Monday, February 21, 2011

18Nov1878, A Reading List

CHATSWORTH, November 18th-24th, 1878.
—Having just about exhausted Bath and the "little valleys thereof" and the fine hillsides, we left it on Saturday, and came nothing loth to Chatsworth—a great rise in life from our lodging. F. less lame and much better and stronger, but his arm much the same: he has clapt an Alcock's Porous Plaster on the shoulder. Our reading has been tolerably extensive: Lecky, Quinet's "French Revolution," Geikie's "Life of Christ," Church's Essays, "The Antiquary," "Scenes of Clerical Life," "Mill on the Floss," "The Three Brides," "The Newcomes," "My Young Alcides": most of these are my repertory. Last Friday we had the High School mistress to dinner and this Friday I gave away certificates and School of Art prizes at the School. It flourishes well....

At Chatsworth we find Lansdownes, Powerscourts, Gerald Howard, a son of Col. Cavendish's, Mr. Ross, Mr. Doyle, etc., and last, not least, the G. Pennants.[FN: The George Pennants, afterwards Lord and Lady Penrhyn. She had been Gertrude Glynne, Lady Frederick's 1st cousin.] She very thin and in small health, but most bright and prosperous.

—Sunday. I had rather have spent in Bath! It poured, no, it was chiefly raw fog. War is declared.

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