LATIMER, February 25th, 1865.
—Bright clear morning, indescribably pleasant after the London dirty dinge and slop. Most of the womankind went to the "Waterside Church," where the Bishop held a Confirmation of about 80 several of whom were elderly people. Now, though my own Confirmation is a sacred and precious memory to me, almost beyond anything else, and though Spencer's and Lavinia's was full of deep interest, I can't say I ever saw, till to-day, a Confirmation really impressively and strikingly done. But the Bishop of Oxford has always excelled in this respect (having done, I should think, more good at Eton than can be measured by his Confirmations there), and this was most solemn and moving.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
24Feb1865, From Euston Square to Hyde Park in 17 Minutes
LATIMER, February 24th, 1865.
—Went headlong in a hansom to Euston Square from Hyde Park Corner in 17 minutes ; and here we are, in a very pretty house, with Gladstones, Emma and B. Lascelles, Miss Campbell (a sister of Mrs. Wyndham), Messrs. Evelyn Ashley, Cowper, Hugh Smith ; and the Bishop of Oxford, who has come to hold Confirmations.
—Went headlong in a hansom to Euston Square from Hyde Park Corner in 17 minutes ; and here we are, in a very pretty house, with Gladstones, Emma and B. Lascelles, Miss Campbell (a sister of Mrs. Wyndham), Messrs. Evelyn Ashley, Cowper, Hugh Smith ; and the Bishop of Oxford, who has come to hold Confirmations.
20Feb1865, Furniture Shopping
LONDON, February 20th, 1865.
—Lou, F., and I did a deal of furniture inspection, not deciding yet upon much. Also we showed off the house to the Duke who was much pleased with it. F. and I dined very pleasantly at Ld. Granville's, meeting the Argylls, the Bruces, Messrs. M. Arnold, Leveson, H. Cowper, Ld. Lyons, and Sir D. Dundas.
—Lou, F., and I did a deal of furniture inspection, not deciding yet upon much. Also we showed off the house to the Duke who was much pleased with it. F. and I dined very pleasantly at Ld. Granville's, meeting the Argylls, the Bruces, Messrs. M. Arnold, Leveson, H. Cowper, Ld. Lyons, and Sir D. Dundas.
19Feb1865, Hearing Mr. F.D. Maurice Preach
LONDON, February 19th, 1865.
—We went to hear the famous Mr. Maurice in the morning. He preached most beautifully on Triumphant Hope ; with a manner full of love and fervour. If one had not known of his startling, peculiar opinions, I think one would have seen nothing in his sermon but what any Christian might agree with. But alas ! there is terrible difficulty and dispute all round one now, and one is unconsciously on one's guard and in a state of distrust.
—We went to hear the famous Mr. Maurice in the morning. He preached most beautifully on Triumphant Hope ; with a manner full of love and fervour. If one had not known of his startling, peculiar opinions, I think one would have seen nothing in his sermon but what any Christian might agree with. But alas ! there is terrible difficulty and dispute all round one now, and one is unconsciously on one's guard and in a state of distrust.
Monday, February 16, 2009
17Feb1865, We Dined at Lord Russell's
LONDON, February 17th, 1865.
—We dined at Lord Russell's ; it amused me immensely to go to dinner with Fred ! It was pleasant. Met Sir Edwin Landseer, Ld. Lyons, Mr. Barrett Browning, [FN: Probably the poet Robert Browning, not his son Barrett who was only a boy at this time.] Cap. Egerton, the Stanleys of Alderley.
—We dined at Lord Russell's ; it amused me immensely to go to dinner with Fred ! It was pleasant. Met Sir Edwin Landseer, Ld. Lyons, Mr. Barrett Browning, [FN: Probably the poet Robert Browning, not his son Barrett who was only a boy at this time.] Cap. Egerton, the Stanleys of Alderley.
03Feb1865, Reading Hume and Lingard
HOLKER, February 3rd, 1865.
—Began to read the same period in Hume that I have in Lingard : that is, I only read the memoir of Hume to-day : it was flesh-creepy to discern the soullessness and irreligion of the man, and his ghastly cheerfulness and indifference up to his dying moment.
—Began to read the same period in Hume that I have in Lingard : that is, I only read the memoir of Hume to-day : it was flesh-creepy to discern the soullessness and irreligion of the man, and his ghastly cheerfulness and indifference up to his dying moment.
30Jan1865, Kingsley's The Water Babies
HOLKER, January 30th, 1865.
—Little boys (Edward and Alfred) (and Compton) plunged into the snow before luncheon ; played at hide-and-seek afterwards. I did some French and Latin with them, to my great enjoyment, reviving old-maid recollections. Also read to them the beginning to Kingsley's mad book "The Water Babies" : the only comprehensible part ; the rest being an entangled jumble of allegory, fairy-tale, and natural history—very dream-like and crazy. I have begun a course of English History, and am reading Lingard's first vol.; Iliad, Carlyle, Butler.
—Little boys (Edward and Alfred) (and Compton) plunged into the snow before luncheon ; played at hide-and-seek afterwards. I did some French and Latin with them, to my great enjoyment, reviving old-maid recollections. Also read to them the beginning to Kingsley's mad book "The Water Babies" : the only comprehensible part ; the rest being an entangled jumble of allegory, fairy-tale, and natural history—very dream-like and crazy. I have begun a course of English History, and am reading Lingard's first vol.; Iliad, Carlyle, Butler.
28Jan1865, Advanced to the Stage of Clumsy
HOLKER, January 28th, 1865.
—Ice the order of the day again. I advanced to the stage of clumsy, spasmodic self-propelling, diversified by tumbles, and supported by a stick. F. had to foot-hunt, to my grief. He has a horrid cold. He saw the last 5 minutes of my exploits. Lou and I have begun Ld. Derby's new translation of the Iliad, in blank verse ; it is very nervous, easy, and dignified. Little boys tumbled about with and without skates, and swore friendship with Compton. A young man of three-and-twenty has just died of drink, his grandfather and all his paternal uncles having done the same. It is frightfully common about here.
—Ice the order of the day again. I advanced to the stage of clumsy, spasmodic self-propelling, diversified by tumbles, and supported by a stick. F. had to foot-hunt, to my grief. He has a horrid cold. He saw the last 5 minutes of my exploits. Lou and I have begun Ld. Derby's new translation of the Iliad, in blank verse ; it is very nervous, easy, and dignified. Little boys tumbled about with and without skates, and swore friendship with Compton. A young man of three-and-twenty has just died of drink, his grandfather and all his paternal uncles having done the same. It is frightfully common about here.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
27Jan1865, Skating with Great Enjoyment
HOLKER, January 27th, 1865.
—Unable to stand looking at the skating any longer without feeling of envy, I put on the articles, and staggered and floundered about with great enjoyment, squired unweariedly by Compton, [FN: Afterwards 3rd Lord Chesham. She had described him on the 24th as "an ugly but civil nice boy of 14." ] who shared with me many a fall. F. and Co. shot. The dear little boys [FN: Her brothers Edward and Alfred.] came about 5, had tea with Newmany in our room, appeared at dinner, and behaved with great aplomb.
—Unable to stand looking at the skating any longer without feeling of envy, I put on the articles, and staggered and floundered about with great enjoyment, squired unweariedly by Compton, [FN: Afterwards 3rd Lord Chesham. She had described him on the 24th as "an ugly but civil nice boy of 14." ] who shared with me many a fall. F. and Co. shot. The dear little boys [FN: Her brothers Edward and Alfred.] came about 5, had tea with Newmany in our room, appeared at dinner, and behaved with great aplomb.
23Jan1865, Conscience Clause
HOLKER, January 23rd, 1865.
—Discussion is going on pro and con the admitting of dissenting children to a Church school by means of a "Conscience clause," which is to provide that if it is desired by the parents, they may be excluded from the religious teaching. I am in a wood about it, Papa being con, Freddy pro.
—Discussion is going on pro and con the admitting of dissenting children to a Church school by means of a "Conscience clause," which is to provide that if it is desired by the parents, they may be excluded from the religious teaching. I am in a wood about it, Papa being con, Freddy pro.
19Jan1865, Dear Old Bodies
HOLKER, January 19th, 1865.
—In the afternoon Lav., Lou, and I went to see Aggy, Hannah, and Betty (their surnames will not stay in my head !) ; dear old bodies. There has been a good deal of fever about, but it is going off. Poor Brailsford, the keeper, has lost his only child with some brain complaint. Lou gave to 3 old ladies a charming shawl apiece, which she has crocheted.
—In the afternoon Lav., Lou, and I went to see Aggy, Hannah, and Betty (their surnames will not stay in my head !) ; dear old bodies. There has been a good deal of fever about, but it is going off. Poor Brailsford, the keeper, has lost his only child with some brain complaint. Lou gave to 3 old ladies a charming shawl apiece, which she has crocheted.
16Jan1865, Hare Hunting
HOLKER, January 16th, 1865.
—F. went hare hunting on foot : a most Holkerish proceeding !
—F. went hare hunting on foot : a most Holkerish proceeding !
02Jan1865, The Pope's Encyclical
HOLKER, January 2nd, 1865.
—The Pope has put forth an Encyclical letter denouncing and condemning all possible inquiry and thought, to a degree that it is supposed will make all intelligent Roman Catholics stand aghast.
—The Pope has put forth an Encyclical letter denouncing and condemning all possible inquiry and thought, to a degree that it is supposed will make all intelligent Roman Catholics stand aghast.
26Dec1864, We Kept Christmas
HAGLEY, December 26th, 1864.
—Albert played in the service for the day. We kept Christmas in the technical sense ; viz., general holyday and monster dinner of all the creatures—counting Fred, we make up the dozen, but oh for Meriel and John ! Uproarious fun and games, ending in famous chorus singing and "God save the Queen." Next Christmas, alas ! we shall probably be without dear old Nevy, whose Rifle Brigade commission may come any day.
—Albert played in the service for the day. We kept Christmas in the technical sense ; viz., general holyday and monster dinner of all the creatures—counting Fred, we make up the dozen, but oh for Meriel and John ! Uproarious fun and games, ending in famous chorus singing and "God save the Queen." Next Christmas, alas ! we shall probably be without dear old Nevy, whose Rifle Brigade commission may come any day.
25Dec1864, Cavendish Answers
HAGLEY, December 25th, 1864.—
Cavendish answered my letter, to my infinite pride and satisfaction.
Cavendish answered my letter, to my infinite pride and satisfaction.
22Dec1864, A Begging Errand
20Dec1864, The Story of Lefevre
HAGLEY, December 20th, 1864.—
Mr. Brookfield spouted in the barn " The Merchant of Venice " and the story of Lefevre with great success.
Mr. Brookfield spouted in the barn " The Merchant of Venice " and the story of Lefevre with great success.
16Dec1864, Future Bishop Talbot
HAGLEY, December 16th, 1864.
—I had a nice walk with Edward Talbot, [FN: Afterwards Bishop of Rochester, Southwark, and Winchester.] who strikes one immensely with his thoughtful, powerful mind, coupled with such heartfelt, earnest reverence and deep feeling. I think he must turn out great. He has at length decided on taking Orders, though full of self-distrust as to his fitness to cope with the dangers and controversies of the day. But, if faith and love and humility are any safeguards to a man, he has them, only he lacks hopefulness.
—I had a nice walk with Edward Talbot, [FN: Afterwards Bishop of Rochester, Southwark, and Winchester.] who strikes one immensely with his thoughtful, powerful mind, coupled with such heartfelt, earnest reverence and deep feeling. I think he must turn out great. He has at length decided on taking Orders, though full of self-distrust as to his fitness to cope with the dangers and controversies of the day. But, if faith and love and humility are any safeguards to a man, he has them, only he lacks hopefulness.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
15Dec1864, A Reproach to the Queen
HAGLEY, December 15th, 1864.
—One of the Times' peculiarly ill-judged lectures to the Queen, which might have been spared her, considering the many little ways in which this year she has lessened her retirement. And it makes one ashamed of one's country to hear the attacks made upon her, striving as she does in her terrible bereavement and loneliness, to do all the necessary duties, while she never misses an opportunity of showing thoughtful kindness and sympathy for the joys and sorrows of others. And lately she has taken more part in society, tho' it is most painful to her. Under these circumstances, it shows good feeling indeed to reproach her on the anniversary of her widowhood !
—One of the Times' peculiarly ill-judged lectures to the Queen, which might have been spared her, considering the many little ways in which this year she has lessened her retirement. And it makes one ashamed of one's country to hear the attacks made upon her, striving as she does in her terrible bereavement and loneliness, to do all the necessary duties, while she never misses an opportunity of showing thoughtful kindness and sympathy for the joys and sorrows of others. And lately she has taken more part in society, tho' it is most painful to her. Under these circumstances, it shows good feeling indeed to reproach her on the anniversary of her widowhood !
13Dec1864, Decorating the House
LONDON, December 13th, 1864.
—Such a busy day as I have seldom had. We had Ld. Richard to breakfast, and after that, an interview with the beloved Currey. Thence to our splendid mansion, No. 21 Carlton House Terrace, where we met my old Meriel and Mrs. Talbot, and Trollope, the builder-and-furnisher's man. And we have settled the whole painting of the house, chosen all the papers, and the principal grates, and discussed many other points. All I think most successful.
—Such a busy day as I have seldom had. We had Ld. Richard to breakfast, and after that, an interview with the beloved Currey. Thence to our splendid mansion, No. 21 Carlton House Terrace, where we met my old Meriel and Mrs. Talbot, and Trollope, the builder-and-furnisher's man. And we have settled the whole painting of the house, chosen all the papers, and the principal grates, and discussed many other points. All I think most successful.
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