Friday, January 19, 2007

26Jun1862, A Full Day

LONDON, Thursday, June 26th, 1862.
—A full day; 1st a delightful clever bkfast, whereat were Bp. of Oxford, Archie Sinclair, Papa, Mr. Palgrave, and others: poetry came uppermost, which enchanted me: Mr. Palgrave has just brought out a beautiful collection of English lyrics, called "The Golden Treasury." Then my 60 p. of Alison. Then we went to the ceremonies at the opening of the new House (Greek St., Soho) of Charity — or rather the removed old one, including the laying of the 1st stone of the Chapel, which Atie. P. did very successfully. Chanting processions, etc. After it, resolutions were proposed by Uncle W., Mr. B. Hope, Bp. of Honolulu, Papa, etc. Uncle W. spoke very well, dear Papa beautifully; he was almost overcome when describing the poor people, who have known better days, and who come to the House when at the last extreme of distress, and are saved thereby from perhaps loss of life, or of mind, or of virtue. Then we came home to a concert for which the drawing-rooms were lent. After which the house stood on its head getting tidy. Then a pompous little dinner, for the entertainment of the Viceroy of Egypt; D. and Dss. of Argyll, Lord Brougham, Lord Sydney, Lord and Ly. De Tabley, Sir John Lawrence, Col. Murray, and Mr. Cobden. Finally, Ld. Dudley's lovely and successful ball; I didn't miss one dance! Partners: Sir C. Russell, Mr. Lyme Something, Ld. Dufferin, Ld. S. Kerr — many Worcestershire folk. Happy to-morrow ! [FN: On which day she went to "Israel in Egypt " at the Crystal Palace.] Letter from Miss W.

23Jun1862, Charles Bowled Out

LONDON, Monday, June 23rd, 1862.
—Went with Meriel, Mrs. T., Albert, Edwd. and John, to see the beginning of the University match at Lord's. The Cambridge went in first, and, alas! we were doomed to see Charles bowled out for a "duck" after a few overs. The first time it has happened to him this year, I believe. However, most of the others played well, and the score reached 171. We left the ground abt 3, the boys staying; and they brought word that wretched Oxford obtained the modest score of 71, so it will probably be a stupid victory in one innings, and Ch. won't have another chance. I read 60 p. of Alison; did some French.

21Jun1862, Fantastic Hair Dressing

LONDON, Saturday, June 21st, 1862.
—We went to a pretty bkfast at Stoke, with a very clever little Mr. Puller (who afterwards went mad [FN: Added later.]). The Duchesse d'Aumale was there ; looked much pinched and aged. Party at Ly. Palmerston's, where was the Viceroy of Egypt, an acute-looking fat man with one eye, and much less of the animal look than the Japanese, etc. Speaks beautiful French. I made gt notes abt the fantastic hair dressing which is come into fashion: odd rolls and curls; and it all seems to have a pyramidal tendency. The French women paint and what they call "enamel" their faces universally, and some powder a little! with gold dust, I believe. Were introduced to Lord Clyde, who, when Atie. P. called our attention to his lovely star of India, insisted on pulling it off, and got quite red and a little furious, tugging at it.

20Jun1862, Lord Lansdowne

LONDON, Friday, June 20th, 1862.
—At Mrs. Mildmay's, a bent and withered old man with a star on his brass-buttoned coat, his left arm, crippled with gout, in a sling, sat near me. He dropped his stick, thanked me when I pickt it up, and went on to comment on the singing. All which facts I record because he was Lord Lansdowne [FN: The third Marquess, known as "the Nestor of the Whigs." He died in 1863.].

14Jun1862, The Queen's Duty to Her Subjects

LONDON, Saturday, June 14th, 1862.
—Ralph and Seymour Neville turned up soon after bkfast, and we had gt fun, talking over delightful Cambridge. Also At. Coque, the Duke of Argyll, and the Miss Dicksons (such an odd party!) came to luncheon. The Duke said the Queen in a letter to him expressed her intention of never again taking part in court gaieties — a natural feeling for her now to have, but it is most clearly one of her many duties to her subjects (and not a small one) to continue by her example to give the tone to society, and to give an opportunity to many who otherwise would not have it of showing their respect and love. There is no fear but that she will do this, as soon as she feels it to be her duty, as perfectly and meekly as she now does it in other respects.

13Jun1862, Wretched Blondin on the Tight Rope

LONDON, Friday, June 13th, 1862.
—Read fifty pages of Alison; wrote up lost journal; did German and French. We went to a sort of breakfast held by Mr. Baring at the Crystal Palace, which did look lovely compared with the monotonous Exhibition. [FN: That of 1862] Wretched Blondin did his feats on the tight rope (it was not tight at all) at an awful height: we did not know he would. One is certain he will some day be killed; and what a wickedness to tempt Providence to such a degree! A moment's giddiness, an attack of cramp, a breakage of the rope, and nothing could save him. It was mar¬vellous: he hung himself head downwards by one leg! walked backwards briskly; stood on his head, made somersaults, etc.

Monday, January 15, 2007

10Jun1862, Three Days Rolled Into One

CAMBRIDGE, Whit Tuesday, June 10th, 1862.
—This feels like 3 days rolled into one. We went off to the Senate House abt 10; the clatter was still more uproarious than yesterday. .. .
After, came luncheon in the fine new hall of Caius: I sat next Lord Hartington. Then trundling about the Horticultural Show in Trinity Hall gardens. Then Papa and I squeezed time for service at King's, whence we walked, and I went upstairs, smoothed my hair, and looked for gloves, and came downstairs — the whole thing in 12 minutes! Then an amusing dinner in Magdalene Hall, Ralph Neville making a facetious speech in giving "the Ladies," the Master proposing healths well and shortly. After which we all dressed, and now I am writing by clear morning daylight — 4 a.m. — to a chorus of wakening birds.
Oh, one of the most delightful balls I have ever had! I must say that, after London experience, it was charming to be engaged to every dance in no time; and I suppose it isn't human nature not to be pleased. Partners, Messrs. Meller (twice), Hofman, Howard (a friend of Albert's), Roberts (a substitute for Lord Hartington, who engaged me, but fell through), Ld. John Hervey, Gaskell (friend of Charles'), and, for Sir Roger, the Master of Magdalene himself!

09Jun1862, Red Letter Day at Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE, Whit Monday, June 9, 1862.
—Some thunder showers, with hail. A pleasant day, with plenty of excitement. Papa and I went to service at King's at 10, after which we had delightful music here, in the shape of Mr. Hudson's marvellous fiddling and Mr. Wade's very beautiful singing. Luncheon and then! —to the Senate House to see the degrees conferred. We sat a good while first, hearing the intermittent storm (good gracious me, what paper, pen and ink!) of cheers, groans, hisses, cat-calls, etc. One pig-headed individual, who wd keep his cap on, excited a tremendous roar for abt 1/4 of an hr, till a dignitary walked down and got him to take it off. Uncle W. got mingled cheers and hisses, Ld. Derby more cheers than Ld. Palmerston, the proctors unlimited groans, and at one time a chorus of barks.
The Chancellor, [FN: The Duke of Devonshire, her future father-in-law] when he took his seat, looked very stately, and did his part with gt dignity. He was well cheered, but not vociferously. Of the Doctors, all were more or less well received, except wretched Ld. Belper, who got no applause. But when the list was read out, the 1st name that was cheered was Papa's! Ld. Brougham's of course the most, and fine and venerable he looked. He is 83. When his degree was conferred the roar of cheers was immense. But Papa got enough to make me nearly burst with pride and excitement. Oh, it was splendid! The Ralphs turned up. At 9 o'clock came off a delightful concert, Titiens singing gloriously. And so ended a proud, satisfactory, red-letter day.

08Jun1862, To Trinity With Papa

CAMBRIDGE, Whitsunday, June 8th, 1862.
—Dined at 5, then went with Papa to Trinity, where the multitude of white robes delighted me as I well remember they did before. Alas! the behaviour of the wearers was anything but in keeping with their angelic appearance! Walked abt. the Backs afterwds with Charles, meeting the Argylls, etc. Conversational eveng; Messrs. Wade (with a lovely tenor voice), Hudson (an unparalleled fiddler), Hofman, pleasant undergraduates, have been running tame most of the day. Also the splendid rifle shot, Mr. Ross, came in: a magnificent-looking man. I shall go mad if all this book means to be greasy. [FN: As this page appears]

07Jun1862, Volume 7 of the Diary Begins

Begun June 7th, 1862, at Cambridge.
Ended August 23rd, 1863, at Hagley.
Begun aged 20 years and 9 months.
Ended aged 22 years, all but a fortnight.

CAMBRIDGE, Saturday, June 7th, 1862.
—All my volumes of journal (except the lost Vol. 1) have had marked events in them, and though, by God's great mercy, the happy events are many more than the sad, yet I have seen enough of sorrow to make every fresh beginning of things rather awful to me; while the peace and enjoyment that remain to me in such full and most undeserved measure make me dread the inevitable "changes and chances of this mortal life." I might be fifty, for the fear I have of change! But this is bad and faithless of me, for loving-kindness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life; and to that I will trust with a quiet mind.

I went to G. St. for breakfast, whence I set off for Cambridge with Papa at 10 1/4. The drive thro' the City to Shoreditch was very interesting to me, and I took in S. Paul's for the 1st time. In Bishopsgate we passed the smoking ruins of a house, with firemen still busy about it. A Mr. Trevylian [FN: It was the young George Otto Trevelyan. He took Lord Lyttelton for "a church dignitary of eminence, on account of the great power and goodness of his face."] (how I have murdered his name!) was in the train with us: he has written first-rate comic verses. Came to Magdalene Lodge; finding it empty, we ate some (congealed) luncheon, and then set off, 1st, to Charles' rooms, where he was not, then all about the lovely "Backs." Visited the Provost of King's, and went to service at King's Chapel, where the organ was glorious, and there was one of the best trebles I have ever heard. We dined with the Latimers at Trinity, meeting Sir E. and Ly. Head, D. and Dss. of Argyll, Ly. L. Cavendish, Ld. Bristol, and Ld. J. Hervey, etc. Singing in the evening. Home by 11 1/2: unlike London! Papa is always a lion, which is charming. Letters; to Elly.

04Jun1862, Kensington Museum

LONDON, Wednesday, June 4th, 1862.
—I went with Uncle and Aunt to the S. Kensington Museum and saw glorious things, that made one proud of one's country. Two great collections of Sevres, together worth £200,000! One single moderate-sized bowl worth £2,000. We saw there the Dow. Duchess of Sutherland, with her youngest son Lord Ronald [FN: Lord Ronald Gower, afterwards a well-known social figure and dilettante of art and letters], a handsome, fair, pleasant-mannered boy of 15.

30May1862, House of Lords

LONDON, Friday, May 30th, 1862.
—Went to the H. of Lords with Atie. P. at 5: heard Ld. Carnarvon in a brilliant sort of speech "pitch into" Uncle W.'s financial policy, and the D. of Newcastle make a dull reply, poor man. I saw him shade his eyes from the light even of the stained windows. I believe he is going blind. Thought the Lords on the whole looked uninteresting old fogies: hardly any quite young man, except the D. of St. Albans and Lord Dufferin — the latter isn't quite young.