HAGLEY, Friday, August 30th, 1861.
—Ld. Sandon is to marry Ly. Mary Cecil, refreshing and satisfactory after the Misses . . . and . . . marriages. O if they were profligate Brown and Tomkins instead of profligate Marquis and Viscount, how loud wd be the horror and disdain of the world !
Sunday, October 08, 2006
08Jul1861, Hamlet by Fechter
LONDON, Monday, July 8th, 1861.
—I was treated in the evening by Mrs. Talbot to the greatest treat I have had this season : " Hamlet " at the Princess's with the admirable German actor Fechter. In spite of his very evident foreign accent, he did the part most beautifully ; the acting throughout being perfect, and an entirely new delight to me in these days of no good tragic actors. Oh ! what an absorbing, exciting delight it is to see !
—I was treated in the evening by Mrs. Talbot to the greatest treat I have had this season : " Hamlet " at the Princess's with the admirable German actor Fechter. In spite of his very evident foreign accent, he did the part most beautifully ; the acting throughout being perfect, and an entirely new delight to me in these days of no good tragic actors. Oh ! what an absorbing, exciting delight it is to see !
03Jul1861, Delightful Home Ball
LONDON, Wednesday, July 3rd, 1861.
—Delightful home ball (my last dancing was on May day !) ; not too crowded nor too empty, and everyone enjoying life peculiarly. Many grandees, however, missed fire : my partners were beyond dowdyissimus [FN: see Glossary] ! Messrs. Ryan, Hope, Majendie, Willy, Wynne, Yorke, Baker, and Edward Neville. From 11 to 3 ; and I went to bed as fresh as may be.
—Delightful home ball (my last dancing was on May day !) ; not too crowded nor too empty, and everyone enjoying life peculiarly. Many grandees, however, missed fire : my partners were beyond dowdyissimus [FN: see Glossary] ! Messrs. Ryan, Hope, Majendie, Willy, Wynne, Yorke, Baker, and Edward Neville. From 11 to 3 ; and I went to bed as fresh as may be.
02Jul1861, Cricket and a Comet
LONDON, Tuesday, July 2nd, 1861.
—Charles has been playing well in Gentlemen agst Players : got 3 of the best wickets. Papa deep in " The Woman in White." A comet was visible. Meanwhile the great fire goes on, being fed by vast underground stores.
—Charles has been playing well in Gentlemen agst Players : got 3 of the best wickets. Papa deep in " The Woman in White." A comet was visible. Meanwhile the great fire goes on, being fed by vast underground stores.
29Jun1861, Visiting Mr. Phillimore
LONDON, THE COPPICE, Saturday, June 29th, 1861.
—I came to the Coppice with Mr. Phillimore : pleasant breezy weather, which makes the trip to this nice green place very enjoyable. The 2 eldest girls have outgrown their looks, but Catherine and Lucy seem extremely intelligent and sharp, with a strong turn for quizzing, inherited ! Walter [FN: Now Lord Phillimore] a nice fellow and quite awfully clever.
—I came to the Coppice with Mr. Phillimore : pleasant breezy weather, which makes the trip to this nice green place very enjoyable. The 2 eldest girls have outgrown their looks, but Catherine and Lucy seem extremely intelligent and sharp, with a strong turn for quizzing, inherited ! Walter [FN: Now Lord Phillimore] a nice fellow and quite awfully clever.
24JUN1861, Great London Fire
LONDON, Monday, June 24th, 1861.
—Most tremendous accts. of the fire in the papers : the greatest since 1666 ! It is along a whole line of warehouses on the banks of the river, full of every sort of store—oil, tallow, cheese, bacon, sugar, cotton, hops, saltpetre, and what not ; and so fierce that the " fireproof " buildings seem to become red hot, and are of no avail. The neighbouring street (Tooley St.) is ankle deep in hot tallow and the Thames itself blazing with masses of burning oil. The ruins are glowing with white heat, the engines were entirely useless, and the excellent head fireman, Braidwood, is killed, with others. They hope to keep it now from spreading further, but if the wind rose I believe it wd be impossible to check it. Providentially it has been perfectly calm weather hitherto. About 2 millions' worth of damage done.
—Most tremendous accts. of the fire in the papers : the greatest since 1666 ! It is along a whole line of warehouses on the banks of the river, full of every sort of store—oil, tallow, cheese, bacon, sugar, cotton, hops, saltpetre, and what not ; and so fierce that the " fireproof " buildings seem to become red hot, and are of no avail. The neighbouring street (Tooley St.) is ankle deep in hot tallow and the Thames itself blazing with masses of burning oil. The ruins are glowing with white heat, the engines were entirely useless, and the excellent head fireman, Braidwood, is killed, with others. They hope to keep it now from spreading further, but if the wind rose I believe it wd be impossible to check it. Providentially it has been perfectly calm weather hitherto. About 2 millions' worth of damage done.
10JUN1861, Cavour Has Died
SHEEN, Monday, June 10th, 1861.
—For the first time a potation of port wine flew into my head, so 3 cheers, I am to leave it off. When I was ill I actually drank what wd amount to a tumbler full in the 24 hours ! besides quinine. And the nurse tells me they give wine or brandy in every fever. The great Cavour has died of typhus or some such thing, because the doctors wd do nothing but bleed. They say there will be a rumpus all over Europe.
—For the first time a potation of port wine flew into my head, so 3 cheers, I am to leave it off. When I was ill I actually drank what wd amount to a tumbler full in the 24 hours ! besides quinine. And the nurse tells me they give wine or brandy in every fever. The great Cavour has died of typhus or some such thing, because the doctors wd do nothing but bleed. They say there will be a rumpus all over Europe.
06JUN1861, Wheeler Eats Humble Pie
SHEEN, June 6th, Thursday, 1861.
—Wheeler at the last moment ate humble pie ; and was received back into favour with dignified condescension.
—Wheeler at the last moment ate humble pie ; and was received back into favour with dignified condescension.
Monday, September 11, 2006
04Jun1861, Servant Problems
LONDON, Tuesday, June 4th, 1861.
—Slept like a top, and eat vigorously, but I had a nice upset with Wheeler's proceedings. She has for some days been tiffy with the nurse, thinking she (Wheeler) was reckoned a p.h., and such-like nonsense, and has treated me to one scene, for which she begged pardon afterwards. But now it has been settled that the nurse is to go to Sheen with me : two can't go, so the Grim One must stay behind. She should have had a holyday meanwhile, but she flew into a passion with Atie. P., and gave warning to me rather impertinently, so as I ain't a horse yet, I was put into a regular tremble and heart-beatings. It's a most lamentable thing, the want of common Christianity in servants. Suppose it was an unnecessary fidget to take the nurse (which it ain't, as Atie. P. won't be much there and there's no doctor near), one shd think it a very simple duty to give up one's own wish and swallow one's own pride rather than kick up a dust, especially with a Hinvalid [FN: She had just had typhoid fever]; but they wd never dream of such a thing. I could kick her.
—Slept like a top, and eat vigorously, but I had a nice upset with Wheeler's proceedings. She has for some days been tiffy with the nurse, thinking she (Wheeler) was reckoned a p.h., and such-like nonsense, and has treated me to one scene, for which she begged pardon afterwards. But now it has been settled that the nurse is to go to Sheen with me : two can't go, so the Grim One must stay behind. She should have had a holyday meanwhile, but she flew into a passion with Atie. P., and gave warning to me rather impertinently, so as I ain't a horse yet, I was put into a regular tremble and heart-beatings. It's a most lamentable thing, the want of common Christianity in servants. Suppose it was an unnecessary fidget to take the nurse (which it ain't, as Atie. P. won't be much there and there's no doctor near), one shd think it a very simple duty to give up one's own wish and swallow one's own pride rather than kick up a dust, especially with a Hinvalid [FN: She had just had typhoid fever]; but they wd never dream of such a thing. I could kick her.
07May1861, Scampishness
LONDON, Tuesday, May 7th, 1861.
—We went to Miss Coutts's [FN: Afterwards Baroness Burdett-Coutts] to hear the tragedian Fechter (whom everyone raves of) read a particularly scampish French play in the most beautiful way. Poor Miss Coutts sat on thorns, not anticipating the scampishness, and a Bishop or two stalked out ! Aggy and I dined alone.
—We went to Miss Coutts's [FN: Afterwards Baroness Burdett-Coutts] to hear the tragedian Fechter (whom everyone raves of) read a particularly scampish French play in the most beautiful way. Poor Miss Coutts sat on thorns, not anticipating the scampishness, and a Bishop or two stalked out ! Aggy and I dined alone.
02May1861, Painful Sotto Voce
LONDON, Thursday, May 2nd, 1861.
—The Duke and Duchess of Argyll dined here and Mr. Norton, and I at once fell into a fit of Cliveden [FN: She had met the Duke and Duchess of Argyll at Cliveden, where the Duke of Sutherland lived] shyness. Uncle W. was hoarse after another great speech, Atie. P. silent, and the three guests would speak below their breath, so we were sotto voce to a painful extent.
—The Duke and Duchess of Argyll dined here and Mr. Norton, and I at once fell into a fit of Cliveden [FN: She had met the Duke and Duchess of Argyll at Cliveden, where the Duke of Sutherland lived] shyness. Uncle W. was hoarse after another great speech, Atie. P. silent, and the three guests would speak below their breath, so we were sotto voce to a painful extent.
30Apr1861, Gladstone in Rollicking Spirits
LONDON, Tuesday, April 30th, 1861.
—Uncle W. in rollicking spirits over his Budget, and very kind to me.
—Uncle W. in rollicking spirits over his Budget, and very kind to me.
29Apr1861, Dizzy Against the Budget
LONDON, Monday, April 29th, 1861.
—We went with Atie. P. to the House and stayed till 2 ! Uncle W. spoke quite admirably in defence of the Budget, and Dizzy admirably against it ; so I am left in the wood.
—We went with Atie. P. to the House and stayed till 2 ! Uncle W. spoke quite admirably in defence of the Budget, and Dizzy admirably against it ; so I am left in the wood.
24Apr1861, The New Budget
LONDON, Wednesday, April 24th, 1861.
—A squash at Ly. Derby's, which was very amusing ; he in immense spirits, poking fun at Atie. P. about the Budget, which, however, it is expected will be accepted and approved : ld. off the income tax, duty off paper, but left on tea and sugar, which I believe I ought to rage at, being a Conservative ! Am I ? I don't quite know.
—A squash at Ly. Derby's, which was very amusing ; he in immense spirits, poking fun at Atie. P. about the Budget, which, however, it is expected will be accepted and approved : ld. off the income tax, duty off paper, but left on tea and sugar, which I believe I ought to rage at, being a Conservative ! Am I ? I don't quite know.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
23Apr1861, A First Rate Ball
LONDON, Tuesday, April 23rd, 1861.
—I dined [FN: I.e. at 10 Great George Street, her sister's house] there, and then came to Downing Street, [FN: To which Mr. Gladstone had now moved as Chancellor of the Exchequer] where Atie. P. and Aggie were looking well. I am so glad it ain't Carlton Terrace : grim grandeur, and how I shd hate it without Meriel! A first-rate ball at Ly. Egerton of Tatton's, where we both danced plentifully. My partners were Ld. Carnarvon, Althorp (oh, little Charlotte [FN: Lady Spencer, wife of "Althorp."] I fell over head and ears in love as usual), Mr. Wortley, Lord Cowper, and Mr. Sarin. Home abt. 3. So off we go !
—I dined [FN: I.e. at 10 Great George Street, her sister's house] there, and then came to Downing Street, [FN: To which Mr. Gladstone had now moved as Chancellor of the Exchequer] where Atie. P. and Aggie were looking well. I am so glad it ain't Carlton Terrace : grim grandeur, and how I shd hate it without Meriel! A first-rate ball at Ly. Egerton of Tatton's, where we both danced plentifully. My partners were Ld. Carnarvon, Althorp (oh, little Charlotte [FN: Lady Spencer, wife of "Althorp."] I fell over head and ears in love as usual), Mr. Wortley, Lord Cowper, and Mr. Sarin. Home abt. 3. So off we go !
16Apr1861, St. Mary's Home
BRIGHTON, Tuesday, April 16th, 1861.
—I went with Papa over S. Mary's Home ; a penitentiary, hospital, sisterhood, school, and nursery all in one, under Mr. Wagner. The Lady Superior showed us all over ; a cheerful, pleasant woman. The penitents do all the household work. Everything beautifully arranged, clean, bright, and airy. The sick children's room very touching ; one poor pretty little fellow, hopelessly ill with abscesses, knitting in his crib, with such a placid angel look in his small wasted face. There were some things rather shocking to one : a picture of the Blessed Virgin crowned, with the words in Latin, " Holy Mother of God, pray for us " ; which I trust was only there for ornament ; otherwise it goes beyond mere sentiment. Also a large crucifix in one of the sisters' rooms. But it is a wonderfully good and great work, and one must believe it is done in the full strength of the text which was in nearly every room : " The love of Christ constraineth us."
Nevy, Spencer, and I had an hour's boating. Papa said (of St. Mary's) that it was always a striking thing to go among people who were in the very straightest road heavenwards.
—I went with Papa over S. Mary's Home ; a penitentiary, hospital, sisterhood, school, and nursery all in one, under Mr. Wagner. The Lady Superior showed us all over ; a cheerful, pleasant woman. The penitents do all the household work. Everything beautifully arranged, clean, bright, and airy. The sick children's room very touching ; one poor pretty little fellow, hopelessly ill with abscesses, knitting in his crib, with such a placid angel look in his small wasted face. There were some things rather shocking to one : a picture of the Blessed Virgin crowned, with the words in Latin, " Holy Mother of God, pray for us " ; which I trust was only there for ornament ; otherwise it goes beyond mere sentiment. Also a large crucifix in one of the sisters' rooms. But it is a wonderfully good and great work, and one must believe it is done in the full strength of the text which was in nearly every room : " The love of Christ constraineth us."
Nevy, Spencer, and I had an hour's boating. Papa said (of St. Mary's) that it was always a striking thing to go among people who were in the very straightest road heavenwards.
14Apr1861, Fine Singing
BRIGHTON, 2nd Sunday after Easter, April 14th, 1861.
—We all went to St. Paul's in the morning ; fine singing ; anthem, Spohr's "Blessing and honour." S. Mary's aftn., sermon by Mr. Elliott on the tremendous Indian famine: he got £73 from his morning congregation !
—We all went to St. Paul's in the morning ; fine singing ; anthem, Spohr's "Blessing and honour." S. Mary's aftn., sermon by Mr. Elliott on the tremendous Indian famine: he got £73 from his morning congregation !
11Apr1861, A Dance With the King of France
LONDON, Thursday, April 11th, 1861.
—There departed today Charles and I to London for the ball, which came off at Carlton Terrace with great success : I can't remember all my innumerable partners ! One, however, I do remember ; the " King of France " (Comte de Paris) asked particularly after me and danced with me : stomach-ache of thrill ! For the rest, Messrs. Trefusis, Ryan, Le Fevre, [FN: No doubt G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, afterwards a Cabinet Minister and now Lord Eversley] Hope, and Capt. Grant, Mrs. Percy's distinguished son, are all I remember. Charles was quite the handsomest man there : enjoyed himself, and danced with Warrens, T. Gladstones, and Sybil Grant. Introduced me to the D. of St. Albans with great propriety ! Declares he will learn to valse ! ! Everyone looked well in white and black. The house recalls the days of courtship [FN: Presumably referring to her elder sister Meriel's marriage] and matrimony wonderfully !
—There departed today Charles and I to London for the ball, which came off at Carlton Terrace with great success : I can't remember all my innumerable partners ! One, however, I do remember ; the " King of France " (Comte de Paris) asked particularly after me and danced with me : stomach-ache of thrill ! For the rest, Messrs. Trefusis, Ryan, Le Fevre, [FN: No doubt G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, afterwards a Cabinet Minister and now Lord Eversley] Hope, and Capt. Grant, Mrs. Percy's distinguished son, are all I remember. Charles was quite the handsomest man there : enjoyed himself, and danced with Warrens, T. Gladstones, and Sybil Grant. Introduced me to the D. of St. Albans with great propriety ! Declares he will learn to valse ! ! Everyone looked well in white and black. The house recalls the days of courtship [FN: Presumably referring to her elder sister Meriel's marriage] and matrimony wonderfully !
04Apr1861, An Escort
BRIGHTON, Thursday, April 4th, 1861.
—Went to St. Paul's for 3 1/2-o'c. service ; having to walk back alone, I pretended to belong to two elderly ladies in succession, who I don't think found out that they were escorting me.
—Went to St. Paul's for 3 1/2-o'c. service ; having to walk back alone, I pretended to belong to two elderly ladies in succession, who I don't think found out that they were escorting me.
02Apr1861, Scampish
BRIGHTON, Tuesday, April 2nd, 1861.
— I walked alone on the pier, which it suddenly struck me was scampish.
— I walked alone on the pier, which it suddenly struck me was scampish.
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