Saturday, January 02, 2010

19Apr1869, Another Day at Windsor

WINDSOR, April 19th, 1869.
—At 4.30 I drove with the Queen and Princess Beatrice, and she took me again into the mausoleum, showing great pride and delight in it. The little Princess is very taking and intelligent, and rather pretty. We drove by Clewer and came back by the kitchen garden, where we had tea, the Queen making it and the little Princess jabbering away. My head is quite turned by the Queen sending me her 2 books ("Early Years" and "The Highlands"), with my name written by herself, "dear Lucy Cavendish." Dinner very pleasant, the Dean of Windsor [FN: Dean Wellesley] and the Ponsonbys coming ; the Dean talks straightforwardly and bluntly to the Queen, which she seems to like, and the conversation was animated. The Dean tries to get any notable preacher to preach before the Queen, and he said he had been much struck with a sermon of Mr. King's, the Cuddesdon Principal, and meant to get him. Talking of someone calling himself a Churchman because it might be supposed to answer better, "Humph," said the Dean, "it doesn't seem to answer particularly well nowadays!" The Queen saw the allusion at once, and laughed extremely. After dinner she and the Dean had a long confidential talk on the Irish Church. She told Cavendish, "Mr. Gladstone and I do not agree about the Irish Church, and he does not talk much to me about it." Nevertheless I know he has been pleased and struck with her conduct to him.

18Apr1869, All the Wales Children

WINDSOR, April 18th, 1869.
—Mr. White, of the Savoy Chapel, preached beautifully in the private Chapel, S. George's ; they sang "I beheld, and lo." The Christians were there, and Princess Louise, but she was sub rosa in the Queen's gallery. We saw all the Wales children in the corridor ; the eldest is generally called "Prince Eddy," which gives one hopes of having a King Edward again some day. He is like the Princess and very pretty ; all have the most dazzling fair complexions. Prince George, however, is hardly pretty, but looks a wag ; Princess Louise a tiny edition of Princess Alice ; and the baby a placid white creature, with prominent bright blue eyes, exactly like the Queen. All are terribly tiny and miniature in scale. I dined with the Queen ; the d'Alençons came, and we were very stiff and dull.

17Apr1869, Getting the Queen Out of Isolation

WINDSOR, April 17th, 1869.
—Unluckily it is chilly and stormy. The Queen, etc., went off in open carriages to a review at Aldershot. At 4½ we went to S. George's, where we had the great good fortune of coming in for "Sleepers, awake." Afterwards we drove together to Frogmore, and I had a long sit, first with Princess Helena, then with both her and her husband. She sent for her two children : the little 2-year-old a very pretty, attractive dot, the baby magnificent, but plain. It's nice to see such complete Darby and Joan happiness ; the Princess told me all about her long ill-health before the baby's birth, and her husband's devotion and care of her ; and indeed he looks a thorough bonhomme. I screwed up my courage, and when the Princess began upon the subject, I talked about the great desirability of the Queen's being near London during as much as may be of the session ; the journey to Scotland in May might well be conceded, if she would but give up Osborne at this time. Princess Helena said she believed it was a thing the Prime Minister could speak to the Queen about, but that he had far better put it plainly upon her duty as head of affairs, and, above all, not use the "People say" argument, which, she said, "exasperates Mamma." I dined again with the Queen. Who should be there but Cavendish ! It was great fun meeting him for the 1st time on his good behaviour. He enlivened the dinner a good deal. Whist.

16Apr1869, Back at Windsor

WINDSOR, April 16th, 1869.
—Here I am the very same days of the month as that last Windsor waiting of mine. The Queen and her outriders clattered into the court just as I flied up [FN: I.e., of course, drove up in a fly.]; and May soon turned up. I went to her room, and Florence Seymour's my successor, and was vividly reminded, not of Queens and castles and curtseys, but of my Fred and all I was then thinking about him! I dined with the Queen, who greeted me very kindly and affectionately, as did Princess Christian and Princess Louise. The company was the Christians, Ly. Gainsborough (in waiting), Lady Churchill, as engaging as ever, Ld. Normanby, and Gen. Seymour (not my friend). Col. Ponsonby, Sir J. Cowell, Gen. Grey, Ly. Bridport, and Lady Susan Melville were in the drawing-room ; and I played at whist just as of old. But, before leaving the Queen, she talked some time to me after dinner, and so did the Princesses. I thought the Queen very well and cheerful, and as full of gracious charm and simplicity as ever.

15Apr1869, Invitation to Windsor

LONDON, April 15th, 1869.
—An invitation to Windsor for 3 nights ! ! the dear Queen hasn't seen me since I married. She won't have Fred ; I feel sure she has never forgiven him for standing on one leg and forgetting his manners that courting time at Osborne. Dreadfully flustered am I. Went to see the babe [FN: Lady Louisa Egerton's second son, Frederick ; he died of wounds received at Ladysmith in 1899.] nevertheless. Drove with dignity, dropping cards with Auntie P., in the ducal barouche.

10Apr1869, New Fashions

LONDON, April 10th, 1869.
—Dined at Sir Ch. Trevelyan's, meeting the W. James's and daughter, etc. I wore a square-cut blue silk trimmed with lace, with full hanging sleeves and a little lace and blue topknot ; a new fashion for London and destined, I hope, to cut out low gowns ! But alas ! at Lady de Grey's afterwards I was the only person minus shoulders.

03Apr1869, A New Theatre

LONDON, April 3rd, 1869.
—Evening alone ; we junketed off to the charming new theatre, the Gaiety, and saw a good comedy and a bad burlesque. The comedy, "Dreams."

28Mar1869, Snowy Easter at Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, March 28th, 1869. Easter Day.
—A day that made me rather Hagley sick. All the morning there were howling snowstorms ; however, we fought our way to church ; but, 0, the cold, frozen services, giving one the terrible impression that nobody cared, and the scanty congregation. About 15 communicants.

21Mar1869, A Sermon at Whitehall

LONDON, March 21st, 1869.
—Whitehall [FN: The Chapel Royal at Whitehall, now the United Service Museum], where Mr. Kingsley preached almost the most interesting sermon I ever heard, riveting one, in spite of ungainly delivery and harsh voice.

20Mar1869, Another Subject

LONDON, March 20th, 1869.
—Dined with the Bruces ; I was luckily placed between him and Sir G. Grey. Mr. B.[FN: Afterwards 1st Lord Aberdare.] said there was only 1 subject on which Uncle W. did not seem well up and interested, viz., National Education ! ! A large one.

19Mar1869, Bright Spoke Like Isaiah

LONDON, March 19th, 1869.
Bright spoke grandly, rather like Isaiah! His voice is painfully hoarse, and he is astonishingly aged ; but it doesn't mar the effect much.

13Mar1869, The Underground Railway

LONDON, March 13th, 1869.
F. and I larked off to the S. Kensington Museum on foot, and thence to Portland Road by underground Railway ; my first experience of it. It was charming and wonderful, and far less underground than I expected. Walked from the station to All Saints' Workhouse.

12Mar1869, A Mug from Leveson

LONDON, March 12th, 1869.
—Dined at No. 11 with the Great Man and his daughters (Auntie P. and Mazy in bed ! resting) ; he was high-gee a little old Dresden mug given him by Ronald Leveson [FN: Lord Ronald Leveson-Gower, the author and dilettante.], sending for it at dinner to show off, and saying it was the fulfilment of the "dream of his life" to have such a shaped cup to drink coffee out of, but rather perplexed how to drink out of it at all, viewing the lid, which will stick into one's cheek. (N.B.—It is an undeniable mustard-pot!)

02Mar1869, People Rave of the Speech

LONDON, March 2nd, 1869.
—Smart dinner at Mr. and Ly. Margaret Beaumont's ; sat between Lord Clarendon and Mr. Trevelyan, and was too well off. I was dying to hear what was going on between Ly. M., Ld. Salisbury and Ld. Clarendon. People rave of the speech and of Uncle W.'s moderation.

01Mar1869, The Great Irish Church Bill

LONDON, March 1st, 1869.—Workhouse. It is very wrong and shocking, how they allow poor people to die in the midst of a crowded ward, without even a curtain to draw round the bed. There was one woman dying to-day, but I think "earth was passed, and earthly pain," and that she was as much shut out from all around her as in the most carefully-guarded sick-room.
    This moment, there so low,
    So agonized, and now
       Beyond the stars !
I drove after luncheon, and called on Ly. Trevelyan ; then to the House, where Uncle William brought in the great Irish Church Bill, in a grand, elaborate, beautifully arranged and digested, speech of 3 hours which appeared to leave out no detail ; and ending with one of his best and most heartfelt appeals, spoken with a voice wonderfully ringing and untired though full of emotion.

25Feb1869, Not Baptized

LONDON, February 25th, 1869.
—I spoke to Head a day or two ago, asking him whether he had been confirmed, and to-day discovered, to my horror, that he has never been baptized ! having been bred up a Baptist, and taken to church-going as he grew up, when the Baptists generally are baptized. Must try and induce him to have it done.

20Feb1869, Charlotte is called Spencer's Fairy Queen

LONDON, February 20th, 1869.
Tallee came ; 'tis a huge treat to see her ; she is going shortly to Ireland, where Althorp is getting on famously ; Charlotte is called Spencer's, Fairy Queen.

12Feb1869, Coursing in the Park

HOLKER, February 12th, 1869.
—Coursing came off in the mosses and the park ; Ld. R., Margaret, and I drove with Aunt Coque in the sociable, and the fat cockney coachman got so excited that he drove us down impossible places over the grass, to Aunt Coque's delight and Uncle Dick's terror.

03Feb1869, There has been no winter

HOLKER, February 3rd, 1869.
—Soft, grey, and pleasant with silver light upon the sea. There has been no winter, whatever we may be going to have by way of spring. Some rhododendrons are out in the garden.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

25Jan1869, Reading List

HOLKER, January 25th, 1869.
—Horrible wet gloomy day. No outing. Little William began to crawl ! I am reading Jeremy Taylor's "Liberty of Prophesying" and Lockhart with F., Senior's Journal (instead of "Greater Britain") to the Womankind, Hume, Cowper's Life and Letters and Mr. Suckling's Life to myself, and an occasional bit of Froude with B.

09Jan1869, Going Away

HAGLEY, January 9th, 1869.
—Darling Alfred took me to the station ; he turns my head by expressing affection ! and being so sorry I am going, in the most winsome way.

31Dec1868, Low and Pathetic Today

HAGLEY, December 31st, 1868.
—I believe nobody ever had the dayums as I have ; I feel low and pathetic today, and shall be in high spirits to-morrow !

08Dec1868, Postmaster Cavendish

CHATSWORTH, December 8th, 1868.
Cavendish telegraphed that he has accepted the Postmastership-General, with a seat in the Cabinet ; and he also wrote by post that Uncle W. had been very cordial, not pressing him to take Ireland, tho' saying that he thought it an important post just now, and showing that the want of a seat in Parliament was the only thing that made a difficulty about the Cabinet. This is supposed to be not insuperable, and the upshot was that he was offered the Home Office. But Mr. Bruce has evidently a higher claim to that, and Cavendish said that he would not stand in his way. Then the Post Office was settled.

07Dec1868, Another Proposed

CHATSWORTH, December 7th, 1868.
He telegraphed "Ireland over ; another proposed." This is exciting. I rode with Lord George, Louey, and Mr. Strutt. Empress chose to kick.

06Dec1868, Offer Far From Suitable

CHATSWORTH, December 6th, 1868.
Cavendish got a private letter from Uncle W. offering him the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, regretting that his being out of Parliament prevents his entering the Cabinet. The letter kind and cordial, but it is a considerable blow, as Cavendish's successful and steady work at the War Office in '66, and the Duke's 4 great contests just now, seemed to give him a claim. But there are many men of longer standing and higher claims, and this offer is of course a great compliment failing the Cabinet ; only it is far from suitable for a young bachelor ! The thing was kept as nearly secret as was compatible with Freddy, Eddy, Lord George, and Lou being married people ! Cavendish went up to London by the night train, intending to decline unless much pressed.

27Nov1868, Lies About Popery

CHATSWORTH, November 27th, 1868.
—The two beaten brethren, Cavendish and Eddy, came home ; both cheery about it, but it was a great blow to both. Poor Emma much grieved ; and we are all rather rabid. "No Popery" has served Dizzy well in the counties ; the discoveries are remarkable anent it ; Mr. Gladstone and his wife are papists, one of his daughters is an abbess, and the Cavendishes for years past have been the tools of the Pope ! ! ! !

The Eddies delighted with their baby, who is indeed charming, always crowing and chirping with fun, and smiling all over his face like Eddy ; while his kicks are untiring.

25Nov1868, Eddy Defeated

CHATSWORTH, November 25th, 1868.
—We heard just before dinner last night the wretched news of Eddy's defeat by 120 ; and we do feel small and miserable. The counties are outrageously Tory.

21Nov1868, Cavendish Beaten

CHATSWORTH, November 21st, 1868.
—A grievous disaster ! Cavendish beaten yesterday by 1,400 after all his hard work and F.'s canvassing and the indefatigable labours of friends and agents. We had not much hope, but didn't expect anything so hollow. The worst of it is, that it is as good as farewell, politically speaking, to N. Lancashire, after his 11 years' connexion with it and all the home ties.

20Nov1868, Nominated at Bradford

ESHTON, November 20th, 1868.
—Our nomination was at Bradford, where, in spite of the borough having just ended its own desperate fight, about 2,000 people collected in front of the hustings. They were rather dull and silent during Sir F. Crossley's speech, but it was delightful to see them warm up into great enthusiasm during F.'s speech, which was the best I ever heard him make, vigorous, earnest, pointed, and with the sort of eloquence which comes out of deep conviction. He was trembling, not with nervousness, but enthusiasm. I nearly burst ! Afterwards came a big luncheon, when he was very warmly cheered. We got home for dinner, and were met by the capital news of Frank's and Mr. Strutt's victory.

14Nov1868, A Stump Speech

HOLKER, November 14th, 1868.
—Enjoyed myself much, going with Cavendish (tête-à-tête killing ! F. to Preston) to Ulverston, for his last meeting before the nomination. He spoke better than ever, said everybody, and indeed it was an excellent speech, exhaustive, well-argued, straightforward, spirited, and only just short of eloquent in parts, his only fault on the stump seems to be rather over-much gravity ; but the Lancashire people don't dislike that. I got highly excited, and so did the meeting. The energetic Mr. Fell entertained us at luncheon ; his little girls of 3 and 4 were over the moon, expecting to see a coach with bright-red flunkies ; I fear they were sadly disappointed.

02Nov1868, Holker in the Glow of Autumn

HOLKER, November 2nd, 1868.
—Splendid day of many colours and glorious W. wind. F. to Barrow, but came home to luncheon and rode with me quite late in a stormy afternoon to Grange ; it was very nice ! and I enjoyed a tremendous spatter of rain when we were full go. In the morning, Mary [FN: Mary Gladstone.] and I went to Humphrey Head, and had a grand fight with the wind ; the sea quite uppish ; we went down to the extreme point and were such babies as to do a little paddling barefooted in the waves. I never saw this place in the full glow of autumn before, and it is a treat.

21Oct1868, Marriage of Whig and Tory

HOLKER, October 21st, 1868.
Edith Campbell [FN: Daughter of the Duke of Argyll.] is to marry Ld. Percy! [FN: Afterwards 7th Duke of Northumberland.] a nice, good, pleasant youth, just grown up ; Presbyterian and Irvingite, Whig and Tory, I wonder how it will do.

08Oct1868, Reading Mansfield Park

HAWARDEN, October 8th, 1868
. . . . Afterwards to the Rectory to hear Granny spout "Mansfield Park" ; I coaxed Fred to stay and hear a bit, and he was impressed with her beautiful reading. Her dear voice is as musical as ever ; if there is any change it gets lower, instead of quavery as most old people.

05Oct1868, A Good-natured Lion

HAWARDEN, October 5th, 1868.
Uncle W. has now written his address : a very dignified and downright one. He went off all the lighter-hearted for having it off his mind, to cut down a tree with Willy. Lord Napier of Magdala [FN: Lately home from the Abyssinian Expedition and the storming of Magdala.] came, and was received with volunteers, band, and cheers, and the village-people and school-children turned out in the park. He is very quiet and simple in manner, and is rather like a good-natured lion with its claws in.

01Oct1868, Uncle W. Cuts Down a Tree

HAWARDEN, October 1st, 1868.
Uncle W. in shirtsleeves and stick-up collar cutting down a tree was a pleasing sight this afternoon. He has an axe with W. E. G. on the haft, and is like a schoolboy over it.

02Sep1868, Heart of the Enemy's Country

HOLKER, September 2nd, 1868.
—My Fred came home to dinner, quite excited over Cavendish's success at his meetings near Preston (the heart of the enemy's country). He seems to have spoken capitally ; and was received with enthusiasm. I had the treat of telling this to the Duke, who was much delighted.

26Aug1868, Electioneering

HOLKER, August 26th, 1868.
Cavendish and all his gentlemen went off electioneering ; F. to Bradford to do the civil to his constituents. Emma and I drove to Grange Hotel to call on the Wilson Pattens, and saw Col. P. himself. He was quite moved at the notion of our calling upon them, apparently thinking his coalition with Captain Stanley against Cavendish would make bitter enemies of us all.

14Aug1868, The First Private Execution

Holker, August 14th, 1868.
—Yesterday took place the 1st private execution within the prison yard, only officials and reporters being present. A thing to return thanks for, the doing away of the horrible mob-scenes.

11Aug1868, Back to Dear England

HOLKER, August 11th, 1868.
—Hot night, but rainy and overcast all day : a great comfort, as the burnt-up state of the country is really dreadful. Whole tracts of railway-embankments, heaths, moors, and even cornfields have been set on fire by sparks from engines or cigars, and people in many parts are in distress from want of water. We got prosperously to dear old Holker ; thank God. Find Lou, the Duke, Cavendish, and the D. of Buccleuch. All of course have the electionums ; there is great fear for Cavendish's seat ; Frank's is pretty secure ; we as yet have no opposition. Dear England, you are not bad to come back to, with your nears and dears, your excellent washing arrangements, and your Tea !

09Aug1868, Not a Sunday

AACHEN, August 9th, 1868.
—Not to be counted as a Sunday at all, a horrid fact, as one hasn't too many Sundays in even the longest life. We went into the curious Cathedral ; crowded with dirty people : a sort of congregation that always makes one envious. . . .

We fitted in a fragment of our service in a horrible chapel, which had the pulpit jutting out of the wall above the altar, like the centre and object of worship.

31Jul1868, A Jolly Evening

Ems, July 31st, 1868.
—We had a jolly evening, supping with the Ashleys ; Ly. Louisa Charteris was too delightful, becoming an asthmatic old Norfolk man and woman, besides crowing, purring, bleating, and gobbling to perfection. We laughed till exhaustion supervened, and did not act up to the name we have all given ourselves as lone lorn women, the reverse of Jolly Dogs, viz., the Dismal Cats.

24Jul1868, High and Broad Church

Ems, July 24th, 1868.
—We drove up to the Pavilion, whence the view is lovely. Argued a good deal on the way about High and Broad Church, B. contriving to be both in a way that a little aggravates me.

14Jul1868, Meeting the King of Prussia

Ems, July 14th, 1868.
—I had the privilege of seeing the King [FN: The King of Prussia, afterwards the first German Emperor.] at the spring in the Curhaus ; an ugly red-nosed old gentleman.

08Jul1868, To Brussels

BRUSSELS, July 8th, 1868.
—It does seem bewildering to be on the Continent again : writing my journal in an inn (Bellevue) at Brussels — the very same where we launched forth on our honeymoon 4 years ago. B. [FN: Beatrice Lascelles, sister of Lady Edward Cavendish, afterwards wife of Archbishop Temple.] joined us at Charing X. at 7.15 ; we had a perfect passage from Dover to Calais ; and got here before 7. We feel rather unprotected with only English servants, viz., Head, the Grim one, and B.'s Wilkinson.