Bear Lecky!LONDON, July 26th, 1881.<br />—We dined with the Roundells ; met Goldwin Smiths and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Edward_Hartpole_Lecky">Leckys</a>. (I can't bear Lecky ! with his innocent long face, looking as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0