Saturday, February 13, 2010

12May1870, Another Baby for Papa

LONDON, May 12th, 1870.
—A little half-sister was born to the poor old dozen at Cavendish Sq. this morning — 30 years after May (sic, Meriel was 30). Sybella was frightfully ill, and the poor little thing suffered much in the birth, but all went well, and she is comfortable. It is rather a pretty little baby. [FN: Sarah Kathleen, now Mrs. John Bailey. (editor of the diary)]

18Apr1870, Granny's Funeral

HAGLEY, April 18th, 1870.
—It was a glorious sunny weather, such a help and blessing. Dear Granny was laid near her husband in the vault which was opened under the S. wall of the chancel. A long train of children, grandchildren, and others and nearly all the servants followed (not her, only the worn-out tabernacle that her dear spirit must so gladly have left behind). I felt heavy-hearted, as I thought of that last "going to church" and called up the sight of her familiar, steady, dignified walk down the old path. If we could but realize the blessedness of the change to the Better Land where they need no Temple ! But I can't as I ought.

05Apr1870, Missed Church

LONDON, April 5th, 1870.
—Missed church these 2 days, alas ! To-day was busy looking over the Woodford report.

31Mar1870, Papa's Turns 53

LONDON, March 31st, 1870.
Papa 53. Meriel and I have clubbed to give him an arm-chair for his office,[FN: Lord Lyttelton was Chief Commissioner of Endowed Schools.] which the stingy Government don't allow him.

27Mar1870, Mr. Liddon's Sermon

LONDON, March 27th, 1870.
B. was in great excitement over Mr. Liddon's sermon in S. James' : the crowds to hear him are tremendous. [FN: I myself can remember that it was necessary, when Liddon preached at St. Paul's in the late eighties, to be there by 1.30 if one wished to have a seat for the service which began at 3.15. Many stood all through the service and an hour and a half before it began.(Editor John Bailey)]

22Mar1870, The Queen Asks After Granny

LONDON, March 22nd, 1870.
—I went to the Drawing-room, and the Queen asked anxiously after Granny.

08Mar1870, Hearing Dickens Read

LONDON, March 8th, 1870.
—We went to hear Dickens read "Boots at the Holly Tree Inn," a bit from "Oliver Twist" and from "Pickwick" : the first was much the best, tho' Fagin was wonderful. (He died very soon after.)

27Feb1870, Quinquagesima

LONDON, February 27th, 1870. Quinquagesima.
—I went to the early Communion, which we think of beginning regularly.

26Feb1870, Clothes for a Poor Dressmaker

LONDON, February 26th, 1870.
—A poor dressmaker to whom I gave some old clothes on Tuesday, having reason to believe her story true, came overcome with gratitude to-night to say she had got work the very day after. Such a contrast, in the decent clothes and with a brightened face, to the poor, ragged, starved tramp who tottered into the room on Tuesday, crying helplessly and yet giving me the impression of respectability. I keep thanking God over and over for letting me do this.

24Feb1870, Dinner With the Prince, a Scandal

LONDON, February 24th, 1870.
—Last night we dined at No. 11 to meet the Wales' : it was horrid for poor Auntie P. ; was all settled before the scandal got into the papers. However, to everyone's relief, the Prince appeared voluntarily to-day as a witness, [FN: In the Mordaunt divorce case] gave very straightforward evidence, solemnly denied being guilty, and is generally believed to be quite cleared. The dinner and evening went off very well ; the Princess looked lovely, but very sad when she was not exerting herself.

By way of contrast, Agnes and I went off to-night to tea at Limehouse, which was a great success.

20Feb1870, Reading Ruskin

LONDON, February 20th, 1870.
—I am much bewitched with my 1st dip into Ruskin.

19Feb1870, Meeting Max Müller

LONDON, February 19th, 1870.
—Our coachman being unkind enough to have laid himself up with influenza, we had to go in a hired tub to dine at the Palgraves'. Met Professor Max Müller ; a very quiet, unaffected, pleasant man, with a decided German accent ; he thinks himself quite English. We talked arts and sciences and Mr. Palgrave lent me Ruskin's book on Landscape Painters, on my saying I had been unlucky enough never to have read him. Drum at Ly. de Grey's.

16Feb1870, The Poverty of London

LONDON, February 16th, 1870.
—We went to a drum at No. 11, and I talked a little to Mr. Goschen. Johnny had asked him a question about the poverty of London in the House, "if his attention had been called to it," and poor Mr. Goschen answered that you might as well ask a man engaged in a terrible struggle whether his attention had been called to the fact that he had an enemy in front of him. But what is to be done? There is a movement for making charitable agencies and the poor-law work together, which would be admirable ; but the difficulties are said to be enormous. The Bp. of Exeter was at the party, to B.'s intense delight, for she worships him. [FN: Dr. Temple, whom "B." (Beatrice Lascelles) afterwards married.] He told her he had no hope but that opposition would follow him to his dying day ; and that it was a great grief to offend so many good men. He looks brave and cheerful nevertheless.

28Jan1870, William and Victor Meet Again

HOLKER, January 28th, 1870.
William and Victor met downstairs for the 1st time for a fortnight, and it was the prettiest sight in the world. William was quite crazy with delight (reminding me in the most whimsical way of Friday's joy at seeing his father, in "Robinson Crusoe" !). He would never leave him, and all his tyrannical ways disappeared as he evidently thought him a tender little invalid who must be petted : called his name over and over again in a darling little soft voice, peering up into his face ; showed him pictures, picked up what he dropped, and kept breaking out into squeaks of bliss and laughter. Meanwhile Victor received all demonstrations with dignity, slowly thawed into smiles, and finally they trotted about the room together. It was the more comical, that Victor, tho' thinner than he was, is still far the biggest of the two, having again gained upon W. in height during his illness.

19Jan1870, The Footman has Rheumatic Fever

HOLKER, January 19th, 1870.
—Poor George the footman has rheumatic fever : such a sick house never was.

HOLKER, January 20th, 1870.
—George grew so much worse, that late in the evening (unknown to us) the doctor came and bled him—such an unheard-of thing nowadays, that we telegraphed

January 21st, 1870. — for Dr. de Vitre, who thinks very seriously of his case, and also of poor Porter, the groom of the chambers, who has a very bad throat.

HOLKER, January 22nd, 1870.
—The 1st thing we heard in the morning was the sad news of George's death at 1 o'clock. . . .

11Dec1869, Exeunt the Listowels

CHATSWORTH, December 11th, 1869.
—Exeunt the Listowels, and the "company time" is over ; 3 cheers ! Not that it has not been pleasant, and successful, but 0 to be on one's own hind legs for 6 weeks !

08Dec1869, Personal Infallibility of the Pope

CHATSWORTH, December 8th, 1869.
—At Rome the Bishops of the Roman Church are mustering for the so-called Œcumenical Council. The Ultramontane Italian party are said to be firmly resolved on decreeing the "personal infallibility of the Pope"—a monstrous new dogma, which one of their authorized catechisms now in use puts down as a "Protestant invention." There have been protests from the German clergy, and one Père Hyacinthe in France ran such a tilt against the Ultramontanes that he has been forced to throw up his position, and has been excommunicated. The Roman party affect to ignore these protests, but lately Dupanloup, Bishop of Orleans, a strong Catholic, has written an earnest appeal against such a decree being passed ; and they can hardly ignore him, It seems a desperate turning to bay.

07Dec1869, Treassures Found in a Corner

CHATSWORTH, December 7th, 1869.
—The quaintest little old children's carriages have been found in a corner, which must have been made for the late Duke and his sisters, or for his left-handed brethren, the Cliffords : one is shaped like a cockle-shell ; mounted on high green and gold wheels, and fitted with single and double harness for dogs ! The shafts and pole are twisted snakes, and there is a comical hood. Also two spotted rocking-horses.

23Nov1869, Touring Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, November 23rd, 1869.
—We took the folk over the state-rooms. The arrangement of Chiswick china in the little ante-state-room, which has been hung with red-lining paper and turned into a regular china-closet, is generally admired.

22Nov1869, A Migihty Brigade Arrives

CHATSWORTH, November 22nd, 1869.
—A mighty brigade of folk arrived (13 of them at once), viz., Aunt Caroline, May and B., the American Minister, Mrs. and 2 Miss Motleys, Mr. Montgomery and daughter, the St. Albans', Messrs. Cowper, W. Coke, etc.

21Nov1869, A Visit to Lady Paxton

CHATSWORTH, November 21st, 1869.
—I went with Madge to see Ly. Paxton, who is very shaky ; makes her curtsey and calls one Your Ladyship and is as simple as if she were still the housekeeper's niece courted by the gardener's boy as of old.

18Nov1869, Kitty Delighted

CHATSWORTH, November 18th, 1869.
Kitty delighted ; also she sketches things, and pounces upon books, "Liber Veritatis," [FN: Claude's " Liber Veritatis," one of the treasures of Chatsworth.] etc., all over the house.

17Nov1869, Westminster Leaves the Oddest Will

CHATSWORTH, November 17th, 1869.
Old Lord Westminster is dead (some time ago), leaving the oddest will : one place to the Shaw-Stewarts, another to Lord Dicky, after his mother's death, who has besides the whole of the personalty. Lord Grosvenor is immeasurably rich, but probably short of ready money.

16Nov1869, The Kitty Clives

CHATSWORTH, November 16th, 1869.
—The Kitty Clives [FN: Meysey Clive of Whitfield and Lady Katherine , daughter of the 7th Earl of Denbigh.]came yesterday, and I walked with her. She is in raptures over the place, house, pictures, sketches, etc.

10Nov1869, Little William and Little Victor

CHATSWORTH, November 10th, 1869.
—William and Victor [FN: William Egerton and Victor Cavendish.] are increasing in charms ; they continue to be entire contrasts to each other. William as quick and sharp as a needle, impetuous, eager, and imitative, his little person wiry and long-legged, and his small trotting feet always in a hurry ; Victor fat and meditative, hardly ever seizes the point of one's remarks to him at the moment, but by and bye one catches him doing the thing he was told ; waddles with feet wide apart and is still bigger than Wm. sometimes very merry with jolly jokes of his own, but never hurries himself. Both are very fond of each other, and have taken to dancing together, holding hands—spasmodic little jumps delightful to see.

22Sep1869, A Baby Expected

HOLKER, September 22nd, 1869.
—There is actually a baby expected—stupid of me to feel this a pang, but 0 dear ! if it could but be me instead ! for it is an anxious thing for poor little Louey. [FN: Her husband's cousin Louisa Howard, married to Hon. Cecil Foljambe, afterwards 1st Earl of Liverpool.]

19Sep1869, My Poor Workhouse Hero

HOLKER, September 19th, 1869.
—I have heard from my poor workhouse hero, who is safe in Canada, and has an appointment as Wesleyan minister ! ! ! !

31Aug1869, To the Picture Gallery

DRESDEN, August 31st, 1869.
—I had to take Shepherd [FN: Lord Frederick was ill.] with me to the picture gallery. She was delighted. The younger of the two cherubs in the San Sisto is really like little Victor, only darker.

24Aug1869, Würzburg Cathedral

WURZBURG, August 24th, 1869.
—The cathedral, though of the 11th century, looks like 1700 personified, having been done up with frightful white plaster—cherubs and sprawling figures all over the roof ; the monuments and altars out-Herod Westminster Abbey. There was one charming monstrosity : a woman with an air unveiling a bust of a quizzical James I style of Bishop in a curly wig, who looks up complacently at finding himself unbonneted ; close by he appears again heaving himself out of his grave. I am truly delighted at finding this style of thing is not peculiar to English Protestantism.

19Aug1869, A Most Beautiful Grasshopper

KISSINGEN, August 19th, 1869.
—We saw perched on the inside of my umbrella a most beautiful winged grasshopper, the size of a large dragon-fly and of the most vivid green. We could study his countenance and see the Biblical likeness to a horse in the shape of his head.

02Aug1869, The Stupid Gas Bath

KISSINGEN, August 2nd, 1869.
—We are destined to make a "fiasco" of the stupid gas bath. I took my seat in one with great pomp this afternoon, and was shut up in it for a quarter of an hour, sitting tight for the gas to arrive. I looked like the old woman who lived in a shoe, and can only hope the resemblance may go further ! but as to the gas it never came at all !

27Jul1869, Letter from Henry Tuckley

KISSINGEN, July 27th, 1869. (sic)
—Had a touching letter from Henry Tuckley, a young man who was taken to St. Martin's workhouse in a half-mad state, and whose story of running away from his employer in consequence of a love disappointment, with £40 of his father's money, while drunk, and spending about a month in London not knowing what he was about, seems on inquiry to be true. He was evidently respectable, and, as it was a first fall, tho' such a terrible one, the good Master of the Workhouse took interest in him and told me about him and I got him under Mr. Shaw Stewart at the Newport Market refuge. We have got the money for him to emigrate to Canada, and it remains to be seen how he turns out. If well, it will be a joy and encouragement all one's life long, amid the evil and humbug of the world. (Heard startlingly soon that he had become a Wesley minister ! ! Wrote to caution him.)

27Jul1869, Every Shade of Bad Complexion

KISSINGEN, July 27th, 1869.
—Got up soon after 6 and went out to drink half-tumblers of Radosky. It is cold and fizzy and far from nasty, but I find 3 glasses hard work as I am never in the least thirsty before midday. Everything very Emslike ; crowds of creaky people with every shade of bad complexion —the pasty, the muddy, the green, and poor Mr. Joddrell who is purple. Also varieties of quizzes, but not such pronounced ones as at Ems. This place has no gambling-hall, and is reckoned dull and respectable ; so much the better. We met Lord Walter Scott, and F. shot [FN: see Glossary] a German Jew from Bradford, one of his constituents, a wonderful, round old fellow with no neck, in a velvet coat.

23July1869, Traveling to Germany

BOAT TO OSTEND, July 23rd, 1869.
—We left London at 8, and travelled right through to Cologne, crossing from Dover to Ostend. Lovely peaceful night passage ; none of us ill. We slept in a deck cabin for 3 hours or so, but dead tired was I nevertheless when we got to the Hotel Bellevue at 'Deutz at 4. Lazy till early bed. We have a handsome courier called Kern.

22Jul1869, Matters are All Arranged

LONDON, July 22nd, 1869.
—The political thunderstorm has entirely cleared the air ! Matters are all arranged by certain small concessions on the part of the Govt. and much repentance on the part of the Lords ; Lord Cairns amenable, Lord Grey apologetic! ! ! And so the great measure of justice is passed. I never felt so strongly the beautiful balance of the Constitution, which has been like a grand ship straining fearfully in a dangerous storm, and righting herself when all seemed lost. Both sides are glad and relieved. One can only thank God and take courage. Uncle W. came home absolutely overcome. He said he wished to go straight to church! The Archbishop of Canterbury has been the moving spring of influence that has brought it all about : it is immensely to his credit, as he is no lover of the Bill.

20Jul1869, Speeches Against Compromise

LONDON, July 20th, 1869.
—There was an odious reckless debate in the Lords, Lord Cairns, Lord Grey, and Lord Salisbury (which was unexpected) all making violent speeches against concession or compromise, and a majority of over 70 decided on sticking to their own preamble, which cuts out the words by which the surplus is excluded from religious uses. Hereupon Lord Granville adjourned to "consult with his colleagues." ...
Uncle W. dined.... He was very unhappy, dreading worse terms being imposed on the Church hereafter, and foreboding danger to the H. of Lords.

09Jul1869, Making A Hash of the Bill

LONDON, July 9th, 1869.
—The Lords are making a dreadful hash of the Bill, such as permitting the present Irish Bishops to sit on in the House of Lords after the disestablishment, like ghosts.

07Jul1869, Not Smart Enough

LONDON, July 7th, 1869.
—Drove with Lou to a breakfast at Holland House. Wasn't smart enough and so felt rather unhappy, such is human weakness.

04Jul1869, Speak Above One's Breath

DUFFERIN LODGE, July 4th, 1869.
—Church. At Miss Coutts's new church in the morning. Bishop Harris of Gibraltar preacht well. Responses and singing spiritless and sleepy to a degree : it seems impossible in England to have a full sound without a choir. Why don't people learn Public Worship from the Psalms ? "Sing praises lustily with a good courage." "Sing we merrily . . . make a cheerful noise." I believe there is a wretched prim notion among "respectable" people that it is improper to speak above one's breath.

01Jul1869, Edward Talbot at Kebel College

LONDON, July 1st, 1869.
—The great news of Edward Talbot's appointment to the Headship of "Keble College" at Oxford is given out now, and is delightful : such a compliment to a man of 25 ! Mr. Liddon was privately asked to take it, but refused.

28Jun1869, The Queen's Garden Party

LONDON, June 28th, 1869.
—The Queen held a breakfast [FN: I.e. a Garden Party.] in Buckingham Palace Gardens, so brilliant and pretty it was ; gowns of every colour of the rainbow ; canary from head to foot amongst others ! Papa and Sybella were there ; how it is one takes that so calmly I can't tell, but so it is. The 2 new romances swallow it up, and it is restful to see Papa so happy and peaceful. She was presented to the Queen, who kissed her. Also H.M. kissed me, and asked which was the sister going to be married. Drum at Stafford H. in honour of the Viceroy.

21Jun1869, Generally With the Poor

LONDON, June 21st, 1869.
—Eastward. I tried to talk to a miserable girl who knew absolutely nothing of religion, but it was bewilderingly difficult, having nothing in common to start from, and no time to go really into it. 0 how it made me feel my own impotence! Generally with the poor you feel an intense sympathy in common : indeed they leave one far behind in strong personal faith : and then the Bible words are a consoling harmony.

18Jun1869, Back to the Fires

LONDON, June 18th, 1869.
—All this time it is so cold we have been driven back to fires.