HOLKER, Thursday, October 16th, 1873.
—Had a fine galloping ride on Republic, with F., on the sands. Grey mild day. Uncle Dick came. I do Bible and hymns, and reading, and am beginning a little adding and counting, with the dear three eldest boykins before breakfast. Only Victor reads.
Friday, November 05, 2010
15Oct1873, Visiting in Raike
HOLKER, Wednesday, October 15th, 1873.
—Emma and the girls and I went to Raike to see Mesd. Abbotson and Kelly; Mr. Jodrell came.
—Emma and the girls and I went to Raike to see Mesd. Abbotson and Kelly; Mr. Jodrell came.
14Oct1873, A Bit of Spitting by Dizzy
HOLKER, Tuesday, October 14th, 1873.
—Very lovely with glorious views; walked with Emma up Byland Scarr, and to see Mesdames Telfer and Mackreth. The Howards came late; it is 4 years since they were here and must be very sad to poor At. Fanny. Another Govt. victory at Taunton; this little turn of the tide is perhaps to be attributed to an extraordinary bit of spitting on the part of Dizzy, who has written a letter (for publication) to Ld. Grey de Wilton savagely calling the Govt. names, and dubbing their whole career "plundering and blundering." This must disgust lukewarm Liberals.
—Very lovely with glorious views; walked with Emma up Byland Scarr, and to see Mesdames Telfer and Mackreth. The Howards came late; it is 4 years since they were here and must be very sad to poor At. Fanny. Another Govt. victory at Taunton; this little turn of the tide is perhaps to be attributed to an extraordinary bit of spitting on the part of Dizzy, who has written a letter (for publication) to Ld. Grey de Wilton savagely calling the Govt. names, and dubbing their whole career "plundering and blundering." This must disgust lukewarm Liberals.
10Oct1873, Catholics of Prussia
HOLKER, Friday, October 10th, 1873.
—The old Catholics of Prussia have now a Bishop duly consecrated and a constitution; also they have just been recognised by the State—a notable event which seems to give them a position such as the English Church acquired after the Reformation, only they have cleaner hands and, I suppose, if possible, a more urgent cause ; inasmuch as Papal aggression and the worst abuses of religion are less intolerable than Papal infallibility, and new falsehoods imposed as articles of Faith. God preserve them in His Truth, steadfast to the end!
Alas, Mrs. Helbert has gone over to Rome, dreaming, in the face of all these things, of unity and purity and peace there!
—The old Catholics of Prussia have now a Bishop duly consecrated and a constitution; also they have just been recognised by the State—a notable event which seems to give them a position such as the English Church acquired after the Reformation, only they have cleaner hands and, I suppose, if possible, a more urgent cause ; inasmuch as Papal aggression and the worst abuses of religion are less intolerable than Papal infallibility, and new falsehoods imposed as articles of Faith. God preserve them in His Truth, steadfast to the end!
Alas, Mrs. Helbert has gone over to Rome, dreaming, in the face of all these things, of unity and purity and peace there!
09Oct1873, Lauching the Duke of Buccleuch
HOLKER, Thursday, October 9th, 1873.
—Went with F. to Barrow for the launch of the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the new E. Indian "Ducal Line." I named her and made a splendid smash of the champagne bottle, to the joy of all beholders. Having never seen a launch before, I was delighted and rather throat-lumpy at the fine rush and plunge into the sea of the poor brave ship, little knowing what may be before her !
—Went with F. to Barrow for the launch of the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the new E. Indian "Ducal Line." I named her and made a splendid smash of the champagne bottle, to the joy of all beholders. Having never seen a launch before, I was delighted and rather throat-lumpy at the fine rush and plunge into the sea of the poor brave ship, little knowing what may be before her !
06Oct1873, Mrs. Polly's Horrible Ordeal
LONDON, Monday, October 6th, 1873.
—Eastward! Less work than in the summer. Cd not talk to my poor Mrs. Polly, as she was brought in all wretched and senseless with chloroform from one of her innumerable hideous operations and aftds fell asleep. She is a dear, tidy, nice-minded woman, wife of a respectable country gardener. It is a horrible ordeal for her.
—Eastward! Less work than in the summer. Cd not talk to my poor Mrs. Polly, as she was brought in all wretched and senseless with chloroform from one of her innumerable hideous operations and aftds fell asleep. She is a dear, tidy, nice-minded woman, wife of a respectable country gardener. It is a horrible ordeal for her.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
05Oct1873, Edward's Vision: An Eton Master
LONDON, October 5th, 1873. 17th Sunday after Trinity. —
Had the great pleasure of spending the day at Eton with darling old Edward and Alfred. Edwd. looking thin and Alfred hectic, from the exertion of playing football in the late great heat. Saw Spencer in S. George's, and walked with him round about Granny's beloved Windsor Castle and my beloved too. The very sight of its outside brings rushes of very romantic memories over me! Had luncheon at the White Hart with the boys and walked with them between services in the Park. Talked with Edwd. of his vision of being an Eton master [FN: Edward Lyttelton became a master, and ultimately Head Master of Eton.]; I wish it may come to pass. Second service in Eton Chapel—singing very nice to what it was. Such a nice day, pleasant to look back upon. Got home to dinner, and entertained Uncle W. and Willy; Uncle W. agog upon perversions; gave us a brilliant history of the rise and development of Confession in the Roman Church from the earliest period to the present time! which ought to have been "taken down."
Had the great pleasure of spending the day at Eton with darling old Edward and Alfred. Edwd. looking thin and Alfred hectic, from the exertion of playing football in the late great heat. Saw Spencer in S. George's, and walked with him round about Granny's beloved Windsor Castle and my beloved too. The very sight of its outside brings rushes of very romantic memories over me! Had luncheon at the White Hart with the boys and walked with them between services in the Park. Talked with Edwd. of his vision of being an Eton master [FN: Edward Lyttelton became a master, and ultimately Head Master of Eton.]; I wish it may come to pass. Second service in Eton Chapel—singing very nice to what it was. Such a nice day, pleasant to look back upon. Got home to dinner, and entertained Uncle W. and Willy; Uncle W. agog upon perversions; gave us a brilliant history of the rise and development of Confession in the Roman Church from the earliest period to the present time! which ought to have been "taken down."
30Sep1873, Irving in "Richelieu"
LONDON, Tuesday, September 30th, 1873.
—We went with Alfred Howard and Spencer to see "Richelieu" with Irving; he was excellent, tho' too like a swearing cat at times.
—We went with Alfred Howard and Spencer to see "Richelieu" with Irving; he was excellent, tho' too like a swearing cat at times.
24Sep1873, Letters of Sarah, Lady Lyttelton
CHATSWORTH, Wednesday, September 24th, 1873.
—The Dean has now pounced upon the book, and is in raptures over it; goes off about it to me on every opportunity. Wants us to present it to the Queen, who, he is sure, will greatly like it, in spite of one or two little things which may take her aback.
[FN: Dean Wellesley, of Windsor. The book was the privately printed Letters of her grandmother Sarah, Lady Lyttelton.]
—The Dean has now pounced upon the book, and is in raptures over it; goes off about it to me on every opportunity. Wants us to present it to the Queen, who, he is sure, will greatly like it, in spite of one or two little things which may take her aback.
[FN: Dean Wellesley, of Windsor. The book was the privately printed Letters of her grandmother Sarah, Lady Lyttelton.]
19Sep1873, Sweet Converse With Tallee
Saturday, October 23, 2010
01Sep1873, A Monster Expedition to Wrekin
HAGLEY, Monday, September 1st, 1873.
—Papa headed a monster expedition to the top of the Wrekin. It consisted of himself and Sybella, his 8 sons, 3 of his daughters, 2 sons-in-law, a grandson, 3 cousins (Pole Carews), a niece (G. G.) [FN: Gertrude Glynne, afterwards Lady Penrhyn], and Mr. Balfour. At Wellington Station (odd coincidence) we met Aggie [FN: Agnes Gladstone, engaged to Rev. E. Wickham, Head Master of Wellington, afterwards Dean of Lincoln.] and Mr. Wickham, chaperoned by Mazy, Harry, and Herbert. Poor Mr. W. must have looked on bedazed as the 21 came bubbling endlessly one after another out of the saloon carriage. We all set off up the hill, and I had the very appalling honour of walking tête-a-tête with Mr. W. for a good bit! At the top we perched all over the crags and revelled in the glorious, widespread, many-tinted view, while the dear posse of big brothers set up various part-songs, and the hero and heroine sat happily together.
—Papa headed a monster expedition to the top of the Wrekin. It consisted of himself and Sybella, his 8 sons, 3 of his daughters, 2 sons-in-law, a grandson, 3 cousins (Pole Carews), a niece (G. G.) [FN: Gertrude Glynne, afterwards Lady Penrhyn], and Mr. Balfour. At Wellington Station (odd coincidence) we met Aggie [FN: Agnes Gladstone, engaged to Rev. E. Wickham, Head Master of Wellington, afterwards Dean of Lincoln.] and Mr. Wickham, chaperoned by Mazy, Harry, and Herbert. Poor Mr. W. must have looked on bedazed as the 21 came bubbling endlessly one after another out of the saloon carriage. We all set off up the hill, and I had the very appalling honour of walking tête-a-tête with Mr. W. for a good bit! At the top we perched all over the crags and revelled in the glorious, widespread, many-tinted view, while the dear posse of big brothers set up various part-songs, and the hero and heroine sat happily together.
24Aug1873, Remembering Mamma
BOLTON, St. Bartholomew, 11th Sunday after Trinity, 1873.
—The usual dear Bolton Sunday, with an additional sacredness. It is the 1st S. Bartholomew's Day since that Funeral Day in '57 that I have been able to receive the Holy Communion. How well I remember the intense comfort of it when one's heart was all wrung and aching! And how I wrote of it: "It is like Holy Hands blessing and soothing one: Peace, be still." God grant it may always be so to me, in joy and sorrow, to the end.
—The usual dear Bolton Sunday, with an additional sacredness. It is the 1st S. Bartholomew's Day since that Funeral Day in '57 that I have been able to receive the Holy Communion. How well I remember the intense comfort of it when one's heart was all wrung and aching! And how I wrote of it: "It is like Holy Hands blessing and soothing one: Peace, be still." God grant it may always be so to me, in joy and sorrow, to the end.
08Aug1873, I Shall Have Him With Me
LONDON, Friday, August 8th, 1873.
—My Fred back from Holker at 6 a.m. this morning. If he takes the office, he vacates his seat; it was therefore to be kept back for a time, to get Registration matters, etc., forward, and to consult influential constituents. But by some unaccountable blundering the cat came out of the bag in the paper this morning, and he is in for it. It will be a horrid business if he has a contest, Greenwich and East Staffordshire having just been won by the Tories owing to the split caused by the precious League. But we hope better of the stout old Riding, and, if it only shows a firm front, the Tories won't be mad enough to contest it. Poor F., however, has to post off again at 3 to Bradford.
I saw Uncle W. at his window when we got home; he called me in and was delightful about F., calling him "such a compound of gallantry and good sense" and saying "I shall have him with me" with great pleasure and affection.
—My Fred back from Holker at 6 a.m. this morning. If he takes the office, he vacates his seat; it was therefore to be kept back for a time, to get Registration matters, etc., forward, and to consult influential constituents. But by some unaccountable blundering the cat came out of the bag in the paper this morning, and he is in for it. It will be a horrid business if he has a contest, Greenwich and East Staffordshire having just been won by the Tories owing to the split caused by the precious League. But we hope better of the stout old Riding, and, if it only shows a firm front, the Tories won't be mad enough to contest it. Poor F., however, has to post off again at 3 to Bradford.
I saw Uncle W. at his window when we got home; he called me in and was delightful about F., calling him "such a compound of gallantry and good sense" and saying "I shall have him with me" with great pleasure and affection.
06Aug1873, Government Positions
LONDON, Wednesday, August 6th, 1873.
—A notable day, F. being offered a Lordship of the Treasury and thus entering upon official life. Uncle W. takes the Chancellorship of the Exchequer on himself, and F. will be an extra Lord, owing to the double work this will give Uncle W. Mr. Lowe is bowed off the Exchequer of which he has made a grand muddle, and becomes Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce getting a peerage and Presidency of the Council. F., of course, can't accept without asking the Duke, so went off to Holker this evening. Atie. P. and I to The Coppice.
—A notable day, F. being offered a Lordship of the Treasury and thus entering upon official life. Uncle W. takes the Chancellorship of the Exchequer on himself, and F. will be an extra Lord, owing to the double work this will give Uncle W. Mr. Lowe is bowed off the Exchequer of which he has made a grand muddle, and becomes Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce getting a peerage and Presidency of the Council. F., of course, can't accept without asking the Duke, so went off to Holker this evening. Atie. P. and I to The Coppice.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
05Aug1873, Thickening of Ministerial Plot
LONDON, Tuesday, August 5th, 1873.
—Thickening of Ministerial plot. Thank goodness F. was able de refuser l'offre d'être "fouet" en place de G. G. G. [FM: George Grenfell Glyn, the then Whip ; afterwards 2nd Baron Wolverton.], chose qui lui serait insupportable et pour moi un supplice. Uncle W. le lui offrit d'une fawn tres aimable et ne voulut point insister, surtout en comprenant que le duc s'y opposait fort. Je ne crois pas que F. s'en tirerait bien : it n'est pas assez rapide et il est trop scrupuleux-peut-être aussi trop enthousiaste.... The interesting event took place of Mr. Bright and Uncle W. dining with us (a dead secret!) ; said Mr. B. having consented to take office. He was very pleasant and downright ; during a few minutes that I had him alone said he would never have done it for anyone but Uncle W.; spoke of him in the warmest way; said of himself that he felt quite well now, but was apt to flag, and get discouraged over work. I happened to say during dinner that I had no Scotch blood. "Nor have I," said he; "I wish I had; then perhaps I should have been a less lazy man." They talked composedly of the price of cotton, the Shortening of Hours Bill for women (of which Mr. B. disapproves), and such subjects, most of dinner time.
—Thickening of Ministerial plot. Thank goodness F. was able de refuser l'offre d'être "fouet" en place de G. G. G. [FM: George Grenfell Glyn, the then Whip ; afterwards 2nd Baron Wolverton.], chose qui lui serait insupportable et pour moi un supplice. Uncle W. le lui offrit d'une fawn tres aimable et ne voulut point insister, surtout en comprenant que le duc s'y opposait fort. Je ne crois pas que F. s'en tirerait bien : it n'est pas assez rapide et il est trop scrupuleux-peut-être aussi trop enthousiaste.... The interesting event took place of Mr. Bright and Uncle W. dining with us (a dead secret!) ; said Mr. B. having consented to take office. He was very pleasant and downright ; during a few minutes that I had him alone said he would never have done it for anyone but Uncle W.; spoke of him in the warmest way; said of himself that he felt quite well now, but was apt to flag, and get discouraged over work. I happened to say during dinner that I had no Scotch blood. "Nor have I," said he; "I wish I had; then perhaps I should have been a less lazy man." They talked composedly of the price of cotton, the Shortening of Hours Bill for women (of which Mr. B. disapproves), and such subjects, most of dinner time.
04Aug1873, Unpleasantnesses
LONDON, Monday, August 4th, 1873.
—Eastward, I hope for the last time, but there are unpleasantnesses in les hauts quartiers qui retiennent notre chef en ville, et nous par consequent. Il doit y avoir plusieurs échanges de role.[FN: Rearrangement of the Cabinet took place at this time.]
—Eastward, I hope for the last time, but there are unpleasantnesses in les hauts quartiers qui retiennent notre chef en ville, et nous par consequent. Il doit y avoir plusieurs échanges de role.[FN: Rearrangement of the Cabinet took place at this time.]
30Jul1873, Jubilee Singers
LONDON, Wednesday, July 30th, 1873.
—We went yesty to breakfast at No. 11, along with the "Jubilee Singers"— emancipated slaves, every one of them from the Southern States. They sang quite gloriously. Never shall I forget the enthusiasm and inspiration of their poor ugly faces in "John Brown," especially at the line "All mankind is free." Trumpet-like tones and wonderful softness, too, in their voices. One hymn was most beautiful—"Can I forget thee?" Little Sarah was brought in and listened entranced, instead of screaming at the black faces as was to be expected.
—We went yesty to breakfast at No. 11, along with the "Jubilee Singers"— emancipated slaves, every one of them from the Southern States. They sang quite gloriously. Never shall I forget the enthusiasm and inspiration of their poor ugly faces in "John Brown," especially at the line "All mankind is free." Trumpet-like tones and wonderful softness, too, in their voices. One hymn was most beautiful—"Can I forget thee?" Little Sarah was brought in and listened entranced, instead of screaming at the black faces as was to be expected.
21Jul1873, Bp. of Winchester Dies From Fall
FALCONHURST, Monday, July 21st, 1873.
—A letter from Atie P. at Holmbury came to me this morning with the appalling news of the death of the Bp. of Winchester. He travelled with Ld. Granville to Leatherhead, where they were met by horses that they might ride the rest of the way to Holmbury. The Bishop immensely pleased with the beautiful weather and scenery and with the horse Ld. G. mounted him on. They were cantering down a grassy slope not far from Abinger Hall, when the Bishop's horse stumbled at a grip, and came down on his knees (or all but). The Bishop was thrown over its head and, falling heavily on his head and turning right over, dislocated his neck and was killed on the spot. It is certain he cd have had no moment's pain or even consciousness of danger, but went in one instant from his enjoyment of earth to the Presence of God. It is an unutterable loss.
We came home. Went E. with poor Atie. P., who is dreadfully taken out of: they were at Holmbury to meet the Bishop, and were just expecting his arrival when the groom brought word of a "bad accident," but they all tried to hope the best, until poor Ld. Granville arrived at 10, looking ghastly, with the fatal news. About a week ago we rode with the Bp. in Rotten Row ; he was in all his usual health and vigour and high spirits, and, when we got upon Church matters, said much that was interesting and that I shan't forget.
—A letter from Atie P. at Holmbury came to me this morning with the appalling news of the death of the Bp. of Winchester. He travelled with Ld. Granville to Leatherhead, where they were met by horses that they might ride the rest of the way to Holmbury. The Bishop immensely pleased with the beautiful weather and scenery and with the horse Ld. G. mounted him on. They were cantering down a grassy slope not far from Abinger Hall, when the Bishop's horse stumbled at a grip, and came down on his knees (or all but). The Bishop was thrown over its head and, falling heavily on his head and turning right over, dislocated his neck and was killed on the spot. It is certain he cd have had no moment's pain or even consciousness of danger, but went in one instant from his enjoyment of earth to the Presence of God. It is an unutterable loss.
We came home. Went E. with poor Atie. P., who is dreadfully taken out of: they were at Holmbury to meet the Bishop, and were just expecting his arrival when the groom brought word of a "bad accident," but they all tried to hope the best, until poor Ld. Granville arrived at 10, looking ghastly, with the fatal news. About a week ago we rode with the Bp. in Rotten Row ; he was in all his usual health and vigour and high spirits, and, when we got upon Church matters, said much that was interesting and that I shan't forget.
18Jul1873, Scott-Siddons and Mrs. Siddons
LONDON, Friday, July 18th, 1873.
—Had a delightful Scott-Siddons reading for a charity at Grosvenor H.; made her acquaintance aftds at tea with Constance : we reminded her of Granny's interview with her after a reading abt the year '67, when Granny told her of her likeness to her great-grandmother Mrs. Siddons. She remembered it well, and was so delighted to be told who Granny was; said it chanced to be the 1st time she had been told of the likeness. We made her pose under the famous Sir Joshua of the Tragic Muse, and the likeness was most striking, only this little person is very dark. She is exceedingly handsome—almost beautiful.
—Had a delightful Scott-Siddons reading for a charity at Grosvenor H.; made her acquaintance aftds at tea with Constance : we reminded her of Granny's interview with her after a reading abt the year '67, when Granny told her of her likeness to her great-grandmother Mrs. Siddons. She remembered it well, and was so delighted to be told who Granny was; said it chanced to be the 1st time she had been told of the likeness. We made her pose under the famous Sir Joshua of the Tragic Muse, and the likeness was most striking, only this little person is very dark. She is exceedingly handsome—almost beautiful.
16Jul1873, "Marie Antoinette" by Ristori
LONDON, Wednesday, July 16th, 1873.
—F. and I, May and Atie. P, went to see "Marie Antoinette" done by Ristori at Drury Lane. It was grand tragic acting—the only thing of the sort I have ever seen (except the same actress in "Medea" when I was fifteen, of which I have only a confused recollection). The awful truth and recentness of the events made it almost intolerably painful and pathetic to a degree that set many off crying, me to a frightful extent! A tiny girl who cdnt have been more than 8 played the poor little Dauphin's part wonderfully and the King was well done too. But oh, the Queen!—especially when she asks the King's forgiveness, when she cows Simon and aftds appeals to him before he carries off the child, and at the end when she goes to execution, and with her hands tied behind her, is sublime. The horror and pity of the whole thing was to me intensified by realising what the sufferings of the miserable mob must have been, and of their ancestors for generations, brought before one in the play by the clamour and shouts for bread coming from a distance nearer and nearer—and all the vengeance falling, as so often, on the guiltless heads. But they were happier in death than their predecessors had been in the pride of life.
—F. and I, May and Atie. P, went to see "Marie Antoinette" done by Ristori at Drury Lane. It was grand tragic acting—the only thing of the sort I have ever seen (except the same actress in "Medea" when I was fifteen, of which I have only a confused recollection). The awful truth and recentness of the events made it almost intolerably painful and pathetic to a degree that set many off crying, me to a frightful extent! A tiny girl who cdnt have been more than 8 played the poor little Dauphin's part wonderfully and the King was well done too. But oh, the Queen!—especially when she asks the King's forgiveness, when she cows Simon and aftds appeals to him before he carries off the child, and at the end when she goes to execution, and with her hands tied behind her, is sublime. The horror and pity of the whole thing was to me intensified by realising what the sufferings of the miserable mob must have been, and of their ancestors for generations, brought before one in the play by the clamour and shouts for bread coming from a distance nearer and nearer—and all the vengeance falling, as so often, on the guiltless heads. But they were happier in death than their predecessors had been in the pride of life.
14Jun1873, Larking to the Opera
LONDON, Monday, July 14th, 1873.
—Dined en garcon in Gt. George St., and went larking aftds with old "Henry Barker" to the Opera. "Don Giovanni" with Patti, most delightful.
—Dined en garcon in Gt. George St., and went larking aftds with old "Henry Barker" to the Opera. "Don Giovanni" with Patti, most delightful.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
12Jul1873, Professional Billiards
WIMBLEDON, Saturday, July 12th, 1873.
—Came to Wimbledon to dine under canvas with the Ducies, very pleasant and pretty. Met the Tecks, Selbornes, Ripons, L. Lindsays, Ld. Ossulstone, etc. Aftds saw some tip-top professional billiards (Cook and Bennett), to my delight ; a wonderful break of 117.
—Came to Wimbledon to dine under canvas with the Ducies, very pleasant and pretty. Met the Tecks, Selbornes, Ripons, L. Lindsays, Ld. Ossulstone, etc. Aftds saw some tip-top professional billiards (Cook and Bennett), to my delight ; a wonderful break of 117.
10Jul1873, Variegated Bonbons Or Christians
LONDON, Thursday, July 10th, 1873.
—Beautiful garden party at Montagu H. Tho' individually people are apt nowadays to look more like variegated bonbons than Christians, yet en masse the effect of the gay colours is very bright and successful.
—Beautiful garden party at Montagu H. Tho' individually people are apt nowadays to look more like variegated bonbons than Christians, yet en masse the effect of the gay colours is very bright and successful.
07Jul1873, Shah Goes to France
LONDON, Monday, July 7th, 1873.
—The Shah went off to France on Saturday, having pretty well tired out King, Lords, and Commons. Even the Prince of Wales is said to be dead beat. The French are going to make the best splash they can, but how poor, with no National Anthem, no flag, and nothing but a mushroom President. One of these days the Gladstones had the Shah to tea, and little Mary and Agnes Talbot were fetched upstairs to look at him. What shd he do but pat them on the cheeks and say, "Tres jolies," to their infinite excitement. "He patted me twice," quoth Agnes, "because I'm fair; so he is sure to ask for me as his 4th wife."
—The Shah went off to France on Saturday, having pretty well tired out King, Lords, and Commons. Even the Prince of Wales is said to be dead beat. The French are going to make the best splash they can, but how poor, with no National Anthem, no flag, and nothing but a mushroom President. One of these days the Gladstones had the Shah to tea, and little Mary and Agnes Talbot were fetched upstairs to look at him. What shd he do but pat them on the cheeks and say, "Tres jolies," to their infinite excitement. "He patted me twice," quoth Agnes, "because I'm fair; so he is sure to ask for me as his 4th wife."
04Jul1873, Ball for the Wales'
LONDON, Friday, July 4th, 1873.
—Ball at the Goldsmiths' Hall, for the Wales's; a fine sight: entrance-hall like a small Stafford House, only better, inasmuch as the marble is all real.
—Ball at the Goldsmiths' Hall, for the Wales's; a fine sight: entrance-hall like a small Stafford House, only better, inasmuch as the marble is all real.
02Jul1873, Squirming Duke of Wellington
LONDON, Wednesday, July 2nd, 1873.
—Lovely concert at Mrs. Ralli's ; took Agnes and Helen to Apsley House ball and left them there. Never noticed the D. of Wellington before! Why does the poor little squirming man look as old as his father?
—Lovely concert at Mrs. Ralli's ; took Agnes and Helen to Apsley House ball and left them there. Never noticed the D. of Wellington before! Why does the poor little squirming man look as old as his father?
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
28Jun1873, Meeting Young Nicholas II
LONDON, Saturday, June 28th, 1873.
—Smart garden party for the Shah at Chiswick; the Queen came and looked very cheerful with a little white about her. The Czarevitch and Cesarevna [FN: Afterwards Alexander III; the Cesarevna, afterwards Empress, was the sister of the Princess of Wales.] are here; he is an ugly, fair, big dog of a man; she dark and pretty and with our Princess's manner; but not high-bred looking. I had the honour of shaking hands with their two little Grand Dukes Nicholas [FN: Afterwards the ill-fated Nicholas II.] and George; fine children, but plain. The little Wales girls dainty and pretty, and two bouncing handsome Teck boys. The public in rainbow hues, "only more so." The sister Princesses dress alike and seem immensely happy together.
—Smart garden party for the Shah at Chiswick; the Queen came and looked very cheerful with a little white about her. The Czarevitch and Cesarevna [FN: Afterwards Alexander III; the Cesarevna, afterwards Empress, was the sister of the Princess of Wales.] are here; he is an ugly, fair, big dog of a man; she dark and pretty and with our Princess's manner; but not high-bred looking. I had the honour of shaking hands with their two little Grand Dukes Nicholas [FN: Afterwards the ill-fated Nicholas II.] and George; fine children, but plain. The little Wales girls dainty and pretty, and two bouncing handsome Teck boys. The public in rainbow hues, "only more so." The sister Princesses dress alike and seem immensely happy together.
19Jun1873, A Fine To-Do
LONDON, Thursday, June 19th, 1873.
—London had the Shah-ums; streets in horrid state. We went in full fig to the Guildhall for a fine to-do; he is a small brown man, with a handsome cruel face: diamonds wonderful to behold.
—London had the Shah-ums; streets in horrid state. We went in full fig to the Guildhall for a fine to-do; he is a small brown man, with a handsome cruel face: diamonds wonderful to behold.
18Jun1873, The Shah of Persia
LONDON, Wednesday, June 18th, 1873.
—The Shah of Persia arrived in London and everything is turned inside-out in consequence. We saw him arrive in a thunder pelt by the Mall and go to Buck. Palace.
—The Shah of Persia arrived in London and everything is turned inside-out in consequence. We saw him arrive in a thunder pelt by the Mall and go to Buck. Palace.
15Jun1873, An Extreme Ritualistic Church
OXFORD, June 15th, 1873. 1st Sunday after Trinity.
—We went to S. Barnabas for Matins ; an extreme ritualistic Church, but with nothing I much disliked in the Service except a side-altar!! and the odd take of the Clergy marching in to the Church in "birettas." Fine hearty singing, good clear reading and intoning. But the sermon was misery to us both, from inordinate affectation of delivery and emptiness of matter. "Father" Benson was the man, and I am told he is a saint, which grieves me the more.
—We went to S. Barnabas for Matins ; an extreme ritualistic Church, but with nothing I much disliked in the Service except a side-altar!! and the odd take of the Clergy marching in to the Church in "birettas." Fine hearty singing, good clear reading and intoning. But the sermon was misery to us both, from inordinate affectation of delivery and emptiness of matter. "Father" Benson was the man, and I am told he is a saint, which grieves me the more.
11Jun1873, Smart Evening-looking Skirts
LONDON, Wednesday, June 11th, 1873.
—Garden party with Mazy and Helen at Ly. Airlie's: I was enraged at people's appearing in smart evening-looking skirts.
—Garden party with Mazy and Helen at Ly. Airlie's: I was enraged at people's appearing in smart evening-looking skirts.
09Jun1873, Back Into the Collar
Monday, June 9th, 1873.
—Went off a little with the feeling of putting one's head back into the collar. The unlucky Alexandra Palace, opened only t'other day after two former collapses, was being burnt to the ground as we came along the line. I stayed at Hatfield till 2, to see my dear Bp. Confirm, which he did beautifully. Also got a basket of rhodos, etc., with the help of Fish [FN: Now Bishop of Exeter.] and Nigs,[FN: Late Lord Edward Cecil.] left it behind, and dear Jim (the eldest) [FN: Present Ld. Salisbury.] tore down to the station, hatless in the heat, to catch me!
—Went off a little with the feeling of putting one's head back into the collar. The unlucky Alexandra Palace, opened only t'other day after two former collapses, was being burnt to the ground as we came along the line. I stayed at Hatfield till 2, to see my dear Bp. Confirm, which he did beautifully. Also got a basket of rhodos, etc., with the help of Fish [FN: Now Bishop of Exeter.] and Nigs,[FN: Late Lord Edward Cecil.] left it behind, and dear Jim (the eldest) [FN: Present Ld. Salisbury.] tore down to the station, hatless in the heat, to catch me!
08Jun1873, How I Have Enjoyed Myself
HATFIELD, Sunday, June 8th, 1873.
—Annivy. of my 1st Communion. Early Celebration here at 8. Resisted a temptation to go with the Bishop and see his Ordination at St. Alban's Abbey and was rewarded by the fine hearty service in the parish church. Evensong in the beautiful private chapel of the house—very delightful—"rivers of water."
Pleasant to sit in the vineyard in fine warm weather: the children tumbling up and down the grassy slope.
Before dinner the dear Bishop read to his wife and daughter and me the "Xtian Year" for the day and for the 2nd Sun. aft. Trin, recalling a long-past happy visit to Summerhill, where he read the same hymns to M. and me. Also some good and very devout verses on the H. Communion by Uncle W. written in 1838, which I showed him.
Then a little walk with Ly. Salisbury and a sister and F., among the abundant rhododendrons and pines, and a pleasant evening ; folks telling each other what their earliest recollections were. No one cd cap the Duke's, which I told of—viz., the Battle of Leipzig ; imprinted on his infant ears by hearing it spoken of thus, "Boney has been well licked," and taking the verb literally.
Mr. Richmond had painted Mr. Tom Grenville, who knew Sir Joshua Reynolds well.
How I have enjoyed myself!
—Annivy. of my 1st Communion. Early Celebration here at 8. Resisted a temptation to go with the Bishop and see his Ordination at St. Alban's Abbey and was rewarded by the fine hearty service in the parish church. Evensong in the beautiful private chapel of the house—very delightful—"rivers of water."
Pleasant to sit in the vineyard in fine warm weather: the children tumbling up and down the grassy slope.
Before dinner the dear Bishop read to his wife and daughter and me the "Xtian Year" for the day and for the 2nd Sun. aft. Trin, recalling a long-past happy visit to Summerhill, where he read the same hymns to M. and me. Also some good and very devout verses on the H. Communion by Uncle W. written in 1838, which I showed him.
Then a little walk with Ly. Salisbury and a sister and F., among the abundant rhododendrons and pines, and a pleasant evening ; folks telling each other what their earliest recollections were. No one cd cap the Duke's, which I told of—viz., the Battle of Leipzig ; imprinted on his infant ears by hearing it spoken of thus, "Boney has been well licked," and taking the verb literally.
Mr. Richmond had painted Mr. Tom Grenville, who knew Sir Joshua Reynolds well.
How I have enjoyed myself!
07Jun1873, Riding Through the Green
HATFIELD, Saturday, June 7th, 1873.
—The Cowpers and Mr. Leveson came over to luncheon, and we went back with them to Panshanger, Blosset Alderson, Ld. Edmund, and I riding through the green Hagley-like lanes. Pictures beyond at Panshanger. Dear Bp. of Rochester, Mrs. and Lucy Claughton came; also Brownlows, and Sir A. and Lady Gordon and a Miss Lefevre.
—The Cowpers and Mr. Leveson came over to luncheon, and we went back with them to Panshanger, Blosset Alderson, Ld. Edmund, and I riding through the green Hagley-like lanes. Pictures beyond at Panshanger. Dear Bp. of Rochester, Mrs. and Lucy Claughton came; also Brownlows, and Sir A. and Lady Gordon and a Miss Lefevre.
05Jun1873, This Noble Place
HATFIELD, Thursday, June 5th, 1873.
—Parted with F. on the railway ; he going to Kirby Lonsdale for more speechifying; I (chaperoned by a clever little Cambridge oddity named Stuart [FN: Afterwards Professor Stuart, M.P.]as far as Hitchin) came to this noble place. Find host and hostess, 2 Miss Aldersons and Mrs. Cocks, Ld. Edmund Fitzmaurice, Uncle Dick, Mr. Balfour, and Richmond père [FN: George Richmond, the artist.] : very pleasant.
—Parted with F. on the railway ; he going to Kirby Lonsdale for more speechifying; I (chaperoned by a clever little Cambridge oddity named Stuart [FN: Afterwards Professor Stuart, M.P.]as far as Hitchin) came to this noble place. Find host and hostess, 2 Miss Aldersons and Mrs. Cocks, Ld. Edmund Fitzmaurice, Uncle Dick, Mr. Balfour, and Richmond père [FN: George Richmond, the artist.] : very pleasant.
30May1873, Uncle W. Don't Believe
CHATSWORTH, Friday, May 30th, 1873.
—Uncle W. don't a bit believe in Mr. Harcourt's Bright story.
—Uncle W. don't a bit believe in Mr. Harcourt's Bright story.
27May1873, Harcourt Cynical and Unprincipled
LONDON, Tuesday, May 27th, 1873.
—Dined with Sir Harcourt Johnstone, meeting Wenlocks and various folk ; Mr. W. Harcourt was there, as cynical and unprincipled in talk as may be! The most pleasing thing he had to say was that Cavendish was the only member of the Govt. who had common sense : "He's the leader for me." Informed us that he sat near Bright during Uncle W.'s fine anti-Miall speech the other day (on Church disestablishment) and that Bright was in a fury therewith.
—Dined with Sir Harcourt Johnstone, meeting Wenlocks and various folk ; Mr. W. Harcourt was there, as cynical and unprincipled in talk as may be! The most pleasing thing he had to say was that Cavendish was the only member of the Govt. who had common sense : "He's the leader for me." Informed us that he sat near Bright during Uncle W.'s fine anti-Miall speech the other day (on Church disestablishment) and that Bright was in a fury therewith.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
25May1873, Lady Essex's Children
CASSIOBURY, May 25th, 1873. Sunday after Ascension.
—Some enchanting weather. Nice warm services at Watford Parish Church. Pretty poking about in the aftn., with tea out of doors at a bewitching dairy. Ly. Essex, in a bright green silk and yellow hair, looked like an emerald pin. Her little boy of 8 is nice-looking, though terribly blind ; but the creature to enslave all hearts is Lady Betty Capel, aged 2 1/2.
—Some enchanting weather. Nice warm services at Watford Parish Church. Pretty poking about in the aftn., with tea out of doors at a bewitching dairy. Ly. Essex, in a bright green silk and yellow hair, looked like an emerald pin. Her little boy of 8 is nice-looking, though terribly blind ; but the creature to enslave all hearts is Lady Betty Capel, aged 2 1/2.
24May1873, Junket to Cassiobury
CASSIOBURY, Saturday, May 24th, 1873.
—Had the junket of going to Cassiobury [FN: The house of Lord Essex.]. So seldom do we see new places, that I do enjoy it. Lovely warm day ; birds clamorous, foliage tender green. The house, in spite of much ginger-breading outside, very delightful and with a Gloire-de-Dijon rose in bloom growing up it. The Powerscourts and Fredk. Stanleys are here. F. had to do birthday dinner at No. 11 and came here Sunday.
—Had the junket of going to Cassiobury [FN: The house of Lord Essex.]. So seldom do we see new places, that I do enjoy it. Lovely warm day ; birds clamorous, foliage tender green. The house, in spite of much ginger-breading outside, very delightful and with a Gloire-de-Dijon rose in bloom growing up it. The Powerscourts and Fredk. Stanleys are here. F. had to do birthday dinner at No. 11 and came here Sunday.
20May1873, Doomed Northumberland House
LONDON, Tuesday, May 20th, 1873.
—Drum at poor doomed Northumberland House at which we all took a sad farewell.
—Drum at poor doomed Northumberland House at which we all took a sad farewell.
16May1873, Uncle W. Overthrows Disestablishment
LONDON, Friday, May 16th, 1873.
—Uncle W. made such a brilliant overthrow of Miall and his Disestablishment as the cause ought to take long in recovering from. No one so much as answered him and the whole thing was over before dinner. Smart drum at Lansdowne House, stifling crush at Baroness Coutts's.
—Uncle W. made such a brilliant overthrow of Miall and his Disestablishment as the cause ought to take long in recovering from. No one so much as answered him and the whole thing was over before dinner. Smart drum at Lansdowne House, stifling crush at Baroness Coutts's.
13May1873, Delightful and Intensely English
CHICHESTER, Tuesday, May 13th, 1873.
—Nice service at the cathedral at 10. Miss Durnford took me about the enchanting garden, all sweet and old and peaceful ; and to the top of the Tower, whence the views of the quiet, red-tiled town, green blossoming fields and orchards and woods, Goodwood hills, the Channel and the faint blue Isle of Wight, were delightful and intensely English. Somehow this sort of sight always gives me a strong sense of the healthiness and peace of England, with her Church and her home life deep-rooted in the hearts of her people ; and all notion of disestablishment or revolution seems a perverse dream. How unlike Ireland!
—Nice service at the cathedral at 10. Miss Durnford took me about the enchanting garden, all sweet and old and peaceful ; and to the top of the Tower, whence the views of the quiet, red-tiled town, green blossoming fields and orchards and woods, Goodwood hills, the Channel and the faint blue Isle of Wight, were delightful and intensely English. Somehow this sort of sight always gives me a strong sense of the healthiness and peace of England, with her Church and her home life deep-rooted in the hearts of her people ; and all notion of disestablishment or revolution seems a perverse dream. How unlike Ireland!
Friday, October 01, 2010
12May1873, Bishop's Palace of Chichester
CHICHESTER, Monday, May 12th, 1873.
—Here I am at the Palace of Chichester. Having been put, rather willy-nilly, on the Bishop Otter College Committee, I cd not resist an invitation from Mrs. Durnford to attend a meeting to-morrow. A dream of delight to my Cockney eyes was the Palace as I drove up to it under a "sunbright" sky: the tall glorious cathedral, spire-towering above, the green gardens, the quaint old house....
The Bp. a dear, kind, very episcopal old man, wife nice and homely, daughter lively. Poor old Dean Hook dined ; he is terribly unwieldy and infirm, and can't sit upright. On collapsing into his chair after a prodigious business—"sic a-getting up stair"—he puffed and panted most desperately, and then broke out in a funny laugh at himself.
—Here I am at the Palace of Chichester. Having been put, rather willy-nilly, on the Bishop Otter College Committee, I cd not resist an invitation from Mrs. Durnford to attend a meeting to-morrow. A dream of delight to my Cockney eyes was the Palace as I drove up to it under a "sunbright" sky: the tall glorious cathedral, spire-towering above, the green gardens, the quaint old house....
The Bp. a dear, kind, very episcopal old man, wife nice and homely, daughter lively. Poor old Dean Hook dined ; he is terribly unwieldy and infirm, and can't sit upright. On collapsing into his chair after a prodigious business—"sic a-getting up stair"—he puffed and panted most desperately, and then broke out in a funny laugh at himself.
09May1873, Huges and Manning
LONDON, Friday, May 9th, 1873.
—Meeting of the "Provident Knowledge Society," a new thing, likely to be very useful in puffing and explaining P.O. Savings Banks, Govt. investments, penny banks, etc. Ld. Derby presided, and the Bp of Exeter, Mr. Th. Hughes, [FN: The author of "Tom Brown."] Manning, etc., spoke. The contrast between the ascetic, skeleton, spiritual face of Manning and the florid, well-fed, pink face of Mr. Hughes, as they sat side by side, was very funny.
—Meeting of the "Provident Knowledge Society," a new thing, likely to be very useful in puffing and explaining P.O. Savings Banks, Govt. investments, penny banks, etc. Ld. Derby presided, and the Bp of Exeter, Mr. Th. Hughes, [FN: The author of "Tom Brown."] Manning, etc., spoke. The contrast between the ascetic, skeleton, spiritual face of Manning and the florid, well-fed, pink face of Mr. Hughes, as they sat side by side, was very funny.
08May1873, A Gamboge-ey Green Gown
LONDON, Thursday, May 8th, 1873.
—Why did I go to this May Drawing-room? Endless dismal business, too late to see the Queen, squeeze, and dead tire. Sarina [FN: Mrs. Godley, afterwards Lady Kilbracken.] and I went together, she wanting to kiss the Queen's hand, being presented on her marriage. No such honour. Baroness Burdett, poor old maid, with her very red nose and flurry colour, thought fit to wear a befurbelowed gamboge-ey green gown, "couleur aeuf pourri" as near as could be imitated. Ly. Airlie's fine big girls looked well in a sort of new-ink colour, with white, and Ly. Brownlow was a radiant sight.
—Why did I go to this May Drawing-room? Endless dismal business, too late to see the Queen, squeeze, and dead tire. Sarina [FN: Mrs. Godley, afterwards Lady Kilbracken.] and I went together, she wanting to kiss the Queen's hand, being presented on her marriage. No such honour. Baroness Burdett, poor old maid, with her very red nose and flurry colour, thought fit to wear a befurbelowed gamboge-ey green gown, "couleur aeuf pourri" as near as could be imitated. Ly. Airlie's fine big girls looked well in a sort of new-ink colour, with white, and Ly. Brownlow was a radiant sight.
02May1873, The Albert Memorial Cross
LONDON, Friday, May 2nd, 1873.
—Had a little junket with my Fred to choose him a library table and then to examine the Albert Memorial Cross in Hyde Park. It really is a beautiful thing, but, placed where it is, it will look like a gingerbread ornament just taken off the top of that Twelfth cake, the Albert Hall!
—Had a little junket with my Fred to choose him a library table and then to examine the Albert Memorial Cross in Hyde Park. It really is a beautiful thing, but, placed where it is, it will look like a gingerbread ornament just taken off the top of that Twelfth cake, the Albert Hall!
29Apr1873, A New Carriage
LONDON, Tuesday, April 29th, 1873.
—Had the immense break of going out for the first time in My Victoria —an elegant little equipage with a good-looking black horse, and all ship-shape. Inaugurated it by taking F. to Downing St. (a good omen, I hope!), and then went to S. James Hall and heard an interesting S.P.G. speechification. Ld. Napier dry and John Bull but telling, in his stout defence of missionary work in India. Canon Lightfoot excellent, cheering one up by comparing the progress in given districts with the progress ditto in the third centy, and proving we gained much by the comparison.
—Had the immense break of going out for the first time in My Victoria —an elegant little equipage with a good-looking black horse, and all ship-shape. Inaugurated it by taking F. to Downing St. (a good omen, I hope!), and then went to S. James Hall and heard an interesting S.P.G. speechification. Ld. Napier dry and John Bull but telling, in his stout defence of missionary work in India. Canon Lightfoot excellent, cheering one up by comparing the progress in given districts with the progress ditto in the third centy, and proving we gained much by the comparison.
20Apr1873, Evangelical Sermon
LISMORE, April 20th, 1873. 1st Sunday after Easter.
—Dr. Morgan preached a sermon with much beauty and eloquence in it and the charm of strong feeling: but all "Evangelical" sermons leave me in the same vague state of mind as to what they mean us to do or to be. Lovely delightful walk on the greenissimus grass up the river.
—Dr. Morgan preached a sermon with much beauty and eloquence in it and the charm of strong feeling: but all "Evangelical" sermons leave me in the same vague state of mind as to what they mean us to do or to be. Lovely delightful walk on the greenissimus grass up the river.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
26Mar1873, Burials Bill Carried by 63
LONDON, Wednesday, March 26th, 1873.
—The precious Burials Bill (2nd reading) carried by 63, in spite of a capital, I shd say unanswerable speech, unluckily of Dizzy's. The line is to talk as if the Church was the persecuting virago in the matter, which is rather too bad when she meekly buries everybody, unlike any sect, and merely begs to be left to use her own service on her own ground. Dizzy's best point was the inconsistency of the Dissenters claiming exemption from the Ch. rates some years ago because they wd not pay for what did not concern them, and now, while never offering to pay rates as before, calmly claiming a right to what, on their own showing, is the Church's ground. Of course there is not a shadow left in their way, either of principle, logic, or common sense, when they take it into their heads to announce their "right" to do what they please in the Church's fabrics. But in this proposal, as in the sister-in-law one, consistency and principle are utterly scouted. And to think that my perverse Fred shd support them both! It isn't for want of many a talking to.
—The precious Burials Bill (2nd reading) carried by 63, in spite of a capital, I shd say unanswerable speech, unluckily of Dizzy's. The line is to talk as if the Church was the persecuting virago in the matter, which is rather too bad when she meekly buries everybody, unlike any sect, and merely begs to be left to use her own service on her own ground. Dizzy's best point was the inconsistency of the Dissenters claiming exemption from the Ch. rates some years ago because they wd not pay for what did not concern them, and now, while never offering to pay rates as before, calmly claiming a right to what, on their own showing, is the Church's ground. Of course there is not a shadow left in their way, either of principle, logic, or common sense, when they take it into their heads to announce their "right" to do what they please in the Church's fabrics. But in this proposal, as in the sister-in-law one, consistency and principle are utterly scouted. And to think that my perverse Fred shd support them both! It isn't for want of many a talking to.
22Mar1873, The Duke of Cambridge
LONDON, Saturday, March 22nd, 1873.
—Dined at the Staffd. Northcotes' to meet the D. of Cambridge whom I have never talked to before : I liked his simple, jolly, straightforward way and famous laugh. He broke the ice and our courtly silence on arriving, by shouting out to someone at the top of his voice, "COLD to-day."
—Dined at the Staffd. Northcotes' to meet the D. of Cambridge whom I have never talked to before : I liked his simple, jolly, straightforward way and famous laugh. He broke the ice and our courtly silence on arriving, by shouting out to someone at the top of his voice, "COLD to-day."
18Mar1873, Dined at the Deanery
16Mar1873, A Cabinet Council on Holyday
CLIVEDEN, March 16th, 1873. 3rd Sunday in Lent.
—The decrepit old Prime Minister walked us off to Burnham Church (3 miles) at a killing pace, and likewise sallied forth again with wife and daughter (who drove before) in drenching rain to another church a mile off in the afternoon. Georgey Grenfell came to dinner with Lena, who sang delightfully. After dinner came despatches from Windsor, including a long letter from Dizzy to H.M. definitely backing out. As the D. of Argyll and Uncle W. put their noses together on the sofa over the box, the faithful Willy and Fred hovering near, I thought it was a fine thing to assist at a Cabinet Council. No one can regret his being obliged to take up office again, but it has its keen disappointment to him, loving the prospect of a holyday as he had been doing, and having ticklish business to carry through in a rather dislocated House.
—The decrepit old Prime Minister walked us off to Burnham Church (3 miles) at a killing pace, and likewise sallied forth again with wife and daughter (who drove before) in drenching rain to another church a mile off in the afternoon. Georgey Grenfell came to dinner with Lena, who sang delightfully. After dinner came despatches from Windsor, including a long letter from Dizzy to H.M. definitely backing out. As the D. of Argyll and Uncle W. put their noses together on the sofa over the box, the faithful Willy and Fred hovering near, I thought it was a fine thing to assist at a Cabinet Council. No one can regret his being obliged to take up office again, but it has its keen disappointment to him, loving the prospect of a holyday as he had been doing, and having ticklish business to carry through in a rather dislocated House.
15Mar1873, Uncle W. Gives an Ivory Madonna
CLIVEDEN, Saturday, March 15th, 1873.
—Raw and ungenial. Abbey. We came to Cliveden [FN: Then the Duke of Westminster's house.], with the W. E. G.'s (he walking to Paddington), Mazy, the Dss. of Argyll, and Mr. Leveson. Uncle W. has given me a little ivory Madonna he picked up on his way to the station, in a shop ! I told him it was highly compromising and Ultramontane.
—Raw and ungenial. Abbey. We came to Cliveden [FN: Then the Duke of Westminster's house.], with the W. E. G.'s (he walking to Paddington), Mazy, the Dss. of Argyll, and Mr. Leveson. Uncle W. has given me a little ivory Madonna he picked up on his way to the station, in a shop ! I told him it was highly compromising and Ultramontane.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
11Mar1873, Gladstone's Finest Speech
LONDON, Tuesday, March 11th, 1873.
—To the House again, but not till after dinner (at Ly. Mt. Beaumont's), as a pack of wild Irish were to begin the debate [FN: On the Irish University Bill]. Heard the main part of Dizzy's speech, which was wild-hitting and weak. He cast "longing lingering looks behind" on concurrent endowment! an unearthly sort of card for Tories to depend on. As the clock struck 12 down he sat after a strained bit of declamation, and up sprung Uncle W. and made "the finest speech" of his life—so say many folks. It took exactly 2 hrs. He may have been more strikingly eloquent at other times ; but for strong conviction, perfect temper, mastery of his subject, brilliant hitting and power and fervour and ability, nothing cd equal it. He ran splendid tilts against Ld. Edmund Fitzmaurice for reversing the ancient custom of elders castigating the young, against Dr. Playfair for being misled by his professorial position into thinking nothing cd be done without lectures, whereas he, Uncle W., had gained all the academical trifles he had gained with hardly the help of a single lecture—(but this attack was most gracefully done so as to be complimentary both to Playfair and Scotland)—and against one or two others ; with a delightful quizzing of "Big Bentinck" as a "repentant rebel." It will be hard to look upon Uncle W. after this vigorous feat of arms as an old man in great want of rest, which he rather tries to make himself out! He drank nothing but water, despising his usual egg-flip, as it was after dinner. Well, it was over, with a fine appeal to the Liberal Party at the end, urging them to put the crown to their work of justice to Ireland. I cdn't help thinking such a speech wd turn the tide, but Atie. P., an older hand than me, did not let herself hope. When I saw F.'s face coming back from the lobby, I foresaw defeat; and so it was, by a majority of 3, showing a coalition between the Irish Ultramontanes and the Conservatives. Old M. was in Sir Ch. Russell's box [FN: "Sir" in the Diary : but she probably refers to Lord Charles Russell, then Serjeant-at-Arms.] and greatly delighted with the speech: wigged Johnny for voting against. Mr. Forster came to the Speaker's box and said, "I don't care for anything after that speech"—touching, as I know he is wretched at the prospect of going out before carrying through his Education Act. Uncle W., finding us waiting at the Ladies' Gallery door, mornes et mélancoli-ques, for the carriage, gave me a kind little kiss. Mary [FN: I.e., of course, Mary Gladstone, afterwards Mrs. Drew.] was there : it was the 1st time she had heard him.
—To the House again, but not till after dinner (at Ly. Mt. Beaumont's), as a pack of wild Irish were to begin the debate [FN: On the Irish University Bill]. Heard the main part of Dizzy's speech, which was wild-hitting and weak. He cast "longing lingering looks behind" on concurrent endowment! an unearthly sort of card for Tories to depend on. As the clock struck 12 down he sat after a strained bit of declamation, and up sprung Uncle W. and made "the finest speech" of his life—so say many folks. It took exactly 2 hrs. He may have been more strikingly eloquent at other times ; but for strong conviction, perfect temper, mastery of his subject, brilliant hitting and power and fervour and ability, nothing cd equal it. He ran splendid tilts against Ld. Edmund Fitzmaurice for reversing the ancient custom of elders castigating the young, against Dr. Playfair for being misled by his professorial position into thinking nothing cd be done without lectures, whereas he, Uncle W., had gained all the academical trifles he had gained with hardly the help of a single lecture—(but this attack was most gracefully done so as to be complimentary both to Playfair and Scotland)—and against one or two others ; with a delightful quizzing of "Big Bentinck" as a "repentant rebel." It will be hard to look upon Uncle W. after this vigorous feat of arms as an old man in great want of rest, which he rather tries to make himself out! He drank nothing but water, despising his usual egg-flip, as it was after dinner. Well, it was over, with a fine appeal to the Liberal Party at the end, urging them to put the crown to their work of justice to Ireland. I cdn't help thinking such a speech wd turn the tide, but Atie. P., an older hand than me, did not let herself hope. When I saw F.'s face coming back from the lobby, I foresaw defeat; and so it was, by a majority of 3, showing a coalition between the Irish Ultramontanes and the Conservatives. Old M. was in Sir Ch. Russell's box [FN: "Sir" in the Diary : but she probably refers to Lord Charles Russell, then Serjeant-at-Arms.] and greatly delighted with the speech: wigged Johnny for voting against. Mr. Forster came to the Speaker's box and said, "I don't care for anything after that speech"—touching, as I know he is wretched at the prospect of going out before carrying through his Education Act. Uncle W., finding us waiting at the Ladies' Gallery door, mornes et mélancoli-ques, for the carriage, gave me a kind little kiss. Mary [FN: I.e., of course, Mary Gladstone, afterwards Mrs. Drew.] was there : it was the 1st time she had heard him.
25Feb1873, Shot Albert's Quondam Tutor
LONDON, (Shrove) Tuesday, February 25th, 1873.
—Went with old M. to a special Committee at the House in hopes of hearing Papa examined about Endowed Schools; but only came in for a rather inaudible duel between Mr. Roby and Sir Michael Hicks Beach. Shot, to my amusement, Albert's quondam tutor Mr. Richmond, doing Secy. to the Schools Commission. Afterwds to my Chelsea School Council : felt like a strong-minded woman altogether. We have started a Beautiful Being named Henderson as butler.
—Went with old M. to a special Committee at the House in hopes of hearing Papa examined about Endowed Schools; but only came in for a rather inaudible duel between Mr. Roby and Sir Michael Hicks Beach. Shot, to my amusement, Albert's quondam tutor Mr. Richmond, doing Secy. to the Schools Commission. Afterwds to my Chelsea School Council : felt like a strong-minded woman altogether. We have started a Beautiful Being named Henderson as butler.
24Feb1873, The Horrible Price of Coal
LONDON, S. Mathias, Monday, 1873.
—I went with Mazy to represent Aggy at a Poplar tea-party : very successful. The poor women talked of the horrible price of coal, which, owing to strikes in Wales and other labour hitches, has gone up to 40s. and even 50s. a ton. The poor people buy a ¼ of hundredweight. A sack costs 3s. and only lasts, for two fires, 10 days.
—I went with Mazy to represent Aggy at a Poplar tea-party : very successful. The poor women talked of the horrible price of coal, which, owing to strikes in Wales and other labour hitches, has gone up to 40s. and even 50s. a ton. The poor people buy a ¼ of hundredweight. A sack costs 3s. and only lasts, for two fires, 10 days.
06Feb1873, Parliament Open, Charles Speaks
LONDON, Thursday, February 6th, 1873.
—Parlt. opened (alas ! no Queen) ; old Charles moved the address, capitally well in expression and matter, and only a trifle too stiff in manner. He looked beautiful. So did not the seconder, Mr. Stone (a Waterloo House bigwig), who was gig major, but spoke well.
—Parlt. opened (alas ! no Queen) ; old Charles moved the address, capitally well in expression and matter, and only a trifle too stiff in manner. He looked beautiful. So did not the seconder, Mr. Stone (a Waterloo House bigwig), who was gig major, but spoke well.
Friday, September 24, 2010
30Jan1873, George IV, An Abominable Man
LONDON, Thursday, January 30th, 1873.
—Met wonderful old Sir Henry Holland, who might, however, be 30 times better company than he is : he always seems devoured by doctorial reserve and afraid of committing himself about characters 70 years ago. However, he did let fly upon George IV, saying he had attended his two wives, and his mistress Ly. Conyngham, the latter of whom had told him awful things of him. "He was an abominable man from the beginning of his life to the end," quoth Sir Henry — "far worse than any of his brothers," all of whom Sir H. knew. He also talked of Prss. Charlotte, and the lamentable job perpetrated by "my old friend Dr. Willis" in getting appointed as accoucheur his brother-in-law wretched Sir R. Crofts, who had before been shut up for insanity, and who bled the poor flabby-habit-ed Princess 2 or 3 times before her confinement, so that she died of exhaustion.
—Met wonderful old Sir Henry Holland, who might, however, be 30 times better company than he is : he always seems devoured by doctorial reserve and afraid of committing himself about characters 70 years ago. However, he did let fly upon George IV, saying he had attended his two wives, and his mistress Ly. Conyngham, the latter of whom had told him awful things of him. "He was an abominable man from the beginning of his life to the end," quoth Sir Henry — "far worse than any of his brothers," all of whom Sir H. knew. He also talked of Prss. Charlotte, and the lamentable job perpetrated by "my old friend Dr. Willis" in getting appointed as accoucheur his brother-in-law wretched Sir R. Crofts, who had before been shut up for insanity, and who bled the poor flabby-habit-ed Princess 2 or 3 times before her confinement, so that she died of exhaustion.
23Jan18873, The Whirl of London
LONDON, Thursday, January 23rd, 1873.
—Came to London for good — earlier than ever before, I do believe, except the year of Bob's birth. My heart always rather sinks at the prospect of the whirling, strenuous sort of life, in contrast with peaceful, gliding Holker days.
—Came to London for good — earlier than ever before, I do believe, except the year of Bob's birth. My heart always rather sinks at the prospect of the whirling, strenuous sort of life, in contrast with peaceful, gliding Holker days.
18Jan1873, In a Rage Over the Burials Bill and Slavery
HOLKER, Saturday, January 18th, 1873.
—I have been reading " Uncle Tom's Cabin " again, also its Key, and an article in the Edinburgh of '55 about it. In this troublesome world, many are the things that one dislikes and disapproves of, many that grieve and fret one ; but there are only a few subjects which put me into a thorough rage ; which I avoid speaking of from the exasperation they produce all through me. They are various in magnitude—some may have but the smallest external scope : for instance, the " Burials Bill " is one of them. But one strong element of insufferability is a malevolent lie, clothed in religious cant, which I detect in such things, and which to my mind the Burials Bill has in great perfection. I have the strongest conviction that the originators of the agitation have for motive the desire to claim what does not belong to them, what they have justly and deliberately forfeited—not by way of disability, but by the very act of dissenting. It is as if a family had come into possession of a house and grounds to which it was agreed they were all entitled, as long as by common consent they lived under certain rules, and as if some out of the number, on conscientious grounds having come to the conclusion that they cd no longer submit to these rules, shd calmly demand their share in the house and grounds comme si rien n'était!
The old disabilities which were very rightly removed from Dissenters were political ones, wrongly imposed for religious differences. But here is the Church's own ground, paid for by her own members, claimed by those who, of their own free choice, have broken off from her. Nay, it is still worse ; for in the wide charity taught by our Lord, the Church does admit all who are baptized to her buildings and her churchyards, counting them all Church people whenever they come to her. But it is a little strong to ask her to let them bring into her own holy places, their own forms and ministers ! so as comfortably to combine the pleasures of Dissent with the advantages of Churchmanship. The original Dissenters were more manly and true. Objecting in their consciences to the Church's system, they left her honestly, and never invented a clever plan of both keeping their cake and eating it. There wd be some¬thing to be said for the demand if there was one word in our Burial Service which cd run against the doctrines or feelings of any Christian whatever—but this nobody pretends to say. If, however, it was so, all difficulty wd be removed by their having their own minister and service over the body in the house, and having the funeral in silence aftds (a thing R.C.s and Presbyterians always do). The reasons and pleas brought forward — "National" churchyards should be free to all—it is wicked to forbid their own services to the dead—etc., etc., are all false at bottom. Another subject of rage with me is the Birmn. League outcry agst the 25th clause of the Education Act, which is still more undoubtedly a false one ; but I have talked about that before. But the monstrous one of all is now, thank God ! a thing of the past—American slavery. I suppose "Uncle Tom," first read to us when I was about 12, when it came out, took a tight grip of me ; at all events it has fresh-gripped me now with wonderful strength ! Of course I don't mean but what the upholders of slavery did an enormously more awful thing than the would-be defrauders of the Church are attempting now ; but the element these things have in common is the plea that by unfairness and oppression they are doing God service. (I don't apply this to individuals, who, to be sure, may be and constantly are honestly convinced that the reasons on their side are good—I only speak of the thing that I believe is at the bottom.) The defending of slavery on religious grounds must now, I should think, be an atrocious blasphemy to the eyes of everyone ; but when one recalls the network of self-interest, conservatism, and national pride that kept the "institution" going, helped by all that is worst in human passions and the whole glazed over by that hateful distortion of "religion," one can understand why the agony of the long civil war was the only hope for the country. The cancer had to be cut out by the roots, and it was a blessing that it was at the risk of life itself. The old planters, I believe, are mostly ruined and gone ; and the present race must surely be penitent and in their right minds !
—I have been reading " Uncle Tom's Cabin " again, also its Key, and an article in the Edinburgh of '55 about it. In this troublesome world, many are the things that one dislikes and disapproves of, many that grieve and fret one ; but there are only a few subjects which put me into a thorough rage ; which I avoid speaking of from the exasperation they produce all through me. They are various in magnitude—some may have but the smallest external scope : for instance, the " Burials Bill " is one of them. But one strong element of insufferability is a malevolent lie, clothed in religious cant, which I detect in such things, and which to my mind the Burials Bill has in great perfection. I have the strongest conviction that the originators of the agitation have for motive the desire to claim what does not belong to them, what they have justly and deliberately forfeited—not by way of disability, but by the very act of dissenting. It is as if a family had come into possession of a house and grounds to which it was agreed they were all entitled, as long as by common consent they lived under certain rules, and as if some out of the number, on conscientious grounds having come to the conclusion that they cd no longer submit to these rules, shd calmly demand their share in the house and grounds comme si rien n'était!
The old disabilities which were very rightly removed from Dissenters were political ones, wrongly imposed for religious differences. But here is the Church's own ground, paid for by her own members, claimed by those who, of their own free choice, have broken off from her. Nay, it is still worse ; for in the wide charity taught by our Lord, the Church does admit all who are baptized to her buildings and her churchyards, counting them all Church people whenever they come to her. But it is a little strong to ask her to let them bring into her own holy places, their own forms and ministers ! so as comfortably to combine the pleasures of Dissent with the advantages of Churchmanship. The original Dissenters were more manly and true. Objecting in their consciences to the Church's system, they left her honestly, and never invented a clever plan of both keeping their cake and eating it. There wd be some¬thing to be said for the demand if there was one word in our Burial Service which cd run against the doctrines or feelings of any Christian whatever—but this nobody pretends to say. If, however, it was so, all difficulty wd be removed by their having their own minister and service over the body in the house, and having the funeral in silence aftds (a thing R.C.s and Presbyterians always do). The reasons and pleas brought forward — "National" churchyards should be free to all—it is wicked to forbid their own services to the dead—etc., etc., are all false at bottom. Another subject of rage with me is the Birmn. League outcry agst the 25th clause of the Education Act, which is still more undoubtedly a false one ; but I have talked about that before. But the monstrous one of all is now, thank God ! a thing of the past—American slavery. I suppose "Uncle Tom," first read to us when I was about 12, when it came out, took a tight grip of me ; at all events it has fresh-gripped me now with wonderful strength ! Of course I don't mean but what the upholders of slavery did an enormously more awful thing than the would-be defrauders of the Church are attempting now ; but the element these things have in common is the plea that by unfairness and oppression they are doing God service. (I don't apply this to individuals, who, to be sure, may be and constantly are honestly convinced that the reasons on their side are good—I only speak of the thing that I believe is at the bottom.) The defending of slavery on religious grounds must now, I should think, be an atrocious blasphemy to the eyes of everyone ; but when one recalls the network of self-interest, conservatism, and national pride that kept the "institution" going, helped by all that is worst in human passions and the whole glazed over by that hateful distortion of "religion," one can understand why the agony of the long civil war was the only hope for the country. The cancer had to be cut out by the roots, and it was a blessing that it was at the risk of life itself. The old planters, I believe, are mostly ruined and gone ; and the present race must surely be penitent and in their right minds !
08Jan1873, Helping Out at the School
Holker, Wednesday, January 8th, 1873.
—I only went out to the school, where Lou and I have offered to help in the religious teaching, now a "Time Tabled" and "Conscience Claused" business, and difficult for the mistress alone to squeeze into the one half-hour allowed.
—I only went out to the school, where Lou and I have offered to help in the religious teaching, now a "Time Tabled" and "Conscience Claused" business, and difficult for the mistress alone to squeeze into the one half-hour allowed.
Friday, April 23, 2010
07Jan1873, Visiting a Widow
HOLKER, Tuesday, January 7th, 1873.
—We drove to see Mrs. Huby and the poor little dowdy old widow of the Rev. ----—. I was dumbfounded at her dowdiness !—of the small farmer type. And he was the son of a day-labourer ! The poor goody rejoiced Lou's heart by giving her various pretty bits of old china, which we bore home in triumph.
—We drove to see Mrs. Huby and the poor little dowdy old widow of the Rev. ----—. I was dumbfounded at her dowdiness !—of the small farmer type. And he was the son of a day-labourer ! The poor goody rejoiced Lou's heart by giving her various pretty bits of old china, which we bore home in triumph.
04Jan1873, The Chatsworth Party at Royal Week
HOLKER, Saturday, January 4th, 1873.
—It's rather absurd that I have never given a list of the Chatsworth party during the Royal week ; here they all are. Uncle R., Cowpers and her sister, Granvilles, Listowels, Shannons, Howards of Glossop and daughter, Vernons and daughter, May Lascelles, Margt. and F. Howard, E. Cokes, D. of S. Albans, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Primrose, Mr. Cockerell, Mr. Calcraft, D. of Rutland, and 0 !—last but far from least. ! Lady A. ! With the P. and Prss., Ly. Macclesfield, Mr. Knollys, Major Grey.
—It's rather absurd that I have never given a list of the Chatsworth party during the Royal week ; here they all are. Uncle R., Cowpers and her sister, Granvilles, Listowels, Shannons, Howards of Glossop and daughter, Vernons and daughter, May Lascelles, Margt. and F. Howard, E. Cokes, D. of S. Albans, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Primrose, Mr. Cockerell, Mr. Calcraft, D. of Rutland, and 0 !—last but far from least. ! Lady A. ! With the P. and Prss., Ly. Macclesfield, Mr. Knollys, Major Grey.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
22Dec1872, We Were All a Little Comatose
CHATSWORTH, December 22nd, 1872.
—The curtain dropt on our fine great drama ! Carriage and four with outriders bore off our P. and Prss., with the Duke and Cavsh. ; Lou and Emma also went with them to Chesterfd., where they were to receive an address. Later we heard by telegraph that, leaving Chesterfd. at 1.20, they got to London soon after 4—quick work for Xmas-time !
In spite of regrets at the breaking-up of a happy and successful time, there was peace when the swarm of guests, string of flies, and mountains of luggage filed away ! Nobody left but Duke, brothers and sisters-in-law, Madge, Freddy Howard, and May Lascelles. We were all a little comatose, and Lou vanished to bed at 9 o'clock.
—The curtain dropt on our fine great drama ! Carriage and four with outriders bore off our P. and Prss., with the Duke and Cavsh. ; Lou and Emma also went with them to Chesterfd., where they were to receive an address. Later we heard by telegraph that, leaving Chesterfd. at 1.20, they got to London soon after 4—quick work for Xmas-time !
In spite of regrets at the breaking-up of a happy and successful time, there was peace when the swarm of guests, string of flies, and mountains of luggage filed away ! Nobody left but Duke, brothers and sisters-in-law, Madge, Freddy Howard, and May Lascelles. We were all a little comatose, and Lou vanished to bed at 9 o'clock.
20Dec1872, High Jinks and Thoughts on the Prince
CHATSWORTH, Friday, December 20th, 1872.
—Nothing daunted by the inveterate clammy fog and occasional actual rain, we went about 30 strong to luncheon at Haddon : P. and Pss. in an open carriage. Bakewell very enthusiastic and a little drunk. The luncheon a fine sight in the grand old hall ; band playing and spectators peering overhead in the gallery ; the Royal couple and a select few at a high table cross-wise with the two that ran down the hall ; all seated in old carved Haddon chairs. The loving-cup of spiced ale went round with all the honours.
At night, billiards, music, and a round game. Our Queen of Hearts was a sight never to be forgotten for grace and liveliness and fun as she whisked round the billiard-table like any dragon-fly, playing at "pockets" ; punishing the table when she missed, and finally breaking her mace across Ly. Cowper's back with a sudden little whack. Likewise at bed-time, high jinks with all the ladies in the corridors ; and yet through all one has a sense of perfect womanly dignity, and a certainty that no one cd ever go an inch too far with her. She can gather up her beautiful bright stateliness at any moment. 0, bless her for a vision of enchantment ! In the midst of the evening performances I managed to give her a really fine ode just sent me by Mr. Palgrave, the author thereof, on the Prince's recovery. I hope she will like it as much as I do. Of the said Prince I have less to say. He does not get on with me, nor indeed much with any but chaffy, fast people, though always kind and delightful in manner like most of 'em : he is amiable and truthful, and has sense and good feeling ; my conviction is that, when he succeeds to the Throne and has duties to do, he will do far better than now seems likely ; but the melancholy thing is that neither he nor the darling Prss. ever care to open a book.
—Nothing daunted by the inveterate clammy fog and occasional actual rain, we went about 30 strong to luncheon at Haddon : P. and Pss. in an open carriage. Bakewell very enthusiastic and a little drunk. The luncheon a fine sight in the grand old hall ; band playing and spectators peering overhead in the gallery ; the Royal couple and a select few at a high table cross-wise with the two that ran down the hall ; all seated in old carved Haddon chairs. The loving-cup of spiced ale went round with all the honours.
At night, billiards, music, and a round game. Our Queen of Hearts was a sight never to be forgotten for grace and liveliness and fun as she whisked round the billiard-table like any dragon-fly, playing at "pockets" ; punishing the table when she missed, and finally breaking her mace across Ly. Cowper's back with a sudden little whack. Likewise at bed-time, high jinks with all the ladies in the corridors ; and yet through all one has a sense of perfect womanly dignity, and a certainty that no one cd ever go an inch too far with her. She can gather up her beautiful bright stateliness at any moment. 0, bless her for a vision of enchantment ! In the midst of the evening performances I managed to give her a really fine ode just sent me by Mr. Palgrave, the author thereof, on the Prince's recovery. I hope she will like it as much as I do. Of the said Prince I have less to say. He does not get on with me, nor indeed much with any but chaffy, fast people, though always kind and delightful in manner like most of 'em : he is amiable and truthful, and has sense and good feeling ; my conviction is that, when he succeeds to the Throne and has duties to do, he will do far better than now seems likely ; but the melancholy thing is that neither he nor the darling Prss. ever care to open a book.
19Dec1872, Another Mighty Dinner
CHATSWORTH, Thursday, December 19th, 1872.
—This was a really jolly day. The darling Prss. has got at her ease, and no words can express her perfect charm. It is not so much the loveliness of her face ; others may have as much of that, but smile, colouring, hair, contour of little head and neck, are delightful : her small slight figure is in perfect symmetry, and no one cd believe in the stiff joint of her knee except from a little pretty halt going up and down stairs. Lou drove her thro' the gardens, and to cheering, be-arched, bell-ringing Baslow, Ly. A. and I following, with Mr. Primrose (another witty spirit !). After the mighty dinner (44), which was a beautiful sight, came off a truly enchanting dance of only the houseful and the few dinner-guests. Delicious was the dining-room for this much of a ball, and everybody looked their best and thoroughly enjoyed life. Supper at various little tables in the big drawing-room, capitally managed. Ly. Macclesfield, Mr. Cockerell, and I made fun at our table, all the more comical from the dignified condescension of my neighbour, Ld. Cowper, Ly. George's silent laughter, and the poor dear Duke of Rutland's puzzled Manner-ish high-shouldered aspect thro' it all.
—This was a really jolly day. The darling Prss. has got at her ease, and no words can express her perfect charm. It is not so much the loveliness of her face ; others may have as much of that, but smile, colouring, hair, contour of little head and neck, are delightful : her small slight figure is in perfect symmetry, and no one cd believe in the stiff joint of her knee except from a little pretty halt going up and down stairs. Lou drove her thro' the gardens, and to cheering, be-arched, bell-ringing Baslow, Ly. A. and I following, with Mr. Primrose (another witty spirit !). After the mighty dinner (44), which was a beautiful sight, came off a truly enchanting dance of only the houseful and the few dinner-guests. Delicious was the dining-room for this much of a ball, and everybody looked their best and thoroughly enjoyed life. Supper at various little tables in the big drawing-room, capitally managed. Ly. Macclesfield, Mr. Cockerell, and I made fun at our table, all the more comical from the dignified condescension of my neighbour, Ld. Cowper, Ly. George's silent laughter, and the poor dear Duke of Rutland's puzzled Manner-ish high-shouldered aspect thro' it all.
18Dec1872, Dinner in the Sculpture Gallery
CHATSWORTH, Wednesday, December 18th, 1872.
—The miserable dank fog goes on. The P. and Pss. breakfast tete-a-tete in the Red Velvet room ; and did not appear till 12 or so. I took her driving in the little carriage at 1, Ly. Cowper and Ly. A. following in t'other one, up to luncheon with the shooters in the Russian cottage. Here was sumptuous fare, but hitches occurred, viz., all the drinks were forgotten and had to be fetched, and we were presented with sugar instead of salt for our pie. Ly. A. and Ly. C. afterwds went a drive, but the Prss. and I, with Mr. Cockerell (a delightful wag is he) in the dickey, followed the shooters through New Pine Wood. Bewitching and unaffected and good-natured is the Princess. In the evening came off the rather ponderous and oppressive big County ball ; a great success for all the company, who were over the moon, but trying to the family and scrowgy for the Royal pair. Moreover, the room was hot and dusty. All went smooth, however, at and after supper, which was a lovely and peculiar sight in the Sculpture Gallery, carpeted with red cloth and adorned with great bananas, ferns, palms, etc. The great granite basin filled with green, a slender palm in the middle, and stiff white hyacinths blooming round the palm, reminded me somehow of the ancient pictures of the Virgin's tomb filled with flowers. The orangery lit with coloured lamps very pretty ; and the vista from that to the Hebe in the big drawing-room was! Before the ball illuminations of the fountains and cascade came off, but the fog quenched them fatally. Owing to Lou's mourning for Mr. H. Greville (whose death has carried Frank away, alack !) the Prince opened the ball with me ; Princess with Cavendish.
—The miserable dank fog goes on. The P. and Pss. breakfast tete-a-tete in the Red Velvet room ; and did not appear till 12 or so. I took her driving in the little carriage at 1, Ly. Cowper and Ly. A. following in t'other one, up to luncheon with the shooters in the Russian cottage. Here was sumptuous fare, but hitches occurred, viz., all the drinks were forgotten and had to be fetched, and we were presented with sugar instead of salt for our pie. Ly. A. and Ly. C. afterwds went a drive, but the Prss. and I, with Mr. Cockerell (a delightful wag is he) in the dickey, followed the shooters through New Pine Wood. Bewitching and unaffected and good-natured is the Princess. In the evening came off the rather ponderous and oppressive big County ball ; a great success for all the company, who were over the moon, but trying to the family and scrowgy for the Royal pair. Moreover, the room was hot and dusty. All went smooth, however, at and after supper, which was a lovely and peculiar sight in the Sculpture Gallery, carpeted with red cloth and adorned with great bananas, ferns, palms, etc. The great granite basin filled with green, a slender palm in the middle, and stiff white hyacinths blooming round the palm, reminded me somehow of the ancient pictures of the Virgin's tomb filled with flowers. The orangery lit with coloured lamps very pretty ; and the vista from that to the Hebe in the big drawing-room was! Before the ball illuminations of the fountains and cascade came off, but the fog quenched them fatally. Owing to Lou's mourning for Mr. H. Greville (whose death has carried Frank away, alack !) the Prince opened the ball with me ; Princess with Cavendish.
17Dec1872, A Royal Visit to Chatsworth
CHATSWORTH, Tuesday, December 17th, 1872.
—The Duke, Cavsh., and I went to Derby in the morning, and got there a little before the Royal train. Out stepped the lovely Prss. and the fat but apparently blooming Prince. Cheers, nosegay, red cloth, Mrs. Mayor in a wonderful bonnet and a crimson face. "God save the Queen." In spite of drizzle and cold, the Royal carriage was open most of the way as they processioned through the streets, which were really beautifully bedizened. The chief function was a prize-giving to the Grammar school-boys in the drill-hall, when an upper boy read an ode abt the Prince's recovery that was very good and gave one a lump in one's throat. Also we marched about the infirmary.
Getting to Rowsley after dark, Cavsh. and I went with the P. and Pr. (in a shut carriage, alas !) and saw as well as we could the illumination of the W. front and garden that burst forth as we got into the park and drove round by the opposite side of the river. The 1st minute was lovely—the house shining out clear ; but afterwards the smoke hung and hid everything. Lou and the Duke and most of the company received them in the hall, which was unluckily as full of sulphur as it might be after a siege from the fireworks, and set us coughing. Dinner very fine, with feathery cocos palm springing out of the table in the midst and overshadowing us. Whist and music in the evening.
—The Duke, Cavsh., and I went to Derby in the morning, and got there a little before the Royal train. Out stepped the lovely Prss. and the fat but apparently blooming Prince. Cheers, nosegay, red cloth, Mrs. Mayor in a wonderful bonnet and a crimson face. "God save the Queen." In spite of drizzle and cold, the Royal carriage was open most of the way as they processioned through the streets, which were really beautifully bedizened. The chief function was a prize-giving to the Grammar school-boys in the drill-hall, when an upper boy read an ode abt the Prince's recovery that was very good and gave one a lump in one's throat. Also we marched about the infirmary.
Getting to Rowsley after dark, Cavsh. and I went with the P. and Pr. (in a shut carriage, alas !) and saw as well as we could the illumination of the W. front and garden that burst forth as we got into the park and drove round by the opposite side of the river. The 1st minute was lovely—the house shining out clear ; but afterwards the smoke hung and hid everything. Lou and the Duke and most of the company received them in the hall, which was unluckily as full of sulphur as it might be after a siege from the fireworks, and set us coughing. Dinner very fine, with feathery cocos palm springing out of the table in the midst and overshadowing us. Whist and music in the evening.
16Dec1872, When is That Woman Going Away?
CHATSWORTH, Monday, December 16th, 1872.
—Arrived the avant-garde de la grande armee — Ly. Ailesbury (Maria), who stalked into the room in a suit composed chiefly of a large chess-board check, black and grey, the garment going in a straight skimp line from her nape to her heels, the whole surmounted by the usual fuzz-ball of yellow curls, and a youthful hat. Fritz demanded privately after he had been introduced to this : "When is That Woman going away?" The Cowpers, with her sister Miss Compton, and the Listowels also came.
—Arrived the avant-garde de la grande armee — Ly. Ailesbury (Maria), who stalked into the room in a suit composed chiefly of a large chess-board check, black and grey, the garment going in a straight skimp line from her nape to her heels, the whole surmounted by the usual fuzz-ball of yellow curls, and a youthful hat. Fritz demanded privately after he had been introduced to this : "When is That Woman going away?" The Cowpers, with her sister Miss Compton, and the Listowels also came.
15Dec1872, Nevy a Social Animal
CHATSWORTH, December 15th, 1872. 3rd Sunday in Advent.
—A gt pleasure it is having old Nevy here. His Irish aide-de-camp life has brushed up his manners and made him a social animal, which one hardly hoped wd ever be the case.
—A gt pleasure it is having old Nevy here. His Irish aide-de-camp life has brushed up his manners and made him a social animal, which one hardly hoped wd ever be the case.
14Dec1872, Everything in Place Cavendish Style
CHATSWORTH, Saturday, December 14th, 1872.
—The house is getting into order by dint of much marching about it of heads and hands : all is being pondered and prearranged in true deliberate Cavendish style ; and I quite expect that when once the whole machine is given a shove on Tuesday off it will go, everything in its proper place, from the Duke to the scullery-maid.
—The house is getting into order by dint of much marching about it of heads and hands : all is being pondered and prearranged in true deliberate Cavendish style ; and I quite expect that when once the whole machine is given a shove on Tuesday off it will go, everything in its proper place, from the Duke to the scullery-maid.
09Dec1872, Plans for Keble College Chapel
LONDON, Monday, December 9th, 1872.
—We dined at Portland Place, meeting the dear Keble couple, who showed off the plans of the Chapel, which are excellent. Mr. Gibbs is going to build out of his own pocket-£30,000. The plans are too odd (Butterfield) for me to be sure I altogether like them ; but there is to be a high-up row of windows with great space for mosaics below, which will have a capital effect.
—We dined at Portland Place, meeting the dear Keble couple, who showed off the plans of the Chapel, which are excellent. Mr. Gibbs is going to build out of his own pocket-£30,000. The plans are too odd (Butterfield) for me to be sure I altogether like them ; but there is to be a high-up row of windows with great space for mosaics below, which will have a capital effect.
07Dec1872, Little Wilfrid Ashley
LONDON, December 7th, 1872.
—Visited Sissy Ashley. Little Wilfrid [FN: Now the Rt. Hon. Wilfrid Ashley, Minister of Transport.] Ashley, a beautiful boykin, with great violet eyes.
—Visited Sissy Ashley. Little Wilfrid [FN: Now the Rt. Hon. Wilfrid Ashley, Minister of Transport.] Ashley, a beautiful boykin, with great violet eyes.
05Dec1872, Uncle Wm. In High-Gee
LONDON, Thursday, December 5th, 1872.
—Uncle W. still high-gee theology : he is reading a horrible new atheistic book of Strauss's, to Atie. P.'s great irritation ! But I am glad, and only hope he may be led to write something great in answer.
—Uncle W. still high-gee theology : he is reading a horrible new atheistic book of Strauss's, to Atie. P.'s great irritation ! But I am glad, and only hope he may be led to write something great in answer.
04Dec1872, Her Letter is Published
LONDON, Wednesday, December 4th, 1872.
—A letter of mine on the Ath. Creed signed A. H. P. appeared, to my great excitement.
—A letter of mine on the Ath. Creed signed A. H. P. appeared, to my great excitement.
01Dec1872, At St. Paul's With Dean Church
LONDON, Advent Sunday, December 1st, 1872.
—Walked after luncheon to the Deanery, S. Paul's, whence we went under the wing of the Dean and Mrs. Church into the Cathedral. Liddon preacht grandly, his wonderful voice gaining in power and penetration to the very end of his 50 minutes ; but he streamed with perspiration ! A mighty congn. and Luther's hymn sung by all at the end was glorious indeed.
—Walked after luncheon to the Deanery, S. Paul's, whence we went under the wing of the Dean and Mrs. Church into the Cathedral. Liddon preacht grandly, his wonderful voice gaining in power and penetration to the very end of his 50 minutes ; but he streamed with perspiration ! A mighty congn. and Luther's hymn sung by all at the end was glorious indeed.
29Nov1872, The Men-Servants Make Deadlocks
LONDON, Friday, November 29th, 1872.
—The Algy Wests, Trevelyans, Mr. Glyn, and Cavendish dined ; and the men-servants chose the occasion for making deadlocks all through dinner ; dealing out crashes with the lift, smashing a big dish, and sticking in the mud generally ; the worst of all being the omission of the oysters, which were brought up with great pomp and never handed round ! !
—The Algy Wests, Trevelyans, Mr. Glyn, and Cavendish dined ; and the men-servants chose the occasion for making deadlocks all through dinner ; dealing out crashes with the lift, smashing a big dish, and sticking in the mud generally ; the worst of all being the omission of the oysters, which were brought up with great pomp and never handed round ! !
27Nov1872, Playgoing Dinner-Party
LONDON, Wednesday, November 27th, 1872.
—We had a little playgoing dinner-party of Willy and Harry Gladstone and Alfred Howard, and went to see "Charles I" at the Lyceum. Irving, who played the King, was sufficiently like him and acted with sufficient dignity and pathos to make much impression on one ; and I was a little niobe at the parting with the children.
—We had a little playgoing dinner-party of Willy and Harry Gladstone and Alfred Howard, and went to see "Charles I" at the Lyceum. Irving, who played the King, was sufficiently like him and acted with sufficient dignity and pathos to make much impression on one ; and I was a little niobe at the parting with the children.
26Nov1872, The Life of Cowper by Southey
LONDON, Tuesday, November 26th, 1872.
—Lately I have been reading for anything but the 1st time that pathetic thing, the Life of Cowper by Southey. It always interests and absorbs me strangely and I get such overflows of compassion for that sad soul as I can't describe. Even at this distance of 90 years, it is almost intolerable to think of all he endured, and yet one's faith is strengthened by it. For what but the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge could have upborne poor Cowper in his black darkness and misery, fulfilling in him to a degree never equalled the truth of those wonderful words, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
—Lately I have been reading for anything but the 1st time that pathetic thing, the Life of Cowper by Southey. It always interests and absorbs me strangely and I get such overflows of compassion for that sad soul as I can't describe. Even at this distance of 90 years, it is almost intolerable to think of all he endured, and yet one's faith is strengthened by it. For what but the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge could have upborne poor Cowper in his black darkness and misery, fulfilling in him to a degree never equalled the truth of those wonderful words, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
17Nov1872, Memoirs of Baron Stockmar
LONDON, 25th Sunday after Trinity. November 17th, 1872.
—The W. E. G.'s and Mr. Glyn dined with us. Uncle W. anxious to hear all about one Mr. Haweis, a clever preacher beginning to be famous ; and also full of a Memoir of Baron Stockmar which is just out, and which he thinks the most flagrantly indiscreet thing in the world ; it has aggravated the poor Queen inasmuch as it puts the Baron into such a position of chief adviser as rather sinks the Prince Consort into a second place.
—The W. E. G.'s and Mr. Glyn dined with us. Uncle W. anxious to hear all about one Mr. Haweis, a clever preacher beginning to be famous ; and also full of a Memoir of Baron Stockmar which is just out, and which he thinks the most flagrantly indiscreet thing in the world ; it has aggravated the poor Queen inasmuch as it puts the Baron into such a position of chief adviser as rather sinks the Prince Consort into a second place.
14Nov1872, Wrong Time for London
LONDON, Thursday, November 14th, 1872.
—Came to London for the month of Cabinets because of F.'s Private Secretaryship. Utterly mad and odd this seems to me, who have never stayed in London this time of year.
—Came to London for the month of Cabinets because of F.'s Private Secretaryship. Utterly mad and odd this seems to me, who have never stayed in London this time of year.
12Nov1872, Sumner a Mighty Talker
CHATSWORTH, Tuesday, November 12th, 1872.
—Mr. Sumner, who last saw Emma as well as me 13 years ago, seems to view us both in the light of "the girls he left behind him" and devoted himself to us all day. We took him over the garden, sat and talked with him, or rather sat and listened to him, for a mighty talker is he. Politics we avoided, as we were told he took an odious Yankee line about the Alabama claims, but topics did not fail him, what with old books, reminiscences of English friends, the Queen of Holland, Thiers, the Due d'Aumale, the Motleys, the Storeys, and various anecdotes anent these subjects.
—Mr. Sumner, who last saw Emma as well as me 13 years ago, seems to view us both in the light of "the girls he left behind him" and devoted himself to us all day. We took him over the garden, sat and talked with him, or rather sat and listened to him, for a mighty talker is he. Politics we avoided, as we were told he took an odious Yankee line about the Alabama claims, but topics did not fail him, what with old books, reminiscences of English friends, the Queen of Holland, Thiers, the Due d'Aumale, the Motleys, the Storeys, and various anecdotes anent these subjects.
11Nov1872, Sumner Describes Great Boston Fire
CHATSWORTH, Monday, November 11th, 1872.
—Frank and Lou went on a visit to Newstead Abbey, to my grief : for I have no enjoyment of the headship of affairs at Chatsworth. Mr. Sumner, the American politician, came ; whom I saw last in '59 at Althorp, and remember well going into ecstasies over the library there. He was distressed at the horrible fire, almost on the Chicago scale, which is raging at Boston, and is said to have desolated 100 acres of ground in a fine, well-built quarter of the city.
—Frank and Lou went on a visit to Newstead Abbey, to my grief : for I have no enjoyment of the headship of affairs at Chatsworth. Mr. Sumner, the American politician, came ; whom I saw last in '59 at Althorp, and remember well going into ecstasies over the library there. He was distressed at the horrible fire, almost on the Chicago scale, which is raging at Boston, and is said to have desolated 100 acres of ground in a fine, well-built quarter of the city.
Friday, April 16, 2010
28Oct1872, Building Eaton Hall
HAWARDEN, SS. Simon and Jude, Monday October 28th, 1872.
—F. and I rode to Eaton [FN: The Duke of Westminster was then building Eaton Hall.] to see the Westminsters who took us all over the house and grounds, still in chaos of scaffolding, levelling, building, and pulling down, but promising to be most successful, only on too enormous a scale, to my thinking.
—F. and I rode to Eaton [FN: The Duke of Westminster was then building Eaton Hall.] to see the Westminsters who took us all over the house and grounds, still in chaos of scaffolding, levelling, building, and pulling down, but promising to be most successful, only on too enormous a scale, to my thinking.
21Oct1872, Year's Total is 14,475 Head
BOLTON, Monday, October 21st, 1872.
—Ld. Dandy [FN: I.e. Lord Berkeley Paget.] was an ower-true prophet. The weather relapsed into evil ways. They did not go out till 10.30, but then, as the rain slackened a little, the untiring Duke announced it wd be milksoppy to wait any longer, and off rode the luckless party. They came home drowned, but not till dark, the Duke having had no notion of giving up, tho' it never stopped raining all day, and poured after luncheon. Bag sadly small. This year's total, 14,475 head.
—Ld. Dandy [FN: I.e. Lord Berkeley Paget.] was an ower-true prophet. The weather relapsed into evil ways. They did not go out till 10.30, but then, as the rain slackened a little, the untiring Duke announced it wd be milksoppy to wait any longer, and off rode the luckless party. They came home drowned, but not till dark, the Duke having had no notion of giving up, tho' it never stopped raining all day, and poured after luncheon. Bag sadly small. This year's total, 14,475 head.
12Oct1872, Good Fat Princess Mary
HOLKER, October 12th, 1872.
—Eddies returned from a do-ment at Lytham. The Tecks opened a park near Southport, and went to see Liverpool : great crowds and enthusiasm, which seems to have rather astonished and much delighted good fat Princess Mary . [FN: To this irreverent but not untruthful description of the Duchess of Teck, mother of Her present Majesty, it may be added that she must have grown accustomed to enthusiasm later : for in my recollection of the eighties and nineties she drew more cheers in the streets than any member of the Royal Family except the Queen and the Princess of Wales. Stoutness is somehow always popular, and it generally goes, as it did in this case, with obvious and hearty cheerfulness and good-humour, a still more popular quality.]
—Eddies returned from a do-ment at Lytham. The Tecks opened a park near Southport, and went to see Liverpool : great crowds and enthusiasm, which seems to have rather astonished and much delighted good fat Princess Mary . [FN: To this irreverent but not untruthful description of the Duchess of Teck, mother of Her present Majesty, it may be added that she must have grown accustomed to enthusiasm later : for in my recollection of the eighties and nineties she drew more cheers in the streets than any member of the Royal Family except the Queen and the Princess of Wales. Stoutness is somehow always popular, and it generally goes, as it did in this case, with obvious and hearty cheerfulness and good-humour, a still more popular quality.]
30Sep1872, Read Omnivorously
HOLKER, Monday, September 30th, 1872.
—Read rather omnivorously to-day. With F., Bryce's "Holy Roman Empire" and an Essay of De Quincey's ; with Emma, a Bampton Lecture, by Curteis ; to myself, a good deal of "Ann. Register" for 1815 (with some view to the old Letters [FN: I.e. of her grandmother, a volume of which she printed.]), Mozley's Bampton Lectures, Prof. Wilson's "Stories and Essays," Ld. Brougham's autobiography ; besides a little childish skimming ; a good bit of Christina Rossetti's delightful "Shadow of Dante" and some "Life of Bp. Torry."
—Read rather omnivorously to-day. With F., Bryce's "Holy Roman Empire" and an Essay of De Quincey's ; with Emma, a Bampton Lecture, by Curteis ; to myself, a good deal of "Ann. Register" for 1815 (with some view to the old Letters [FN: I.e. of her grandmother, a volume of which she printed.]), Mozley's Bampton Lectures, Prof. Wilson's "Stories and Essays," Ld. Brougham's autobiography ; besides a little childish skimming ; a good bit of Christina Rossetti's delightful "Shadow of Dante" and some "Life of Bp. Torry."
19Sep1872, The Athanasian Creed Controversy
HOLKER, Thursday, September 19th, 1872.
—The Guardian full of the Athanasian Creed controversy, which rages as hot as ever. Pusey, Liddon, Malcolm MacColl, and, I believe, a large following of clergy, intend to give up their ministry in the Church if either the creed or the rubric attached to it are touched. Now I have come to the conviction that no one section of the Church is at liberty to alter or omit anything in the text of the Creed (except by way of re-translating) : that must wait for a General Council. But all the mass I have read on the subject impresses me more and more with the belief that for the ignorant, untheologic, ordinary run of people, it is quite unsuitable. The awful clauses are thoroughly misunderstood by them ; they firmly believe that the words mean, explicitly and unavoidably, "everyone, however ignorant, heathen as well as Christian, who does not believe every expression in this creed, will without doubt perish everlastingly."
This interpretation everybody who has at all learnt theology may perfectly see is absurd ; and to all such the Creed may ever be a precious and sacred heritage. But no one pretends that it is a creed in the same sense and of the same authority as the other two. Why, then —with this notorious fact of its being an acknowledged stumbling-block to so many—insist on its retention as a substitute for the 2 great Creeds? All the extreme non-possumites beg the question in assuming that it is proposed "to degrade" the Athan. Creed. I do maintain that to keep this solemn and profound exposition of the Faith for recital on great occasions by those whose duty it is to subscribe, to teach, and therefore to understand it—is the very reverse of a "degradation" of it. I would have it sung at all Ordinations and Consecrations, and perhaps also as a Canticle after the Apostles' Creed on Trinity Sunday only ; and instead of having it 13 times a year in the mouths of "plain men," I wd have the Clergy catechize upon it, teach and explain it as one of the bulwarks of the Faith. It is not adapted for these same "plain men" who misunderstand it : it is theology and theology is a science. The English laity, educated or not, are as a rule absolutely ignorant of theology. Let them be taught better. But till they are, the repetition of this Creed by ordinary congregations can only do them harm. If I am told that the Nicene Creed is also theology, I quite allow it ; but then it is a Creed —a Credo—of the highest authority, and as such to be recited by all Churchpeople. Moreover, no one can pretend it presents the same difficulties and stumbling-blocks.
—The Guardian full of the Athanasian Creed controversy, which rages as hot as ever. Pusey, Liddon, Malcolm MacColl, and, I believe, a large following of clergy, intend to give up their ministry in the Church if either the creed or the rubric attached to it are touched. Now I have come to the conviction that no one section of the Church is at liberty to alter or omit anything in the text of the Creed (except by way of re-translating) : that must wait for a General Council. But all the mass I have read on the subject impresses me more and more with the belief that for the ignorant, untheologic, ordinary run of people, it is quite unsuitable. The awful clauses are thoroughly misunderstood by them ; they firmly believe that the words mean, explicitly and unavoidably, "everyone, however ignorant, heathen as well as Christian, who does not believe every expression in this creed, will without doubt perish everlastingly."
This interpretation everybody who has at all learnt theology may perfectly see is absurd ; and to all such the Creed may ever be a precious and sacred heritage. But no one pretends that it is a creed in the same sense and of the same authority as the other two. Why, then —with this notorious fact of its being an acknowledged stumbling-block to so many—insist on its retention as a substitute for the 2 great Creeds? All the extreme non-possumites beg the question in assuming that it is proposed "to degrade" the Athan. Creed. I do maintain that to keep this solemn and profound exposition of the Faith for recital on great occasions by those whose duty it is to subscribe, to teach, and therefore to understand it—is the very reverse of a "degradation" of it. I would have it sung at all Ordinations and Consecrations, and perhaps also as a Canticle after the Apostles' Creed on Trinity Sunday only ; and instead of having it 13 times a year in the mouths of "plain men," I wd have the Clergy catechize upon it, teach and explain it as one of the bulwarks of the Faith. It is not adapted for these same "plain men" who misunderstand it : it is theology and theology is a science. The English laity, educated or not, are as a rule absolutely ignorant of theology. Let them be taught better. But till they are, the repetition of this Creed by ordinary congregations can only do them harm. If I am told that the Nicene Creed is also theology, I quite allow it ; but then it is a Creed —a Credo—of the highest authority, and as such to be recited by all Churchpeople. Moreover, no one can pretend it presents the same difficulties and stumbling-blocks.
15Sep1872, The Horrible Chapel
HOLKER, September 15th, 1872. 16th Sunday after Trinity.
—The horrible chapel sat upon me more than usual ; when once one has the Bible notion strong upon one that holy places are places of God's special Presence, that our first design in them should be to give Him glory and do Him worship ; when one's next desire is that people should be taught by all they see in church that we are all priests and people to fall down before One Throne, and that all our services culminate in the Holy Eucharist—then a mean conventicle is almost unbearable. It insults the Majesty of God, Who gives us richly all things, and to whose House we only bring what is base ; and it teaches the congrgn. disunion and solitariness in prayer each in his own selfish corner, while the only thing elevated as the centre of their devotion is the pulpit.
—The horrible chapel sat upon me more than usual ; when once one has the Bible notion strong upon one that holy places are places of God's special Presence, that our first design in them should be to give Him glory and do Him worship ; when one's next desire is that people should be taught by all they see in church that we are all priests and people to fall down before One Throne, and that all our services culminate in the Holy Eucharist—then a mean conventicle is almost unbearable. It insults the Majesty of God, Who gives us richly all things, and to whose House we only bring what is base ; and it teaches the congrgn. disunion and solitariness in prayer each in his own selfish corner, while the only thing elevated as the centre of their devotion is the pulpit.
11Sep1872, The Times are Grim
HOLKER, Wednesday, September 11th, 1872.
—Terrible weather for the harvest abt. here ; the times are grim altogether ; meat and coals frightfully dear and bread threatening to be ; potato rot very general, and the agricultural labourers a good deal out on strike. I am glad the labourers have learnt to combine ; but what wisdom, judgment, and temper is wanted for both employers and employed ! There has been some savage grumbling at the clergy for not siding with the men ; but I think this accusation is very often unfair.
—Terrible weather for the harvest abt. here ; the times are grim altogether ; meat and coals frightfully dear and bread threatening to be ; potato rot very general, and the agricultural labourers a good deal out on strike. I am glad the labourers have learnt to combine ; but what wisdom, judgment, and temper is wanted for both employers and employed ! There has been some savage grumbling at the clergy for not siding with the men ; but I think this accusation is very often unfair.
09Sep1872, Nobody Hurt After Shooting
HOLKER, Monday, September 9th, 1872.
—Rather a black Monday, for leaving Bolton is always grievous ; but it has been a long and happy holyday and one ought not to wish it lengthened. Nobody hurt—always a blessing at the end of a month's shooting. The Eddies went off to Madresfield.
—Rather a black Monday, for leaving Bolton is always grievous ; but it has been a long and happy holyday and one ought not to wish it lengthened. Nobody hurt—always a blessing at the end of a month's shooting. The Eddies went off to Madresfield.
04Sep1872, Out in a Thunderstorm
BOLTON, Wednesday, September 4th, 1872.
—Dingy weather, with a sharp thunderstorm, which caught Emma, Charlotte, and me in the Valley of Desolation just after sending the carriage away. Eddy, not shooting, was luckily with us, and we mounted the Queen of Ireland upon his pony, on which she arrived before us at the Aigill barn. No prettier picture can be imagined than the lovely creature, broom in hand, opening the little barn door to admit us ; she had been sweeping it out. We mopped up and dried ourselves as well as might be ; it cleared and we sat on a gate and a wall to wait for the shooters.
—Dingy weather, with a sharp thunderstorm, which caught Emma, Charlotte, and me in the Valley of Desolation just after sending the carriage away. Eddy, not shooting, was luckily with us, and we mounted the Queen of Ireland upon his pony, on which she arrived before us at the Aigill barn. No prettier picture can be imagined than the lovely creature, broom in hand, opening the little barn door to admit us ; she had been sweeping it out. We mopped up and dried ourselves as well as might be ; it cleared and we sat on a gate and a wall to wait for the shooters.
02Sep1872, The Lovely Charlotte Spencer
BOLTON, Monday, September 2nd, 1872.
—Dismal rain again : the poor gentlemen sat sadly abt the house until after luncheon, when it cleared and they set forth merrily. I had a nice little walk with my once and for ever Queen of Hearts, Charlotte Spencer. She is still the same lovely and delightful thing that first won my heart when I was 18.
—Dismal rain again : the poor gentlemen sat sadly abt the house until after luncheon, when it cleared and they set forth merrily. I had a nice little walk with my once and for ever Queen of Hearts, Charlotte Spencer. She is still the same lovely and delightful thing that first won my heart when I was 18.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
30Aug1872, Cheerful Patience
BOLTON, Friday, August 30th, 1872.
—Lou. and I paid visits at Halton ; the dear old rheumatic man Jenkinson lost his wife in the winter ; she had been helpless for 11 years. They were always wonderful patterns of cheerful patience : more than any sermon to one.
—Lou. and I paid visits at Halton ; the dear old rheumatic man Jenkinson lost his wife in the winter ; she had been helpless for 11 years. They were always wonderful patterns of cheerful patience : more than any sermon to one.
21Aug1872, A Heavy Blow at Home Rule
BOLTON, Wednesday, August 21st, 1872.
—There are horrid Orange and Popish riots going on in Belfast, both parties tearing each other to pieces, and combining occasionally to fall upon the police. The list of maimed, wounded, and even dead is like civil war. What is to be done with such people? Folks say this to-do will deal a heavy blow at "Home Rule" cries.
—There are horrid Orange and Popish riots going on in Belfast, both parties tearing each other to pieces, and combining occasionally to fall upon the police. The list of maimed, wounded, and even dead is like civil war. What is to be done with such people? Folks say this to-do will deal a heavy blow at "Home Rule" cries.
15Aug1872, First Ballot Election
BOLTON, Thursday, August 15th, 1872.
—The 1st Ballot election has come off at Pontefract, Mr. Childers having vacated his seat by taking the Chancellorship of the Duchy ; a very doubtful candidate in the shape of Lord Pollington opposed him and was beaten by only 80 votes. Great numbers of electors seem not to have voted, and there was comical confusion and difficulty over the "illiterate voters" and their marks ; but of course peace and quiet and no drinking.
—The 1st Ballot election has come off at Pontefract, Mr. Childers having vacated his seat by taking the Chancellorship of the Duchy ; a very doubtful candidate in the shape of Lord Pollington opposed him and was beaten by only 80 votes. Great numbers of electors seem not to have voted, and there was comical confusion and difficulty over the "illiterate voters" and their marks ; but of course peace and quiet and no drinking.
11Aug1872, Sweet-Briar Smell
BOLTON, Sunday, August 11th, 1872. 11th after Trinity.
—A dear Bolton Sunday, not to be spoilt even by pouring weather all the morning. Afterwds came a "clear shining after rain," and all the old delights of rushing waters, grey abbey, deep green and sweet-briar smell coming up to the window.
—A dear Bolton Sunday, not to be spoilt even by pouring weather all the morning. Afterwds came a "clear shining after rain," and all the old delights of rushing waters, grey abbey, deep green and sweet-briar smell coming up to the window.
09Aug1872, With Sybella and Salkins
HAGLEY, Friday, August 9th, 1872.
—Drove with Sybella and Salkins [FN: Le. the two-year-old Sarah Lyttelton.(wife of the editor and author of the footnotes)] to Stourbridge, the dot full of puckish waggery.
—Drove with Sybella and Salkins [FN: Le. the two-year-old Sarah Lyttelton.(wife of the editor and author of the footnotes)] to Stourbridge, the dot full of puckish waggery.
05Aug1872, Interview with a Drunken Woman
LONDON, Monday, August 5th, 1872.
—My last E. End journey. I had an interview with a drunken woman (wife of a respectable old man in the Workhouse) who has been in prison for a fortnight and come out with a wish to reform. There is a laundry just opened on purpose to reclaim drunkards, and I have told her of it.
—My last E. End journey. I had an interview with a drunken woman (wife of a respectable old man in the Workhouse) who has been in prison for a fortnight and come out with a wish to reform. There is a laundry just opened on purpose to reclaim drunkards, and I have told her of it.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
27Jul1872, We Cleverly Missed the Train
LONDON, Saturday, July 27th, 1872.
—Christina Nillson was married in W. Abbey to a man said to be a bankrupt Parisian stockbroker. We cleverly missed the train, so filled up the time with a ride, meeting Cavendish on a lovely quondam racer which broke a blood-vessel and had to retire from the profession.
—Christina Nillson was married in W. Abbey to a man said to be a bankrupt Parisian stockbroker. We cleverly missed the train, so filled up the time with a ride, meeting Cavendish on a lovely quondam racer which broke a blood-vessel and had to retire from the profession.
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