Charles Morgan's Diary, 1852
The 1851 diary is missing. In June 1851, Charles Morgan became the father of a daughter, Catherine Alice, who was christened on 26th June. He also became resident in Sherborne but was in Gower for significant periods.
January
1st (Thursday)
At Sherborne, this book is in Gower, see 10th and 13th post. Enter accounts till 6th inst in book of 1851 vide. End of December
7th (Wednesday)
Leave Sherborne with Carree [who at 8.00 resolves to go] for Gower. Packed up this morning in a hurry by candlelight, off at 9.00 by bus, not (at) Bristol till 4.15. Dine 15 Park Street, A Roarer Horse, Shepton Mallet. Mr Morgan dined at the medical yearly anniversary. Read Bristol paper. Hear in the evening of the loss of the Amazon, new W Indian steamer, 160 on board by fire, 115 perish. Two boats full marvellously escape.
8th
In Bristol, Park Street 15, write home and Carree to Lucy. Read Bristol Mirror. Beer at the Bell Inn to enquire about packet and finish my letters. Read at the Institution 2 hours. Dreadful account of the loss of the Amazon steamer by fire off Scilly Island near Bay of Biscay, cause not ascertained. Rumour of change of ministry, Palmerston gone some time, Sir George Grey Young etc. 2 Misses Sheldon and Miss Cleave come to tea. Fine day after wet night. Wet again at night and high wind.
9th
In Bristol, Park Street. Beautiful morning, read critique on Tom Moore in Chambers and walk out to shop a little with Carree. Meet Tom Powell of Neath in Corn Street, what a wreck of a man. Buy paper for Sherborne room at Cotterell's in Broad Mead. Call on Mr Sheldon in Windsor Terrace, Clifton, and walk with him to see where the Demerara stranded in the river Avon and a wreck in consequence. Mr Fredk Morgan and Miss Greet dine in Park Street, quite a flirtation!!!!
10th
Leave Bristol with Carree from Park Street at 8.30 by coach for Chepstow. Beautiful day, sharp frost a.m. Wet just as we get home, lucky, dreadful wet stormy night. RH brings luggage after market, sheep. Home by 12, soaked.
Sunday. Not up till 11.00, not at church, very wet. Ill spent day, do nothing but idle all day long. First day in Gower!!!!
12th
Thoro' wet till 10.00. Drive to Penmaen then in Cobourg by Reynoldston Post Office. Post gone, get a letter from Sherborne by Thomas at Penmaen in the evening, go there to dine. EKJ gone to Swansea yesterday, not returned. Write to Sherborne. Nurse taken ill in a fit, apoplectic? about 7.00. In a dreadful state all night, two Drs Justice and Perry. None of us in bed all night thinking she might die. Better when we leave tomorrow at 12.00 a little. Carree writes to Sherborne. 3 journeys to Reynoldston in wet and dark. Wet all night and tomorrow.
13th
Begin to write in this diary today. Received it in November, went to Sherborne and left it in Gower where we arrive on Saturday night 10th inst., tired and annoyed by the loss of a borrowed cloak on Llythrydd Hill and today at tea hear it is at Burry with one Hoskins. Left Penmaen today about 12.00. Nurse in a fit all night. Two medical men, Dr Justice and Mr Perry, none of us in bed all night. Write to Sherborne, walk over Crickton farm with RH, see the stock, how wet the land. Dine about 4.00, goose. Glad to get a nap after but not very tired tho' we mean to go to bed early. Wet all night and a good deal of wet all day. Glass rising.
14th
A pretty good sort of day. Glass rising, lower. Rains hard again and wind rises from south south west and west after sunset and all through the night. Walk out with Carree to garden etc. Mr Bachelor and Mr Williams call from Ilston, ask them to dine at 5.30. Thomas sent to Penmaen to inquire about nurse, does not return, is gone to Swansea for them and returns at dark. Have no servants to wait at dinner except the Ilston man in his stable dress. Williams shoots on the marsh. Bachelor goes to Cheriton. Charles enquires about Susan Jeffreys as cook and go to Burry Green, one Hoskins, about the cloak lost near Llythrydd on Saturday, get it. One borrowed at 15 Park St. Question the man. Our Ilston friends can't get home till 12, hard rain till then.
15th
Fine wild morning after wet night. About home all day, walk to Cillibion field to see yearling lambs and how the drains act. Plant a few trees in new enclosure from the common and begin to cut opening into the old enclosure to front garden and prop ivy tree. Mrs Rees calls, wanting to rent the house and garden. Carree gone to Penmaen in Cobourg with Charles. Nurse ill, fits, and baby taken ill. All in a mess there.
16th
Fine morning and day after wet night. Glass rising. Out and about home all day. Mr & Mrs Rees call, long visit, to talk about the house. Some idea of renting it or part of it to them. I begin to take account of the furniture in the house, show Rees over the house. Drive pony cart, Rosy, Carree, I and Charles to tea at Llythrydd at 5. Mrs Ball only at home. Mr B and his sister return to supper. Mrs Ball plays the harp. Wet night again to return home!!! RH kills a sheep for market, Welsh bought of Hopkin.
17th
Most beautiful day. RH off early to market, 7 sheep. Llewellyn ditto 7 pigs alive. Write to Mr Rees terms of letting house, furnished or unfurnished. Send it by Thomas, drive Carree in pony cart to Penmaen. All ill and dull there. Home to tea, Mrs Nicholls there. Go on with list of furniture. Susan Jeffreys sends to say she won't go to Sherborne as cook tho' she agreed yesterday. Mr Rees declines my offer on Tuesday next and makes no offer himself. Stafell Haegr too damp.
Sunday. Evening duty. Mr Rees has duty, been ill for a month to last Sunday. Read the chapters of the day in and D'Oyley's edition of the Bible. Catherine and William Lloyd dine in kitchen.
19th
A fussy morning, rise earlier than usual, see sun rise. Very beautiful morning, rainbow almost circular in meridian sky. No rain, prognostic of bad weather? Glass falling but fine till evening, dulls over and comes on wet before Tuesday morning. Drive early to dine at Oxwich to Mrs Lucas. Charles ran to the post etc from top of hill. Meet him again near Mr Stevenson's. Miss Mr Perry to enquire about Penmaen. Leave letter for Sherborne at the tower. Play whist and lose -/6 and Carree -/6. Give Austin for horse 6d, the last farthing in my pocket. Not home till 1.00, so dark and lamp no use but to perplex Walk ½ the way home.
20th
A thorough wet day, stormy wet night, at home in the house all day taking count of furniture and routing out my lumber room with Charles. Thomas sent to Penmaen and to the post at R. Account from Penmaen better, clears up at sunset. Some talk with RH about the management of the house at Caie Forgan when we are in Dorset. Read Cambrian. Disappointed of two servants, Susan Jeffreys engaged, and refuses, consequence disappointed of Mary Beynon from Mr Perry's.
21st
A most stormy wet day, shifting wind. W Jone here about his account, go through his books and enter up his account of it. Charles here and rummages out my room and sorting tools etc. W Lloyd about the pony cart, bottom out. Terrace wall has partly fallen down, foreseen some time. Take a little further account of furniture and doubtful about going to Swansea tomorrow. Receive good accounts from Sherborne.
22nd
Stormy morning, thunder and lightning, rain and hail that promises to clear off. Drive Carree to Swansea late in Cobourg. Election of Gower medical man. Mr Perry resigned, Mr Couch elected against Dr Justice by a majority of 4. Dine with the disappointed party at Mrs Davies. Rev Mr J Collins, Rev EKJ, Rev Bachelor, George Beynon,Willis, Tucker of H, Beynon of? Curtis etc. Hughes of P etc. Home about 10.00.
23rd
Beautiful day indeed, rather windy south and south west. About home all day, take account of things in servants' rooms. Transplant a large elder for new road to the front from common, rather hazardous to make such an opening for the wind. 3 men to help about it. Mr & Mrs Ball, Miss B and Mr JM come to tea and supper. I am not in spirits at all. Very chilly. Aurora Borealis, but I do not see it. Sing and talk and look over prints. Miss B very splendid.
24th
Charles not well, keeps his bed. J Grant takes dinner here, detained by rain, what a day for RH to market, 7 sheep, 1 calf. Young William of Ilston comes through all the wet to bring Rosy the pony back, silly. Clears up a little in evening and the wind abates, enter up W Jones's labour account, long. Have done nothing I resolved doing all day.
Sunday. Drive Carree and Jane and Charles in Cobourg to Penmaen evening duty. Young Williams of Ilston there. Dine and tea. EKJ has written to Poor Law Commissioners to try to get Dr Justice in for Union instead of Couch. Thomas also in church. Home before 10.00. Some heavy showers in day, church almost dark with rain at 3.00.
26th
Stormy wild cold morning, rainy but not much rain. Drive Carree in pony cart to Reynoldston to call on Dr and Mrs Justice, she seems a sensible Irish Lady. Call also on Mrs Perry, Robert Hancorne there. Clash Mr J Collins at Penrice junction, he dines with us alone and makes himself agreeable. EKJ and Lucy clash just at the Doctors, he refuses to dine with us and expects us to eat oysters tomorrow.
27th
Weather improving, not from home. Read Cambrian. Were to go to Park, Mrs Nicholls has met with an accident, upset near Mumbles. Her daughter calls, explains Sheppard wo calls about the infirmary. Dr Howell tomorrow. In evening unpack a box of books, take bits with Charles and repack the box for Sherborne at night. Rev. J Collins yesterday, charity for one Jenkins James father, boat swamped at Port Eynon.
28th
Splendid day, Charles drives Carree to Reynoldston. I walk with RH to see about drains etc. Colonel Steward calls, looks over the house, may take it. EKJ calls and dines with us. Jane rides home. Maria won't go again to Sherborne nor Jane. What's to become of Thomas. Take account of pantry things. What disclosures. Read Britannia in a hurry. Tried to agree with Peggy to come to take care of the house. She is very cautious, will see again, talks of /5 a week and keep herself, fire and candle allowed.
29th
Wet again! Who could have thought it!? Take list of pantry, grand discovery of £84.14. 6 in table drawer leg! A long time ago, see Saturday below. Jane rides late to Cheriton, enquire about Maria for Sherborne again, won't go. Charles and I pack up books etc for Sherborne.
30th
A very beautiful day, a Fox! Setting the house in order, young Williams calls to shoot, kills 3 snipe and keeps them tho' I lend him a gun and give him to eat. Drive pony cart with Charles over hill to Penmaen to enquire and make a trial of the pony Jemmy and harness. Works well in the car, just the thing and goes well. Trial to the Nicholaston turn and back. Tea there and home by 9.00. Write commissions for Swansea.
31st
Wet morning. RH to market, 5 sheep, 16 ww and 3 box books etc for Sherborne by packet. Arranging newspapers and rubbish from my room etc about house all day. RH home in good time, talk with him in the evening. Wet and damp all day EKJ for monument £3.
February
1st (Sunday)
Drive Carree and Charles to Penmaen morning duty, just in time. EKJ duty also at Nicholaston. Drive Lion, goes capitally with ease. No-one to help put him in coming back, ticklish job. We walked on the sands, rough sea. What a time since we have been there.
2nd
Foggy misty morning, dull damp day. Rise by candlelight to be in Swansea for express train 10.45. Drive Carree and Charles to Swansea. In in good time and home to dine at 5.00. Charles off to school, opens on Thursday! Is in good spirits.
3rd
About home all day, very fine. Write to Lewes and to Colonel Steward about the house to be rented out. Recreate in garden a little with knife etc. Walk with Carree to see lambs at Crickton and to Pwllybrag. David of Lodge here about his tithe account, can't understand it, give it up.
4th
Wet rain, sleet mist and visible damp all day. Read Malkin's South Wales, Kidwelly, and write etc. Expect Mrs Collins and Ann Lucas from Swansea, no. Drive Lion to Ilston, no one there. Mr C still in Swansea. Mrs Popkin very ill. Enquire about a servant, Ann leaves Wm C and not going where there are children. Return and tea at Llythrydd - Miss Ball ill, the harp and young Ball sings a bit and Ann Nicholls too. Home by 10.00.
5th
Wet again as yesterday. Write to William Jones of Brecon and to William Uckfield as to claim of former, tithe account. Not out of the house all day, routing out cupboards and drawers and sorting papers on bills and in evening finish a letter of Carree's to Emma by Lloyd for Penmaen tomorrow. Spend nothing.
6th
A beautiful day at last, speak to Thomas who admitted being about marry. Get his account book. Mr Perry and Mrs Justice call as we are at dinner. I had been out a little to lop a few trees with Thomas and make WT cram hedge to stop fowls from garden. Mrs Justice pays a long visit, sees the house, some chance to let it to her brother or in-law Colonel Steward or Colonel Gouch. Start at 5.00 to tea at Park. Getting dark before there, they had given us up. Tea and supper and not home till 2.00 in morning. Such visits are few and far between. Park a dreadful place to accomplish.
7th
Another most beautiful day. Thomas asks permission to go to Swansea with John Jenkins of P. We breakfast at 10.00. Thomas comes home safe and right with 3 mats from Whites. We are up late this morning, late to bed. At Thomas's account, analyse it and compare with Letts diary. Not from and about the house. Read Cambrian at night, send Phil Thomas to post, men cart out dung.
Sunday. Thorough wet again, glass at fair and falling. Can't get to church. Quarrel with Carree about Sherborne and thus unable to go. She will go alone. Rummage papers in my room. Write to Tenby by Lloyd tomorrow for Penmaen. What a miserable (?) read Bible, Psalms in evening. Bed early.
9th
Very cold showery stormy wet sleet snow etc and sunshine. At home all day at Thomas's account and packing ottoman. Carree packing to be off on Wednesday. I cannot go, I am sorry to say. Williams of Ilston calls, shoots with my single, a snipe and keeps it. A note from Bachelor about the sale of grey pony. Go through Jane Jones's servants account in evening. Expected Mrs Nicholls and party, too wintry, don't come. Lloyd brings note from Penmaen, Lucy better. Receive letter from WM about the living and about W Jones of Brecknock etc. I to write again to the latter.
10th
EKJ calls and dines with us on turkey. Am busy packing and arranging for tomorrow. Pack up all evening, interrupted a.m. W Lloyd helps to pack cases after his return from Swansea. Not in bed till 2.00 to be up again at 6.
11th
Rise by candlelight, cold, calm, quiet morning, to drive Carree to Swansea for packet by 10.00. Lovely morning, the new float calm as Venice [1]. She and the new servant, Ann Philip, daughter of same, have a lovely passage. Get to Bristol with the Misses Williams of Cambrian office at 10.00, all right. Thomas sent off early to Swansea packet with luggage in wain. He with Bright, we Lion. Thomas and I return together. Home by 5.00 to dine, tired and sleepy.
12th
Out and about home all day. Get WT to transplant a chestnut, a birch and a few laurels in the way to make the new drive from the new enclosed bit from the common and replant them there, requiring 4 hands to move them. RH helps and kills a pig about 10 or 11 score for sale on Saturday. Comes on wet in the evening. All evening hunting up papers for Swansea tomorrow and arranging papers long neglected in the lower part of my book case. Up late at night, found some papers long sought in vain.
13th
Engaged to meet Mr Perry for Swansea at Cillibion at 10.00. Wait there 2 hours, no Perry. Forgot some papers and return home, find. Abram Jones, settle his account of rent, Bryngwas, and return. Parry comes, he drives me to Swansea and starts a new dog cart. Take lodging at Mrs Davies, dine at Mr Perry's, meet Mr Perry, Mr Rowland, Mr Hoare, Mr Stevenson. Win at whist 2/6 or more, not sure. Do not break up till 2.00. Leave Perry at Macworth, can't get in at lodging and return to Mr Beor's and lie on sofa. Get chilled and ill in morning and on sofa all day tomorrow. Tonight, Mr Calland's child dies aged 3. Wanted good nursing? Mr Hoare was at school at Brackley.
14th
In Swansea, Mr Beor's, ill; too good a dinner yesterday. Can't see RH at market with the fat bacon pig 11 score? and 6 Welsh sheep. See nobody all day. Unable to do anything. Mr Perry left, gone by train. Lambs and pigs by packet. Dull but dry and cold. Hear Mr Calland's child is dead at Mrs Davies! Badly nursed. Rowland and Dr Bird attended.
Sunday. Swansea, sermon for repairing churches.
16th
In Swansea, Mr Beor's. Slept there at his office all day tallying accounts as to tithes since 1846. Write to Carree, receive letter from her, she got up safe last Wednesday and Thursday. Letter also from Willey as to Mr Taylor's will etc and from EM Tenby. Dine with Mr B at the office again, don't stay. Pay a bill or two and return. Dull, windy, cold. Attempt to be wet this evening.
17th
In Swansea at Mr Beor's Office checking off my receipts on account of tithes for 1847 and 1848. A long hard day's work involving sets off etc etc. Were to dine at 2.00, dine at 6.00. Tea at Mr Barker's of the Customs in Picton Place. Good coffee and everything very comfortable. Mr and Miss Dawe there it. Play whist, and lose all 5/-. Mr B sings pretty well - The Oak Tree, The Sea etc. Mrs B a quiet, good, sort of woman. Miss B wears spectacles. Miss B plays piano boldly and well. Pay Mr B £4 for J Davis of Welsh Moor, expenses on tithe distress, being allowed me in rents paid to Mr Talbot by William Llewellyn last October? An entry before etc in rent paid.
18th
Fine day, brisk and cold. Slept at Mr Beor's at his office meaning to tick off his tithes vouchers for expenses, he is not ready. Read papers etc. Hair cut. Go to the County Court to see the new judge, Falconer, and walk a little about the town and the parade etc. Dine at Mr Beor's every day. How to get home, do not know. Mr B not ready to get through with his accounts. I want to tick his vouchers, write to EM and Carree today or yesterday and wrote one day to Mr Doyle of Lincolns Inn about 16/2 due apply to Mr F 26 OS.
19th
Snow white and frost. Wintry cold, all day at Mr Beor's office about tithes receipts and examining Thomas Davies account book. Dine at 6.00 with him and go on with Thomas Davies book. Spend nothing. Receive a letter from Caroline, Dorset, all well. So cold I cannot sleep at night.
20th
Another winter's day. Frost and cold. Finished Thomas Davies book, analysis of. Miserably cold, walk to White's garden, he not there. Send Carree in letter to Sherborne £10 0 6, write to her at Mr Beor's office and send her Cambrian after having read it. In Evening read the Times and do not go to the theatre benefit. Too cold and too poor.
21st
Mild again. Mr Beor sends his son Elias to Chepstow by the packet at 7.00. Get out soon and to hunt up RH. Come home with RH to tea before dark. Rather misty and wet. 2 more lambs today, total 8, now sell all cattle and fat sheep to one Davies for £56 15 0. 8 cows, about 20 sheep, large and small. At home all alone, how dull. Enter accounts, glass high and rising to be fine again.
Sunday. Evening duty, drive Rosy to Penmaen. Evening duty, sleep there, Dr and Mrs Justice at church also. Very fine.
23rd
Sunday was beautiful, so is today. At Penmaen, slept there to go to Caswell today. Anniversary of Felons Association, send money over by EKJ's messenger and for a turkey, Dr and Mrs Justice. Colonel Steward expected, don't come. Sent letter long to Carree and from cousin Annie and Mrs M Moulding buys EKJ's cattle £9 head. Ride Jenny to Caswell by Park Mill and Pennard church to settle accounts with W Grove. Tough chap and go through a WR's vouchers, very unsatisfactory figures, alteration required. Can't call on Mrs Hancorne, ill. Home by 5, dine. J Collins calls in from Swansea Quarter Sessions and finishes the turkey at tea. Read Britannia etc send JR out on the militia question.
24th
Again beautiful, glass at fair, just begun to fall again. Ride Jenny again to Caswell by Kittle Hill. Call on Mrs Hancorne, very ill. Get some writing paper of Emma, none at shop, Park Mill, wanted for accounts of Caswell. Sit down and copy WR's book, analyse it. Just time to do it but not to add up analyses. Little Jenny Carrees me in 35 minutes back to Penmaen by the kiln to dinner. Meet Mr Bachelor there, he walks to Ilston, I sleep at the rectory. W Grove brought me a letter from Dr Harry as to the sale 1848.
25th
A beautiful morning, begin draft of Dr Justice, a pill last night last wanted because strong exercise on pony done me good. Pains something gone. Leave Penmaen on pony gig by Long Oaks to Walterston Corner. Call on them all about rates, refused order, what a road to drive. EKJ and Lucy go to Swansea. Plant inside terrace walk, being hot work. Drive Bright in RH's cart to dine at Brynhir though I have been as intended to see for money about Penclawdd etc. Get to Brynhir in one hour, one hour after time, mistake. A Miss somebody there. Home fast by 11.30, have had more wine than is good for me, a letter is too much. Received 3 letters, Carree, Tenby and .
26th
Dry cold frosty dull day, east wind. About home all day, not well in morning, had too much wine at Brynhir yesterday, work it off by work planting on new enclosed bit by common, front of house. Find more plants about the place than will go there, astonishing. Some talk with RH who is enclosing a bit by common front of Pwllybrag, bold step. We all live in glass houses, he going to Penrice Castle, Mr Llewellyn there. W Collins sale Ilston, do not go, want nothing, no money. After tea take off some of RH's account book, Phil Thomas.
27th
A beautiful day again. Dr Justice's physic does not agree with me well. Change of medical men not advisable. Busy with RH at labour accounts of farm till dinner time. Phil Thomas and Rees Thomas. Get out after dinner and plant a little with WT and Thomas on new bit by common, destined as new drive up, but who will live here after all!!!? Lop some trees in front, stake others new planted. Try to tally my analysed account of Caswell of WR's, better accounts than Offey's. Less frosty, sharp frosts and ice for several days. Glass falling tho' high.
28th
Dry and cold. At RH's account book of farm, arrange and index it and enter Tom Phillips account in it. Cut willows etc with Thomas and plant cutting of Ontario poplar. At 6 start in gig for the post and to Penmaen. Sleep there for morning duty tomorrow. Receive letter from Carree and order for infirmary for Sheppard [boy].
Sunday. Morning duty at 11. Dine early, Mr Michael drops in, evening duty at Nicholaston, Mr Bachelor does duty. Call on Mr Michael on return and see his house. In evening write to Carree, Dorset.
March
1st (Monday)
Dry and cold, write to Francis Green, keep copy, as to debt of 1,000 etc; to Jeffreys of Carmarthen, Hoare bankers for my account book and Hall, infirmary. EKJ trying to lay out lawn in front etc. Pay him Britannia paper in full to Christmas last, that's done. Dine early and return home in evening. Walk with RH into Caie Howell Lower carting out lime and earth, ready for what. At accounts in evening, Thomas Davies account analysed.
2nd
At Caie Forgan, again at Thomas's account and finish it. Dry and cold and fine till evening. Misty wet. Drive at 3.00 [windy and unpleasant] bay pony, not Rosy, and 3.00 again for Penmaen to dinner. Dr and Mrs Justice and Colonel Stewart. Mr & Mrs Collins, Dr Williams and Mr Bachelor, a pleasant party. Sleep at Penmaen, beautiful moonlight and sharp frost. J Shephard to go to infirmary tomorrow. Fill up the paper with RH.
3rd
Very sharp frost, beautiful morning and fine day, dry and cold. Read Lord Derby's speech in Times look at EKJ's improvement in progress and start early home by Walterston, flat and corner, dreadful road. Low spirited, all alone. Walk and work in garden and look in at the ploughing in Caie Howell. Dine at 4 and walk to Crickton to see sheep and lambs and hedge destroying and cribbing from common. At some accounts in evening. RH in Swansea with cattle, two, and some sheep. These come back, market glutted. Receive a low-spirited letter from Carree, almost to scold me.
4th
A white world, snow, glass high and rising, proves a fine day. All day at home at horrid papers that will drive me mad by ruining me in accounts. God grant me strength of mind to settle them! Get out a little after dinner. J Davies of Welsh Moor bothers about his old accounts, long and dovetailed. Never to be settled with such a man, impossible. At papers till bedtime, never shall see them done, what a prospect!!! Go to bed cold and wretched.
5th
Drive Rosy early by Walterston to Penmaen and drive EKJ's Jenny on to Swansea assizes. In court with EKJ 2 hours and home to dine at 6.30 instead of 5.30. Jenny goes capitally. Receive of Mr Richmond for a SW interest warrant 1847. Baron Martin judge seems good tempered and quick and patient. Very cold day, dry and fine for season. Home by 11.00, beautiful night and not over cold, by Mr Stevenson's and Cefn Bryn.
6th
Sharp frosty morning, cold day but very beautiful. RH at Swansea takes nothing but one sheep saved from dying by killing it, sold before ill from a journey to Black Boy and back. RH wants to see Mr Beor about tithe business etc. I walk about Crickton to see new hedge (cribbing) by common from Copton Corner East etc. Plant a few cuttings of tamarisk by new drive and neat front a little. After dinner, lop trees and try to make a bower of the abele trees, brittle for the purpose, with Thomas. Read Cambrian in evening etc.
Sunday. Very fine, all day at home. No church, mistook the time, morning and not evening. An ill spent day, much so. Could not tell when to walk to church so walk about the farm in the evening, Penralt.
8th
Brisk wind, east and glass falls but a beautiful day, splendid for farming. Finish sowing wheat in lawn, Cae Howell. At papers sorting and looking over years past. Walk a little about the farm with RH, too windy to ride to Penclawdd as intended about money matters and to Blaenkedy. About papers all the evening till past 12.00. Give W Jone of Long A for tobacco 4d. He making new hedge by common, Cadennith. Receive short letter from Sherborne, what volumes of papers I have to look over and sort.
9th
Very fine day, dry east wind for some time. Meant to ride to Penclawdd to settle an account with Mr Evans, long-standing. Can't find all the papers I want, time flies. Have to write hastily to Carree and to Messrs Hoare, London to send 60 to Sherborne and ride in haste to post at Penmaen in good time. Ride Doxy mare, a roan, the first time. Lately lost an eye by a stone, from where can't say. She goes capitally, what a pity to be blind. Dine there and tea and home before dark to work at papers. Read Illustrated News and walked over Pen farm, sowing oats. The common all on fire this night, what wicked boys.
10th
Fine and dry but very cold. East wind towards evening, always sharp frosts every morning, this very sharp and ice. Again prevented going to Penclawdd. RH wants the pony to take the last cow to the butcher as far as the Black Boy. At home all day, very busy, farm, men and all. Plant some hollies at new entrance and lay part of a drain. Men drawing new bit on common by Lower Cadennith and crib a slice of the common. Lop sycamore in the garden, front of house etc etc. George Gordon of W, like an honest man, calls to pay balance of road rates, few like him. At papers again in evening, a boy. making bonfires of furze on the commons, I alone!
11th
Very cold foggy dull morning, clears off and is warmer. See RH by Lower Cadennith, drains on common etc. George Harry calls, I am out. Mr Harrison calls of Clifton Hampden, gone to Rhossili!! Gone riding on roan pony by Parkyrhedyn, Tycoch, to call Danl Davis, Bryngwas landshare, Brynhir, Blaencedi and Mrs Evans of Ship. Most out and get no money and no account settled and home by marsh to tea. J Grant up this evening about his old account to show what has been paid him on joint account for writing in 1835, 1836 etc. Ship, Penclawdd, for bacon dinner and 2 eggs, no beer and small glass of whisky 1/6.
12th
Cold frosty morning, dry and quiet. Plenty of March dust this year, none last year. EKJ calls to invite me to meet Mr Harrison at dinner at 5.00 and to inform me that Mr Wood turns out a stag at Arthur's Stone at 1.00. We go to the meet on a roan filly not 4 years old, goes very well considering. All over and about the common and at last takes to Reynoldston and away for Llangennith and is drowned in the sea, usual fate, poor thing, what a pity. I dislike the sport in consequence, tis cruel. Receive letters from Sherborne and Mrs James. Likenesses of all the children. Meet Harrison at Penmaen, an hour he is too late. Home on my hunter in the evening before 11.00.
13th
Another dry fine cold day. Not from home. Get up some hollies in Lower Cadennith hedge. New hedge made to encroach on common and plant them in new encroachment front of house, a days work. Give old W Jone of Long A in help getting up for tobacco 6d. See RH thrash oats late and go to Crickton Top to get sheep and lambs in between six and seven. Do not send to Swansea. Dress a shoulder of mutton bought 3 weeks ago, quite good. Tea 7.30.
Sunday. Cold dull dry. Evening duty at Llanrhidian. Dr & Mrs Justice, Mrs Ball and nephew of R speak to Mr Rees, vicar, as to vestry for church rate fixed for Thursday at 12.00. Mrs B calls with me at Caie Forgan and I walk with her to tea Llythrydd. Else thought to go to Penmaen, Thomas brings me the pony at night, home about 10.00
15th
Dull cold dry frosty, still about home all day, new fencing at Crickton Lane and drains great part of day, an important affair Dine early, read Cambrian and before dinner again to the new enclosure by Crickton Lane thro' stones to raise the old road from what otherwise would go to the hedge. Sort papers in evening. Receive a letter from Carree enclosing invite from Mrs Rooke to Rampersham in Dorset before Easter. How very cold this evening.
16th
How wretchedly cold all day. I am quite ill and rheumatic. At Crickton Lane mouth to see the hedge with RH before breakfast. Warmer in morning than all day. No wind early, breeze always in evening. Sorting papers all day. Henry, no John, Richards of B calls to pay balance of rent 11.11 .0.to Michaelmas last. Have a poultice to my arm for a boil, getting painful.
17th
What an excessive dull day. The glass begins falling but is high, when will the wind, the little there is, change from the east. Have a bad boil or worse on my left arm, applied poultices. All morning at papers. See and hear of nothing till J Smith from post brings letter of first dividend on SW Rail on 200. Send it to the Glamorgan Bank. Walk to Crickton in evening, meet RH, find someone steals turnips, many. Receive of RH who has taken the last fat sheep to butcher today, sold in lump, cattle and sheep, for £56. One sheep died, a large one.
18th
The sun shines but still very cold with east wind, unhealthy dry! A vestry at 12.00a.m, illegal. Noticed for the school room and not for the church, illegal; signed Richard Jenkins not Jenkins as church warden. Nothing done, opposed by the vicar chiefly who has illegally cut and lopped trees in the church yard to his use, the vicar wanting a large rate for extensive repairs of the church. Present - vicar, self, Richard Jenkins, Mr Dunn, RH, Mr Evans and W Thomas; Mr Thomas Gordon senior, late. Evans spends evening at Caie Forgan. Fence end of Crickton Lane got up, all plants in. Tired in the evening and only enter diary. Evans walked home.
19th
Brisk windy day, dull a.m., fine p.m.. Likely to rain, glass falls, new moon tomorrow before 7.00p.m when I expect rain. At home all day sorting letters of years standing. Find some of consequence, not time to read many of them. Walk after dinner for exercise to Crickton and home, feel not at all well, pills do no good, boil on my arm very bad. Write long letter to William and short EM, Tenby, he going to Taunton assizes. Expect him here next week.
20th
Drive to Swansea with RH, Exeter Inn. Write to Carree, sent letters to WM and EM, agree to advertise Caie Forgan. See JD of PD and William, Cambrian Office, about it. Home to tea. Very cold, windy and dusty. Far from well, sad gathering on left arm looks bad.
22nd
Sunday. A slight shower sadly wanted after long east wind. Drive in Cobourg to see Dr Justice about my arm, out. Wait hours, submit to the lancet, carbuncle. Dine there and go to Penmaen Church. EKJ in London. Rev. Williams does duty at 6.00. Home after tea by 11.00. Very little rain clearing after again.
Monday. Glass rising again for fine weather. Arm(?) uneasy, I unsettled. Walk about meaning Thomas to drive me early to Oxwich to dine. Late home, send for coal, meet there Dr and Mrs Justice, Colonel Stewart, Mr Bachelor, Miss Lucas there. Order Infirmary payments at bank annual subscription £2 2 0. Home about 11.00. Colonel Stewart teases the little spaniel pet!!!
23rd
Summer like day, about home all day, sort some papers long confused. No great discovery. Begin to sow oats, sow cabbage and broccoli. McKenzie, Mr Michael's man, calls; buys a cow in calf (heifer) £8 12 6. Danl Davis pays rent £6 in full, Bryngwas Landshare. George Dixon up, receive £5 on account and go through his account. Not difficult in his way, by no means an idle day. Trim hedge and prune plantation in Lower Field. How sadly warm rain is wanted. My arm does not heal well!
24th
Summer's day, first butterflies, not yellow ones. Not from home. Sort more papers long neglected . Receive letters from Sherborne, Tenby, Neath, bills and SW Railway. Rob Harry sows more oats, begins at Cross Lane. Plant some refuse of plants from hedge Lower Cadennith back of shed in Lower Field on common. Thomas Davies and WT. Old W Jone of LA grumbles about his job of new hedge, slice of common. Lose a lamb, ewe could not wean, hard work to get it off, shall I lose the ewe. Write letters in evening, EM going to Taunton assizes and wants to see me, may go to Sherborne.
25th
Ride early to Penmaen. EKJ expected back from London. Send letter for EM coming to Swansea from Tenby, asking him to Gower. Post letter for Carree at Penmaen. Drive on second thoughts as I find I cannot (never mind dress) to Swansea to meet EKJ. Walk with Beor to station, too late, passengers pass us and we miss. Home to dine at 6.00 exact. EM not expected till 6, leave note for him. Ride home from Penmaen in dark and lose my way from Walterston, one-eyed pony has no intellect. Get to turnpike, halfway towards Crickton Road and thought myself the other way! How the common puzzles with the burnt furzes!
26th
Cold day yesterday and colder still today. Not from home save to Reynoldston to see the Dr as to my bad arm. Apply some bluestone to burn it, disagreeable operation. Knaws (sic) like mice or burns like gentle fire, to be repeated too! Makes me nervous, low and ill and can do nothing all day. Expect EM by mail, he comes to tea in evening, walked. Pack a parcel for Sherborne, preserves and cheeks. RH kills porkers, 3, and takes wheat to market. I sadly off hinges and low.
27th
Cold dry unpleasant day. RH goes to Swansea, pork and wheat and takes a basket for Sherborne, two large jars preserves, blackcurrant and plumb(sic), 2 cheeks or heads, one old, one new and a small new ham. EM here, wants to see what is going on. Walk out with him, fix a small oak on the east rock work by the house, great improvement. Must now look for another. Walk with him to Crickton and see the sheep etc. Thomas on 3 errands today for EM's luggage, N Hall, to Tycoch with me and for vestry book and to the post. Copy vestry book entry and send it to Jenkins of Manselfold etc tomorrow. Read Cambrian in evening and do not pack wine as intended. Glass falls below changeable.
Sunday. Very cold fine dry. Walk with EM through wood by Long O to Penmaen Church, morning duty. Dine there and return on foot by Park and Lodge and Cillibion Grove to tea. Lodge burnt down, there sat poor Davy and one boy by a fire open to the heavens, full of philosophy and resignation. I envied his apathy.
29th 30th
Monday. This morning and last night wrote several letters of arrangement on leaving Gower to Park Street and Sherborne Post Office etc. Begin vigourously to pack up wine and preserves etc etc to Sherborne, papers etc etc. EM great help to me with my lame arm, carbuncle. In evening send Thomas for the pony and harness to Penmaen to drive off tomorrow EKJ's extraordinary note, refusesto let pony go. Never was more astonished. never deal with clergymen about horses. Place all deranged in consequence of packing till 3.00 in morning and should be longer had I time but we start in Cobourg at 3 in dark and wet for Swansea and arrive there at 5.30. Cart of luggage too late, just too late. Mr Beor not up, miss train in consequence and leave Swansea 7.45, consequently miss Cardiff packet - just too late by 5 minutes but luckily catch the Wye at Chepstow. Lose 7 or 8 shillings in consequence. Send 3 packages to packet office and pay extra luggage by train. Drive with Mr Beor to station, he for Taunton, leave much of my luggage at the Bell, Thomas Street. Dine in Park Street. EM comes to tea to go to Taunton assizes early tomorrow. Am very sleepy, lost a night's rest, get my arm dressed.
31st
Another dull damp wet day, Bristol. Good for the country. Vegetation much in want of rain in Gower. . Read paper at the Institution after writing letters and entering accounts etc. Write to Carree and to Ball as to EKJ and the cloth for pony. He refused me the pony after I had bought it and sent for it.
April
1st (Thursday)
Fine but cold. Read Dr Cummings God in History'. Call on Mr Sheldon, meet Mrs M, nr(?) Brandon Hill who goes too. She dines at Kingsdown, I walk with Mr S on the downs. Walk to Kingsdown to tea. Beautiful moonlight to return in a fly with Mrs WFM and Mrs Rose Gibson.
2nd
Leave Bristol for Sherborne. Reach Sherborne at 5.00. EM arrived yesterday from Taunton. Lost his lawsuit, butcher for meat served to a vessel.
3rd
At Sherborne. Carree and children go to the dancing school, I, EM and children take a long walk in the park after dinner to pay for venison, a shoulder bought November. Get over and across the park on forbidden ground from the keepers to the other. What splendid trees, oak and elm!!! Keepers very civil. Read the head one. Home to tea.
Sunday. Go to morning duty, dine earlier, tea early. Sleep over the fire and walk late with EM, children and C towards Oborne and back by the Bath road. 2 Fenwicks with us. Charles full of tomfoolery. Very fine, a beautiful moon.
5th
Fine day, unpack with EM etc two hampers and a box sent up from Gower containing wine, preserves pickles etc, bacons, hams etc. Mr & Mrs Morris call. Get out with Carree and EM, call on Captain and Mrs Hammond and Mr and Mrs James on return from a round by the Dorchester Road and Dancing Hill etc. Show EM the interior of the church, the chancel unfinished etc. Sexton 1/-. Elected on the Reading Club, first books this evening, read Blackwood, Earl of Derby's policy etc. Receive letter from HJM in Gloster.
6th
Beautiful dry cool spring today. Write to HJM at Cardiff as to Morgan Davis. Take account of some bills paid by Carree before I come to Sherborne. Dine early, walk to the town with Carree, Ag and EM. Call on Mr Fussell. Called to see Mr Sherring about meat. and see his slaughterhouse etc etc. Spend a considerable time at Geake's upholstery, ingenious new table, expanding dinner table and also a fire escape ladder. Both good of their kind. Order a towel horse and a basin and ewer. Fix hat pegs in evening etc. Mrs Hoddinot calls about tea. Neet has a lot of puppies, upstairs!
7th
Such a day as yesterday but dull, cold, dry, north to west. Out early with EM to call on Mr Fussell about my arm, better slowly, and about the town shopping etc. No Gutta Percha shop in the place. Fresh cords to window blinds, we hang pictures, Cox the carpenter to make father and uncle nest of drawers and bookshelves. Stroll around with EM again before tea and walk towards the Yeovil Road etc and again after tea with him and Fenwick and CEM by the park and to Dorchester Road etc and home by dark.
8th
The same sort of dry cold weather. Am not at all well, cough and influenza. Carree almost laid up ditto. After dinner walk with EM and see the end to Honeycombe Hill, a wood, steep. Fine view of the town.
9th Good Friday
Hot cross buns at the door, very bad, 1/-. In church in the morning only. Sermon, Mr Badger, My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me'. In evening at 6.00 at Church at Castleton, Mr Mason. Walk with EM in Lord Digby's Park. See swallows and martins for the first time about his Lordship's evergreens and water. See none anywhere else. How long have they been seen? by anyone. Herons build at Lord Digby's.
10th
Walk with EM to Silver Lake, Mr Hoddinot's farm, to see his new thrashing and winnowing machine by water power with chaff cutter, very complete. See over his farm [ie] his sheep and lambs. Pay him for 2 sacks of potatoes had last August. Dine early and tea at the Mr Hoddinot's next door and play a rubber and win 10/- against Mr Fussell. Lanb tail pie, not bad but a strange idea. Dry and hot and cold, severe frosts early in the morning always. See not a swallow all day in this direction, country open.
Sunday. Stop with Carree. Mr Mason and Mr Badger do duty who go round to all the seats, the church being unfinished. Write to Mr Perry near Andover, Hants. Walk late with EM and the children, not Charles, towards Milbourne Port and back by Lord Digby's park wall. Read Art Union in the evening, cut against Henry Cole as president of Art of Design.
12th
Receive letter from WM and Carree one from Lucy as to servants at Caie Forgan - quarrels. Must write to Gower. Letter to RH to be received on Wednesday. Also to Cathe Lloyd and Thomas Davies, servants. Wander about with EM in town and go to Reading Room. After tea, late walk by and above Cold Harbour, getting cold, with EM.
13th
Hot and dry, extraordinary season. Tea at Mr Fussel's, Hoddinot and Mr Melmoth there [whist], EM retrieves his losses. Finish my letters and send them and walk all of us to post and to the park to see swallows, do not see one though loads of them on Good Friday. Mr Fitt at Mr Fussell's has caught and encaged adders and cuts out the poison fangs and now handles them. Now less savage a great deal.
14th
EM leaves Sherborne at 9.00 for Bristol. HJM expected at 3.00. Gardening all day, man (Lamb) altering walk and planting box etc. Call on Mr & Mrs Morris, both unwell. Shop with Carree, walk to meet HJM and return by the bus 5.00. Party of children to tea in the evening. What a riot, car in garden, great amusement, dangerous I think. Hot and dry, rain much wanted.
15th
HJM at Sherborne. Show him a bit of Sherborne, Nothing particular occurs all day.
16th
Still the same kind of extraordinary weather. Called with Carree and HJM on Mr Mason (Rev) and walk in the park. Cold east wind.
17th
Call with Carree and HJM at Mr Melmoth's to see an old picture at the alms houses being in fact 3, 1 middle and 2 wings on doors on hinges locking all up together and go to see Mr M's garden by the Union House. Buy meat at Sherring's and get his book made up to today. Cosmo Roselli the suppressed painter of the picture died 1484. Q. Are there any paintings of any of the Apostles on the outside of the doors or panels, now painted over oak of long-standing. Earth for garden wheeled in by Mr Chandler's men.
Sunday. Very dry and dusty, signs of change of weather, wind and clouds. Carree not well, not in church. I go with HJM and Em and Ag, a stranger preaches and Mr Parsons reads. Take long walk in evening with HJM and C and J and Bob F, Dancing Land and back by Castleton.
19th
No change of weather with the change of moon. How long dry, how extraordinary! Wind all along east and northeast. Walk out with HJM to get meat etc, again out with him after dinner and with Carree to call on our landlord Ensor, not at home etc and go with Bob Fenwick as agreed at 4.30 to see Mr Brittan's house, taken for Mrs Ball coming from Ireland this morning. Rent much more convenient house than ours. Can't get to see the castle grounds. Bret out. Write rough letter about pony to Penmaen and read Cambrian and assist C and J about French exercises. B Fenwick has tea with us.
20th
Still fine, warmer, no change! in weather yet apparent. Out with HJM to get things for evening party, tea etc. Order at Mee's, Kings Arms, 1 gallon of brandy 26 /-, one dozen pint bitter ale, top of Cheap Street. Call on Mrs Morris, he very ill still. Again out with Carree etc, call on Mr Hoddinot, all walk in his field and tried to get a card table, not one to be had in the town!!! Borrow a Pembroke table and walk with HJM to Oborne. Tea party Mr Fussell, Miss H, Mr and Mrs Hoddinot, play whist and win. Very cold night, am told frosts are very sharp every night and icicles in morning. Wind shifted to south and south west but as cold as ever.
21st
The same sort of dry extraordinary weather, how long [save one day] have we had no rain, near 2 months! Receive letter from EM at Cheltenham and write to him tomorrow. I am laid up with sciatica and can hardly move from my chair. Read The Spy.
22nd
Breakfast in bed and can hardly move with sciatica, not lumbago, get out before 12.00 and try to walk it off. Find I can move about but not sit down without pain. Walk out with Carree and HJM. Call on our landlord, not at home, enquire at Johnson livery stables about a drive tomorrow, a whole Holy day. Dust very troublesome threatens change, in consequence order nothing. A long walk with HJM and CEM across Lord Digby's Park, drop in with an old labourer and have some talk with him. He has heard the cuckoo. A fine view of Sherborne from the firs in the park.
23rd
Rain at last, almost a wet day. Charity, one Taylor, a groom, hurt by a horse moving to Chilton, recommended by our Col Popham as a letter Carreer. School has a whole holyday, a boys' party in evening. Bob Fenwick, Jones, Latch of Newport, Price of Gloster, Edmunds of Cowbridge, play bagatelle etc. Out with HJM to the Reading Room. Man fell from a scaffold yesterday, a human skeleton found in pulling down a house in Cheap Street. Out again to shop for coffee pot, cakes etc etc.
24th
Wet morning, mild beautiful rain, spring like day. Get out with HJM to Reading Room etc and to the cricket ground, bowl a little and to the dancing room also before it breaks up and take a short walk with Carree. Hear from Penmaen, pacific! as to the pony!
Sunday. Stranger preaches, uncle of Mrs Harper's, a good sermon, too rapid. Again at 3.00 Mr Mason. Walk late with HJM and Bob F on Bath Road etc. Very cold again, lowering day, threatened a deluge but no rain. Carree in church. Call on Mr and Mrs Morris, better.
26th
Milder again and fine and dry. Not from home all day. Read papers, Cambrian and Illustrated. Turf to burn, 23 score nominally. Cheats, I am sure, and delivers only 21. Buy us more. Faggots preferable. In evening dig in garden and plant a few potatoes, some planted a month ago and more not growing yet! Do not sow any seed as intended. Read Connoisseur papers of 1754, very amusing. Help Charles about his verses in the evening. Carree takes physic, not out of bed till evening. Johnny at home all day not well. Mr Fussell's advised to keep him at home. Delicate Boy! Mrs Melmoth calls, letter from EM, Cheltenham, going to Lewis and Portsmouth. expected.
27th
Receive letter from Mrs James, London, a good deal about the Ord family. In house all morning, read and write to Anna Woodward, to RH, Gower, and return tax paper there filled up. Walk with Carree and HJM to call on Rev Mr Badger and on towards Honeycomb Hill and back to tea. Hear cuckoo for 1st time. Mr Nunn music in evening and play bagatelle with Bob Fenwick etc, a substitute for billiards. Pleasant day. Receive a long letter from Mrs James in London, J Ord there.
28th
Pleasant morning. Read Connoisseur and hear Frank, Latin. Sow some seeds garden and burn rubbish and bones. Borrow Mr Fussell's grey for Carree. Prepare for walk after dinner on Yeovil Road. Carree and children not at the school, get out one mile and driven back by rain coming on gently. Read papers with HJM at the rooms. Ministry get first majority large (150) in total of 476 on the Militia Bill. Great triumph for Lord Derby.
29th
Walk early with HJM to market. Coarse beef of Sherring at 4 ½ . Draft at Bank for £10, pay some bills, call at Cox the carpenters. Wet and return, in house all the evening. Wet evening, beautiful mild rain. Read Boydell's Thames, Oxford, Connoisseur and play bagatelle with HJM and CEM etc. Help Charles with Latin verses and try Frank in Latin grammar.
30th
Beautiful morning, sun and cloud and warm. Proves a wet day, meant to sow seeds, can't. Read Boydell's Thames, Oxford, etc and and Connoisseur etc. Mr Nunn practising children in music.
May
1st (Saturday)
Beautiful day, out early with HJM to butchers etc. Go to Reading Room, budget in part only left speaking. Sow a few seeds in the garden and flower seeds with CEM and scarlet runners and plant a few lettuce from Mrs Charlton's. Read Cambrian and Dorset papers.
Sunday. Carree, HJM, Emma and Ag and I at church, Mr Mason does all duty. Again in evening, 3.00, a stranger, a young man does duty and gives a good sermon. Take a long walk in the evening late in the park to Dancing Hill etc, very cold wind.
3rd
Cold and dry. Carree in evening borrows Mr Fussell's cob and rides with CEM who hires of Johnson to near Yeovil. I and HJM walk out, call on Ensor, my landlord, and walk to the cricket ground. The boys have ½ holyday. We go to the Reading Room in the evening late. Was there also in the morning to read Disraeli's first budget; luminous, bold and clear. Property tax renewed for one year. Papers speak well of the plan, ministry raised in public eye. Mr Webb Penny at the rooms, an editor of a paper, fond of politics, talks a good deal of railways and banks etc etc.
4th
Very fine but still very cold north east wind. Read Blackwood, democracy. Letter from Anne, Plumpton, can't or won't come to Sherborne. After dinner, call with Carree on Mrs Charlton and see her garden and her school, on Mrs Melmoth, not at home and walk with Carree also to the cricket ground and make Charlie play and Johnny. Give them buns. Called on Mrs Bercham at tea, do not go in. Mr Nunn comes to music lesson at 7 and goes to Sir Wm Medicott's, Milbourne Port. Read Illustrated News in the evening.
5th
Remarkably cold, dry and fine. Children go to pick cowslips after dinner. We walk out in and about the town and call at the Fussell's etc and walk in the park, a short way only. HJM and I walk in the evening to see mason about a stone at the front door. Read at Union in the evening. Mr Nunn gives usual music lesson. Symptoms of sciatica strong, take pills. Were at Ensor's shop, Carree buys a schawl (sic).
6th
Dry and coldish but less cold yet sunny and fine, too fine. Strong symptoms of lumbago or rather sciatica. Out early about meat and to give orders for tomorrow's tea party. Walk with Frank. Put up curtains etc. Mr & Mrs Fussell call, walk with Carree and HJM to the cricket ground etc. Help Charles about verses in evening, read magazines etc. HJM goes to Honeycomb Wood.
7th
Beautiful but too dry. Out with HJM to shop and to the Reading Room. A party this evening to tea and supper. Mr & Mrs Melmoth and her father, Mr Cleaver of Brixton, Mr & Mrs Fussell, 2 Miss Hoddinots, Mr & Mrs Hoddinot and Mr Treharn from the school, Mr Nunn. Some good singing, all passes of pretty well and agreeably.
8th
Read Illustrated News, no news. Mrs Morris called and Miss? HJM leaves for London at 9.00 for Salisbury and London. Walk with Carree and Frank to Dancing School and cricket ground. Mr Nunn gives music lessons this evening, vice yesterday. A much more summer-like day.
Sunday. At Castleton church with Emma and Ag, too late for the great church, watch wrong. At 3.00 evening duty at church, Mr Parsons with Carree and walk to the park with Emma etc and home to tea. Evening not well spent.
10th
A little wet a.m.lays the dust. Read a little and hear children, i.e. F, his Latin. Finish club books and send them to Major Dawe. Out with Carree after dinner, call on the Boddingtons in Westbury, odd and large family. Walk to Honeycomb Road with Carree. Call at the keepers (Baker), mean to tea picnic some day there. Help Charles at his verses late in evening. Called on Mr James and see his garden and greenhouse etc. Write to Mrs James to post tomorrow. Mrs Morris called this morning, leaves for Bath tomorrow. Very windy day and cool.
11th
Dull and damp and brisk. Try to teach Frank Latin grammar, call on Mrs Morris and walk with her to the coach at the Antelope and see them off. Enter accounts. Am not out of the house again all day. They have a fine day for the coach to Bath, no dust, no rain. Read and write to Mrs James in London etc. Early tea, Mr Nunn's night. RH has let Stafell Haegr Ho. and land for £10.
12th
Wet cold day, turn out closet at the top of the house. Find books and clothes and linen etc etc, all put away carelessly etc etc. Nail up some canvas for partition in upper room. Not from the house all day. Read all evening and write.
13th
Rather showery and rather cold and very windy. Read Bentley and United Service and Connoisseur. Write to HJM in London. Draw at bank £10 and write to Messrs Hoare for 50 to Sherborne bank. Call on Mr Harper, show him a seal impression from Kidwelly to see if traceable to Sherborne. Meet Charles and walk towards Yeovil road. Call on Warre plasterer, not on Mr Ensor to pay rent. Pay Mrs Sharp for last party, he has a beautiful pair of horns of buffalo, 30d too dear? worth he says £5, Credito ! Called on Mrs Gill about the butter not good. Help Charles at Latin verses.
14th
Fine but cool for the season. Read Connoisseur and Collison's Antig. Walk with Carree and F into the town. Nothing particular to do, call on old Mrs Hoddinot, not on Mrs Fenwick because they call here. Sticked peas and s runners in the morning till dinner. Dine on half a sole and rhubarb tart. Carree was out with Frank into the town after breakfast. Mr Nunn here as usual to music lessons. Arranged to play quoits with him tomorrow. Stick peas late.
15th
A very fine day, too dry. Read Illustrated News, Louis Napoleon's grand fete and fireworks May 8th at Paris, a grand affair. Call on Mr Henry Ensor to pay rent, he is on his farm, hunt him out and return by Yeovil road. Meet Mr Nunn to play quoits at the school close and have a pleasant game. Mr Watts joins us and Mr Rutherford was also at the dancing room. Poor Agnes abashed. Return with Carree and the children. Read magazine United Service in the evening etc etc. Hear from HJM London, EM in trouble about his vessel execution.
Sunday. Missionary sermon, a German, long dry affair. A strong foreign account, not agreeable, go again with Emma and Ag at 3.00, Mr Mason. Later a long and pleasant walk in the evening to the keeper's warren with Carree and the children, not Charles.
17th
Find day. With Carree call on old Mrs Hoddinot and go to Post Office as above and to the school close to play quoits but do not. Called on Mr Cleaver at Mr Melmoth's, help Charles about verse on horse, first time of composition in verse. Only 6 verses necessary, get it done however.
18th
Warmer, dull, damp, beautiful seasonable day but little rain after early morning. Read Illustrated and Life of Prince de Conde, would have gone riding in evening with Carree etc on 3 borrowed ponies, only Mr Ensor's to be had, he sends it and I return it unused. Mrs Melmoth and Mr Cleaver call. I walk to the school close in the evening and play quoits with Mr Nunn and Mr Hayward, a headboy invited. Go with Sherring to see his stock of pigs, cows etc, he our butcher. Had an odd present today from Mr Hoddinot in reference to lambs, do not like it and dislike the idea. Could not conceive what they meant till enquiry afterwards so no prejudice. Eating what I cannot comprehend, here considered a delicacy, strange! Bob Fenwick and his sister here, this evening, rifle shooting, get a walk with him.
19th
Cold and dull, read Life of Prince de Conde. A fair at Sherborne. Receive letter from HJM London, EM gone back 17th to Wales. Read all morning and attend Frank's lessons. Kitchen whitewashed, no dinner in consequence. Get out for a short time with Carree, unpack box case from polytechnic, 2 pictures and carpet sent by EM and hang the pictures. Miss Charlton and 2 little singers, nephew and niece of Mrs Morris, come to tea, nothing done all the evening in consequence.
20th
A very beautiful seasonable day, out early to get a dinner. Go to Ensors for a pony for this evening. Order pair of quoits at Chapman's in Hound St, called on Mr Nunn, ride after dinner with Carree and Johnny on 3 borrowed ponies, Mr Fussell's grey, Mr Ensor's and Mr Hoddinot's, to Yetminster through and cross over the Dorchester road home. Meet Mr & Mrs Fussell, a delightful ride, 3 or 4 hours. Help Charles at Latin verses in evening. Lewis, nurse, unwell, pain in side, to have a blister etc etc.
21st
Not so fine a day, were lucky yesterday. Not out all morning save to get cabbage at Parsons and call on Geake about SW opening. Read Life of Conde, stick peas and go to the Reading Room. Read Connoisseur. Mr Nunn's evening at music lessons for children, sings new songs, duets with Carree. Read Life of Conde in evening.
22nd
Dull but fine day, Mr Fussell sent rhubarb. Call on Geak to get a top mended. Go to his workshop. Call on Hawkins about some prints and send 3 this evening to be mounted etc. He calls on me to see West's Death of Chatham. Play quoits with Nunn and Pritchard in the close, beat them and play at cricket. Return with Frank by Stiby's and miss Carree and Johnny. Look over portfolio and call with Carree on Mr Mason, Mrs M rather better. Walk to the park and water garden and enter accounts etc. Received a letter forwarded.
Sunday. Twice to church, nos. of the pews altered. Mr Mason duty a.m, Mr Parsons p.m., do not walk in the evening.
24th
Walk early with Carree to Westbury, a sale advertised, nothing there, return and call at Hawkins printer. With Charles and Johnny meet Mrs Rowlandson, very dissatisfied with Sherborne. Boys have holyday for Queen's birthday. Am not at the close, too hard for quoits. Mr Ball calls about a cucumber frame, go to see it, partly agree for 2, £8. Mr Fenwick practises music with Carree and at tea while we are in Zealand. Miss Griffiths at work for Carree.
25th
Walk with Carree to call on Mr and Mrs Cousins in Westbury but no, Carree rides with Mrs Fussell by accident towards Leweston. I do leave a card on Cozens. Walk to the cricket ground, very cold, sharp wind. Only look on, Frank comes down. Cox brings the new bookcase home and puts it up. Mr Nunn at the music lessons with children. Charles and Johnny again to hear the New Zealander. Read Conde.
26th
A thorough wet day, a soaker and cold. Was to be engaged about moving the greenhouse, nothing done in it, impossible. Not out of the house, busy in arranging things in the new book shelves and new nest of drawers made as a cheffoneer for best room and put up last night, trying to put their house in order in fact. Flog Frank for not attending to his Latin grammar and keep him without breakfast. Carree up late helping a dressmaker, Miss Griffiths, for the children. Read Conde. Hear from EM.
27th
Cold dull nasty day for time of year. Out early to meet Gould about the greenhouse. See it moved, in bad condition, too aged. The old fellow is a cheat or a close one. Call with Carree on Mr and Mrs Cozens, meet Miss Wilmot there, considered a beauty. Go to the school close and play quoits with Mr Nunn and Mr Pritchard. Help Charles's at his Latin verses in the evening. Receive letter from Fred, Lewes. Called on Rowe, ironmonger, about a Cornish grate for EM Tenby, has none ready.
28th
With the masons about the greenhouse front of back window, rather wet and very cold. Finish Life of Conde. Out with Carree, call on Mrs Mason, still very ill. Mr Nunn's night, Mr & Mrs Rooke called via home, 6 weeks absent. Some arrangements as to our going there soon etc. What does the dog bark about tonight?! Just at bed time!
29th
Wet again, masons go home, greenhouse at a stand ergo. Write to Bath NE and to HJM. In house all morning till near 3.00, write to Bath etc. Nail up canvas in bedroom. Walk to school close, do not play quoits, 4 others playing. See Frank play cricket with the little boys. Carree comes from dancing school to see, call at Pollard's. Read Illustrated, Derby race etc
(Sunday) sacrament, do not stay, no sermon. Evening duty, Mr Williams of Oxford and Cowbridge does part of duty. Old to Mr Parsons preaches, short stroll on the park with Carree and 3 younger children.
31st
Club processions, beautiful. Mason about the greenhouse, old Gould, deceiver and take in about the putting up of greenhouse. Meant have called with Carree on the Balls, see them go out. Call on Mrs Harper and Mrs James, leave cards, all out. Take a walk to the Dancing Land.
June
1st (Tuesday)
Damp dull and rainy. Mrs Williams returns my call. Masons here about greenhouse, Cox the carpenter does a little, begin to put up the glass. Read Frazer Magazine and the Illustrated. Would to God I could do something profitable!! Charles annoys me dreadfully by again bullying Charles Fenwick. Reprimand him, again he hurts Frank for giving evidence against him, get angry and thrash Charles and throw him in the ash pit. What am I to do with such a headstrong, obstinate boy. I fear his end, he will bring me to the grave. Am dreadfully put out all the evening. Called at Geake's about tables to be for 35, tickets £1 each, two very handsome round tables, one worth £20.
2nd
Dull and damp again. Mr & Mrs Morris from Bath yesterday, Mrs Edwards from Bath in way to Rampisham, comes by coach, meet her at 2.00 at Antelope, stays with us tonight. At and about home all day, dine at 3.00, boys dined as usual (one). An evening party, singing and dancing. Mr Nunn, [Mr Treharn, 2 Jones, Evans of Merthyr, these schoolboys) Rob Fenwick and 2 sisters. Miss Strachan plays piano well. Some good quartets etc. Supper, singing and dancing and romping passes off very well and agreeably. Some wet in evening and cold.
3rd
More favourable today than yesterday, walk early with Laura Edwards to Lord Digby's park. Mr & Mrs Rooke arrive and dine with us at 1.00, go shopping and to see the children. Church now completed as to repairs except the chancel. They leave for Rampisham at 7.00. Read Art Union, help Charles at Latin verses in the evening.
4th
Beautiful, call on Mrs Morris early with Carree and baby to see her garden etc. Call with Carree on Mrs Ball (cards) and on Mr Fussell, at home. Take a walk and call also on Mrs Ensor, he is gone to Shepton Mallet. Read Art Union journal.
5th
Go fishing [buy a rod at Rowes for 4/6 not paid) with Mr Morris and Mr Hoddinot and Mr Cleaver, out to Silver Lake, Mr Hoddinot's farm. Catch perch, Mr Cleaver caught 2 at once, fairly hooked. Very cold and strong ripple. Catch a score only, 6 rods. Bread and cheese lunch, no dinner. Wine at Mr Morris and tea to finish the day. Wet night. Charles and Carree begin to paper the front attic as a spare room.
Sunday. Church all opened, pulpit new in permanent place, seats altered again. Mr Harper reads, Parsons preaches. Can't hear a word, too far off. Again in the evening, Mr Badger, no use. Walk with Carree in the park after evening duty, not altogether pleasant. Read Cambrian. Carree not well, a cold.
7th
Wet morning, cannot go to Rampisham as agreed, very cold. Read Blackwood. Carree ill, cold fever, bed all day, burning hot. A wet day till late evening, go on with papering the upper room and read Blackwood before sending it on this evening. Not out of the house. No mason, no carpenter today! Mr Nunn gives music lesson this evening instead of tomorrow. Tomorrow a cricket match, town v school.
8th
Carree is better and resolves to go to Rampisham, start 1/2 hour too late. 1 horse, 4 wheels with Carree, self and 3 children, Emma, Aggie and F; go a round-about road late. Dinner half over when we arrive, see Lord Ilchester's Melbury House, an old-fashioned fine place loaded with trees. Rampisham a retired place, pretty. A beautiful new rectory, Tudor style, lofty and elegant, small diamond windows and everything to account. There are 5 nice children and a 6th soon! Played bowls after tea and snakes. Home a new and right way in an hour less time by 10.30. No accident. Most fortunate in weather!
9th
A thorough wet day again, not out of the house. Paper the upper room and read club books.
10th
Foggy and unseasonably cold, papering room all day. Charles not well and keeps from school. Not out till late in the evening. Shops nearly shut. Take a solitary walk, mile to Mr Best's house and back.
11th
Do not paper the room today. Neat up the front garden and turf to the new laid stone walk by the greenhouse. Old man helps otherwise about the garden. Call with Carree on Mrs McRae and Mrs Noble, my first call. Tried to see the bus driver. Mr Nunn's evening, read United Service.
12th
Fine day, cold at times and by no means hot. Help Charles make baby's car, out with Carree early to Penns. Call at ½ Moon about the bus. Call at Ensor's, see Mr & Mrs Cato, meant have called to see him and saved the trouble. At the dancing school (last day) from 3 till 5 o'clock. Emma and Aggy have improved a good deal. Walk with Carree to the school close, nearly empty, and stroll back. Paper the room by candlelight and enter the week's account.
Sunday. Too late for the parish church, go to Castleton a half hour later, no duty! With Carree and Em and Ag return and read lessons, etc. Church again at 3.00, Mr Parsons preaches, Mr Badger reads. Temporary trial laundry board put up, small use. Called after church p.m. on Mrs Fussell, they are all ill, took shelter from shower. Write to Mr Morgan about packets. Showery and very cold.
14th
Rain in night and very showery day. Not out of house and garden. Read Illustrated and Cambrian. Paper room in attics. Pick gooseberries for tomorrow. Mr Cato, Mr Ensor call by appointment about the house, paint wanted, oven no use etc. Ask for purchase of the house, £600. Alms House holding on 3 lives 35, 37 and 41, Brothers Ensor. Rent under £1. Old Gould calls.
15th
Mrs Morris and Miss Creswick dine with us and spend the evening from 4.00. Very cold, dripping wet. Paper the room upstairs, determined to do all I can before going to Gower.
16th
How cold it is, paper the room and after early dinner walk alone to Silver Lake, Mr Hoddinot's farm and walk about to see his crops. Children walk with Mamma. Frank goes for young Babbington and meets me at Silver Lake and goes in the boat and helps weed the pond. Tea at Mr & Mrs Hoddinot, Mrs Morris and Miss Creswick and Miss C , the latter aunt of Mr H and lives in Melbury, Lord Ilchester's parish, a plain old woman passable in society.
17th
Finish papering, as far as paper goes, the front garrett and get the rubbish cleaned up etc. Play at quoits with Mr Nunn in the evening and beat him. Mr Pritchard and a Mr? there a short time. No half holiday for the boys, they are under examination. At a tea party at Mrs Morris in evening, am the only gent. Mrs James, Miss James, Mrs McRae, Mrs Noble, Miss Creswick, a neat little supper, sandwiches and creams. A more pleasant day but not good.
18th
Very wet and very cold. Read Sherborne paper and a number of Bleak House. Write to Bristol and to Llanelli. Look over some bills and papers. Bills come in, school's breaking up. Boys under examination. Tea early and walk with Carree and children, call on the Fenwicks, shop at Penns, call at Mrs Morris at 8.00. Wet again, God save us! Took a walk to Castleton gate, afraid to go to the park, rain threatens. Tired, oppressed with weather, bed early. The new moon makes no change in weather.
19th
Garden all morning, weed and prepare for celery etc etc. Mr Nunn gives lessons to Emma etc at 12.00 in lieu of yesterday evening. Walked out with Carree, go to the bank, draft £30, overdraw about £12. Called on Mr & Mrs Fussell, several ill there. School concert at 8.00 goes off capitally and a most excellent supper. Who pays? Mr Harper? Profusion!!!! Not home till 12.00. Spend a very pleasant evening indeed. Mr Clappue, the French master, plays the horn very well. How fortunate it is fine, the ladies all walk!!
Sunday. Wet just at church time and wet drizzly all day. Church twice, evening alone and sit in Mrs Morris pew, hear much better. Read Cambrian, day ill spent.
21st
Wet morning promises to be fine day. All confusion for tomorrow, busy packing etc. Attend first quarterly meeting of book club and get introduced to Rutherford, Highmore and Major Dawe. Home to pack silver etc and settle accounts, washing etc etc as above. A tolerable fine day, cold night.
22nd
Rise at 6, not in bed till 2.00. Finish packing up, off at 9.30, not in Bristol till 5.30. Accident to the po hindered 1/2 hour. Get to Mr Morgan's, 15 Park St, before dinner over. Leave Anne Philip our servant at the Bell Inn, Thomas Street, and part of luggage. Very tired in the evening, very!
23rd
At Bristol. Really a fine summer day. Are we going to have a permanent change for the better, it has been a very wet and bitter cold summer. Walk about and shop a little, get C and J measured by Egan tailor, 3 Princes Street, for new suits of clothes. Walk to Clifton Down in evening. Walk with Mrs WFM on Clifton Down late in evening.
24th
Leave Bristol by packet at 10.15 and land at the Mumbles about 6.00. Brisk day, fine. Land at Mumbles, am very ill as usual.
25th
Wet. Tucker proud to show the garden, indeed the crops are splendid and produce wonderful. Walk with RH to look at part of the farm, the wheat not so good as I expected nor so good as it should be. Sheep look well, cows miserable, pigs so-so. 10 fowls have 1 chick among them. Turkey and geese are pretty well. Write to EM Tenby, answer a letter to Mr Foxton about Caswell, declined to sell. EKJ calls and takes tea etc.
26th
Fine day. RH to Swansea with the calf killed, we have head etc. About home all day and in garden. Gather 1 ½ lbs of white strawberries, delicious, never saw a finer crop. Rumour that Mrs Phillips of Fairy Hill is dead. Lunge Moselle filly with CEM etc etc. Walk with Carree and Emma etc to Crickton. Walk to end of farm and see clover etc. Trim and weed and plant a few things in from garden. Lunge colts etc etc.
Sunday. Fine, looks like settled weather except the glass is low. A morning service at L. Very few dropping in all church time. Sermon 1 ½ hours, cui hono? WR down from Caswell. Walk in evening with RH.
28th
Fine morning comes on a very wet evening. Land beginning to get into temper else for turnips, none sown for 3 weeks. Give young turkeys a turn on the corn in morning and half kill them by cold, forgotten. Help about the lawn with Emma, trim up new plantation road and get wet thro' in evening. Tea early and read Cambrian, so is time frittered away. A long trial of Dr Achilles, a R(oman?) priest, for fornication etc. Dr Newman the ... turned Romanist, what a set. EKJ and Lucy and family come over after the wet. Go home again in our Cobourg. We to take carriage tomorrow.
29th
Foggy morning, how unlike summer!!!! Drive all of us all to Penmaen to spend day. Take EKJ's carriage back after here yesterday, cause of rain, and the Cobourg sent back. They Took it yesterday. Gave John Jenkins for his torn trousers bit by Rose 1/-. Call on the Coulthursts and Miss Rivett, seem nice people. The Collins call on us in our absence. See the extension alterations at Penmaen, great improvement in front. Luckily little or no rain.
30th
Stormy blustery windy day, in the house and about home all day till we call on the Collins at Oxwich in evening. Too early, they have not dined. WC and Mrs WC there, take tea. Walk with Carree there to the church etc etc. Invited to dine there tomorrow to meet Dr & Mrs Justice. Get home safe. Glass rises notwithstanding the wind. Surely better weather is coming.
July
1st (Thursday)
Lodge boy, a red and grey rabbit, 1/6. After a long interval RH is able to sow turnips again. Dine at Oxwich with Carree at 5.00, meet Mrs Justice, the Dr cannot go there, engaged. Wool Fair tomorrow, Swansea. RH takes wool about 160lb, part only sold at 1/1. 4 cattle, 1 grey pony all sold, 32/-. How seldom do we drive to Oxwich, 2 days consecutively. Underhill road a horror, so dreadfully steep. Accomplish it without accident. Mare Doxy at work all day, turnips, died tomorrow early, great loss.
2nd
Drive Bright to Swansea, a fair. Dull day, wet in Swansea, that is some showers. Dull and damp but little rain in Gower. Home about 8.00. Have had no dinner, not right for me.
3rd
Beautiful day, glass rising after wet morning. Turnips sown, Lower Cadennith sown and done today and began at West End to be hoed. About home all day, not over well. Pills no use, am very weak and queer. Albon cleans up the plantation drive begun yesterday. Very unhappy about my loss.
Sunday. Beautiful day, hot. Evening duty. Walk to church, late, watches differ. Sermon 1 hour. CEM rides to Penmaen to enquire about nurse, ill again, no fit this time. Stroll about with Carree. RH walked up with me from Penralt, cross the farm and up to tea.
5th
Warmer pleasant morning, dull and sun comes out , beautiful mild showery. Dull evening, thundery. Got in the last rick of wheat produce of 5 acres, Pwllybrag Field. With it produce 100 wins? Help in the barn about it, very free from mice, fell asleep after dinner and lost 3 hours. Help WT about celery, stroll about with Carree in the evening late in cool. Am told there was a great deal of lightning tonight, saw nothing of it. Most likely there was. Very close all day, see tomorrow.
6th
Beautiful and overpowering day. Thrashing machine new set, am about home all day. Repot some myrtles etc. C and John go to hill for stones again, they lift too great weights!!! Sit out in the garden with Carree etc till 11.00 for an hour afterwards, what incessant lightning or northern light, never saw the like before, incessant! Flashes, lighting up the common as day and dark again. Ends in forked lightning and distant thunder. Look at it from the window till past 12.00. Will it injure the potatoes, till now looking well and productive. Dr & Mrs J call, we drive to Reynoldston. 3 rabbits, Lodge boy, 1/6 too much but he had his house burnt.
7th
Splendid hot day, as yesterday. Trim hedge by hot bed with WT. Hot work etc, 8 hedges. Have not a dry rag about me. Carree writes to Marshall Vine on his marriage and to Mrs Morris, Sherborne. Drive in the evening after dinner in the break with Carree and all children to the village. Go expressly to see poor Tom Philip who we hear is very ill, find him in filth and stink. Pulse strong and high and in a bath of perspiration and unconscious. Within a few hours we hear he is dead. He had worked for me for years and lately thrown out of employed by RH, why, there are two stories yet I am not informed he is dangerously ill tho' he wanted to see me!!
8th
Excessive hot, Swansea election, did not know it. EKJ and Lucy etc call early, retard our starting, election all over before we get in. Carree, Emma and Agnes and baby, Anne Philip goes. Meant to have something at Mrs D's, she is high and mighty and declines so we tea at Milwards. I call on old Mrs Popkin, call on old Mrs Terry and family. Call on the Woodruffes on return. Shops all shut, must go in again. Home late in cool, no dinner.
9th
Still beautiful weather for hay. Begin to cut clover at Newton. Ride RH's raw pony and CEM on Moselle to see mowing at Newton Field. Read a little about Australia. Go to tea at the Ball's at 6.00. Meet Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Hancorne. Walk with them to the Lodge in the Cwms, beautiful with roses. Not home till near 12.00. Pro pudor keeping up old Llewellyn. Poor Tom Phillips funeral!! A corrupted man, I furnished the coffin etc, why should I?
10th
Beautiful. RH to Swansea with six WW. We are about hay at Newton, all day at home. Gather strawberries, white ones, wonderful crop, hard work. Trim box edging. W Lloyd about new wain. Bull breaks into plantation, pigs into garden. Go after dinner in donkey car with children to hay field. Am sadly out of humour! Read and am not idle all day. After tea walk with Carree to see Cillibion hay etc.
Sunday. Morning duty, do not go, send children. Read Bible, thought to go to Penmaen. W Collins calls, drive him to Cheriton and Carree and C and I go too. Return to tea.
12th
Very hot brisk wind in Gower, not in Swansea. Drive Carree, C and J to Swansea and dine at the Woodruffes at 4.30 at Sketty. Not home till 8.00.
13th
Dull, east wind, doubtful morning, proves brisk fine day, hot evening. Capital hay day. Walk with RH to see the hay and crops and turnips and give my opinion of the weather. The Penmaen party come over, 2 children and old Mrs Thomas and the nurse. Walk over the farm again with EKJ. My crops not so good as his. very cross and surly, gets terribly bit thro' behind the shoulders by Bruin, question if it does not kill him and if so we shall be very sorry. It causes anger and ill will among us. The Miss Perrys here to tea. Charles drives them home in the break late, home by 11.00. Lightning all evening or northern lights.
14th
Dull misty day, foggy not wet. Drive the break with Lion and all children to spend day at Mrs Nicholls. The invite not clearly understood. See Lucy en passant at the Church Green, She seizes on Emma and baby. Mrs Thorne arrives in the evening just as we leave. Misty dull day, grass wet.
15th
Pleasant wind at times, dull and misty at times. Attempt at rain at times, proves dry and fine. Are to go only to Penmaen, difficulty to get a horse, engaged about turnips in Furzeland which is begun to be sown today with guano only. Irregularly mixed. Dine at Penmaen at 2.00, drive Lion in Cobourg with Charles and Emma. The Misses Coulthurst's come to tea., the eldest plays piano nicely. Lose our way crossing the common near home, foggy. Called Llewellyn, luckily he hears, all ends well.
16th
Most sultry day, pick currants, red gathered yesterday by WT. At 6's and 7's all day, no pony to be got so plans not settled. After dinner ride with Johnny, I on Tally, he on RH's pony to Llanmadock. Call on Rev. P Pearce, Mr Clark there from Blackheath and called to see Capt Seymour, successor to Sir N Aubrey of property, to try to let him my house, too far from his parish, no go. Return to tea and Nicholls here. Have lost my best riding whip, how is this? Threatens rain tomorrow.
17th
Nor go nor send to Swansea, busy about hay in Upper Field, RH about hay at Cillibion. Col(onel) Cam(eron). Walk out with Carree there late in the evening, carrying. Penrice Fair, RH goes. Nothing done. Nice hay weather, rain in night? Charles in Swansea.
Sunday. Not in church in morning, at Penmaen Church at 6.00, Carree and CEM. Other children at village of L also 6.00. Emma loses her kid gloves.
19th
Very fine, drive and ride all hands to Penmaen sands. Children to bathe and picnic. Do not see Penmaenites. Mrs and Miss Terry and young Haynes meet us there by accident and return with us over the hill to tea. Poor Mrs Terry low and so am I, am tired, hard day. The Miss Coulthursts and Miss Cole and Miss Trivet of the Cottage meet us on the sands. Adventure, lose a linchpin and a wheel after after starting, all put right at Pennyhitch. Rain in night.
20th
Charles and Johnny start for Tenby, at Loughor at 6.00. Read a little. Drive old Farmer to Penmaen to dine at 4.00 to meet Mr Hall of Ilston. Attend a parish meeting at Penmaen about the roads and Morris Hill. Voss of Manchester there and little Ford etc. Dreadfully dark and wet to return home.
21st
Mrs Nicholls and Mrs and Miss Thorne, WM late, the Balls come to tea and supper. A pleasant party and beautiful weather.
22nd
The Collins Party, Mr & Mrs C, Mr & Mrs WC and Miss Lucas come to tea and supper and fruit. All Mr Collins servants are leaving him, a conspiracy!!!!
23rd
Very fine, splendid weather. Up at 6 order of the day, gather fruit. J Grant up for worms, give him a dinner etc. Helped gather fruit till after tea. Tea on the lawn. Walked round Crickton farm alone to see turnips failing, barley doing well. Gather blackcurrants and gooseberries, netted some of latter before breakfast. Blackbirds devouring them by whole sale. Enter accounts this evening omitted for a week!!! Received 2 letters from J Ord, nothing and from Tenby CEM.
24th
Confirmation at Ilston. We drive to Swansea early to meet Edmunds of Cowbridge and Charles and Johnny returning from Tenby. They do not return from Tenby till Tuesday. Lunch at Castle. Edmunds home with us for a week.
Sunday. Sacrament at Llanrhidian. Very hot, lowers up for rain in the evening, walked to Penralt in the evening with Carree.
26th
Lowering damp day, not pleasant. Start all hands to tea at Brynhir, P Evans in Pembroke. CEM and JM return from Tenby and meet us there. Sent to Loughor for them, they went on Tuesday. Send them home in car with Llewellyn before us. Miss Collins of Chew M(agna) staying, a pretty blackhaired girl. An uncomfortable house to stay at! should think.
27th
Fine morning, hot and close. Drive after dinner to Portinon. Write to FM Willey, EM Tenby, asking Eddy here. CEM rides to post and meets us at Portinon. Edmund rides RH's pony, heavy load for Lion in the break. Tea at Mrs Evans. Very hot, return in cool, home about 10.00. Crib supper, promise of fair weather.
28th
Very hot indeed, always we are not from home. Nothing happens that I recollect, expecting them from Penmaen, do they not go to Swansea or have a party of Greens and Halls etc. I forgot to enter this day at the proper time for several days.
29th
Drive to Cheriton to a picnic with Carree to meet the Halls and Greens. Neither there. All the Collins only and Wood children of Stouthall; the eldest daughter commonplace, I thought her by hearsay something superior. A Miss Lucas there sketches drive to Broughton Bay. Get stuck in the roads and never reach it, lost all the evening consequently. A heavy shower as we started. Fine evening.
30th
Write to Mrs James, Post Office Ramsgate, as to Mr E Vizard. Sent by Charles and Edmund to post Penmaen, they call at Oxwich. A splendid hot day, not from home. Mr & Mrs Evans and children and Miss Collins at 4.00 to tea. Have supper and leave after 10.00. Mix and cork down 4 bottles of gin, blackcurrant jelly, liqueurs of gin taken from the 2 gallon jar in all. RH starts this evening for Swansea and for Neath fair tomorrow, for lambs.
31st
We are about home all today. RH returns from Neath fair with 19 lambs, 1 died on road. Walk out with Carree in evening to see lambs at Cillibion and to meet Charles on return from Swansea. He walks from Llythryddd. Borrow Mr Ball's pony for my pony gig. Thomas Davies comes down with him. Jane his wife at Caie Forgan.
August
1st (Sunday)
Fine, begins to threaten rain, meant to go to Penmaen early duty. Car up too late for 2.30 though duty was in fact at 6.30 and morning go to 6.30 at Llanrhidian too late. Not home till 9.00. Call on old Mrs Harry.
2nd
Beautiful day, brewing up rain. RH cleans up the pool by Pwllybrag. Arthur Jones calls on Charles and dines here. Try young Moselle in harness, single in RH's car.
3rd
A most beautiful and welcome well-timed shower from south and east. Read Cambrian, fuss about my room with the children. WT taking up potatoes, young, just. Glass low, falls much but is now rising again a little. RH gets coals. Write to Mr WFM, Bristol, Carree to Lewes etc. Drive Bright after dinner to Reynoldston, call at post (nothing) and post 3 letters. Call on Mrs Perry and tea with Dr and Mrs Justice. Not home till 10.30. C put young Moselle in the break with old Farmer, pulls well and full of life. Drive them to Mr Perry's farm and walk over it with RH. W Lloyd there and they return home.
4th
Showery morning about 9.00, fine very from 8.00 to 9.00. Jane Jones returns (now Mrs T Davies) to Swansea. Ribbons for children sent for by her. Rise at 5.30 and out in the garden to see WT draw potatoes, much injured by disease and walk to Pwllybrag. Send a lock to mend by Jane to Swansea. Dine at Penmaen all of us in Cobourg, C and Em ride. Tea on the sands, meet the Misses Coulthursts and Miss Trivets, Miss Sheldon. Home about 11, very dark. At last lucky about rain, not much to hurt us.
5th
Showery but tolerably fine day. Penmaen party all here to tea, in all 20. Drive to Wibley etc and storm the castle. RH thrashing all day, machine mended but not set right. Busy confused day of nothing. HJM unexpectedly comes afoot from S(wansea) about tea time and finds a large party and Mr Coulthurst etc. Mrs Trivet etc.
6th
Fine, glass very low (rain). HJM here, came last night from Swansea afoot, not expected. All morning about preserves to tie down. Dine early. (W Lloyd hurts a thumb carelessly in cogs of thrashing machine yesterday.) Ride to Penclawdd etc. Dine at Brynhir. Miss Collins there, Mr Beor drops in after dinner, he has bought Llanellen for 2000. Call at Blaenkedy and Blue Anchor. Receive rents, Blaenkedy. Show Mrs James of Ship disparity accounts. Home by marsh, all the children go tea at the Coulthursts at Penmaen. Home 11.30, Tally a good hack!!!!
7th
Glass very low, showery day, mostly fine. Drive Carree and HJM to Swansea, start at 11.30, Home about 9. RH in Swansea. Mr Beor ill, wine? At Brynhir yesterday? He says lumbago.
Sunday. Church with HJM and CM. Drive Carree to evening duty Penmaen. Home by 11.00, showery.
9th
Fine, at home all day packing up preserves etc for Sherborne. Mr Wood calls about the house for a Mr Gulston. Ask 70. Dix calls and pays £7 for rent, how lucky. Receive too of RH £5 on account of farm. Do not expect to go to bed all night, packet sails at 1.00p.m. Am in bed about 3 hours, just get all packing hurriedly done in time. Anne Phillip does not go back to Sherborne.
10th
Break down luggage van at Cartersford, difficult to remedy, difficulty is overcome. Pin my wheel at the Olfa. Get oil. In last, trying to get in first. Luggage overtakes me, plenty of time after all. Lucky in the weather, heavy shower up channel. Not ill on the packet!! Cab to Park Street at 1.00a.m. 3/-. Driver refuses 2/6, threatening to summons. Comes next morning and begs pardon, give him 3/-.
11th
Wet morning, proves dull and tolerable. Walk early to Windsor Terrace to see CEM and Johnny at Mr Sheldon's and see Mr and Mrs Sheldon, go on to Bryants, the other children and two servants there, to arrange for the day. Send them to Park St to dine and go to the Bell with C and J and Tom S. They return to dine at Windsor Terrace and back to the Bell where I remain to see them off, expecting at 2.30 but not till 4.00 with the Welsh boys from the packet, on by the bus. Return to dine at Park St, Mrs James there. A Mr Ramsey, clerk, comes in in the evening to tea.. He going to Sherborne on Saturday to preach for the Jews.
12th
Wet morning, Bristol, likely to be a wet day. Read Mr Neale on conversion of Jews and Bristol Mirror.
13th
Leave Bristol for Sherborne from the Bell in Thomas Street at 10.00 for Sherborne at 5.00. Arrive at 6.00. Horses done up, overloaded, obliged to help them the last stage. Very lucky in weather, most beautiful day after 2 wet days in Bristol.
14th
Returned to Sherborne, Carree and all children and Mrs James and her servant. No rain today till after sunset then fearful rain again. All day packing and trying to put things in order, what a job. Such confusion of luggage, am terribly tired. Mrs J. Hoddinot calls. Mr Fussell calls in evening, make him stay and take something.
Sunday. Tolerably fine. Charity sermon, Mr Ramsey for the Jews. Em and Ag each 4d, have no change. Met Mr R in Bristol, Mrs J and Carree in Castleton Church p.m.I write to Mr Flower, HJM, Flint and RH. Walk with Charles to the park in the evening, beautiful. Glad I am back but not happy, things adverse.
16th
Misty and dull, bad for harvest. Out early with Carree to shop and have no money. None sent to the bank, call at Hillary's. No time to lose for dinner. Deluge of rain at night, wet is serious for the season.
17th
Dry and dull, inclined to be fine. Make out my accounts since Thursday last. Carree says new servant, Elizabeth Williams of Portinon, only to stay month, sick of Sherborne, what plagues! Shall not let her go, she ought to have known mind better before starting to come so far.
18th
Have omitted this day and can remember nothing except that for several evenings and nights about now we have had fearful rain and thunder and lightning. Bad for harvest and much corn down and all ripe in Dorset. Called one day on Mr Morris, when was this, though they only returned today. A day something better than usual, the weather began to amend now.
19th
Morning generally fine, evenings often wet and nights a deluge!!!! This is luckily an exception. Mrs Goldsmith calls early to invite us to tea in the evening and music. Meet there Mr & Mrs Southwill of Yetminster with their curate Mr son, home educated, and two Misses Lancasters, all musical, piano and singing. Hear of Mr and Mrs Rooke of R. Mrs James does not go out. Mr Clappue there, the French master, been a tour to Chamonix etc. Fortunately we have no rain.
20th
Fine but rather threatening, passes off. Lord Digby expected home this evening. A day of calls on us, quite marvellous. Mrs McCrae, Mrs Noble, Major Dawe and Mrs D, Mrs Harper, Captain Hammond, requesting coal and subscription. Busy all morning about preserves broken in coming up. Heated in new hay and burnt in consequence besides a fall in transition. Not out of house till evening. Walk with Carree and Mrs J, slow work, to Lord Digby's house in park. Am not in town all day. Read arrears of paper sent up. Receive letter from home, J Grant for RH, sold 2 colts on Monday £12.10. Grey from Thomas Thomas's mare and what other? Harvest going on not very good. Lord Digby returns tonight.
21st
Beautiful day, God be praised. Read Cambrian. Mrs James only has a letter, Mrs Starling. He going on badly, rheumatic. Carree goes to dancing school, I to school close, no quoits. See Mr Melmoth's garden and call for Carree and home to tea.
Sunday. Very hot and beautiful. Church in evening, Castleton. In evening stroll in Park, too hot. Walk late with Carree beyond Cold Harbour and back by Millers farm. Cool and pleasant.
23rd
Beautiful warm day. Read Illustrated News, am not well, pains and low, boil on my lip. Out with Carree after dinner to shop. Call on Mrs Melmoth, do not go in. Mr Nunn about music in evening. Help CEM about verses late in the evening. Rob Fenwick calls, bed late. Tailor here to place cocoa matting in hall, an improvement.
24th
Dull day, less warm, cool. Write to EM and Green of Carmarthen. Mrs Morris calls and Mrs and Miss Crawford. Walk with Mrs J and Carree to call on Mrs McCrae and Mrs Noble and Mr McCrae there. Pleasant people, regular Scotch! Dine with Mr & Mrs Morris at 4, no party but meet a Mr Nixon, a Rugbean from ..hummy, Wms, has spent 22 years in India but only lieutenant. Knew Mrs James' brother, a Captain Walker, died in India. Something of a cloud, I find, it hangs over Nixon but had a long confab about old Rugby haunts. Singing in evening, Miss Creswick there, a pleasant dinner, Mrs and Mr Morris most hospitable people.
25th
A fine day. Walk early with Mrs J and Carree and Frank to Dancing Hill, Mrs J never had been there!!! and home to dinner. Again out with Carree to call on Major Dawe A. Mrs Harper, Mr Melmoth, Mr Parsons (Mr Mason, Mrs Ball A) home to tea. Out again alone to Parsons. Garden. Upsall, Coxs, Hawkins, Ensor's (Rogers for toothbrush 6d grey powder and shaving soap not paid). Pollard's watch set. Threatens rain this evening, passes off.
26th
After some rain (slight showers?) in the early morning a fine day and harvest work goes on. Walk with Frank to the playground in hope to play quoits, want hard exercise. Play with Mr Pritchard, about a match for me, and afterwards play at cricket a little. Mr Goldsmith, Rob Fenwick there etc. Get a thorough good sweating and glad of it, it does me wonderful good. No tea till about 7.00. Secretan Jones hurts his hand playing at cricket, loses his nail. Mr Harper was on the ground for a moment. Went for a drive. Read in the evening a little and not a little tired.
27th
Fine and hot, good harvest weather. Not out of the house till after tea. Walked then with Carree and children and Mrs J has bath chair to drive over the hill by the Lodge toward's Melbourne P, very solitary. Mrs and Miss Ball call just as we start, first time of talking to her, they seemed pleasant people, genteel Irish. Read all day, Edinburgh Review and quarterly on connective that Lord Littleton (Thomas) Lord Earl, as the story runs, foretold his own death at a given hour in consequence of a dream, is the real author. Proofs strong brought forward, an extraordinary clever man and a rake. No doubt poisoned himself as did his friend John Draper.
28th
Fine weather, read quarterly little but all day. Carree and Mrs James call on Mrs Charlton. Put up curtains (a difficult job) in back parlour. Meant to have walked to Mr Hoddinot's Farm but prefer to read instead.
Sunday. Morning duty, Mr Mason does all the duty. Mrs J and some of children go to Castleton Church at 3.00. Carree and I to late evening duty at the church at 7.00. Mr Badger gives his promised sermon to the young men. A very good address, The Lord's Address to Solomon, Ask What Those Will, His Answer Wisdom.
30th
Fine day, scarcely out of the house. All day read quarterly, life of Philpotts, Bishop of Exeter etc. Call late with Carree and Mrs J on Mrs Morris, latter has been ill, spasmodic but is taken more ill again tonight. Walk out late and meet Mr Jas Hoddinot, walk with him to Castleton to the park, moon rising, very calm and beautiful. Was out with Carree in the town a short time before tea to get butter etc. Call at Hawkins about prints framed receive and read club books, United Service and Bentley. Showers in night not to prevent harvest next day.
31st
Fine morning, heavy shower during the day about 1.00. Boys have a holiday to play a game of cricket (match against the town men). Boys beat. We to give the boys pleasure, hire a carriage at Johnson's and drive to see Mr Rooke of Rampisham. Lucky in our weather and enjoy it, unluckily Mr Rooke is gone to Cheltenham to marry a brother. Miss Louise? Marcon there. Mrs R has now 8 children! Home by 7.00 to go to a tea party next door at Mr and Mrs Hoddinot. Mr & Mrs William Game, her brother there and her sister Miss Game. They sing, Mr Nunn, Melmoth, Fussell etc. Play 2 rubbers and lose 16 points 1/6. Not home till past 12.00 after a good supper. Mrs Morris our opposite neighbour very ill (cholera) in danger, absent in consequence. Receive letter from HJM, London.
September
1st (Wednesday)
Read United Service club book. Chu in the evening, all go to Silver Lake, Mr Hoddinot's, to tea. I walk and fish with Mr Morris in the boat. What delight the little children have in catching a fish. Beautiful evening, a pleasant meeting. Sign conveyance of Bryngwas to Thomas Penrice, Mr Hoddinot my witness, and return it to 24 Bedford Row, London, sent it to Post Office by Mrs James' servant. Write also to Mr France as to Danl Daves lease of Landshare.
2nd
Tremendously hot and fine. Plant cutting of geraniums etc from Mrs Rooke's, getting out early, find I have received at the Bank £100, draw £12 and pay (there follows a list of accounts). Go with Mrs J and Carree to Geake's to enquire, buy a little fancy table and shop at Ensor's. Called at the bank in morning and find I have sent me £100. Mr Nunn gives lessons, children this evening. Read periodical club books. I do not feel at all well. Help Johnny at his Latin verses in the evening.
3rd
Very hot weather. Harvest nearly over about Sherborne. Reading periodicals a.m., hang a few prints newly framed. Call with Carree and Mrs J on Rev. Mr James, they overtake us walking in meadows towards Dorchester Road. Call on Mrs Babington late, her sister there, name can't say. Receive letter from WM Uckfield this evening.
4th
Read Bentley Magazine. Write to WM about tithe rates, sale on 8th. Mr & Mrs Rooke and Miss Marcon here, meet them by Bath Coach, Antelope. They dine and are off at 4.00 or 5. Walk with Carree and C and Rob F on Melborne road late. Lightning. Receive again letter from WM at 9.00, answer it and take it to the post, night, 11.00.
Sunday. Thunder and rain early, heavy rain again in evening. Church in morning and at 7.00. Mr Marcon gave a farewell sermon in evening. Read Ryle's sermons in evening.
6th
Fine morning, call only on Mr Harper to explain about Johnny, in difficulty with Mr Bull about his Greek and dancing last Saturday. Write to Cato and send to Ensor see my B ppty tax 11/3(?). Mr Morris drives me to Silver Lake with Mr & Mrs James to fish, all angle for 3 hours and catch nothing, not a mite. Exemplary patience. A party to tea, Mr & Mrs Goldsmith, Mr Nunn, 2 Mr Fenwicks and Bob F, Mr Clark can't come. Singing and music good. Very hot, passes off pretty well.
7th
Mrs James prepares to leave us for Charmouth at 2.00. Write to London about the tithe sale and to Gower, Wood and Ball about house. Rev. Mr & Mrs Southwill call from Yetminister, first visit. Have seen Mrs James off from Antelope by coach. Mrs Morris and Miss Barnes call. Some rain in evening. Dull and thundery. Mr Nunn here to usual music lessons after 2. Thunder and lightning and rain come on. Oppressed with sleep, try to read and can't and go to bed early.
8th
Wet morning, fine. Many showers in the evening. Read Cambrian, Arts Union and Blackwood, hear Frank some of his lessons. Receive letters from Wales, Conservative circulars etc. Get out about 4.00 with Carree. Call on Mrs Crawford, Green Hill. Carree and children fir on a new bonnet, laborious work and important and difficult! Call on Mrs Hawkins about Thales Fielding sketch, can't find it. Tea rather early and walk late, dusk, to the park. Meet Charles and Bob F. But little done in evening in the backroom, why not take advantage of the gas light in the hall for lessons etc. No table! Must get one.
9th
Fine morning. Receive letters from HJM and RWB sale of tithes performed by WM as by a letter to Carree. Write to RH Gower, Howel Gwyn, agree to give 6d annually for Conservative Club and to Aberdare about Henry Williams who says he has paid me £6. Carree writes other letters, post them and the Cambrian for Gower. Walk to the Dancing Land. Baby meets us there, does not Carree call on Mrs Melmoth? Take a long walk with Carree exploring Akerman St and round the road to the back of Antelope. Horrid new shoes, am painfully lame before getting home. Mrs Hammond calls late, amused by our funny baby. Finish Blackwood. Help Johnny at verses etc.
10th
At 12.00 a meeting of Dorset Church Building Society, the Bishop Dennison in the chair, a tall fine man. Thin meeting, speeches about 2 hours, some heavy rain about 4.00. Get no dinner. Walk out with Carree before tea to shop etc. Meet Mrs Fussell and Miss Hoddinot. Mrs Charlton and Mrs Morris who has driven out and lost her watch and seals on Marston Road, never to recover. Has it cried. Read Bleak House in the evening. Mr Nunn at music lessons. Baby ridiculously fond of music and dancing.
11th
Fine morning. Hear Frank read, much improved. Read Illustrated etc. We expect Miss Emily Marcon from Rampisham, Mr & Mrs Rooke going to Weymouth. They all come unexpectedly after dinner and their boy, bring presents of flowers, plants and game. We are all confusion. Get out to shop etc, town all alive with carriages and country people. They are off again before tea. Miss M stays till Tuesday here, walk with her and Carree, Em and Ag to the Dancing Land and home by Castleton after tea. Beautiful evening. Sent to Mrs James by Mrs R for the fly to Rampisham, she has paid, I paid 10/-.
Sunday. Miss Em Marcon here, church in morning, new curate Mr Williams? does duty. Loud voice, not distinct. Go again at 7, Mr Badger P, Mr Parsons reads. Before tea walked in the park with Carree and Miss M. Beautiful day.
13th
Fine, much cooler. Not out till after dinner. Read papers, Cambrian and Illustrated, most idle work. Would I had something profitable to do but never shall. Walk with Carree, Miss M and Frank. Call on Mrs Ball, see Bartlett's Views of Ireland, very beautiful. Call on Mrs Fussell and go into her garden. Go to Ensor's and to Penn's. Mrs James calls to invite us to a party on Thursday. Try to read, in evening, James FW Johnston's account of America, too stupid, can't.
14th
Attend Miss Emy Marcon to the Antelope to meet the coach for Frome and Slough, full, can't get a place, goes by return coach at 2.00p.m. for Dorchester, Basingstoke etc. Mr Morris drives me to Silver Lake to fish in the river, catch nothing, no fish. Go to the race course on ty a capital course, turf in excellent order and not bad sport. Leave at 4.00 and dine with Mr Morris. Leave early because tis Carree's birthday and she had some schoolchildren to tea etc from Miss Charlton's etc. Baby does wonders in trying do her share towards entertaining them all. Wet evening after 5.00.
15th
Duller, warmer fine and rainy. Get out early to Mr Masons, call. Meet Mr Henning, Mr Fussell introduced him. Dine early and attend the sale in the evening with Carree. At the sale with Carree, Mr & Mrs Southwill of Yetminster and Miss Lancaster there, they come and take tea with us. He to be here again tomorrow.
16th
Walk with Carree early to the town, to Ensors (nothing). Pollard, 2 French bracelets for 17/- bought not paid. Mr Southwill calls as agreed and takes early dinner, rather luncheon, with us and we all again attend Mr Mason's sale till late. A party in evening at Rev. Mr James, singing. Mr & Mrs Morris and Mrs McCrae and Mrs Noble, 2 Charltons, Mr Watts. Home by 11.00, cold night. Everything good of its kind at Mr James's, furniture and eatables. Was at the Reading Room a.m. until 10.00 reading account of Duke of Wellington, the Iron Duke.
17th
Beautiful morning, go over to the sale and collect my goods. Mr Fussell calls to ask us to tea this evening, decline, I have a boil on my neck. Caroline not well, not out. Sale things brought in the evening, arrange them resply(?). In the evening not well, neck very painful, poultice it in the evening. Read Bishop of Exeter's letter to Sir R English in answer to the attack on him in the Edinburgh Review. He lessens the sting of the attack but not exonerated quite. Beautiful day, little forebodes tomorrow. I have now a barometer from the sale.
18th
A very heavy rain all the morning till 1.00. Milder rain after, evening finer, sun breaks out a little. Not from the house. Write long letter to WM and one to Perry at Over Wallop. Miss Burney calls late. Mr Nunn gives music lessons. Sort some letters in the evening, in no humour for anything, bad boil on my neck. Write to EM about the tithes, these tithes have destroyed all my happiness for years. Transplant and arrange the greenhouse. Pay nothing, buy nothing.
Sunday. Not out of house, ergo not in church. Carree and 2 daughters go, Mr Lion does duty. In evening they go to Castleton. I read Bible with Frank etc etc. Help Emma about scripture questions from St Mark. Write a long letter to FM Willey as to the tithes, earnestly expressed a wish not to sell at a sacrifice, prefer divide. Send it tomorrow. Fine day, glass rising.
20th
Fine morning comes on wet evening. Am not out of house, boil on neck better, can't put on my neck cloth. Read Cambrian and Illustrated, mend a paint box and chest of drawers with glue etc. Carree hears from Tenby. I write to EM about tithe. Sit in the hall tonight to try the gas for reading and writing. Answers very well when fire is not necessary.
21st
I have not been out of the house for several days from a bad boil on my neck. Just ready to get out with Carree and in rush 2 boys, Dawe and Lagdon, to say Charles has broke his arm and taken to Mr Fussell. Hurry down with Carree (having been busy all morning writing letters to Gower - RH, Mr Ball, Kitty Lloyd, HJM Hammersmith, post letters). See the arm set, C wears it better than I expected, well! Stay and tea there and get home in evening when all is quiet. A sad affair, it grieves me much. A great drawback in many ways. Tomorrow I had meant to write to Lewes and do so and there write the first letter of the misfortune.
22nd
Splendid day. Hounsell here, plants cabbage and sows lettuce. Get out early, call on Mr & Mrs Morris, they had not heard of poor Charlie's arm. Go to the bank, am overdrawn now £10, how shall I manage?! Go to the Reading Room, meet Mr Webb Penny, Captain Hammond and Babbington. Papers full of the intended public funeral of the Great Duke. Write in evening to Lewes, Smith and Mabbot. Mrs Morris calls, Mrs Rowlands and Mrs Hammond called in morning and clash like oil and water. Carree alone in the evening at a party at Mrs Charlton and a very pleasant one. Mr & Mrs Morris, Mr & Mrs James and Miss James, Mrs McCrae and Mrs Noble, Miss Burney plays piano delightfully. Have some very pleasant music and singing. Not home till 11.30. Splendid night, cold. The Central Dorset Railway from Salisbury to Exeter in contemplation, sign petition to SW Rail Company for it.
23rd
Splendid morning, Mr Fussell calls to see CEM, how unfortunate this expense(?) by this accident. Get out with Carree, call next door and on Mr & Mrs Morris and Fenwick. Read after dinner Nepaul, aloud, and go to an evening party at Mr & Mrs Morris's, musical. Mr Nunn there, else same as yesterday. A very nice supper. Chat with Mrs Noble about Lord Bute, she from the county of Bute, Scotland. Beautiful night, cold.
24th
Write to Mrs James, Charmouth. Mr Fussell takes it to post who is here at 3.00 to take off splints from Charles arm and to examine, report favourable. I am not from the house, swelled eye, painful and bad. Settle with Hounsell as above, who comes for half a day with saw and ladder, gather mulberries and trim branches. Mr and Mrs Morris and Miss Burney dine with us (comfortably) done. In evening Mr & Mrs Hoddinot and Mr Nunn and some music and prints out. Dull affair. I don't feel up to mark.
25th
Magnificent weather, Frank very ill. Am not out of the house, read Oliphant's Nepaul, very interesting and easy. Mr Fussell calls twice on Charles and Johnny. Mrs McCrae and Mrs Noble call, I do not see them. Enter accounts. Frank very ill. I am quite out of sorts too.
Sunday. Fine, do go to church, eye bad. Carree at home, Frank ill. Em and Ag to church, Mr Lion does duty in the new one before. Again with Carree at 7.00 to hear Mr Badger. Read Ryle, Home Truths.
27th
Sherborne Book Club meeting, dull but fine (i.e.) dry and pleasant. Write to Bristol, posted by Anne, temporary servant. Walk out with Carree and get Charles with his broken limb to get out too. Call at Ensors, not at home. Down Akerman St to the close to view the fatal spot of Charles arm. Try to get a blackbird, not for sale. A sale going on, Rutter, just go in and out again. Call on Mr Harper, part of the committee for the school yard improvement. Call on Mrs Hammond, not at home. Book club in evening. Home with Mr Highmore after a chat.
28th
Wet day. Write to WM about tithes, a copy of Smith's letter etc. Read Illustrated. Carree hears from Charmouth and writes there and Kitty Lloyd, Gower. Wet all day, very heavy about 7 or 6.30. Charles gets the pictures of West down and washes and oils them. Improve some but not as they ought to be done. No bliss in ignorance of this. My neck very bad, boils etc etc under treatment from Mr Fussell. Frank better. Charles going on well. In evening walk to Mrs McCrae's and Mrs Noble to a party. Some good singing, a Miss Crofts there, fine young woman, sings boldly tho' sharpe edged. Mrs Goldsmith and Miss Burney, Miss Charlton play. Lots of prints and illustrated books and shelves and shelves of China. Theatrical prints, Miss Pope among them, a pleasant evening. Dull for want of general conversation, I the most stupid of the lot. Uncomfortable, very, very. Supper.
29th
Fine morning. Hawkins brings home Thales Fielding drawing framed. Read Illustrated double no. Fine cold, out before dinner for exercise with Carree and 2 daughters on road by Mullars Farm. Called on Mrs Morris, out again after dinner with Carree. Emma walked with Miss Wilmot, Agnes with me and ma into the town and call at Mrs McCrae's and Mrs Noble's. Pay long visit. Tea at Mrs Morris with Emma to hear Miss Crofts sing. She bravura and lively, Carree's in comparison dirges, and sweet melody. Emma sang one duet. Read Times of George III Percival etc etc.
30th
A fine day, cold. I am not out of the house. Read Illustrated and Faust and Napoleon's Russia. Receive letter from Gower about WT's rent and about Caswell from Mr Beor as to leasing the bay for 99 years, £17, to one Jordan, no no no. (re) Merchants Land, 2 acres. A letter from Neath about rent. Thread coral beads in evening. Neck unpleasant, can't put on a stock. Carree walked by park etc to Dancing Hill and calls on Mrs James and Mrs Charlton. Charles out too, went to school today first time. Glass rising again.
October
1st (Friday)
The weather is got very cold. Write to Mr Beor as to an offer to let part of Caswell for 99 years to one Jordan, decline it, he only speculator and of straw. Write also about the tithes, they will not be sold. Mr Beor says there is a project for a coast road from the Mumbles to Caswell etc. Encourage it. Write also to Robert Harry at Mr Beor's. Mrs James and Miss Crofts call, walk with Carree late before tea to the sisters in the park. Read Bleak House in the evening. Mr Nunn gives music lessons as usual. Not well, under physic.
2nd
Showery windy and very cold though a beautiful looking morning. Am preparing to market, Mr Fussell calls and offers us a drive to Bradford (Abbas), go with Carree and Mrs F. Bradford Church, old and handsome. Home by Thornford etc. In town in the evening at the Normans at Arnold's, trousers for Frank and order a waistcoat against my will. Walk with Carree and children to Park Gate in evening. Glue a chair and enter accounts. We sit in the back room.
Sunday. Fine, sacrament, do not stay. At church again at 3.00, Mr Parsons does duty, morning Mr Harper reads prayers, no sermon, ever. Take a short walk.
4th
A thorough wet day, very wet, nobody out all day but myself in the evening to get a few things for dinner. Mr & Mrs Fussell coming to dine with us, our wedding day yesterday. They come, however, and we have a pleasant evening and play a rubber or two. No money passes, all love. Read in the morning Illustrated etc. Carree writes to Penmaen.
5th
A most beautiful day, at home all morning. Some invitations sent out for Thursday, get a walk with Carree, Em and Ag late to the Park middle gate. Called on Mrs Morris, he very ill. Miss Burney going to Bath on Friday. Mr Nunn at music lessons in the evening.
6th
Wet morning again, very! Fine in evening, cold. Sort letters all morning for Carree. In confusion about a party tomorrow, put it off at last, some engaged, others tired etc. Get out after dinner to put off an invitation to a party tomorrow, so many won't come. Call on Mrs James and Mrs McCrae, Mr Nunn and Clappui. Walk with Carree, Emma and Aggie and FH to the park about 4.00, meet Mr Webb Penny and walk with him. 8 swans on the wing. Meet also Mrs Rowlandson. Sit in back room in the evening, half joking verses, Charles in a fuss at everything. Lamp will not keep alight. Receive letter from Mr Morris, money net paid. Find club books since Monday, Carree can't find washing bills due £3.10. 10, enter accounts last thing.
7th
Fine day, not out of the house. Read all day Bentley Magazine etc, nor was Carree out. Johnny in bed all day, ill. A fire in Long Street, Sherborne, Soon quenched luckily. Frank goes to Mr Charton's School first day. Will he set the Thames on fire, is the fire ominous of his brilliancy, I fear not! Mr McCrae and Mrs Noble call.
8th
Fine day, dull and cold. Receive invite for Rampisham for 11th, how can it be managed? Get out early in consequence. Out with Carree to dressmakers for Rampisham on Monday. Pack Monday fair, how unlucky. Out again after dinner with Carree, call on old Mrs Hoddinot (young Mrs Hoddinot had called) and also on Mrs Cozens, these out. Also on Miss Badger, out too. Read lectures on France and magazines. Mr Nunn's night and enter accounts. Miss Burney to leave Mrs Morris tomorrow.
9th
Most splendid day, out to see Miss Burney off by coach to Bath. Meet Mr Crosses(?), Mrs Morris's son-in -law. Chimneys swept, 4 of them. Write to Mrs Rooke about next Monday.
Sunday. Very fine. Mr Ralph Lion preaches, not so distinct and audible as his brother.
11th
Pack Fair, Sherborne, cattle all night long, horns and tin kettles in the street to annoy about sleep. Rise at 6.00 to be off to see Rev. Mr Rooke's annual floral festival at Rampisham. Get there by 9.30 with Carree, the first arrival. Church before 11.00, full service. One Mr Smith preached a most violent emancipation sermon, what does he mean by thraldom unless he be Roman Catholic, is to be the head of Mr Southwill's college at Yetminister. Jesuitical? Mr & Mrs Southwill and Mr Probert and 2 Mrs Lancasters, a Mrs Green knew Lewes and Brighton, sister of a Rev. Mr Clark. Several of clergy with Mr Rooke wear college caps and straight cut garments - emblems of high church Carreed too far. Prize for vegetables, school children, lunch at 2 for us, beautiful supply. Mr & Mrs Fellowes, Mr Rooke's sister. Games, racing, jumping, hurdles, barrows, blind buff etc. A bull racing with ditto, blindfold, bobbing treacle, bread, scrambling, cakes, nuts and . All passes well but the religion. Home by 9.30. Mrs Rooke exciting and killing herself.
12th
Pack Fair. Shew Fair second day. Most splendid weather. Lolling about all day as the rest of the people do. Meet Mr Southwill etc. Receive lots of newspapers at home. Called with Carree on Mrs McCrae, Dr Highmore calls in, lend me the Britannia to read Miss Sellon and the B of Exeter as to Mr Prynne's confessional. Mr Nunn's evening, music. Invite a party for Thursday evening.
13th
Fair broke up. Emma's birthday. Splendid weather still. Glass high, out early to meet Mr Fellowes at the coach to return his rug, he does not arrive, why? Meet Frank at the inn to order writing paper and cheese etc and home again before 1.00. Mr Fellowes does not leave Rampisham till Saturday (vide), am so far behind hand till Saturday night. Get out again with Carree to see about many things for tomorrow. In the evening late with Charles and Mr Rogers chemist to try to get the oil lamp put in order for tomorrow. It seems to succeed but fails tomorrow.
14th
Today we give a tea party and are lucky to have such fine weather. Am all day making preparations - setting out greenhouse, making lamps and tables etc etc. Nothing seems omitted. I am not from the house all day. Mrs Southwill from Yetminster with her son Mr Probert and Miss Lancaster. They sing. Mr & Mrs Goldsmith sing. Mr Clappui with his horn, a piston. Mrs and Miss James, Mrs McCrae and Noble, Miss Charton, Mr Nunn. Mrs Morris, the most kind person in the world, lends everything we want, glass etc etc. Give a supper and all goes off well and satisfactorily. 4 schoolboys Jones, Williams, Evans and Price, all Welsh names
15th
Splendid dry fine weather. Elizabeth Lewis is to leave Gower and Swansea this morning after 7.30a.m. to come here as servant. A little wind gets up tho' for many days quite calm for the packet. I am not well, boils on my neck again. Most annoying, can't put on a stock. Do not get out of the house all day so set to carpentering a division box for nails and tacks and sort tools and nails and screws from my old toolbox. Plant geranium cuttings, help Johnny at verses this evening, too little time to do properly. Mr Nunn's music evening as usual.
16th
Still beautiful dry healthy weather, am not out of the house again. Boils on my neck, take physic, not fit to be seen. Not shaved, can't wear a neck cloth. Quite out of sorts, low. Mr Rooke and son call, his brother-in-law Mr Fellowes gone home by coach, left his rug at the Antelope on Wednesday. Mr Rooke lunches with us. Read general evening post. Mrs James sends them. Mr Fussell calls to see me, others call, I see no one else. Elizabeth Lewis arrives from Gower at tea time. Children writing to Charmouth and poor Johnny has 500 lines to write to waste time and paper as punishment for being late this morning, is better to get by heart 50 lines.
Sunday. Am not well, not out of the house. Ill spent day, read papers, can't put on a neck cloth and take physic. Mr doctor calls.
18th
Beautiful weather, not out of the house till 3.00 when we have Mr Morris pony carriage to drive to Yetminster to dine with the Rev. Mr Southwill at 5.00. A Mr Chadwick there, a plain original, Rev. Mr Smith q. a Roman Catholic. A Mr Probert a tutor. These they say engaged to young ladies there. Misses Lancasters living somewhere in Pimlico, London. Both the gents sing and so the ladies. Q. all high church, what more? All pleasant enough for us. The party are all leaving tomorrow for London by Salisbury.
19th
Still very fine weather. Read quarterly till after dinner. Get out to the town. Call on Mr or Captain Nixon, an old Rugbean and East Indian. Settle with Ann (Dawe?) as a temporary house maid here 5W . and stealing and fatting up. Elizabeth Lewis from Gower now in her place, an old servant of ours. Home to receive Mr & Mrs Stevens, their 1st visit to us. Miss S rather pretty, very neat and fine teeth. Walk with Charles to Oborn and round by the Green Road home to tea. Read Illustrated News, Mr Nunn's night.
20th
Beautiful weather, glass high, falling. Read Quarterly, Read long dry art(icle), Jeffreys the reviewer. Get out with Carree and the younger children to the park in the evening and hear the deer rutting, hideous noise. Children take hoof. Home by the town, post a letter from Carree to Bristol at 6.00. Caroline writes in evening to Mrs Collins, Oxwich. Chapman mason put up a chimney pot for Garrett. No one calls, we call nowhere.
21st
Have omitted record of today. All Monday forget all about it, spend nothing at all events for I have nothing. Charles birthday 1836, now 16!!! Awful to think of what is he to be, what can he be, what is he cut out for. I can't answer one of these questions. Charles goes to school first time after his broken arm. I do not get out of the house, have nothing to do and are not in good health. Read, read all day long.
22nd
A thorough wet day, none but the schoolboys out of the house. Read Quarterly, a club book, finish it. I am not out of the House, read read read, periodicals etc etc etc. Am far from well, hate this depressing weather. Spend nothing, have nothing.
23rd
Write to Mrs James, Charmouth, enclosing a letter from children. Read something, forget what, tractarians by Newman. Walk with Carree after dinner. Call on Dr Highmore, out, and on Mrs Harper ditto. Frank with us and walk up the Dorchester road and cross to the park. Meet Rev. Mr James and Mr Stephens. Mr Robert and his niece Miss Wilmot call on us for the first time.
Sunday. Very fine day, twice at church 10 and 3. Ralph Lion and Mr Parsons. I can't hear the sermons, tis no use trying. Very cold. Called to enquire of Mrs Noble, ill some days, and on Mrs Fussell not well.
25th
Showery almost wet day, very disagreeable, do not get out. Am not very well, physic of little use. (Parsons) - he comes to prune the pear tree and does a little to it, not half a day. Carree writes to Penmaen about boots up here, a mistake. Mr Fussell takes off Charles' splints and makes him use his arm a little. Help him about Latin verses in the evening and play a game of picture history to please Charles. Receive letter from my uncle M, he forgot to stamp it. Boys have half a holiday, no use to them, so wet.
26th
A thorough wet day again till after 2.00. Fine evening after heavy pelting rain. Read and Blackwood delivered to me after date. I wish to get it forwarded, do so tomorrow. Walk out with Carree and CEM to the very end of the park. Hear the deer grunting and rutting and see a few desperate conflicts with them, very fine to hear the clash of their horns and see their energy. Home to tea, good walk for Carree. Finish Blackwood, a stupid affair as all periodicals I get are just now. Mr Nunn's night for music. Carree writes to Mrs Lloyd (Gower).
27th
Yeomanry out with Sir W M . on the Poytington Down and dine at the Arms. See nothing of him to answer the children, go up Coomb Valley with Carree, Aggie and F in search of pretty but muddy, overshot the mark by long bit. Return by Bristol Road and go into the town to Ensor's etc, furs for children. Fine day as it turns out after the wet of yesterday.
28th
Out early to see King about flag stones. Meet him at Cox's, go to the market. Beef bones and leg of mutton. Mr Rogers to get ingredients for pomatum. Go to Reading Room, long neglected. Hammond, Dawe and Babington there discussing a French invasion. After dinner get out with Carree to call on Miss Wilmot, a very pretty young woman, and her uncle. Beautiful drawing room. In evening 3 boys come to tea, Edmunds, Highmore, Cardrew. Fun and nonsense, scalloped oysters for supper.
29th
Rather wet and very cold. Read the St James Chronicle. Mrs Morris called going for a mo from home. Mr Dawe, Mrs Croft, I confined. Enter my diary 2 days. Wet all the evening after 12.00. Am not out of the house. Read Uncle Tom's Cabin etc. Hounsell begins to take up carrots, late sown ones, pretty good. Help Charles at verses in the evening. Mr Nunn's music night, do not see him for a wonder.
30th
Fine day, 3 men in garden, Parsons, William and Hounsell. Take up carrots and neat up etc. Make alterations and lop mulberry. Was out before dinner for mustard and Illustrated London News. In the garden great part of day to see to pruning and lopping etc. Take no walk. Frank ill, headache. Carree at dancing school, I called on Mr Morris. Helped Johnny at verses night. Receive letter from RH, Gower, nothing in it. Meant to have written letters, no Cambrian today, why?
Sunday. Fine, Carree not at church, not very well, not very ill. Frank ill. Go to church a.m. with Em and Ag, meant to go again at 7. Mr Fussell called and takes tea, do not go in consequence.
November
1st (Monday)
Wet all day, not out of the house. Nothing but to read read read, do not write as I intended. Mr Cozens called at tea time, does not stop, invites us tomorrow to a tea party. I am not well, liver deranged or something worse, can't help it. Physic is no use, sick of it. Did I spend nothing today?
2nd
Wet morning and all day more less till 5.00. Fine evening. Read all morning, reviews. Write to WM at Uckfield. Am not out of the house till we go to tea party at Rev. Mr Cozens in Westbury. Her Sisters, the Misses Cox, there. Meet fresh parties not met elsewhere, the two Wilmots and Miss Emma, a beautiful complexion. Dr Highmore, Rev. Mr Badger and sister and on Mrs Knight and daughter etc etc. Supper and home by 11 or half-past, fine. Walk up Cheap Street with Dr H, read Cambrian and Illustrated and lend them both. Mr Penny sends my letter to post. Mr Fussell called, invite for 9th.
3rd
Wet again, not so much as yesterday. Fine evening, read Edinburgh Review. Walk with Carree up Dorchester Road, enquired of Mrs James, ill, better. Out after tea with Charles to invite Mr Hoddinot to dine tomorrow, out at Mr Morris, and call at Ensor's about the gas pipe in little room, fails to go, defective. Meet Ensor and talk about the house, paint and sash lines, promises to do all he ought to do. Read in evening and enter accounts.
4th
A fine day, expect Mr Morris to dinner etc. Ends in his dining with Hoddinot and our going there to tea etc. Play a rubber and winning 3/- a -/3 points. Had once 4 honours and 8 trumps and good cards, extraordinary. Mr James, attorney, and Mr Morris. Was out in morning to see Hoddinot's samples of corn and his pigs etc. Read reviews etc etc and have several calls. Mrs Harper and Miss Harness, Mrs and Miss Spencer. Rev. Mr Probert from Mr Southwill's, Yetminister, who loses his bitter ale by ladies calling. My gas lamp altered, put right. Wet again at night. Get a walk in evening in the park with Carree and CEM. Meet Mr Harper. Spend nothing I believe.
5th
Beautiful morning, school have whole holiday and do not know what to do. Very wet and stormy after 2.00, most unfortunate. Had arranged for 3 ponies to get Carree a ride ending in no ride, too stormy. Charles gets a fall and breaks his arm again, sad affair, I hardly know how to bear it or he. Read the United Service Club book. Am not out of house and should not go out but for the children wanting to see fire works. Reluctantly go and am glad. Till 10.00 all in the street, bonfire and fireworks, not without some danger to children. All ends well, misfortunes seldom come alone.
6th
Wet again after a beautiful morning and mid day and after a very wet night. Write to EM at High Wycombe and to Mr Beor. Receive St. James Chronicle. Mr Fussell here to see CEM again! Parsons here brings some plants, gives me an account due to him. Emma posts the letters when going to dancing. I get out late to buy tea and eggs at Hardy's. Get no meat at dinner. Help Johnny at verses tonight. Wet, very stormy, can't get my Illustrated, put greenhouse in order and get plants of Parsons.
Sunday. Very wet. Very few in church. Carree and I only go, Mr Harper does duty. Am not in church again. Read Cambrian etc, ill used time. Mr Fussell has tea with us.
8th
Most gloomy dull day, little rain only early. Read Roebuck's History of Whigs, rather good. After dinner go to Mr Rowlandson's sale, [sales here always at 2.00]. Buy a few things, called away, the two Miss Ords, Mary and Gertrude call unexpected. The former was most beautiful, how fallen off!! The other pretty still. The former moves on crutches. Go again to the sale till tea. Tea here alone, all done besides. Meant to have read and written and hear of the conjuror Phillippe, a very good one indeed. Rob Fenwick accompanies us with the children, see tomorrow. Very poor attendance, performed here last week before good audiences. Children delighted!!
9th
Very gloomy dull day, glass rising, little or no rain., should be yesterday. Today very fine, read Roebuck History of Whigs, Carree goes to see showroom. Miss Lockwood now Stevens, dresses wanting a cloak. Called on Mr Stokes etc to aid the evening service, promise 5/-, at 7.00 on Sundays. Again attend Mrs Rowlandson's sale table and buy a few things more than I first contemplated. Spend evening at a party at Mr Fussell, smart affair, singing, champagne etc. The Lions there, Henning, Stephens, Goldsmith etc etc. Very pleasant. Mr F called away professionally for a night, what delight for him!
10th
A very fine day, read Evening Mail. The Holidays in Blackwood, political. Collect my sale purchases and send for them. Walk with Frank to Penny's about the Illustrated (missing). Call at Parsons garden, flowers. Arranged new purchases. Read a chapter of Roebuck's Whigs. Am far from well, indigestion? Carree receives letter from Willey, was in act of writing. Invitation for Christmas there, cannot go, perhaps children may.
11th
Wet, bad beginning of moon. Read in the morning. Get out in the evening with Charles. Call at Raine's, stone for greenhouse. Meet Mr Melmoth and go to his garden to see his hot beds. Meant to put up one on same plan, have glass lights all ready
12th
Unfavourable sort of weather, more or less rain evening, 24 hours. Read Roebuck's Whigs. With Carree to Mrs Stephen's dressmaker about a cloak to exchange. Get a few biscuits etc for dinner. Mr Morris to dine on leg of mutton at 5.00. Miss Charlton comes in evening to tea and plays a rubber. I & Carree lose. Disappointed in Hoddinot, he is engaged.
13th
Cooler, duller morning, glass very low. A very very wet evening. Neglected to get out a.m., cannot do so p.m. All day in house, finish 1 volume Roebuck's Whigs. Read Illustrated etc etc. Charles and Johnny quarrel coming from school, they are ever quarrelling. Send them both away without dinner, the latter in consequence loses both music and dancing lessons!!!! Throwing money to the dogs. I am sadly put out about it. What rain in evening!!!!! Old Mrs Popkin of Swansea dead, 90.
Sunday. Very showery, Mr Williams does duty first time as regular curate, do not like him. Meant to go again in the evening, too wet, dreadfully wet.
15th
Deplorable wet day, nothing to be done but keep in the house. Read periodicals, interesting from the reassembling of Parliament and the approaching funeral of the Duke. Help Johnny about verses late in the evening.
16th
Wet again, never known so wet. Great mischief done about the country by floods and railways injured etc. Walk out with Charles in evening on Yeovil road, get wet, caught in a heavy shower before we get home.
17th
A tolerable fine day, Parsons comes with laurels etc and plants them and does a little other work in the evening. Plants box. Hounsell at work all day. W Tucker half day, helps about the box and beginning to make alteration.
18th
A fine day, the Duke's funeral. An evening duty at 2 and a full duty at 7. An excellent sermon on the death of the Duke by Mr Badger on duty and decision of character. Doing up the garden, new arrangement. All out of order etc, so conspicuous from the street. Bad landlords will do nothing in aid nor ever do what they ought and what they promise! Read newspapers for the Duke etc. Walk late to the park gate with Mr Cozens to Mr Henry Moore's. What a lot of children in quick succession, the picture of rude health.
19th
Fine day, wet evening again. Not from the house. Hounsell and Wm Tuck in garden, preparing, levelling the ground and making a cucumber pit if it can be so applied, Carree thinks not. Spend nothing, have nothing. Am very rheumatic, can at times scarcely walk. Help Charles about verses. Read speeches on opening of Parliament, Disraeli's the best.
20th
A wet morning, read all morning Blackwood and Illustrated. Get out in evening with Charles and Frank for long walk 2 mile on the Dorchester Road and home to tea. Read in the evening.
Sunday. Wet, managed to go to church with Carree 10.30, Mr Badger gives a funeral sermon on Mrs Halford and again in evening at 7 and take Emma. Try Ensor's pew, can't hear. Mr Williams, new curate, preaches, do not like him, bad voice. He never can have been accustomed to such a congregation!!!
22nd
Wet again all day more or less, am not out of the house. Write to Willey and to Southover and to Aberdare. Little got through today but letters. Read Roebuck Whigs vol 2. School hours changed today - 7 to 8, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, 4 - 6. Before 7 to 8.30, 10 to 1 and 3 to 5. Not out of the house all day, when will the rain cease?
23rd
Dull, glass rising, not wet till past 1.00. Very wet evening again! and glass falling. Read Roebuck's Whigs. Many interruptions all morning. Walk with Frank & Charles before dinner to Bests on Obourne road and back by Coldarbour. Go to the Reading Room before tea, no news. Today in the House of Commons is a trial of strength, Villiers v Disraeli on the corn laws and free trade. Read Roebuck and get on with him. Mr Nunn's music night, Emma gets on very nicely. Ag & J slowly. Mrs Morris returned home this evening.
24th
Wet all night and wet morning, floods in the house till late in evening. Read papers, St James chronicle, Illustrated News only got this today, due on Saturday. After dinner children get out to see the floods, meet them in Westbury, water floods up to the very doors of the last house. Mr Wilmot's factory an island. Can't proceed, return and take Emma, Ag and F a long walk by Duck St and round road by the park to Castleton home. Beautiful moonlight. Fish at the water sluice. Talk to the coachman, a thief bolts with one. None to be got by fair means. Meet Mrs Rowlandson, talk to her at her door, son going to Australia. Call on Mr Babbington, 2 sons there in Great Britain. Have written from St Helena. Read London ceremony of last Thursday, wonderful affair.
25th
Fineish morning, seems promise of better weather. Rain again after 1.00, thorough wet evening. Write to Charmouth, read funeral of D of W in St. James's Chronicle. Hounsell about carrots and faggots in the garden. Go to the post, call on the Fussells to enquire about the children, better. Mrs Lions there, very gracious. Go to the Reading Room for 3 hours to read speeches on free trade. Villiers motion and Disraeli, long speeches, nothing new, adjourned. Miles calls, take no fish. Promises to get me a ., lots from Lord Digby's pond, and does so, a very fine one.
26th
No great promise of weather on change of moon. Read Roebuck, go to Reading Room and in evening Carree resolves on Mr Nunn's advice to hear the lecture this evening. We go and are well pleased 800 there. On return beautiful moon. Supper at the Hoddinot's by accident, Mr & Mrs Morris there. Not in bed till 12.00. Charles does his own verses. Lecture this evening at hall by one Davies, a dissenting minister, on Peninsula War, very good indeed, 1½ hours.
27th
Rather a good day. Carree not at the dancing room. Children go, walk with Carree and Charles in evening, after finishing Roebuck Whigs vol 4 to Stokes, to Mrs Grays field and round by Cold Harbour etc. Young Rooke dines with us. Mr R comes by coach at 2 from Chippenham, his brother F dead. I went to the reading room a.m., no division debate on Villier's motion adjourned. Shall not get it here till Monday. Promise of better weather but rain again tomorrow!
Sunday. Carree has toothache, not in church. I, Em, Ag and F go. Mr Williams does duty. Wet again. Carree and I go at 3.00, Mr Harper reads, Mr Parsons preaches, a good sermon. Little Henning with us to tea. His father away at Curacy, ill spent evening.
29th
A fine morning, and tolerable day. Some light showers, go only to the Reading Room, glorious division on Villiers factions, motion against Lord Derby, Disraeli, in confirmation of free trade as wise, just and beneficent', 80 in favour of ministry, free trade confirmed. A dinner party at 4.00, Mr & Mrs Morris, Mr & Mrs Hoddinot, Mr Henning. Music in the evening.
30th
Sharp frost, fine day. No rain! A fa miute sort of day. Begin brickwork for hot bed with Mason, Chapman, to see Miles' frame. Read some new club books. See the effects of throwing of boomerangs in Mr Hoddinot's field with 3 boys. Tumble over a gate and get a fall in mud and water, a sad plight. Lucky no hurt and more lucky to be me than Charles with his broken arm. Miss Parson calls. Walk with Charles to the town and up old Dorchester Road and round by the park home to tea. Read and write in evening. Mr Nunn's night. Sharp frost again, receive letter from Willey.
December
1st (Wednesday)
Sharp frost, wet evening again! Not out of the house all day. Read Illustrated and Club Books. Out of money and over drawn bank, Carree writes to Uckfield. Enclose a note to WM and get answer on Saturday and in full on Monday in compliance with request for money.
2nd
Beautiful day, how fortunate. Sherborne cattle show!!! Call on Mr James about Club Books, one supposed missing, all right. Miss Crofts there. Judges have not decided, public excluded. Walk on old Dorchester road, meet Mr Webb Penny and join him late, paper editor, and talk politics. Late division against Villiers. Dine at Farmers Club public room, about 150. Rev. Mr Yeatman in chair inflicts us with a dry speech of figures for 100 minutes!!! Awful! Out of place, clever enough. Dined with Mr Morris and came home with him about 9.00. Dinner at 3, normally 2.
3rd
Dull damp day, write letters to Gower and EM in London 20 Bloomsbury Street. Walk with Carree in evening in the park to the Bridge Gate or 3rd gate. Beautiful quiet evening, home to tea, read Uncle Tom etc. Mr Nunn's night music. School reports, Charles far from good, quite his own fault. Full of tom foolery and won't .. as Mr Clapui the French master says.
4th
Very dull muddy and not cold. Read St James Chronicle. Making hot bed (brick yard) more work than I thought for(sic). Go with Carree and children to dancing room after dinner, Miss Wilmot there, talk of Leamington, she thinks of going. Read or hear read a chapter of Uncle Tom and read some trifle in evening. I am low in spirits and not over well, reflecting that I have made great mistakes in life oppress(es) me!
Sunday. Wet, I only go to church at Castleton. Mr Parsons does duty, a good practical and explanatory sermon from the old man. Go again at 3 with Carree to the great church, Mr Parsons reads, Williams gave a long rambling sermon. Read Ryle's sermons in the evening etc.
6th
Wet morning again, dull mild in the evening and very muddy. Johnny late at school, servants will not get up. Go early after breakfast to the Rooms to read the Chancellor's, Disraeli's, budget long and explicit, well received. Revolution in taxation, extension of free trade. Triumph for him! and Lord Derby so far! But they are not out of the wood, increase of navy! Walk out with Carree after dinner. Call on Mrs Fussell and walk hither and thither for mere exercise. Carree, Charles and I go to Chaltertons, see tomorrow, harp concert and history. I stay at home and read with children and write. Received 3 letters, money from Gower, midday from Mr Beor, night from Uckfield. Write to the Priory about cloth sent and boys to go visit there, proposal. Write to Gower RH in answer.
7th
Wet again, at home all morning. Read papers St J and Illustrated. Finish letters and post them. Wet walk to post. Call at bank, no assets yet!! Receive 100 tomorrow. Go to Reading Room, no news. Read Blackwood on Villiers motion anticipating its ... Mr Nunn's night music. Emma improves a good deal. Mr N says very well indeed! Letter forwarded, Report of Idiots calling for aid, want aid myself.
8th
I suppose it must have been wet, forgot to enter it at the time, memory fails, before end of week. Seldom have anything like fine weather, wet wet wet, night and day more or less. Mason and Hounsell at work, do I not write to Southover about the cloth and children going there. No, that is on Monday. Read Illustrated News
9th
Wet morning and not dry all day. Men work in garden, Mason etc. Walk in misty rain in the evening with Charles to the park, call at the Keepers Warren about venison. See a stag's head on pales, try to get it. See keeper tomorrow who says he will make a skeleton of it for me, will he? Receive letters from Lewis etc, will receive Charles and J during part of holidays.
10th
Wettish and comes on very heavy showers. Hounds meet, Farquison's at Honey Comb Wood. I go to see the meet, a sight not seen for 25 years I should think. Lord Ilchester out, soon find. See the fox in cover, a fine fellow, shows poor sport, does not run a mile and takes a drain, killed. Get the pad and pay man to show the children 1/-. How wet, walk onto Littinton (pres. Lillington), Mr James's church, see the interior, old tomb stone to a Mr Cole and Mrs Parry, family too of Whetstone. No public house in the place, get a lunch, bread and cheese and ale at Mr Chapman's. Meet an intelligent man (Carpenter?) name Whitticombe? of Long Burton. Walk with some retired hunters on foot. Look at the new town sewer, small bore surely, earthen pipes. Read Bleak House last number. Mr Nunn's night. Tired in the evening, unused to long walks, will it do me good? Yes.
11th
A day I believe without rain, rather wonderful. Garden all morning, Mason finishes hot bed. Leave the ground and plant a few shrubs and gooseberries. Ground very wet and heavy. Mrs J Hoddinot calls, asks us to dine on Monday. Mrs and Miss Crawford call, Mr Clapui too. Walk out after dinner, Geakes upholstery, tables etc. Join Carree at dancing school, last day, and call on Mr Henning. He gone, see her. Enquired about the concert for 22nd. Read in evening and enter accounts.
Sunday. Tolerable day not without wet. Charity sermon for pastoral aid, Carree only. I go to Castleton, collection there also. Mr Badger extempore, Ld Digby's heir, Wingfield, at church, Mr Nixon. I sit with Mr Stevens and go into large church with Carree at 7.00.
13th
Wet again, what another wet moon! God save us. Parsons brings a broad leaved plant, go through his account for plants and work. Receive letter from William and Art Union. I not out of the house till we go to dinner next door, Hoddinots. Meet Mr & Mrs Morris, James, attorney, and young Game of Poinington. Mr & Mrs Henning call after 4.00 just we are gone. Play cards in the evening and have some music. Home late past 11.00.
14th
Am getting up half-shaved, am faint and go to bed again half-dressed and so remain after another attempt to get up till the evening, quite ill. Mr & Mrs Henning call and stay tea. Get down and join them. Lay on the sofa till late and am then better. Eat some supper, my first real meal. Made poor tea and am right, am pretty well. A day not without rain. Mr Henning goes for tickets for the concert on 22nd. Frank and Mary Ann write to Carree and me as to the tithe, EM to buy and to enquire about broken arm, Charles.
15th
Am not from the house again all day, am far from well, pains all over. Am low spirited, very! Write to Frank in London in answer as to EM having all the tithes, agree. I to have all the land in Gower. Read magazines, Mr Morris calls to take me a drive, am too unwell, can't go. Carree and Frank walk to the park. Meet Col Hawkins and all the world. Read Cambrian etc.
16th
Seems to be a real fine day, glass rising rapidly. Enter accounts since Monday. Walked in town with Carree, shop at Ensor's and Penn's. Spend evening Major Dawe's, tea etc, his sister there knows the Groves of Swansea. Mrs Stevens has a sister Mrs Hunt at Lewis in firm of Hople(?), know the Priory. Pleasant evening, heavy rain, stormy evening. Thunder and lightning, extraordinary weather.
17th
Beautiful morning till past 12. Glass rising, promise fine day. Mr Morris calls to arrange to drive to Yeovil 12.30, go with Mr James the lawyer. Market day at Yeovil, full of farmers. Call at Caves wine merchant, give no order nor does Mr Morris. What a storm of wind and rain going into Yeovil. Old Mr Parsons driving in, overtake him. Home to dine with Mr Morris at 4.00, 20 minutes behind time. Carree comes in after dinner to eat oysters, supper etc.
18th
A fine day, read Dorset paper and go out to get meat. Called at Mees about Charmouth, go to the Reading Room, Ministry defeated on Thursday by 10 out of 600, will they resign? Hope not. Let them amend the budget. Walk with Carree, Charles etc etc to the park before dinner. Very fine, deer killing. Go to the keepers warren with Charles and John. Carree returns. Rain again at night. Glass risen to set fair, how extraordinary! After such a long deluge!!! Read Uncle Tom, death of Eva, to the children and make dear Frankie cry. Read Art Union and Club mag and enter accounts.
20th
Wet uncomfortable day, am at the Reading Room, Ministry out. Read at home. Mr and Miss James call, learn the Book Club quarterly meeting is tonight. Make point of attending and spend a pleasant evening; supper 9 sit down., 2 Wilmots, Captain Hay, 2 Ffooks, 1 Highmore, self, Melmoth and Rev. Mr James secretary.
21st
Most beautiful today, q if a turn in weather as the days lengthen? A little off hinges today, house all upside down and confused. Schooling over, preparing for a party on Thursday. One wants to go one way, one another. Meant to write to Wales, walk to the park, thought to meet all there. Children there only. Meet Mrs Fussell and Miss Hoddinot and returned with them. Write home.
22nd
Fine day again, rain last night. Read Blackwood, go to Reading Room, Ministry not formed yet, Lord Aberdeen in a fix. Call and talk with Mr Rogers chemist, give order at Harding's grocer. We are to take tea at Hennings, concert together this evening. Get into a discussion with Webb Penny on politics, a touchy man to disagree with. Tea at Mr Hennings and go with him to concert, Charles and Johnny stay with the Hennings. Supper on return from concert at Hennings. Not home till 1.00, moonlight and clear but very hazy, predict unsettled weather. Mr Linter a good player on the piano. 2 Misses Wills sing, strong voices, young man plays well on violincello, few but the elite attend. What a pity.
23rd
Wet again, very wet. Call on Nunn early when out but not up early. Find Nunn at the Inn engaged at Sir WM's. Read papers at the rooms, no Ministry yet. Write to Mr Beor Swansea about tithes and debts due etc and RH. Call on Mr Stephens to ask him to bring all to party this evening. Pouring rain, house all in confusion in preparation. Major and Mrs Hammond, Mr & Mrs Stephen's their first visit, rather dull affair. Supper and not finished till 1.00. Fine moonlight evening etc.
24th
Receive letter from EM returned to Tenby at last, last night. Tolerable fine today, wet again at night after 7.00. Read Disraeli speech before the breakup of Parliament, Ministry, capital speech. Write to Charmouth to go on Thursday. Dine at 2.00, odds and ends. Walk with Charles and Em to the mid park. Out after tea to the Reading Room, no progress in new Ministry. Gladstone in a mess, go to the Half Moon, to Mees and Rogers, get there lozenges for children's colds. 2 little Stevens at tea here and oyster supper, present from WFM of B(ristol). A little Fussell here.
25th
Am not up in time to go to church, not very well. At Castleton in the evening at 3.00 and children late, servants and I and Charles. Read a little in Bible, Hosea. Walk in the park to Cross Green Gate or Deer Park. All Sherborne out walking after evening church. Hunt for Mrs Rooke's turkey, find a box cake etc at the Antelope. Pay carriage from Mrs Rooke, unpack it. Man calls for it from Half Moon. Charles repacks it.
(Sunday) All go to Castleton a.m., Williams does the duty, extempore sermon, do not like it. At church again at 3 with Carree, Badger preaches. Spend a poor evening, not a Sunday one.
27th
Most stormy morning after hurricane and deluge all night but as times go a tolerable fine day. Write to Mr Collins of Oxwich as to Miss Stokes as tenants in Gower etc, and Mr Morgan Bristol, thanks for oysters. Walk in evening with Carree and C to Post Office and call on Miss Parsons. Send her tomorrow my views or prints of trees. Miss P draws trees very well.
28th
Fine day, read Miss Pardon Marie de Medici, go to Reading (Room), read new Ministry, Lord Aberdeen Coalition. Whigs, papists etc. Write to WM, consent to EM taking tithes in Gower. Carree hears from EKJ, Gower, and writes. Call with Carree and all children on Mrs Fussell etc, Emma, Ag and I go to see Rob Wilmot. Invite to Mrs Mabbott as to boys visit. Enter accounts etc etc. Cold. Cold will now increase. Mr & Mrs Hoddinot gone to London.
29th
Dull after rain in night, rain again towards 4.00. About home all day preparing for tomorrow, hunting up portmanteau etc. Circulated club books and wrote several letters and arrange for letters to Charmouth. Called at Sherrings, butcher, and Whittle brewer. 4½ gallon beer ordered. Arranged carriage with Mees. Send letter to Mrs Mabbott. To dine at 6.30 at Mr Harpers. Christmas box for children school singing 1/6 by Miss Parsons, patronage for saving bank when any of them marry, for
30th
Start at 9.00a.m. for Charmouth in Mees omnibus, through Yeovil, East Coker, Crewkerne etc. Arrive at 3.30; 6 children, self and mamma and Lewis nurse etc. Settle Miss Croft whose father the Rev. Mr Croft lives at Wootton. Lucky in weather, a fine day.
31st
Walk all of us to Lyme Regis. Called on Mrs Hughes, looks pale and not in spirits. Charmouth seems a lively place, cheerful situation, by far the prettiest part of Dorset I have seen. In general it is a very monotonous, uninteresting, county.
The peculiarity of this year has been an intensely hot summer and peculiarly calm. Wet at turnip sowing, June, and bad hay making. Early part of harvest very wet, much corn injured. Short time of good harvesting. Wonderfully wet all November, December and very mild for winter. Geraniums green and flourishing now at Charmouth.
[1] After a new cut was opened in 1848, Swansea harbour was further improved by the floating' of the old course of the river. The Float' was opened on New Years Day.