FRYSTON, October 24th, 1865.
—Mild pleasant day. I looked through the newspaper accounts of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, which Lord Houghton has kept. I am so glad I can so clearly remember Papa looking into the old school-room out of his old little study to tell us of the Duke's death, and Mamma writing to us about the funeral which I longed to see. This death of Lord Palmerston's makes nothing like the same impression that that did, or the Prince's.
Friday, April 17, 2009
23Oct1865, A Visit to Lord Houghton's
FRYSTON, October 23rd, 1865.
—We left beautiful Castle Howard, and came here, to Lord Houghton's, in time for luncheon. Drove with Ly. H. afterwards : the country flat, but with one pleasant wide view. I made great friends of the 3 children, Anicia, Florence, and Robin [FN: Now Marquess of Crewe.]. Three nice old moths are here, aunts of Lord H. The Queen has appointed Ld. Russell to form a ministry, to the violent rage of the Times. Letters : to and from Papa and Lou.
—We left beautiful Castle Howard, and came here, to Lord Houghton's, in time for luncheon. Drove with Ly. H. afterwards : the country flat, but with one pleasant wide view. I made great friends of the 3 children, Anicia, Florence, and Robin [FN: Now Marquess of Crewe.]. Three nice old moths are here, aunts of Lord H. The Queen has appointed Ld. Russell to form a ministry, to the violent rage of the Times. Letters : to and from Papa and Lou.
22Oct1865, Unsatisfactory Church Arrangements
CASTLE HOWARD, October 22nd, 1865.
—We went in the morning to an awful little apartment which calls itself Coneysthorpe Chapel, and which certainly adds another to my list of unsatisfactory church arrangements at great places. However, the place does not belong to Lord Carlisle. I felt as if I must have got into a meeting-house ! ...
I walked with F. to see the mausoleum, a terribly grim building, without anything about it to remind one of Christianity or of the Resurrection, unless it might be the lovely view from it.
—We went in the morning to an awful little apartment which calls itself Coneysthorpe Chapel, and which certainly adds another to my list of unsatisfactory church arrangements at great places. However, the place does not belong to Lord Carlisle. I felt as if I must have got into a meeting-house ! ...
I walked with F. to see the mausoleum, a terribly grim building, without anything about it to remind one of Christianity or of the Resurrection, unless it might be the lovely view from it.
21Oct1865, A Walk to the Pheasantry
CASTLE HOWARD, October 21st, 1865.
—Directly after luncheon I went to the station on the car, and brought back my Fred, and my sunshine of sunshine with him. We had a little walk to the pheasantry. Miss Kinnaird is here, a pleasant, agreeable old lady, of an old-fashioned depth of Low-Churchism which amuses me.
—Directly after luncheon I went to the station on the car, and brought back my Fred, and my sunshine of sunshine with him. We had a little walk to the pheasantry. Miss Kinnaird is here, a pleasant, agreeable old lady, of an old-fashioned depth of Low-Churchism which amuses me.
19Oct1865, Lord Palmerston Has Died
CASTLE HOWARD, October 19th, 1865.
—Lord Palmerston died yesterday morning. He would have been 81 to-morrow ; and it is wonderful to think of a man's dying in office who was born before the fall of the old French monarchy, and was in office before Uncle William was born. He caught cold out driving, being already ill with disease of the bladder. It is piteous to think of poor old Lady Palmerston. She wished him to give up office in the summer. It is hoped that the Queen will send for Lord Russell ; but there is no one now to advise her, and how terribly she must want the Prince ! ...
The Guardian gave an awful account of the state of religion in Italy : Mariolatry more and more absorbing all the devotion of the people.
—Lord Palmerston died yesterday morning. He would have been 81 to-morrow ; and it is wonderful to think of a man's dying in office who was born before the fall of the old French monarchy, and was in office before Uncle William was born. He caught cold out driving, being already ill with disease of the bladder. It is piteous to think of poor old Lady Palmerston. She wished him to give up office in the summer. It is hoped that the Queen will send for Lord Russell ; but there is no one now to advise her, and how terribly she must want the Prince ! ...
The Guardian gave an awful account of the state of religion in Italy : Mariolatry more and more absorbing all the devotion of the people.
17Oct1865, She Dresses Madly, Unbecrinolined
CASTLE HOWARD, October 17th, 1865.
—Rained most of the day. Nevertheless I could take in a good deal of the beauty of the place, as the Admiral, [FN: The Hon. Edward Howard, son of the 6th and father (sic, he was an uncle) of the 9th Earl of Carlisle, afterwards Lord Lanerton.] Fred, and I walked about the gardens in the afternoon. The inside of the house disappointed me, as the hall and gallery seem to be the only fine rooms ; but the pictures are something. The outside I thought very handsome, and more graceful and ornamental than Chatsworth. We went over the house in the morning ; F. has not been here since just after the late Duke's death, when his grandmother Carlisle was still alive, in '58. I was introduced to Rosalind's baby, [FN: Now Lady Mary Murray.] a nice, fat, thriving thing, with a promise of pretty eyes, but otherwise not lovely ; very forward and lively, and delighted with her tub. Rosalind is only 20 : she is an original little person, and half attracts and half repels one with her ways and words ; she dresses madly in odd-coloured gowns with long trains, which cling around her unbecrinolined.
—Rained most of the day. Nevertheless I could take in a good deal of the beauty of the place, as the Admiral, [FN: The Hon. Edward Howard, son of the 6th and father (sic, he was an uncle) of the 9th Earl of Carlisle, afterwards Lord Lanerton.] Fred, and I walked about the gardens in the afternoon. The inside of the house disappointed me, as the hall and gallery seem to be the only fine rooms ; but the pictures are something. The outside I thought very handsome, and more graceful and ornamental than Chatsworth. We went over the house in the morning ; F. has not been here since just after the late Duke's death, when his grandmother Carlisle was still alive, in '58. I was introduced to Rosalind's baby, [FN: Now Lady Mary Murray.] a nice, fat, thriving thing, with a promise of pretty eyes, but otherwise not lovely ; very forward and lively, and delighted with her tub. Rosalind is only 20 : she is an original little person, and half attracts and half repels one with her ways and words ; she dresses madly in odd-coloured gowns with long trains, which cling around her unbecrinolined.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
16Oct1865, A Visit to Castle Howard
CASTLE HOWARD, October 16th, 1865.
—Came to Castle Howard of which I have heard so much since our marriage, especially from the Lascelles since Lord Carlisle's death, [FN: The 7th Earl, twice Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.] that it saddens me to have no old memories of my own clinging to it. His life seems to have been one of those that gilds all the lives among which it is cast, as Mamma's and Aunt Lavinia's did.
—Came to Castle Howard of which I have heard so much since our marriage, especially from the Lascelles since Lord Carlisle's death, [FN: The 7th Earl, twice Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.] that it saddens me to have no old memories of my own clinging to it. His life seems to have been one of those that gilds all the lives among which it is cast, as Mamma's and Aunt Lavinia's did.
15Oct1865, A Peal in Honour of Lou
HARDWICK, October 15th, 1865.
—Afternoon sermon on the godly helped in temptations. They sang a wedding hymn and rang a peal in honour of Lou. A yellow dog appeared in the pew, and would make himself agreeable, the more he was requested to withdraw.
—Afternoon sermon on the godly helped in temptations. They sang a wedding hymn and rang a peal in honour of Lou. A yellow dog appeared in the pew, and would make himself agreeable, the more he was requested to withdraw.
09Oct1865, Blessings and Sunshine are Outpoured
HARDWICK, October 9th, 1865.
—A little before 6 took place the exciting arrival of Frank and Lou from Chatsworth. Two little arches greeted them, and they were dragged up to the house door, and famously cheered. Nothing could look happier and brighter than dear Lou, and it is too nice and refreshing to see her just like herself and falling back into her old ways, with only the difference of so much new happiness. Blessings and sunshine are outpoured upon us all round !
—A little before 6 took place the exciting arrival of Frank and Lou from Chatsworth. Two little arches greeted them, and they were dragged up to the house door, and famously cheered. Nothing could look happier and brighter than dear Lou, and it is too nice and refreshing to see her just like herself and falling back into her old ways, with only the difference of so much new happiness. Blessings and sunshine are outpoured upon us all round !
08Oct1865, A Prayer for the Cattle-Plague
HARDWICK, October 8th, 1865.
—A prayer was used by authority, for deliverance from the cattle-plague, and from the threatened cholera. God grant it !
—A prayer was used by authority, for deliverance from the cattle-plague, and from the threatened cholera. God grant it !
06Oct1865, Regal Style
HARDWICK, October 6th, 1865.
—We came to Hardwick, in the same regal style as last year : special train, swarms of horses, dogs, carriages, and servants, and barouche and four to meet us at Chesterfield.
—We came to Hardwick, in the same regal style as last year : special train, swarms of horses, dogs, carriages, and servants, and barouche and four to meet us at Chesterfield.
02Oct1865, Sixteen Flookburghers
HOLKER, October 2nd, 1865.
—I went with Mr. Rigg to about 16 Flookburghers ; liked many of them. Old Geoffrey Thompson, who is over 90, said he could remember the time of Sir William Lowther, but I fear it is a delusion, as he died more than 100 years ago. "Lords?" he said: "I remember 5 lords at Holker."
I saw a terrible sight : a child of 12 or 13, who has been wasting away for nearly a year : does not look more than 6, and her poor little arms and legs were like claws : no flesh whatever : the large joints and the bones barely covered with skin : I could not have believed thinness could be so fearful to look at.
—I went with Mr. Rigg to about 16 Flookburghers ; liked many of them. Old Geoffrey Thompson, who is over 90, said he could remember the time of Sir William Lowther, but I fear it is a delusion, as he died more than 100 years ago. "Lords?" he said: "I remember 5 lords at Holker."
I saw a terrible sight : a child of 12 or 13, who has been wasting away for nearly a year : does not look more than 6, and her poor little arms and legs were like claws : no flesh whatever : the large joints and the bones barely covered with skin : I could not have believed thinness could be so fearful to look at.
29Sep1865, New Bessemer Process of Making Steel
HOLKER, Michaelmas Day, 1865.
—Rather raw and nasty. Eddy and Emma, Freddy and I, May, Walter, Lord Richard, and Mr. Grey went to Barrow and saw the new Bessemer process of making steel out of Haematite iron ore : too interesting and wonderful, especially the great blast of air by which the carbon is driven out of the ore : the contact of the two gases making the most tremendous white-hot fire. The hammering delightful too. The town is spreading out and springing up vigorously, and gathers population tolerably fast. The great docks making strides.
—Rather raw and nasty. Eddy and Emma, Freddy and I, May, Walter, Lord Richard, and Mr. Grey went to Barrow and saw the new Bessemer process of making steel out of Haematite iron ore : too interesting and wonderful, especially the great blast of air by which the carbon is driven out of the ore : the contact of the two gases making the most tremendous white-hot fire. The hammering delightful too. The town is spreading out and springing up vigorously, and gathers population tolerably fast. The great docks making strides.
28Sep1865, Letters from Lou
HOLKER, September 28th, 1865.
—I had a great treat of a nice, dear, warm letter from Frank, in answer to a bit to Lou that I went and wrote as soon as her back was turned. He said she was so overtired and excited as to be almost hysterical yesterday, poor dear ; but he had made her lie down on the sofa, where she had gone sound asleep. His letter was full of tenderness for her, and of happiness. F. made me take it to the Duke in his room : the 1st time I have gone to him there ! but despair and bewilderment of soul made me desperate ! and I marched in. The letter quite overcame him. He gave me a dear one from Lou to him to read, which was full of happiness ("I am very, very happy"), but also full of loving sorrow at leaving her father. Now one may think of her calmed down and resting in the wonderful joy that is like no other.
—I had a great treat of a nice, dear, warm letter from Frank, in answer to a bit to Lou that I went and wrote as soon as her back was turned. He said she was so overtired and excited as to be almost hysterical yesterday, poor dear ; but he had made her lie down on the sofa, where she had gone sound asleep. His letter was full of tenderness for her, and of happiness. F. made me take it to the Duke in his room : the 1st time I have gone to him there ! but despair and bewilderment of soul made me desperate ! and I marched in. The letter quite overcame him. He gave me a dear one from Lou to him to read, which was full of happiness ("I am very, very happy"), but also full of loving sorrow at leaving her father. Now one may think of her calmed down and resting in the wonderful joy that is like no other.
Monday, April 13, 2009
26Sep1865, Lou and Frank are Married
HOLKER, September 26th, 1865.
—Frank and Lou were married in Cartmel Church, and, 0 dear, I am almost too tired and pompé to say anything about it. But must. The weather quite perfect ; warm and serene and sunny, and with breeze enough to wave the flags with which house, church, and villages were adorned. Nothing could have been nicer than the feeling shown by all the people : it went through and through one. The day, of course, managed to be endless ; every hour taking 2 hours to pass ; owing to the big intervals between acts. The church was carpeted with red-cloth and looked its best. I did not expect to be upset by the service which is a calming thing, I think ; but when dear Lou came up the choir with the poor Duke, to the sound of a beautiful wedding-hymn, and one looked at her dear, tall, bending figure standing by her father, to whom she has been all the world !—Cavendish's face, too, struck me and moved me exceedingly—full of deep feeling which I had never seen called forth in him before. My poor Fred's love for her I knew all about, and pretty well Eddy's too ; so that I did not wonder at their regularly crying—and could only be a little glad that they have wives to comfort them ! I can't go into all the details of the cheers, the crowds, and the triumphant arches : everything meant the same : true, loving enthusiasm. It was a pretty compliment to Frank, the sticking up in the arches divers little ships, full rig—but he was rather distressed at one being a merchantman. When we got home, following immediately after the Duke (who drove back with Cavendish and Eddy—without her, 0 dear !), and I came upon him standing alone in the corridor, if you had shot me I couldn't have helped it, I went up and kissed him and squeezed his hand. It was the very spot where he kissed me so kindly when Freddy first brought me to Holker, and ever since Lou has been a sister to me. Then I made Frank kiss me, which he did very warmly. She kept herself composed with some difficulty, and broke down more than once in private ; especially when Cavendish went to her room before, and was much overcome himself. Most of us went to the tenants' dinner which I would not have missed for anything. The Duke could not trust himself to go, so Cavendish returned thanks for him, his voice trembling, and his face quite white. What he said was perfect, in its simplicity and depth of feeling : it gives me a new affection for him, showing me how tender his heart is. Freddy and Eddy each had to say a word or two of thanks for their healths being drunk. Fred spoke very well. At last came the going away, and I realized fully for the first time how terribly we shall all miss her, and Freddy and I went upstairs and cried frightfully. The three kept much with their father, and it was very comforting to see them with him, and to know that they are almost like daughters to him.
For about 24 hours, I should say, judging by the exhaustion that followed, we stood on a bench against the garden wall, being great audience to games ; and finally the evening blew up in fireworks, and that's all I can put down about it. P.S.---Lord Granville was married to his 18-year-old bride to-day : and they telegraphed congratulations, which were returned.
25Sep1865, Honour to the Grim Last Evening
24Sep1865, We Were a Vast Army
HOLKER, September 24th, 1865.
—Our big numbers divided themselves between Cartmel and Flookburgh : I walked to Cartmel. Escorted old Lady Ellesmere to Flookb., in the afternoon ; was a little afraid of her, but found her a kind, decided, pretty old lady. Lou paid me a little visit in my room. We were a vast army streaming in to prayers from 2 ends of the passage. These days are rather dreadful and bewildering, and I shan't dislike finding myself in next week. Read some "Pensées de Pascal," with which I was much delighted.
—Our big numbers divided themselves between Cartmel and Flookburgh : I walked to Cartmel. Escorted old Lady Ellesmere to Flookb., in the afternoon ; was a little afraid of her, but found her a kind, decided, pretty old lady. Lou paid me a little visit in my room. We were a vast army streaming in to prayers from 2 ends of the passage. These days are rather dreadful and bewildering, and I shan't dislike finding myself in next week. Read some "Pensées de Pascal," with which I was much delighted.
23Sep1865, Lou's Wedding Gifts
HOLKER, September 23rd, 1865.
—Arrived the two Ladies Ellesmere, Lord Ellesmere, Ly. Blanche, the Enfields, and Uncle Richard ; and we are 27 in the house. Presents of the kind that sink deepest into one's heart came in : a beautiful quaint little gold tea-service and a silver tray from Keighley and other places, an ivory Prayer Book from the Flookburgh school, and a diamond and ruby necklace from Chatsworth ! We all dawdled rather : sat outside, entertained arrivals, etc. Fawcett, [FN: 2 I.e. his "Political Economy."] however ! The table at dinner had to be put with one end in the bow-window.
—Arrived the two Ladies Ellesmere, Lord Ellesmere, Ly. Blanche, the Enfields, and Uncle Richard ; and we are 27 in the house. Presents of the kind that sink deepest into one's heart came in : a beautiful quaint little gold tea-service and a silver tray from Keighley and other places, an ivory Prayer Book from the Flookburgh school, and a diamond and ruby necklace from Chatsworth ! We all dawdled rather : sat outside, entertained arrivals, etc. Fawcett, [FN: 2 I.e. his "Political Economy."] however ! The table at dinner had to be put with one end in the bow-window.
19Sep1865, Lou's Trousseau Arrives
HOLKER, September 19th, 1865.
—Folk drove, couples coupled. We had a delightful series of scampers on a fine long strip of sand near Park Head : Kinataloon gave Lou's horse a slight kick, but no harm came of it. Palgrave and dear Paradise Lost. . . .
Lou's trousseau has arrived, and causes great excitement : she showed off to us a specially charming plush gown, in colour very like a mouse-coloured Scotch bullock. It is curious how quietly and humdrummily we manage to slip on from day to day.
—Folk drove, couples coupled. We had a delightful series of scampers on a fine long strip of sand near Park Head : Kinataloon gave Lou's horse a slight kick, but no harm came of it. Palgrave and dear Paradise Lost. . . .
Lou's trousseau has arrived, and causes great excitement : she showed off to us a specially charming plush gown, in colour very like a mouse-coloured Scotch bullock. It is curious how quietly and humdrummily we manage to slip on from day to day.
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