Sunday, December 28, 2008

13Sep1863, Going to Chapel Bonnetless

WINDSOR, 15th Sunday after Trinity, September 13th, 1863.
—Serene mild day. Having reached the top of the tree as to great houses, I find here no exception to my reflection made at Cliveden, that magnificent places have shocking Church arrangements. In the 1st place, it is startling to one's feelings to go to a Sunday service in a chapel bonnetless, as the household have to do here. No chanting, except in very bad style to the responses to the Commandments, disagreeable tunes to inferior hymns, sung in a drawl, and the Morning Service divided in two, which last plan has, I know, many advantages, but not to a strong person whom the longest service cannot tire. The Queen, Prince Alfred, and all the children attended the first half alone ; and 3 carriages were used during the day. One wishes (I fear vainly) that something cd lead the Queen to find comfort in that most consoling and peace-giving thing—our Church's Liturgy—that thereby she might be helped and strengthened on her desolate way. How the words in the Psalm went to one's heart—"He is the Father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows." Well, we must trust our Queen to Him, and His Loving Wisdom. He has answered many prayers for her ! I walked with Lady Ely again in the garden, and ended, to my refreshment, at S. George's ; anthem, a spirited, florid one, "When Israel came out of Egypt." Mr. Ellison preacht in the noon-day half of the Chapel service, on Hades and death. I was told it was possible I should dine with the Queen, but it was not so. The evening was lightened by ivory letters. [FN: I.e. I (John Baily, editor) suppose a game played with ivory letters.] I think I must have met the pick of the Court for pleasantness and kindness.

12Sep1863, Beginning to Like Court Life

WINDSOR, Saturday, September 12th, 1863.
—Fine, but rather misty and Novembery. I have got rid of "les vapeurs" and begin rather to like Court life ! I asked leave to go to S. George's in the morning (more like a peggy than ever ! " Please'm, may I go out for an hour ? "). Little I thought on the great marriage day when I shd next be in the glorious Chapel ! The singing lovely. Anthem, "0 sing joyfully," not very pretty. Then came my own room. At luncheon were several Privy Councillors. Ld. Palmerston, his beauty much impaired by particularly bad slate-coloured false teeth, the D. of Newcastle, looking ill, Ld. Granville, Sir George Grey, Sir Andrew Buchanan. Horatia rode with Prss. Helena and P. Arthur. The Queen went, unattended, to plant a new oak in the place of Herne's oak, which has lately fallen. I walked with Ly. Ely from 5 till 4 to 7 : she sent a cold chill through me by saying I shd very likely dine with the Queen to-morrow. Sir T. Biddulph and Ly. Augusta Bruce dined : Ly. Biddulph came in the evening. The same party, transposing Sir Thomas for Gen. Seymour, played whist. Prss. Louise sent for Horatia, and cried and sobbed at the thoughts of losing her on Monday, after their long bit at Osborne together. The same soft heart and quick affections that Granny found in the elder ones. Letters : fr. Papa, Atie. P., Meriel. To Atie. P., At. C. and At. Yaddy. The sentries presented arms to Ly. Ely and me ! misled by the Queen's little dog, who was with us, and who doubtless took all the honour to himself.

11Sep1863, Poor Peggies

WINDSOR, Friday, September 11th, 1863.
—Oh dear, I shall sympathize for the rest of my life with poor peggies [FN: I.e. maidservants.] launched at their first place ! To-day has taught me what it is to "feel strange." I am not naturally shy ; and the actual bathing-feel has pretty nearly gone off, but I am unked and forlorn, in spite of everybody's kindness. Ly. Ely took me to the kennels (mem. 16 puppies), the lovely dairy, and to Frogmore, where the mausoleum, which does so jar upon one's English feelings, is still being worked at. The Queen goes there daily. Ly. Ely told me much that was interesting the while. After breakfast we were in the corridor, when the Queen came in with the children. Prss. Louise brought little darling Prss. Beatrice up to me and I kissed her tiny hand. She is not pretty, but has a dear little intelligent face. The little Princes were at the kennels in the aftn, when Miss Stopford and I passed. They called, and we joined them. Prince Arthur is very handsome, if only he looked more like 13 years old ; but he is wonderfully small. Prince Leopold has a funny, waggish face, with the brightest blue eyes ; he is miserably thin and puny, though they think him stronger : Lady Caroline Barrington told me the doctors hardly expect him to live—poor darling ! Miss Stopford told me much about Prss. Louise, whom she has been with at Osborne. H.R.H. seems to be rather naughty, with a mischievous will of her own ; draws beautifully.

Miss S. and I had a pleasant walk, seeing the old porter at the garden gate, and the tombstone to the memory of a magpie he loved. I was afraid the dinner wd be worse than last night, as Miss S. (who begs me to call her Horatia) and Ly. Ely dined with the Queen ; but it was not dreadful ; I had to sweep down the stately interminable corridor all by myself to dinner ; but luckily caught Ly. Caroline. In the evening, Gen. Grey and I, Ly. C. and Gen. Seymour played at whist ! which made the time go pleasantly.

10Sep1863, First Day as Maid-of-Honour

WINDSOR, Thursday, September 10th, 1863.
—The much-to-be-remembered day of my first entering upon Maid-of-Honour duties. I left Hagley at 9, inside out with bathing-feel, reached London in time for a scramble of indispensable shopping, and thence to Windsor, which looked noble and ethereal, bathed in hazy sunset light, as we came in sight of it. I was shown up to 2 snug little rooms by a comfortable old body, and soon made the acquaintance of Miss Stopford and Miss Kerr, who came to me. They are both together here by some mistake ; but it is very pleasant for me. Miss Stopford has won my heart, and I wish she was to be my colleague (Miss Cathcart, a dread being, is to be). They were most kind, comforting me by declaring my clothes all right. Lady Ely next came in, and took me to Ly. Caroline Barrington, and next I saw Lady Augusta Bruce for a few minutes. All kind and comfortable. I was prepared for finding the dinner and evening silent and stiff ; but it was much better than I expected. Present, Lady Ely, the two above named Maids-of-Honour, Lord Caithness, General Seymour, Colonel Liddell, Major Cowell, M. Buff, Major Elphinstone. The Queen dines apart now. The sotto-voce conversation on very Courtly and regal subjects was impressive ! And I confess I was also impressed by the 8 noiseless servants and indeed by all I saw. 0 the dignity and beauty of the corridor and rooms ! After dinner, Miss S. and Miss C. having disappeared, I was sitting alone with Ly. Ely, when one of the noiseless servants came and said : " Her Majesty desires your Ladyship to bring Miss Lyttelton into the corridor." So kind Ly. Ely put my arm in hers, and I went, trembling. The Queen came forward from the end of the corridor, and gave me her hand with all the grace and gentle dignity of old times. And 0 what it was to kiss her hand again, for the first time since I saw her at the height of her happiness, without so much as a shadow cast before by the dark sorrow in store for her ! I can't exactly tell what it is in her face which is altered, for she looks well ; but she has gained an expression which there used not to be : her grief has set its stamp there, but so as to refine and ennoble it. Her sweet and kindly smile went to my heart. She asked after Granny, Papa, At. Coque, and "Meriel," saying of the latter, " She has two children, has she not ? " Said more than once that I was like Mamma, but also like Aunt Lavinia. Lady Ely said I was nervous; the Queen said smiling, "Nervous ! 0 no ; she will soon get over that," or words to that effect. She then beckoned up the 2 Princesses who were with her ; they both kissed me. Prss. Louise is very pretty—Prss. Helena asked after " Laddle " [FN: Lady Lyttelton, Lady Frederick's grandmother.] — Prince Alfred was in the distance (grown rather fat), also pretty Prince Arthur. The interview lasted only a few minutes ; but after it was over, I shd have liked nothing better than rushing off somewhere and having a good cry ; instead of which I had to go back in a very tremulous state to the solemn drawing-room, where we sat round a table the rest of the evening, and were rather dull. I went to bed tired with excitement.

09Sep1863, A Bewitching Linsey

HAGLEY, Wednesday, September 9th, 1863.
—Mild and fine, but with something of the Novr. look and feel. My bathing-feel "va crescendo." I drove with At. E. and May to Stourbridge, and falling in love with a bewitching linsey, bought it against winter for 33s. ; 12 yds.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

08Sep1863, Summoned to Windsor

HAGLEY, Tuesday, September 8th, 1863.
—A notable and most upsetting, exciting, and bewildering day. There came a letter from Ly. Ely (which lost a post by going to London), summoning me to Windsor on the 10th to be in waiting till the 14th. Having been told Xmas was the earliest date possible, this interesting communication finds me without "a thing to my back !" I tore off to Stourbridge with Gielen and At. C. and bought silk, etc., for two black gowns ; must trust to London when I go up for bonnet, flowers, and so on. The wretched Gielen must go blind and mad with work, in spite of many helpers, but ! "la Royne le veult." An unpleasant state of bathing-feel I am in ; still, when the terrific 4 days are over (they never will be, I think !), without any hitch or blunder, I shall be glad to have made the 1st plunge.

05Sep1863, Hereford Cathedral

HAGLEY, Saturday, September 5th, 1863.
—The eleven of us, with Papa, Newmany, and Miss Merlet, had a most jovial and successful monster expedition to Hereford ; and so I have, to my great delight, added that noble Cathedral, in all the glory of its matchlessly excellent restoration, to my list. Tho' small, the richness and variety of its Norman work, its perfect specimens of E. English, in which were specially beautiful deep mouldings, and many details, as the early Decorated 2-light windows 50 feet high, the lovely tiling, and the splendid screen, make it rank very high in beauty. Alfred much struck with his first Cathedral service : said he liked the Cathedral better even than the dinner, or the uproarious fun in the train.

29Aug1863, Wordsworth's Tour in Italy

HAGLEY, Saturday, August 29th, 1863.
—Have finished Wordsworth's tour in Italy, which gives a thoughtful, temperate, and far-seeing view of the Church of Rome, the possibility and the crying need of its reformation, and (which is the point of the book) the necessity of its reforming itself. Present political excitement and disturbance seem to open up the way.

27Aug1863, Riding the Hunter

HAGLEY, Thursday, August 27th, 1863.
—I then rode on the hunter, with Lavinia and Bob, and had the satisfaction of keeping on in spite of a very lively kick.

26Aug1863, Warrant of Appointment

HAGLEY, Wednesday, August 26th, 1863.
—I received my warrant of appointment, for which superfluity I am to pay £25.

24Aug1863, Volume 8 of the Diary Begins

HAGLEY, Monday, August 24th, 1863. S. Bartho's Day.
—Prescott with Arthur, Tasso with Nevy, "Childe Harold" with Albert, Yonge with Bob. Old M. came in after church, rather wretched with a cold. I rode with Arthur.

05Aug8163, Visiting the Thrown Boy

HAWARDEN, Wednesday, August 5th, 1863.
—Walked with Ats P. and C. and the 2 Marks to see the poor thrown boy at Mancot : he seems recovering.

03Aug1863, Energetic Duty

HAWARDEN, Monday, August 3rd, 1863.
—Papa went off to night to sleep 4 hours at Chester, thence to Birmingham for breakfast, thence to the Board of Guardians at Bromsgrove If that isn't energetic doing of duty, I shd like to know what is.

01Aug1863, Arrow Into the Blue

HAWARDEN, Saturday, August 1st, 1863.
—I got an arrow into the blue at 60 yards, shooting with Uncle Henry's prize bow, weight 55. Could only manage abt 15 shots, and my arms ache a little.

30Jul1863, Boy Thrown from Horse

HAWARDEN, Thursday, July 30th, 1863.
—A horse ran away with a boy of 16, who was thrown and grievously hurt, midway between the Chester Lodge and Broughton Church. Atie. P. flew off to nurse him.

25Jul1863, Willow Leaves on the Sun

FALCONHURST, S. James, Saturday, July 25th, 1863.
—We went for luncheon to the Nasmyths', a delightful old couple, he the gt sledge-hammer man. Their house lovely and full of interesting and beautiful things. Mem. especially, his observatory—where he showed us a model of the face of the sun, which he has just discovered to be covered promiscuously by willow-leafshaped things, from whence comes the light, and which Sir J. Herschel, from observing that they move independently of each other, is inclined to suspect may be living creatures. They are 2,000 miles long and 90 broad ; if they are beings they must be mighty dazzling Archangels indeed.

16Jul1863, Last Clever Breakfast

LONDON, Thursday, July 16th, 1863.
—Suddenly on the cold side of cool, without rain or anything to account for it. Last clever breakfast, to which came the Dss. of Sutherland and Ly. Herbert, Dr. Acland, Dean Trench, "Garibaldi's Englishman," Ld. Frederic Cavendish, and a china dealer. Slavery was talked of. The Duke of Hamilton has died of congestion of the brain from a fall downstairs. I went with Atie. P. to Heath's for a chimney-pot riding hat (the height of the fashion). A detachment from S. Martin's school came for tea, games, and little gifts, and enjoyed themselves hugely ; more delighted with the scamper on the gravel terrace than our sch. children are with half the park to play in. Mary and Maud Herbert came to see. Gladstones to a tiny dance at the Grosvenors' ; but I have actually wound up my gaieties, which have consisted of : 17 balls, 8 parties, 9 dinner parties, 8 private concerts, besides breakfasts of different sorts, etc. Letters : to M.

14Jul1863, A Good Recherché Ball

LONDON, Tuesday, July 14th, 1863.
—We went to a Chiswick bkft, and got a little revived by the bit of country. The D. of Sutherland and other young men played at leap-frog ! and there was croquet, a country dance, and valsing on the grass. A good recherché ball (my last) at Ly. De Grey's : I was asked to dance by Lords George Lennox, Frederic Cavendish, Amberley, and Messrs. Lascelles and Stanley.

12Jul1863, Last London Sunday

LONDON, 6th Sunday after Trinity, July 12th, 1863.
—Very hot. I have at last reached, I really believe, my last London Sunday. Went with Papa and Charles to the John St. Chapel to hear Mr. Brookfield, who preacht. with great fervour, point, and severity on Pharisaism. Saw there old, old Lady De Dunstanville, who still enjoys London gaieties, tho' looking as if a pinch wd crumble her. Also the Mildmays and Montgomeries were there. It refreshes one to see people whom one only connects with diamonds and wreaths—in church. Aftn to hear Dr. Goulburn preach very well on behalf of the Whetstone Penitentiary. Charles went back to Cambridge after dinner. The match was drawn. Harrow not going in at all for 2nd innings : wd have had 200 to get, so we shd probably have won. Spencer got 10 runs 2nd innings, and he and Nevy got 6 wickets between them.
I read a short sermon, and began Goulburn's "Study of the Holy Scriptures."

09Jul1863, Charles Fechter

LONDON, Thursday, July 9th, 1863.
—To breakfast came the Comte de Paris, grown manly-looking since his American campaign ; his manners very noble and graceful ; his English extremely French. Also came no less a man than Fechter, who was very agreeable. His face is finer seen in private life than on the stage : a great look of the great Napoleon—full piercing eyes, hooked nose, and expressive mouth ; his figure dumpy and fat. Ld. De Grey's little boy, who is frantic with admiration of Fechter, was sent for to see his hero : his parents being here.

08Jul1863, Jenny Lind

LONDON, Wednesday, July 8th, 1863.
—I had the wonderful treat of going to S. James Hall with Miss Gladstone, to hear Jenny Lind sing in the " Allegro " and " Penseroso." I suppose her high notes are a little gone, but the matchless expression and heart-feeling can never go out of her voice, and there is a ringing purity of tone unlike anything else. Mem. "Sweet bird," "Hide me from day's garish eye," "Let the merry bells," and "May at last my weary eye." It was a rare perfection to have words, voice, and airs all so glorious and all glorifying each other.

Monday, December 22, 2008

The Twelve Lyttleton Children

07Jul1863, A Dance with Fred Cavendish

LONDON, Tuesday, July 7th, 1863.
—We went to a breakfast given by the Dow. Dss. of Sutherland at Chiswick, meeting the Prince and Princess. She is in mourning for some Danish relation, and wore a hat which didn't quite suit her as it hid her lovely brow. We had a country dance on the grass : she went down it with dignity with the Duke of Sutherland. We were immense audience to the darling little Grosvenor children. The eldest Sutherland boy, little Ld. Stafford, isn't pretty and lookd delicate, but his brother (who is called Ld. Macleod, I believe : his mother's 2nd title) is a beauty. Mary and Helen came with us. I played one game of croquet ½ through. In the evening an exceedingly beautiful ball at Stafford House. I was asked to dance by Lords Amberley, Fred. Cavendish, George Lennox, Mr. Lascelles and an innominato with whom I executed what pretended to be a Scotch reel ! We walked home, Atie P. with Willy, Agnes, Ld. Adare, and I, like a convict, marched in the middle, thus guarded. The night was lovely ; and before getting into bed, about 4, I counted 20 towers and spires in the serene, opal-like morning atmosphere.

04Jul1863, May Has Scarlet Fever

LONDON, Saturday, July 4th, 1863.
—We got the anxious news that poor old May has got the scarlet fever, in spite of having had it slightly in '56. Her throat is bad, but the telegraph this afternoon said it was a favourable case. The 6 who have had scarlet fever have all had it favourably, and how often altogether anxiety of this sort has ended in relief and thankfulness ! God grant it may be so again. We did not hear of the certainty till the aftn. In the morning Papa and I went again to the Oval, and this time saw Charles get more than 20 runs in most beautiful style ; getting a lovely cut for 4, first ball, and a square leg hit for 3 the next.

02Jul1863, A Northern Yankee

LONDON, Thursday, July 2nd, 1863.
—A most delightful clever breakfast. At the table (1 of 3) where I was sat Papa, Mr. Monckton Milnes, Mr. Herbert of Muckross, Miss Stanley, Count Struzlecki (there is no spelling his name), and a Northern Yankee, Mr. Cyrus Field. I'm afraid I shd have preferred being disgusted with the latter ; but truth compels me to say that he was agreeable, and seemed to be candid and modest—the very last 2 qualities I shd have looked for. Also free from twang properly speaking, tho' his accent and pronunciation were curious. He said "poblic," "Onquestionably," "South Car'lina," and once "no thing" in 2 distinct words. He spoke with contempt of Lincoln to whose inanity he attributed the duration of the war, said that he wished no ex-president cd be re-elected, or given any government office, as according to what it is now, presidents are more occupied in the effort to secure future votes than in their duty to the country. This he implied: and said the whole war might have been crushed in the bud, if President Buchanan had not been thinking of the Southern votes. A nice state of things indeed ! The expenses of the war hitherto amount to half our national debt ; but he said much of the money spent circulated profitably in the country.
Beautiful select concert at the Aumales' to which Papa and I went, kindly lifted by Lord Harrowby. Mario, Grisi, Alboni and Delle Sedie sang, and Thalberg played ; and tho' Grisi's voice is much gone, and Mario's high notes a little strained sometimes, it was glorious. The Duc de Chartres [FN: perhaps Duc de Guise?] was there with his nice young bride : also the Comte de Paris ; it was nice to see the two brothers' evident affection for each other. Ld. Amberley [FN: Son of Earl Russell, the Prime Minister, and father of the present Earl and Mr. Bertrand Russell.] took me to supper ; a very small, scrubby-looking youth, but full of intelligence and with pretty manners.

26Jun1863, The Guards' Ball

LONDON, Friday, June 26th, 1863.
—At 11 we went to the great thing of the season : the Guards' ball, in what was the English picture-gallery of the Exhibition, given to the Prince and Princess. It was all on a royal scale ; and I shan't soon forget the beautiful effect, when T.R.H.'s went away, of the procession streaming through the antechambers and down the flag-emblazoned staircase lined with picked Guardsmen ; "God save the Queen" going on the while. The Princess looked lovely and as if she enjoyed herself, but pale. I didn't dance "nor didn't expect to" The Royal quadrille was often a lovely sight, being composed of many beauties : Charlotte Spencer, Ly. Adelaide Talbot, Ly. Mary Craven, the Dss. of Manchester, Princess Mary, etc. Lord Dunmore dancing with the Prss. was a sight to see of good looks and perfect manners.

25Jun1863, Stage Stories from Charles Kean

LONDON, Thursday, June 25th, 1863.
—Hot. The Duchesses of Sutherland and Argyll, the Duke of Argyll, Charles Kean, the Cambridge Public Orator, Dr. Stanley, Papa, etc., came to the clever breakfast. The Exhibition building and what is to be done with it was the prevailing topic : rather a dull one. After bkft, however, Agnes and I had Kean to ourselves, and he was very entertaining with stage anecdotes and experiences. Said nobody would guess what an inclination to laugh comes over actors at the most awful moments. As when Garrick was playing King Lear (the last thing I should have thought he ever cd do, by the bye), a butcher in the pit, who had with him a dog which stood with its forepaws on the seat in front contemplating the stage, took off his wig to cool his head, and having no peg, put it for a moment on the dog's head. As Garrick advanced, preparatory to falling on his knees and uttering the tremendous curse on Goneril, he caught the eye of the bewigged dog ; and went into such hysterics of laughing that he had to go off the stage. I received the last quarterly allowance I shall ever receive from Papa's poor pinched pocket, I suppose ! And I floundered about in my accounts as usual. At 6 we rode with Willy and saw the Prince riding with Althorp and Col. Keppel. Mr. Baird joined us—I broke my stirrup strap but can luckily manage without : so we put it into Willy's pocket, and went on unheeding.

24Jun1863, The Beau Monde Responds

LONDON, Wednesday, June 24th, 1863. S. John Baptist.
—Six letters of congratulation poured down upon me, which, added to what greets me everywhere in the beau monde, make me feel very much as if I were going to be married.

22Jun1863, So Know All Men

LONDON, Monday, June 22nd, 1863.
—The Belmores came to luncheon. After which came Granny and At. K., bringing with them the Queen's official offer of the post to me, through the Duchess of Wellington, Mistress of the Robes. So know all men by these presents that I am a Maid-of-Honour. This is a momentous event in my life, and I am quite tired of ruminating and speculating about it.

21Jun1863, A Confirmatory Letter

LONDON, 3rd Sunday after Trinity, June 21st, 1863.
— Maid-of-honourums : a confirmatory letter came from Ly. Augusta.

20Jun1863, Maid-of-honourums

LONDON, Saturday, June 20th, 1863.
—I breakfasted in G. St., and we talked a good deal Maid-of-honourums.

Friday, December 19, 2008

19Jun1863, A Maid-of-Honour !!!!!!!

LONDON, Friday, June 19th, 1863.
—I went to luncheon in St. St., and there was told a wonderful bit of news. Ly. Augusta Bruce has written to Granny to ask whether, on a vacancy occurring, and the Queen being graciously pleased to offer it, there wd be any objection to my accepting the post of Maid-of-Honour ! ! ! ! ! ! ! And after some consultation, an answer was sent, signifying my grateful willingness. The very anticipation is so overpowering that I have had a headache all the aftn and I certainly dread the prospect, viewing my perpetual blunders, and the probable cuts into Hagley holidays and Papa. But ! £400 a year ! I shall be more than off his hands, and there is much that " I look the look over " (a case of dropping asleep ! "look forward to" I meant).

18Jun1863, Shaking Hands with the Princess

LONDON, Thursday, June 18th, 1863.
—Lovely hot day. The Prince and Princess came to Dr. Stanley's garden, to see the tent which the latter slept in in the East, and we, the select few on the lawn, of course looked at both to our heart's content. And Atie. P. had the presence of mind to present me to the Princess ! who shook hands with me. My curtseys were beautiful, but 0 dear ! I couldn't make out what she said to me, with her low peculiar utterance and foreign accent. Luckily Agnes interpreted for me. Afterwards we went to see Magdalen, etc., and then saw T.R.H.'s go away, and the town, as one may say, visibly collapse after all the excitement.

17Jun1863, Sleeping on the Floor

OXFORD, Wednesday, June 17th, 1863.—
Very lovely and hot. Darling old Meriel is 23 to-day. Agnes and I spent a most notably sleepless and unquiet night ; the garret where we were put being rather close, the bed bumpy, hard, and too small, and Agnes, as a rule, unable to sleep well with a bedfellow. So we got alternately on to the floor full length, tucked up in a chair, listened to the innumerable clocks, and went into a succession of giggles, which helped us through many a weary hour. Finding the floor made me ache all over, and the chair was little better, I managed about 4 o'clock to lie down across the foot of the bed, and the contrast was so delicious, that an hour of comparative comfort and some sleep followed. And the night ended at last leaving us in an exhausted and stiffened state. We breakfasted very jovially with Stephy, meeting Johnny and Edward. Got prosperously into the theatre, where the reception of their R.H.'s was as uproarious and enthusiastic as yesterday. I didn't stay out the prize recitations, but got escorted home by John. Then came a State banquet at All Souls', to which it was a great honour to be asked, and afterwards we went to the Deanery garden, where the Prince came, and played with immense zest, boyishness, good nature, and some skill, at ball with his equerries and friends, using a croquet ball, and getting his fingers battered many a time, and once his nose ! A select circle of tufts were there Lords Newry, Parker [FN: Space left for other names not filled in.] ; also Ld. Albert Leveson-Gower. Thence we stumped off on foot to see the boat procession, which was a great success, in the lovely weather. High tea, and the Christ Ch. ball. We feasted our eyes on the Princess.
I was asked to dance by Lords Hamilton and Adair, Messrs. Parker, Warren, Wood, innom°. [FN: I.e. innominato, somebody whose name she did not know.] Ag. danced with the Prince.

16Jun1863, Cheers for the Prince

OXFORD, Tuesday, June 16th, 1863.
—An almost unbroken soak of small, soft, penetrating rain, cruelly taking from one's enjoyment, and 0 how one hates one's unavoidable smartness in weather when a short print petticoat and waterproof cloak and hood wd be the only comfortable garments ! Nevertheless great have been to-day's enjoyments. We went 1st to the Deanery to see the lovely rooms prepared for T.R.H.'s, and soon after saw them arrive in Tom Quad. I saw them quite beautifully walk up to the Deanery, and for the 1st time realized the loveliness of the Princess, her noble, innocent, and peculiarly dignified expression, her winning grace, and her most beautiful smile. She gave away the prizes standing at the top of one of the flights of steps, under an awning. At about ¼ to 3, Agnes and I found ourselves wedged into a corner of the Ladies' Gallery in the theatre, close to one of the rostrums, and albeit we had nothing particular to sit on, and but little to stand on, we saw and heard famously. And never shall I forget the astounding cheers when the great doors were opened, and our Princess walked up ! As the Prince appeared immediately after her train, the cheers ceased only for the whole mass of voices to join in " God save the Queen " with a mighty shout ; and this was the sublimest thing, in its intense effect upon one, that I have ever heard. Afterwards the tremendous cheers began again and again ; till the theatre and everyone in it was ready to burst ; of course there was plenty of noise besides, and more, and more unruly, than at Cambridge, but this is all I care to remember.

15Jun1863, Meeting Howard and Jowett

OXFORD, Monday, June 15th, 1863.
—We came away last of all, and arrived here (at Dr. Stanley's) about 5, on a notable visit, viz. to celebrate Commemoration and the Prince and Princess of Wales' coming—he to receive a D.C.L. degree. These kind people have packed unheard-of numbers into their ingenious little house : the Stanleys of Alderley (minus parents), the Dufferins, and others besides are here. Ly. Dufferin has a gentle, winning countenance and manner, but is not pretty. A large dinner-party, cleverly divided between hall and dining-room. I sat between Ld. Dufferin, who was extremely agreeable, and Mr. Howard, [FN: No doubt George Howard, afterwards 9th Ear of Carlisle, a great lover of art.] who can talk to any degree about drawing ! In the evening amongst others came the too-famous Mr. Jowett, whose mild intellectual face wd not lead one to suspect him to be one of the tamperers with the Faith, as, however, he must be called.

14Jun1863, Paradise and Heaven

CLIVEDEN, 2nd Sunday after Trinity, June 14th, 1863.
—Hot with soft rain ; lovely afternoon, but felt thundery. My experience hitherto of peculiarly grand country places (and this is grand, though not large) certainly gives me no favourable impression of their churchums. Some of the party went to Cookham, and most to S. George's, Windsor, in the aftn ; but Agnes and I were doomed twice to a dreary bare room where service goes on pending the restoration of Hedzor Church : no chanting, a barrel-organ, laborious, longwinded, and truly dreadful hymn-singing, and in the morning no sermon owing to the poor clergyman's being ill. The aftn sermon, however, was good, on Watching and Praying. A. and I walked down to the river afterwards, views peaceful and lovely. Also we capped Sunday verses, and read aloud a good sermon of Jebb's. The Duchess of Argyll's wonderful cleverness is delightful to listen to ; and most gracefully it sits upon her, as she looks up with her shining eyes, and in that low gentle voice comes out with such knowledge of books, events, and politics. Meanwhile the perfect taste, refinement, and luxury of the place almost oppresses me. When one lives in Paradise, how hard it must be to ascend in heart and mind to Heaven !

13Jun1863, America: North vs South

CLIVEDEN, Saturday, June 13th, 1863.
—Set off (beyond blowing) to Cliveden—connected in my mind, for ever I shd think, with old M.'s engagement, and our very shy and very lovely visit here just aftr. There are here the Argylls, Ld. Richard Cavendish, the Wm. Cowpers, Ly. C. Grosvenor, and poor Mr. William Harcourt,[FN: Afterwards Sir William, the statesman.] who 4 months ago lost his young wife in her 2nd confinement, their first beautiful baby having died the year before. It does make one's heart ache to think of such grief ; and his whole look and manner touch one extremely, the more because he joins in conversation, and puts on no affectations of sorrow ; but his face tells it all. The little baby lives. During dinner America was the topic : the Duke and Duchess are Northern ! in their sympathies : as there was no zealous Southerner to give battle, I did not come in for a regular elaborate argument about it, which I long to hear, that I may make some head and tail of the subject. Mr. Harcourt said slavery was the cause of the rupture, but abolition was not the object of it.

11Jun1863, Only Two Dances

LONDON, Thursday, June 11th, 1863. S. Barnabas.
— An amusing ball, unlike the general run, at Miss Coutts's ; there was at first not a partner to be seen ! and when a few did turn up, they wouldn't dance with me. Consequently my two dances were with an innominato and Ld. Feilding.

08Jun1863, A Page-of-Honour

LONDON, Monday, June 8th, 1863.
—. . . Then with Papa to St. St., to see Arthur [FN: He was a Page-of-Honour.] in his Court costume for the levee. (Query, is he to hold up the Prince's coat-tails?) I must say he looked bewitching, in his red George II coat faced with gold, his white silk tights and stockings, his red-heeled, buckled shoes, his cocked hat, shoulder-knot of satin ribbon, lace ruffles, and rapier ! He stepped into the pompous Royal coach which came for him with amazing dignity.

02Jun1863, America and Heaven

LONDON, Tuesday, June 2nd, 1863.
—I sat next an exceedingly agreeable Mr. Bourke, who has seen a good deal of America. He said the people were quite as hateful as books describe them. And he told me of one horrible thing : they dare to push their democracy into their very ideas of Heaven ; i.e. they will never give to the Almighty the title of "King of Kings," or any other which implies sovereign authority, as being contrary to their notions of universal equality ! !

26May1863, Smiling Loveliness

HAGLEY, Tuesday, May 26th, 1863.
—Sarina [FN: Sarina James, daughter of 1st Lord Northbourne : afterwards wife of Sir Arthur Godley, created Lord Kilbracken in 1909.] and I with the little boys had a charming walk thro' Wickberry wood and over the obelisk hill : 0 dear, dear ! the soft smiling loveliness of everything ! and the springtide of the trees, grass and garden gives a positive exhilaration to one's feelings. This summer, I think, will seem a double one to me.

17May1863, Dirty Gloves

LONDON, Sunday after Ascension, May 17th, 1863.
—Thence to Chapel Royal ; I grieve to say that I cannot so abstract myself as to feel like a Christian in church, when I form part of that select circle of the nobility who sit in the Peeresses' boudoir ; and I was nearly as painfully conscious of a pair of dirty gloves as if I had been at a concert. Oh dear ! there are things allowed by our Church which one wd be ashamed of a dissenter or Romanist knowing !
We went thence to St. St. for the evening, and now Papa has walked me home. Not having been once on wheels, I must have walked about 7 miles.

16May1863, The Drawing Room

LONDON, Saturday, May 16th, 1863.
— Some rain : soft and pleasant. I breakfasted in G. St., and saw old M. set off for the drawing-room, looking her very best, in blue and silver. She was tired to death, having to spend six hours in the performance ; which we happy entrée people [FN: The Gladstones, of course, had the entrée.] achieved in little more than an hour. It bewilders me to think that, at the last drawing-room I was at, the Queen stood there ; the unexampled sunshine of her life yet uneclipsed, and her husband beside her. This one was held by the Princess of Wales, who looked pale and not so lovely as she is generally thought ; but very sweet and winning. Prss. Alice shook hands with me. There were 5 curtseys to be made, as, besides those, there were there Pr. of Wales, and the Cambridges.

13May1863, Alone in a Cab

LONDON, Wednesday, May 13th, 1863.
—Bkfast in G. St., whence I went alone in a cab, with nothing but a footman, to Shoolbred's again, for the N. room carpet, which I forgot like an idiot yesterday. Willy was presented in his brand new Deputy Lieutenant's uniform. He, his parents and Agnes, had the honour of going to a wonderfully select ball at Pam's, to meet the Prince and Princess.

10May1863, Four Sermons

LONDON, 5th Sunday after Easter, May 10th, 1863.
—Same weather ; finer than yesterday. Whereas in London I generally hear but one sermon in church, to-day I have heard three. Papa came as usual, and we all went to Whitehall, where Canon Stanley preached beautifully on the Triumphs of Death. S. James in the aft : the Bishop of London preached on the use of the historic books of the Bible. Thence I went to St. St., where Mrs. Talbot called to see me, and I went at 7 with her and Ldy Wharncliffe and daughter (the latter really recovered) to a delightful, hearty, congregational Service at S. Peter's, Windmill St., where they have just set up a new organ. Good sermon by Mr. Kempe on Church music. Papa dropped me at home, and so it fell out that I came in for prayers here, and a fourth sermon, a short striking one, Uncle W.'s own, on the Ascension.

09May1863, Dining at the Gladstones

LONDON, Saturday, May 9th, 1863.
—Agnes and I dined with the P. Gladstones en famille ; while uncle and aunt dined at Marlborough House, and came away raving of the Princess of course !

04May1863, A Speech by Uncle William

LONDON, Monday, May 4th, 1863.
—We drove a little, and then ! went to the House of Commons and heard Uncle William's splendid speech in defence of his extraordinary proposal of income-taxing charities. He bore down all before him while he spoke ; defending himself, as none but he can do, by dint of his marvellous eloquence and ingenuity, and by the evident strength and depth of his own convictions, which gave tenfold power to all he said. But I can well believe the opposition, when it calls the scheme "monstrous." The cry against it is tremendous : an enormous deputation waited upon him this afternoon, headed by the D. of Cambridge and the 2 Archbishops, the House was nearly to a man against him, and so (though his speech converted some), he withdrew the motion.
We went, somewhat exhausted in mind and body, to Ly. H. Vane's ball after this. I danced with Messrs. Lascelles and Wortley, Lord Cowper, and was engaged to Lord Lennox, when we had to go. But there ! I haven't mentioned that the Princess of Wales came quite incog. with 2 ladies, to hear the debate ! and had to go before the speech. We saw her lovely, fair, gracious profile very well.

02May1863, The Prince of Wales Bows

LONDON, Saturday, May 2nd, 1863.
—Rode with Agnes. As we cantered up Constitution Hill, we saw a young man riding in front of us, who proved to be the Prince of Wales ; only one gentleman with him, and a groom. And near the Marble Arch, a little phaeton with pair of ponies driven by a very pretty young lady, passed us : somebody in deep mourning was with her. The carriage looked like a Royal one ; and we have nearly made up our minds that the young lady was the Princess ; the only objection being that she was not very like her ! Coming back, the Prince of Wales passed us, and made us a beautiful bow. We saw him within the gates of Marlborough House, where they are just established.
Ly. Pam's [FN: Lady Palmerston.] party very full : I saw Lord Robt. Cecil,[FN: Afterwards Lord Salisbury, the Prime Minister.] who is supposed to have written a keen, clever, and cutting article abt this governt. in the Quarterly some time ago ; "Four Years of a Reforming Administration."

01May1863, May Day and King Lear

LONDON, Friday, May Day, 1863. SS. Philip and James.
—I had the immense treat of going with Mrs. Watson and Miss Boyle to hear F. Kemble read "King Lear," as I did once before, in '56, I think. I cried horribly.

27Apr1863, Princess's wedding gifts

LONDON, Monday, April 27th, 1863.
—Still warmer. The lilacs are all out. We went to the Kensington Museum to see the Princess's wedding gifts, which were hardly worth the exertion. Most of the jewels have been taken away, and many things were in very bad taste. Afterwards we went to breakfast at Ld. Grosvenor's : such luxurious splendour their house is full of ; it looked like fairy-land. Saw their eldest children, Lord Belgrave, a fine fellow of ten, very tall, and a little like Cousin Ebbett ! and Lady Elizabeth, a most lovely angel-faced little thing of six, like the Duchess of Argyll. She came softly in in her tiny riding-habit.

24Apr1863, New Hats

LONDON, Friday, April 24th, 1863.
—At. C. picked me up, and we went to S. James at 11, after which we went with the girls and shopped with extraordinary vigour and success : got them and myself hats of the high-crowned fashion, which in its extreme (but ours are moderate) is suggestive of something between a bandit and a Tyrolese.

11Apr1863, The Valse

HAGLEY, Saturday, April 11th, 1863.
—I have mastered the Scotch reel, and Charles has fairly learnt to valse.

Friday, February 01, 2008

10Mar1863, The Wedding of the Prince of Wales

LONDON, Tuesday, March 10th, 1863.
—The great day of the Prince of Wales' marriage to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. I must try and put down a detailed account, for of course this day has been one in a thousand, and it can hardly be that one life-time should include another pageant so great, magnificent, and stately, combined as it is in this case with so much that is true and beautiful and deeply moving. In short, a pageant with inward as well as outward beauty ! Agnes and her sisters, Toney Gladstone and I, got excellent places in the nave of S. George's Chapel, after some difficulties on the way. The seats in the nave, when we came in, were not half filled ; but by the end of the two hours that we waited, every place was taken. I can't describe the glowing effect of the tiers of bright colour, immensely heightened by the uniformed grandees that kept passing through, the Beefeaters and gold-encrusted trumpeters, and the heralds in their tabards, which are only worn when the Sovereign is present at great State occasions. From time to time gorgeous duchesses, etc., every one in full Court dress (except the train) and diamonds, passed down the nave ; but only to look about them, as they had seats in the choir. About 11½ the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all the officiating Bishops and clergy, of whom the Bishop of Oxford and the Dean of Windsor were in robes of the Order of the Garter, passed into the choir by the N. transept door and later all the Knights of the Garter, in their splendid blue velvet robes. But all this was only preparing one ! Abt 12½ the Danish Prince and Princesses and suite went up the nave into the choir ; and very soon after we heard " God save the Queen," faintly, but quite audibly, played over and over again outside the Chapel, and in the middle of its glorious music, which always overcomes me with its pride and pathos—a burst of cheers. That went through me, somehow, most of all. Then there was a silence of expectation, till the band quickly formed at the W. door, and the 1st procession came in, preceded by the drums and trumpets. This was all the Royal family : the Princess of Prussia, leading her little son, Prince William ; Princess Louis of Hesse, their husbands, Princesses Helena, Louise and Beatrice, and Princes Arthur and Leopold ; Prince Alfred, alas ! kept away by his illness, which he had not quite recovered. All looked graceful and Royal indeed ! Princess Royal become exactly like the Queen, whom in a manner she represented. She looked a little sad, and was the one who cried most during the Service. Princess Alice looked wonderfully well, though her confinement is to be next month : both the younger ones grown pretty, with their fair bright faces, and the tiny one of all, though small and white, very winning and darling. After these had disappeared into the choir, the Lord Chamberlain, preceded by the heralds, left the Chapel, to bring the bridegroom. And very soon after, the trumpets and drums again sounded joyously, the officers of the Prince's household marched in, all glittering in uniform, and then ! as the trumpets filed off into the transepts, and the organ pealed, the Prince of Wales, in the robes of the Order of the Garter, entered the nave ; the blue velvet cloak giving height and dignity to his figure ; his face a little pale, but bright, gentle, and gracious, in its youth and happiness : his bows right and left full of royal grace, his whole manner beautiful and regal. When this procession had passed, the Lord Chamberlain again went out, and this time the clang of the trumpets was followed by the organ and orchestra thundering out the " Wedding March " in Athalie ; and the Bride whom all England was greeting, and for whom the prayers of millions were going up ; our pride and hope ; in all the beauty of her youth, her sweet face bent down, her small head crowned with orange-flower, her step queenly, and her whole look the perfection of maiden grace, entered the nave. Her white train was carried by eight bridesmaids, daughters of the Dukes of Buccleuch and St. Albans, and of Lords Westminster, Elgin, Listowel, Hardwicke, Cawdor, Clarendon, Mount-Edgcumbe and Cowley. 2 of these are in by mistake : which I don't know. And now the Service began, the Archbishop's sonorous voice was so clear, that, having prayer-books, Agnes and I were able to follow it all ; and wonderfully striking it was to hear the simple solemn words, which bless quiet marriages in little country churches, spoken here in the face of all the splendour and pomp of England, and addressed to these two descendants of kings. I know this is a trite thought, but it is a grand one ; and may one not hope that in many hearts it awoke the earnest longing prayer that the King of Kings, thus acknowledged, would pour down upon them the blessing without which vain and false indeed would be all this rejoicing and all our loyal hopes. A beautiful solemn chorale of the Prince Consort's was sung, Jenny Lind's glorious notes ringing above all, and the Deus Misereatur chanted. And the Service ended with the great blessing : " The Peace of God . . ." Then followed a short pause, while the joyful bells chimed, and the guns fired from the Castle. The first was fired immediately after their hands were joined. And now all in the nave rose, while the " Mount of Olives " Hallelujah burst from the orchestra, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, this time heading the procession, left the choir, followed by the whole gorgeous array. Both looked less agitated ; the Princess ventured to raise her eyes, and the beaming, proud happiness on the Prince's face was a joy to see. All this was what we in the nave saw ; but ah me ! what it must have been to have been in the choir ! All agree in saying that the Prince's manner, in the trying minutes that he had to wait alone at the altar, was perfect in its simple, unaffected seriousness. The solemn and most moving point in all the ceremony was the presence of the Queen, who took no public part, but sat in her place (visible to all in the choir) at the N. of the altar, in her widow's weeds. To her the Prince looked up as soon as he reached the altar, and she seemed to bless and pray for them. She bore up through all, crying only very little, though it must have filled her with mournful memories and sad yearnings ; for oh, it would have been a day without a cloud, if his presence had been there ! As it was, the sight of her, around whom all centres, the head and Queen of it all, in her deep sorrow and loneliness, cast a heavy shadow over the sunny hope and joy. May the marriage only be to her a blessed source of cheering and comfort, that her evening time may be light !
The Bride trembled extremely at first, but was heard giving her troth in a clear childlike voice, with a slightly foreign accent. The Prince's " I will " was distinct and emphatic. The Queen knelt, burying her face in her hands, during the concluding blessing. And so—it was over ! Oh that our prayers may prevail ! that Thou wouldst indeed bless them !
Granny had the honour of being with the Queen.
From 8½ to 3½ in the morning Atie. Pussy, Miss Gladstone, Mrs. Talbot, John, Edward, and I, were struggling through the mighty crowds, seeing the illuminations, in a great van. We cd not get into the City, and so failed to see S. Paul's, which was illuminated, but it proved a failure. We saw the W. end illuminations well, but it wasn't worth the hours of jam and wedge. A great sight, however, for never was such universal and vehement rejoicing : millions of excited people, all wonderfully good humoured and well behaved. The Talbots got home abt 3, walking from Waterloo Bridge, where we came to a hopeless stick, but finally got home by the Strand. What an endless acct ! and yet I have not mentioned half, either of facts or feelings. Bright sunny weather till late. Fine night.

Friday, January 18, 2008

10Feb1863, Pottering about Althorp

ALTHORP, Tuesday, February 10th, 1863.
—Delightful day, which got brighter and warmer every hour, and ended in a lovely mild starlight night. We drove with 4 in hand to Weedon, thence with 4 posters to Worm¬leighton. Pottered abt pleasantly among the cottages while Althorp and Ld. Suffield tried hunters, and had excellent luncheon at the agent's. Mem. the white-haired wizzy woman of 50, who had a fat 17th baby of 16 months old ! ! The drive home was very charming ; Miss Spalding and I capped verses most of the way. The open carriage wasn't a bit cold at ¼7. The D. of Rutland has had another tremendous fall out hunting. Papa went to London at 6½ a.m.

12Jan1863, American War may possibly end

HAGLEY, Monday, January 12th, 1863.
—There is a real steady increase of work in the N., thank God, and a notion that the American War may possibly end.

11Jan1863, A copy of the Prince's speeches

HAGLEY, 1st Sunday after Epiphany, January 11th, 1863.
—Granny has received from the Queen a copy, in white morocco, of the Prince's speeches, with an inscription written by her own hand, and most touching.

23Dec1862, Papa's lecture on poetry

HAGLEY, Tuesday, December 23rd, 1862.
—And, in the evening, came off a memorable delight : Papa's lecture on poetry, with selections from Milton, Byron, Shelley, Pope, Wordsworth, Cowper, Rogers, Longfellow, Burns, Hemans, Hood, Crabbe, and others. I can't go into raptures somehow on paper about it ; but it was to me enjoyment only next to listening to mighty music, and I am in a realm of beauty and harmony which has, Oh me ! too much of heaven in it to abide long with me in this work-a-day world. Charles' raving of it to me afterwards, showing all his deep and high appreciation, was not the least of the delight. Mr. Claughton, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Mr. Stayner, and the Miss Rogerses dine, the latter much gratified and touched by the beautiful bit of "Human Life" which Papa read from their uncle's poetry. Win greatly delighted in spite of her prosaic nature. Alas for M. and John ! Mem. very especially " My Mary."

21Dec1862, Lancashire distress widens

HAGLEY, 4th Sunday in Advent, December 21st, 1862.
-Collections for Lancash. came to abt £16 : the statistics are still awful, in spite of the enormous sums that have been sent ; more mills stop every week, the population is losing wages at the rate of £8,000,000 annually, and the distress is gradually widening to other classes.

18Dec1862, One of the very best balls I ever was at

HAWARDEN, Thursday, December 18th, 1862.
—With anything but alacrity, Albert and I, minus the dear young couple, came to Hawarden, where we find Ly. Louisa and Ld. Frederic Cavendish, Lascelles and Wilbrahams, Mr. F. Wortley, Hugh and Arthur Gladstone, Ly. L. Cotes, and some others. Stephy, and Willy, who, poor fellow, has only taken a 3rd in Law and Modern History ; but hardly expected to do better, as he had to begin late. I must say, if anything cd comfort me for leaving home just now, it wd be one of the very best and most lively balls I ever was at. We began at 9½, and ended about 2½. My partners Ld. F. Cavendish, Mr. Astley, oh I cannot remember them, but I danced everything. Two glorious country dances, and a reel ! Not that I danced that, except a hop or two to relieve Atie. P.

07Dec1862, Lancashire distress

HAGLEY, 2nd Sunday in Advent, December 7th, 1862.—
Uncle B. on the Lancash. distress, for which the collection was made ; viz. £1.

03Dec1862, Uncle William, King of Greece

HAGLEY, Wednesday, December 3rd, 1862.
—Bp. Colenso has written a foolish and shallow little set of arithmetical doubts about the Pentateuch. Garibaldi's ball has been got out ! The Greeks want to elect as their king either Prince Alfred or — Uncle William !

30Nov1862, Kitchen feeds 1,000 daily

HAGLEY, Advent Sunday, November 30th, 1862.
—Letter : from Atie. Pussy, who gave many Blackburn and other Lancashire details : they are collecting to give the poor people a Christmas dinner. Her kitchen already feeds 1,000 daily.

28Nov1862, Ticket-of-leave men

HAGLEY, Friday, November 28th, 1862.
—Garotting and ticket-of-leave men are great subjects ; they are rife enough to make even the principal London streets unsafe.

27Nov1862, A fall from a horse

HAGLEY, Thursday, November 27th, 1862.
—I rode on the hunter with Winny on the Maid, and Bobby (who is a sad coward, but doesn't sit amiss) on Charger with leading rein. The hunter was exceedingly fresh, but went pleasantly enough, with occasional capers, which I am used to and rather like, till we got to the Brake, and there cantering along the sandy bit of road beyond Widow Smith's, he gave a tremendous kick, the 1st time he has ever done so with me. To my astonishment and humiliation, off I fell, but, thank God, was only rather bruised, falling on my side and arm. We went home by Stukenbridge, but I couldn't canter without a kick, so we trotted and walked. But we set off as usual for the avenue, and accordingly the hunter gave another amazing kick, worse than the first, in spite of which I rejoice to say I kept on : and so we got home with my nerves a little shaken.

26Nov1862, Papa whistles

HAGLEY, Wednesday, November 26th, 1862.
—I heard Papa whistle (softly and half to himself) for the 1st time since '57.

24Nov1862, Returning to threadbare home

HAGLEY, Monday, November 24th, 1862.
—Mr. Smith (one of the guests) came with us to Derby, where I sat for an hour ; got home at 4, and had a snug evng nearly do. to last Monday. The house looks a little scrubby and threadbare !

24Nov1862, Bidding a round of good-byes

CHATSWORTH, Monday, November 24th, 1862.
—Sharp frost. I have not often done a more blowing thing than marching into the breakfast-room this morng at 1/4 10 and bidding a round of good-byes to all the august guests there assembled ! Like many awful things, however, it was soon over, and I was immensely flattered and a little astonished at receiving a kiss from both Ly. Louisa and the Duchess of Argyll ! !

23Nov1862, The church is something dreadful

CHATSWORTH, 23rd Sunday after Trinity, November 23rd, 1862.
—Fine bright day. The church (to which we went in the morng) is something too dreadful : behind the altar and sitting upon the E. window, which it entirely hides, is a hideous and purely heathen monument of two brothers (one a skeleton) supported on one side by Mars and a suit of armour, on the other by Minerva and a peer's robes ; the whole surmounted by a clumsy trumpeting angel (or Cupid ?) What words can describe the worse than Smithfield pens we were jammed into ? and in which the care necessary to avoid falling foul of everyone's eye, kicking everyone's hat, and sitting upon everyone's lap, was most oppressive. Oh dear ! how can people go Sunday after Sunday to such a place, and think they are worshipping God in the beauty of holiness ? Scott has, however, made a plan for a new church.

22Nov1862, Exploring Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, Saturday, November 22nd, 1862.
—Lovely morng, very little frost. As usual the 3rd day makes a great step in pleasantness ; but be at my ease I cannot. The poor little nervous Miss Howard (Ly. Fanny's daughter), who comes meekly up to one as if for protection, touches me. She has ill health. We saw the state rooms and the statue gallery, all full of splendour. Drove behind the p. carriage with Ly. Louisa and Ly. Constance (not behind !) to beautiful Haddon Hall : the retriever who came with us caught a rabbit on an ivy-covered buttress. Tallee drove back instead of Ly. Constance, and we three capped verses. The Argylls came, and Ld. Grosvenor is expected. Tallee read a still more beautiful sermon of Stanley's preacht before the Prince.

21Nov1862, My form of shyness

CHATSWORTH, Friday, November 21st, 1862.
—We walked in the grounds, and saw the glorious conservatory, and the Emperor [FN: A fountain.] playing. Ly. C. Grosvenor came. Ld. Granville was expected, but Ly. Granville is ill. Oh dear, I have an oppressed feeling, which is my form of shyness, I suppose. Nice bits of Tallee ; she read aloud one of Stanley's sermons in the East : beautiful. Letters from and to Papa.

20Nov1862, First Meeting With Future Husband

CHATSWORTH, Thursday, November 20th, 1862.
—A notable day ; I came to Chatsworth chaperoned by At. Y. and Tallee, in default of Papa, who is too busy commissioning, besides he told me he had a romance abt Chatsworth, and wanted to see it in lovely weather, never having been here since '39. It is most delightful being again with my Tallee, and we have managed already a quiet sit and a spell of capping verses ! I can't judge of the house yet, only it seems immeasurable. We find the Duke of Devonshire, Ly. Louisa, and Ld. Frederic Cavendish,[FN: This is the first mention of her future husband.] Ld. and Ly. George Cavendish and daughter, Ld. and Ly. Fanny Howard and daughters, Mr. Charles Clifford, Mr. Vyner, etc., all family I fancy. Round game, at which I won 4s.

19Nov1862, Clothes for Lancashire

HAGLEY, Wednesday, November 19th, 1862.
—Went to the Rectory after church ; found At. E. up to the ears in old and new clothes which have been sent for Lancashire, and which filled the large bedroom.

14Nov1862, Half-starved constitutions

HAWARDEN, Friday, November 14th, 1862.
—The Relief Committees have a miserable mania for economizing, in order to give more later in the winter : this is horrid, because it is urgently necessary to feed the people now, that they may lay in some stock of strength to resist the bitter weather and the almost inevitable fever, which coming upon half-starved constitutions must be fatal.

10Nov1862, Soup kitchen in Blackburn

HAWARDEN, Monday, November 10th, 1862.
—We wrote many copies for Atie. P. of a plan for setting up a soup kitchen in Blackburn, which is the sort of thing best to be done ; for the papers say if the people are not fed now, before the great cold begins, it will kill them, with fever and atrophy coming upon exhaustion and depression of mind and body.

07Nov1862, Riot in Blackburn

HAWARDEN, Friday, November 7th, 1862.
—Alas ! a riot broke out yesterday in Blackburn—the 1st there has been, but not against the Guardians or mill-owners, but about some sentencing of poachers. But one fears the example may spread. There seems miserable close-fisting on the part of the Board, which in one case allowed only 4s. to a man and wife and 4 children, who had besides only 6 lbs. of bread and 6 lbs. of meal from the relief committee, and it was reduced to 3s. because he got one week's work. The poor wife fainted 2ce in one morng from hunger. And there are many like cases. It is in the papers, but is hardly credible that the Bishop of Gloucester (the youngest on the Bench) is appointed Archbishop of York ! It is an injury to all the Bishops, but a positive insult to the Bishop of Oxford whose curate he was ! As to Church views and general excellence, however, Bp. Thomson is admirable.

06Nov1862, A little tired of balls

HAWARDEN, Thursday, November 6th, 1862.
—The ball was very pretty and first-rate ; but I have come to the melancholy conclusion that I have become a little tired of balls !

05Nov1862, Shining upon the dear picture

HAWARDEN, Wednesday, November 5th, 1862.
—The aftn sun has a beautiful trick of shining upon the dear picture in the dining-room, making it so lovely, that I am reminded of the lines:
And yet a spirit too, and bright
With something of celestial light?

[FN: Wordsworth wrote : " Something of an angel light."]

01Nov1862, The Cotton Famine

HAWARDEN, All Saints', Saturday, November 1st, 1862.
—Much talk about the cotton famine ; in Preston what they call the " famine fever " has broken out, and everywhere thousands of fresh paupers come upon the parish weekly. Some of the mill-owners do a good deal, but others, they say, make money by secretly selling the cotton they have in stock while their hands are starving for want of work. Next year cotton things will be frightfully dear. Nobody knows what dreadful misery the winter will bring, as there doesn't seem a hope of improvement for months.

30Oct1862, Lord Brougham seems altered

HAWARDEN, Thursday, October 30th, 1862.
—I am a fool to leave this place with no more notes abt Ld. Brougham, but he is silent and seems out of spirits and we see little of him. Papa thinks him altered, as he used to be full of fun and conversation.

31Oct1862, Helping the Lancashire unemployed

HAWARDEN, Friday, October 31st, 1862.
—Drove with Atie. Pussy to the new walks on which they are employing 6 poor Lancashire unemployed factory men. Such an excellent plan ; the poor fellows work with a will, and get 12s. a week, and 2 are to have their wives up. The walks will be an immense improvement, there surely never was another park with only one drive through it ! I followed the marked-out track with the children. Papa rode to Chester on Uncle's beautiful horse Firefly. In the house, being trained for service are 10 factory girls ; I wrote letters home for 2 of them, nice forthcoming simple creatures. One dictated : " Please to let me know if trade is any better " —alas ! it gets steadily worse, but there will surely be an end.

29Oct1862, 10 years waiting for a living

BROUGHAM, Wednesday, October 29th, 1862.
—Very lovely day, with a sharp frosty feeling in the air. Cross Fell looked beautiful all day with the purple shadows of the clouds upon it. We spent most of the day seeing the coursing, which was certainly fine on the whole, with the drawbacks of having to walk and stand about in bog, getting cold and clammy feet in consequence, and living in an atmosphere of tobacco. But such of the courses as I saw well made it worth while. The eldest Miss Brougham, poor thing, poured out to me all the griefs of her 9 years' attachment and 1 year's recognized engagement to their clergyman Mr. Edwardes, brother of Ld. Kensington : they are to wait for a better living.

27Oct1862, Lord Brougham makes me shy

BROUGHAM, Monday, October 27th, 1862.
—This visit I shall look back upon as historic. There are here certain Spaldings, and the William Broughams, with sons and daughters, with the eldest of whom (drs) I cuddled amazingly after dinner ! Lord Brougham [FN: The Lord Chancellor of 1830. He was 84.] took me in, and made me shy and deaf, the latter misfortune generally following upon the former. He has not a sign of failing intelligence : asked kind questions and isn't deaf himself —hardly— which made me feel the stupider.

22Oct1862, A glorious day of beauty

CONISTON, Wednesday, October 22nd, 1862.
—The very wildest howl of wind and pelt of rain, with one or two short bursts of sunshine, till luncheon ; and we sat resignedly in "Mum Atkinson's parlour " with books and letters, giving up all hope of doing the Old Man. But after luncheon, it cleared, and we set off just to go up a little way, and to our joy it kept fine, and we went further and further there, into all the beauties of glen and mountain and, what delighted us most of all, innumerable waterfalls. One was a really great one, and all most lovely and the delicious music of the rushing waters was all round us, everywhere. Tiny threads of water came dancing down the side of all the hills. And oh, the tinting lights, the towering peaks, and the deep valleys ! We got up as high as the last cascade of any size — abt 2/3 of the way, and then, as it began to rain and the wind became so wild that I was actually blown down, I was pintoed enough to turn back with Uncle Stephen, Papa going on. We came down quickly, hopping across innumerable little streams and torrents, and when we were as far down as the copper mills, the tremendous cloud which had been scowling over the Old Man, contrasting most beautifully with the serenest sky and golden sunset light over the lake and valley below us, came down in one of the violent storms. It caught Papa sitting like Pillicock on the top ! which he reached triumphantly. A glorious day of beauty : a joy for ever !

17Oct1862, First Visit to The Lakes

WINDERMERE, Friday, October 17th, 1862.
—Papa and I left Hagley at 10 1/2, and arrived at Windermere, joining Uncle Stephen at Kendal, at 4 1/2. A gt event for me to see the Lakes ! And my 1st glimpse, I must say, was most beautiful. There was a regular angry lurid sunset over the Old Man, breaking through the heavy clouds, and sending a yellow gleam of light along the neighbouring ridges, as we came puffing up to Windermere. We trapesed a little abt the village, Papa being frantic to get a ferrol on his new stick ; and the stormy weather, though it makes us shake in our shoes, made grand effects in the sky ; and I am in hopes of every sort of light and shade. Meanwhile, a clatter-patter of hail comes dash agst the windows of what Uncle St. calls "Mum Rigg's parlour" from time to time. We had a splendid dinner, and, barring a soupcon of exceedingly bad tobacco in the passages, all is luxury.

06Oct1862, Uninteresting Day

HAGLEY, Monday, October 6th, 1862.
—Grey, uninteresting autumnal day. After such a glorious moonlit night. I said my Prayers looking out into it, and it seemed to purify and exalt them.

25Sep1862, Horrid Knickerbockers

HAGLEY, Thursday, September 25th, 1862.
—Charles went out shooting, in horrid knickerbockers.

24Sep1862, Charles bags 12 stags

HAGLEY, Wednesday, September 24th, 1862.
—At about 11 a.m. darling old Charles arrived, having been travelling from Sutherland since 7 on Monday morning, with only one night's rest, and having had 2 or 3 accidents from first to last. But here he is safe and sound, thank God, in a most splendid state of health and vigour, and having killed 12 stags, more than anybody else.

23Sep1862, Billiards

HAGLEY, Tuesday, September 23rd, 1862.
—Played a game of billiards with At. E.

20Sep1862, Prince of Wales engaged to Alexandra

HAGLEY, Saturday, September 20th, 1862.
—Delightful accounts of the amiability and attraction of Prss. Alexandra , of the P. of W's. state of bliss, and the Queen's pleasure in the engagement, have come to Granny from Ly. Caroline Barrington. But there is a difficult future, in spite of its immense advantages, before the 18-yr.-old bride.

18Sep1862, Papa has a tooth out

HAGLEY, Friday, September 19th, 1862.
—Papa has had an enormous tooth out, under choloroform. He didn't feel the smallest pain, tho' it took a quarter of a minute.

18Sep1862, Darling Tallee Spencer

HAGLEY, Thursday, September 18th, 1862.
—A melancholy day, for the Spencers went. Darling Tallee makes a vacuum in my heart more than most people : many things go to make up my warm love for her, and I miss her dear bendable tall figure, with its indescribable grace, her face, which has a charm to me shining thro' its plainness, but above all, herself : all the anxious, loving, self-condemning humility that comes out in all her talk with one : her reverence and beautiful thoughts. And then she is a little fond of me, which is so nice.

07Sep1862, Happy Bright Sunday

HAGLEY, 12th Sunday after Trinity, September 7th, 1862.
—A happy bright Sunday — I could not but think the cloudy weather as we entered church, and the glorious sunshine as we came out, typical of the cloud of sins over one as one goes in, and the joy and light in one's heart as one emerges blessed and purified. 0, what a thought that is!