Charles Morgan's Diary, 1857
January 1857
1st (Thursday)
Begin the year at Sherborne, Newland, returned home last night. All the family again together. Go to church at 11.00 with mamma, Em, Ag and Al and Frank. Sacrament, do not partake. Walk with Carree to the Park gate. Call and see Mr Harper and talk about Johnny. Resolved, as I thought before, to leave him at the school till June when he is to offer himself as a candidate at Woolwich for engineers or artillery. God speed him. Mr Harper speaks most favourably of him as to ability etc. Call on Mrs Henning and hear accounts of her robbery etc and call on Colonel and Mrs Richards. Dine at 5.00 on roast turkey from Gower. Play at Pope Joan with the children in evening.
2nd
Beautiful morning after much rain in night. Go into accounts with Carree. Green calls, late policeman, as candidate to collect rates etc. Mrs Stevens dressmaker calls and pay her her bill for 1855 entered 30 December 1856 £5 14 0. Am not from the house all day trying to analyse Carree's accounts kept in my absence in Gower. Partly analysed by Johnny. Mr Goldsmith sends to invite us to dine at 5.30 on venison, we go. Charles prevented, he dines at Mr Berghman's, Mr Stevens also dines with us. John and Emma come post and the 2 Miss Stevens, we play a rubber with Johnny who has a good notion of the game and then we play at pounce commerce. A supper and not home till past 12.00. Charles not back till past 1. Wet, rain. Hear from Willey.
3rd
Wet and windy, finish Carree's accounts. Dine at 2.00. Am not from the house all day, unwell and sleepy. Tough turkey curried indigestable. Em and Ag walk to Made Santes party. Wet and windy, no fly, no chair, umbrellas useless. Analyse Letts Diary for December. Mr Fussell calls.
Sunday. Sacrament, stay with Carree and Johnny. Mr Harston, Horton, Duncan. Servants go p.m. I, Carree, Charles etc go to 7.00 service, Mr Penn, brother of the ironmonger preaches from Isaiah 1 and 2 v of 15? chapter? Not a distinct voice at all. Only fitted for a small church. Send a letter to Mr Beor about Mr P's bond etc.
5th
Cold disagreeable weather, am not out all day. Analyse Letts diary December. At an early party at Colonel Richards to amuse children drawing charades etc etc, judge advocates. Mrs Carthew from near Tenby there, pleasant though bent and deformed. Supper and home after 12.00. Write to Mrs James about Mr Harris etc and enclose letter to her from Charles. Wrote also to RH.
6th
Very sharp frost and dull. Read the Cambrian paper, full of good paragraphs. Miss James calls to ask us to dine on Friday and meet the bride, Mrs Rob W. See the poet Barnes walking with Mr Henning, an ordinary looking slouchy character, a genius. Mr John Williamson calls, I am obliged to go to the bank, draw 20, pay Bowring on account, had a long conversation with Bishop about horse tax etc. Call on Cooper in Cold Harbour. Order drawing of Biddlesden framed. Order beer of Whittle, fowls of Ensor and repaid Carree for Mrs Stevens £5. Go to an evening party at Mr Goldsmith's, all the elite. I the only one not dancing. Elegant supper, 2 Mr Harveys and Mr Cultor, the Misses Berghman, Stevens, Fulwaper etc. Not home till 2.00. Ch(arles) and J and Emma dance all the evening. Frost going tho' very cold.
7th
Beautiful morning early. Dulls over cold. Frost not sharp. Cut up wood for the party tomorrow etc and enter analysed account of December last and am surprised to find how money runs away. Living in the most economical and even stingy way as we do, how can expenses be lessened, je ne sais pas. All get out somewhere except me till quite late. Write 3 letters, RH, George Strick about culm and to ? Walk to see new road, gas works etc. Dine at 5.00, play whist with children for an hour. Talking and arranging for party tomorrow.
8th
Upsetting the house for a dance this evening to please Charles the restless, it goes off very well and a good thing well over. I am not from the house and premises all day till quite late to the post for Charles and to Ensors for glass etc. Houndsell here all day, jobbing about. Hire piano of Grimes. The party 2 Miss Fulwapers, Miss Williamson and … Kate McCready, Miss Alford, 2 Misses Atwood, 2 Babbingtons and Dick James, Sanctuary from Yetminster etc etc. A good supper passes off capitally. Order at Calders 1 dozen porter, Bartlett etc half dozen port, half dozen sherry, a cask of beer of Whittles. Not over till past 2.00, we not in bed till 3.
9th
Damp, mild, nay wettish. Breakfast at eleven and all else in bed. Colonel Richards and Mr Worsley called for charity for the soup kitchen, pay 10/- as usual, the system of distribution altered. Committee only manage it. Write a long letter to Mr Henry Harries, Cains Cross, Stroud attorney as to Caswell, to Mr Brown of Swansea as solicitor of EKJ. Post the letter myself, received one from Mr Harries this morning and from Mrs J. Get out about 4.00 to order fly to Johnson's to take us to dine at Mr James at 6.00 and take up Mrs Goldsmith. Meet Miss Williamson, Mrs Robert Wilmot the bride, Mr Henning, Mr Lyon and Mr Robert Wilmot; in all 12 at dinner. A pleasant party, very sociable. Wet to come home and indeed wet all day.
10th
A beautiful day, arrange the Illustrated News of ‘56. Miss Wilmot, Mrs Williamson and Miss Babbington call early about invitations etc and the 2 Misses Highmores ditto. Arrange some geraniums in dining room etc, walk with Carree to the mid gate Park. Meet the Misses Ball, Major H D, Dick and Berghman etc. Spend evening quietly at home, far miute.
Sunday. Wet again, always so on Sundays. We are all at church, Mr Duncan preaches a very good sermon and well delivered for a beginner, his first sermon to a morning congregation. Working out our Salvation. With Agnes to Castleton Church, Mrs Digby and her brother q Lord Portman? A good sermon from Mr Lyon. We walk in the park to the Sister Trees. Johnny not well, at home all day. Carree, Emma and Charles and F go at 7 to church. Alice reads to me about Cain and Abel and read the notes in Scott.
12th
Dull damp a.m. Read Illustrated of last week. Enter up washing accounts etc. No calls made or received. Carree not out all day. Write to Hoares, London to send 300 to Swansea. Write also to Swansea bank and High Wycombe to Hutchinson about bill for chairs to Bucks Militia. Posted by CEM. Sally out to pay money, call on Parsons gardener, rent day Mr Digby's, pay Sherring £30, Stokes grocer £40 and Hillary £19. Meet Charles at Penny's book shop and we come home together. Em, Ag and J go to a party at Dr Highmores. Frank spent day with fox hounds, meet at Halfway House and draw covers and find at Silver Lake and run to Mr Goodden's of Compton etc.
13th
Meeting of Board of Health 7.00p.m. Attend at 7.00p.m. at King's Arms, question raised if I am not disqualified, absent for 3 months since 8 October, penalty of £50 acting when disqualified, avoid the risk of course and do nothing. Green, late of the constabulary, elected unanimously, collector of rates. Rower also a candidate and a good one. Meeting thinly attended, Mr Thorne chairman. Servants' and tradesmen's ball at the Town Hall. Read The Eastern Hospitals by a Nurse, get out late after sorting papers and setting my nest of drawers a little in order. Walk with Agnes to the Dorchester Bridge and New Road and Shop at Ensors and tea early. A fine day.
14th
A beautiful morning, receive letter from Stroud, Mr Harris, as to Caswell and Brown from Mr Williams, Emma's sweetheart as he calls himself, and from Hoares, £300 sent to Swansea to meet a 21 day bill. Money sent to Sherborne. Write to Mr Harris, Mr Beor and Mr Morgan as to my meeting Mr Harris at Bristol on the subject of EKJ. Go twice to the school room, under decoration of evergreens etc for tomorrow. Children and Carree there and there late. Tea at 7, Charles, J and Em and Ag at a party at Mr Wilmot's. Go in Johnson's fly after Mrs Marten has gone, not to pay full price. Charles writes letters and posts mine etc. The two young Williamsons Edward VI and Howell to tea and play whist!!!!!! A sharp frost. A party at the Castle to dine, Stevens go.
15th
Oh! What a day of rain and mud! The new school rooms opened by the Bishop. At church a.m., a collection. Bishop preaches extempore as usual and very well and long. Em and Ag only with me. Carree comes to the school in a fly from Johnson's and walks home late after the children have fed. What a scene, shocking bad puddings. Loiter about at the bazaar etc etc, the drums and pipes. Home at dusk and walk alone to the Park. Play Pope Joan in evening, a day spoilt.
16th
A beautiful day, how unlucky was it yesterday. Nothing could be worse. Read over and make observations on Mr RWB's draft for opinion, case of EKJ claim on Caswell, and return it to him. Attend vestry. Green candidate for collecting against Rower. Most unanimous, in two minutes all over, return home. Order coal, draft £10 and wander about to kill time. Get to Mr Henning's and meet Carree at a splash party at Mrs Fussell's. The bride Mrs Robert Wilmot there, Mr and Miss McCready etc singing etc. Home at 12.00. Walked both there and back.
17th
Again a fine day, expect the Southwells. Dinner all put out, Sherring neglects to send up venison, put off etc. Enter some accounts, can't make out about £1, why? Mr Pickering calls and takes photographs. Mr & Mrs Southwell take a chance, dinner with us from Mr Goldsmith's and leave about 6.00. Read Illustrated. Am not well, cold, stomach deranged.
Sunday. Very mild, I have a bad cold and do not move from the house all day. Write to Mr Harris, near Stroud, to meet me on Thursday in Bristol. Major Hammond calls in with Carree to inquire how I am and talks of the Army and East Indies as usual.
19th
Very dull dark and mild and damp. Write to Mr Beor, Mr Gaskvin(?) and Mr Morris of London. Beautiful day and write to Tenby. Read part of Cambrian and finish vol 1 of Eastern Hospitals. Call to pay Made Sante, out. Carree and Alice call on Mrs Dr Highmore. I meet them at Stokes after meeting Mr Henning and paying him at Ellis's for the Times of last year £3, half £1 10 0. Talk to Ellis about soup kitchen etc, go to post with Alice, miss Carree and find her at Mrs Jenkins. Made Sante calls on me, pay her and agree for Em and Ag at £6 6 0 a quarter instead of £8 8 0 the two. School reopened, Em and Ag go to tea at Mrs Benthall's to come home early.
20th
Very dull a.m., soon comes on thorough wet, heavy rain and turns to snow. Glass falls fast, white world. Am called out as to the placing of a lamp-post for the new houses of Mrs Chandler's. Mr Henning etc tenants. Give my opinion as on the committee of Board of Health and for the general and most good. Call on Mrs Best, wants it for a special purpose. Call on Mr Longman for the first time, long talk about lamp posts etc. Saw up wood wood(sic) with Charles and pile it away, useful work and make good fires etc. Read Eastern Hospitals vol 2, am not out again. Write nothing, spend nil till night, write to Mr Morgan.
21st
Most foggy dull day, damp cold day. A meeting about the railway to decide if north or south side upper or lower end of the town. Finish vol 2 of Eastern Hospitals. Dine at 5.00, call on Mr Hoddinot i.e. meet him and go see his new greenhouse and his fine pigs. Attend the rail meeting, most unanimous for the lower road and station by Half Moon. Fish of Miles, cod 2/- unpaid. Mr Hoddinot's law question of water meadows decided against him in common pleas. Go to Reading room with Charles after 6.00 and enquire at Mees and at the Angel as to coach to Yeovil 6.00. Play Pope Joan to amuse the children and in bed late 12.00 etc.
22nd
Very fine, no sleep. Rise at 4.00, breakfast at 5, take mail at the Angel at 6.00. At Bristol at 10, meet Mr Harris attorney of Stroud or Cains Cross on the platform arrived from Gloucester and go to the Bell Inn in Thomas Street to con over matters as to the bill in Chancery, filed by Rev EKJ against his sister, my wife, 2 hours work. Read various letters and talk it over. Consider the time right for bringing forth the bond in my favour for £750 on death of survivor of Mr James (deceased) and his wife still living. Get to Mr Morgan's (Mr Harris having gone to Bath at 12) at 2.00. We dine at 5. Find Mr Morgan at home and have conversation with him, he thinks I have all the equity of the case. Called at Egan tailor and left the Turkish smoking cap to fit up and gave Mary at Mrs M's the slippers to get made up. Find myself sleepy in the evening and do sleep on the sofa. At Bristol.
23rd
Bill for £30 at 2 months to Swansea, see November 22nd. HJM joining me in bill for the amount, I to meet it but do not, am in Bristol about EKJ lawsuit and forget this. Hope HJM has done so, am at Bristol. Breakfast early, pack up and off, no no, call on Mr Edwards find them all at home no. 5 Cambridge Place, Clifton. Long talk on many subjects, lawsuit one. Laura hits the nail on the head, hates that woman, so do I. Call also on Mary Morgan no. 5 Vict… St near Victoria Rooms and after lunch call with Mrs M on the Spencers near White Stile, all out. Shop at Minifies and walk about the town to Broad Street etc. Read life of Captain Vicars.
24th
Fine, leave Bristol for Bath and Yeovil, at the station before 10.00. Leave my luggage and call on Mr and Mrs Morris no. 2 Laura Place and take early dinner with them. The little Singers there. Take a long walk across the park to find Mr & Mrs Palairet at Captain Bateman's at Stanley Villa, Western Lake. What a distance, a capital situation and nice house well furnished. They are just leaving for Sherborne, Mr P just returned from America. Return and dine at 1.00 and leave at 4. Uncertain to meet Yeovil train or meet bus at Yeovil. Lucky, find both and get safe home before 7.30.
Sunday. At Sherborne again, wet again. Carree's cold prevents her going to church. I go with Ag, Emma there and Charles comes! Mr Harston on St Paul's conversion. At home all day till 7. Go to church again, Mr Harston a lecture on ‘Loins girded with Truth'. Rather difficult to understand. Ill spent day on the whole.
26th
Fine day but very cold. North wind, frosty morning. Coursing match at Cwm. Charles and Bergman go, I walk with Frank and Alice about his watch to clean and about his skates 7/6 of Parsons q paid or no. I call on the Palairets after attending a meeting of charity, soup and bread, at the town hall. Plan adopted but no distribution yet. Plenty of employment. Mrs Southwell calls and takes lunch, venison, and goes out with Carree etc. Call alone 1st call on Mr Alford, long talk. … and taxes and call on Mr Benthall, he bottling wine, drink Cape Constantia, very palatable good wholesome wine. Go to his cellar and walk by clay pits, glass works and to the Park, the Sisters, and home to tea. Enter accounts and diary since Friday, wrote to Mr Beor today.
27th
Beautiful morning. Receive letter from Mr Beor with Mr Speeds opinion as to EKJ and Caswell against Carree as in favour of the bond for £750. Write a long letter to Mrs James, Tunbridge Wells, and send her draft of bill in Chancery. All morning about it. Walk after dinner with Charles into the town, go to Ellis for envelope and stamp etc. Meet Mr Avery and we walk to Dimor(?) water works, 5 more gall per minute obtained, so far so good. We dine at 6.30 at Mr Williamson's, our first dinner there, sit down 18. Mr Harston, Horton, Duncan, 3 clergymen, Mr and Miss Taylor, Mrs Bennett my charge, Miss Bartlett, Mr James junior and Bergman junior, Mr John Williamson, Alford. Singing and home by 11.30, a pleasant party. Frost all day.
28th
Beautiful day, read Illustrated. After early dinner walk with Carree and call on the James and Mrs Bennett's and walk with Mrs Ball to the Park. Carree calls on Miss Alford. I pay Farrell(?) property tax for Ensor to the wife £1 6 8 to have receipts another time and pay Creed for butter, they are to have Miller's dairy after 14 years service. Johnny and other boys go to a concert at Bradford for the organ, charity. A very sharp frost. Receive letter from Mr Harris as to bond against EKJ who is to be informed of it this day by letter sent yesterday.
29th
Sharp frost, skating, a very beautiful day. Read Cambrian papers, arrears etc and letters of Bishop of St. David's about cemetery and carriage for clergymen etc etc. Carree goes visiting her district, all irregular at dinner. Charles dines at the Bergman's at 6.30 or 7.00. I call on Mr Horton, out, McCready and have a long talk, find him very agreeable and tolerably well. His sister also comes in, a very pleasant person and sensible, a favourite with everyone. Pay Parsons iromonger for Frank's skates which he thought he had paid for a year ago, no evidence pro or con. Walk by the gas house etc. mean to see the skating in Park. Meet Mr Henning and retrace my steps with him. The little Goldsmith's children tea with ours in Newland. Read no 12 of Dorrit.
30th
Sharp frost, early to Sherring's about a calf's head for Tuesday. Write by him to Cave for 1 dozen port and 1 dozen sherry. Walk with Charles to Mr Heale's of Pointington to ask them for Tuesday, Major Hammond comes in, take a glass of port and biscuits and return. Write notes of invite for Tuesday. Call on the Parson's by Black Horse and go with Carree to the Park skating. Ice not over safe. Do not call at the St..e's. Carree and children all but Charles who won't go to Mrs Williamson's to tea and charades. Charles wanders, no one knows where. I spend evening self-invited at Mr Hoddinot. Mr Fussell comes, sent for, and we play a rubber. I lose as usual. Rain, heavy rain and general cold thaw. Hear young Horsely, son-in-law of Hutchins, just dead at Weymouth. Curious history, mother a Miss Cox, kept a school at Milborne Port, marries a miser, Horsely, who dies. She a rich woman marries Hutchings a lawyer related to Sir W Medlicott!!!! and he made the will.
31st
Snow and frost again, fine but very cold. Sloppy and unpleasant. Go to Miller's farm for cream and milk. Harry James there, Creed the dairyman is going to leave. Carree not from the house. Read Dickens Dorrit and look at the Illustrated news. Analyse in part Stokes book for grocery 1856.
February 1857
1st (Sunday)
Very cold and cold partial thaw. Wind shifting to all points of the compass. Muddy. Sacrament, do not stay. Call all of us on Ellen Palairet, their grandmother Batemen dead in Bath. Church again at 3. Mr Duncan preaches an extraordinary yet clever sermon, 22 Acts 17 v on natural religion. Children go again in evening, Carree and I go to Park gate.
2nd
Wet and cold, south east wind all day, most disagreeable. Receive letter from Mr Beor, proposes to sell Caswell, it will not do. Received yesterday a letter from Mr Harris and copies sent and received to and from Brown, all humbug about family quarrels etc. At 10.00 attend committee of soup kitchen, nil done. Meet Colonel Richards and we both go to Ellis take a copy of soup cauldron quantities etc and bread. Most wintry day but out again to hunt up milk. Succeeded at Sherrings or Sherwoods. Quiet in evening. Carree all day busy in cooking for tomorrow. Colonel and Mr Horton call.
3rd
Bitter cold and windy sort of day. All morning am writing to Mr Harris solicitor and to Mr Beor about Caswell and Chancery and ditto to Mrs James. Post my letters at 4.00 and prepare for grand evening party. Call on Colonel Horton etc leaving tomorrow. Mr R Wilmot calls, Mrs W not able to come this evening, excused. Party goes off pretty well, tho' many disappointments of people and things. Mrs Bennett and Mr James, Miss McCready, Robert Wilmott cum multis aliis. Singing the order of the evening in which our own children are a part and do pretty well. One great omission, omitted to invite the Hennings and could not think why, no note sent.
4th
Frost and mud, out early with Carree and Alice to the Park to see skating. Nobody there but our children!! Take them luncheon and dine at 5.00. Carree, sick of the cold, goes home. Mr Sanctuary called and left it doubtful to dine with us, finds better quarters at the Misses Bergman's? and dines there probably. I go to the opening of the National Schools, that is, the real school opening. Today all play and fun, pipes and drums. Scrambling for the nuts and oranges and races and football and 17 lime trees planted by pipe and drum boys. A remnant bazaar, £5 made, things left from former bazaar. At home all evening keeping the fire in, all of us idle and rheumatic, looking forward with dread, tomorrow school opening.
5th
Damp, cold and unpleasant. Read the Cambrian. School opens at 10.00. Major Hammond calls about Charles and purchase. Mr Henning calls and chats about Dickens. Miss and Master Meredith call. Post a letter and go to the Reading room to see the 2 speech on opening Parliament on Tuesday. All quiet, nothing new. Go to a lecture on Dickens works at the Institution by Rev. Mr Haycroft MA, q a dissenter? Digresses to pay a fulsome compliment to that sect and to the ladies on subscriptions for Africa etc. All uncalled for. Mr and Mrs Henning come to supper after the lecture. Muddy, how damp and wet.
6th
General thaw, very mild and dull and damp and abominably muddy. Read Illustrated and hunt up some papers for Charles going away tomorrow to London and Ireland. Write to Mr D Williams, Swyre near Bridport. Walk with Carree and Charles to shop at Ensors etc and Pollard's. All paid for. Meet Mrs Palairet at Ensor's, do not call as intended, Mrs Southwell comes in, go and see him at Mees and see them off. Brush at Sherwood's also paid 4/- for CEM. Walk to the Park gate, too muddy to go in. Hear Mr Pickering has lost the school organ, how will he get on or go. Great pity, a music master to live in the school and hear the little boys is the reason.
7th
Dull, damp and mild. Charles leaves at 8.00 off by bus for London and Athlone. Call him at 6.00, all breakfast before 8 except John, ill again, no fires or warmth in the school rooms! Pipes frozen. Read Cambrian and write to Bristol. Charles will call on Thursday. via Dublin. Get Frank to take the letter to post, almost too late? Frank spends evening at a party at Mr Henning. Not home till 12.00. Letter from Mrs Mabbott, 85, cheerful and collected.
Sunday. A wet day as usual. Get to church all of us, Mr Harston preaches - Live peacably with all Men, a sort of practical lecture. Go and meet Emma there p.m. Mr Horton preaches - The Labourer goeth forth to his work till evening - appropriate to the Gospel etc of the day. We are all at home in evening except servants. Read the Bible and teach Alice about the Ark etc etc.
9th
Fine a.m. and till m.d., very wet evening, east wind. I am not from the house nor Carree nor John, ill, not much amiss. Caught cold in cold ill-aired school rooms. Read Art Union and Blackwood. Mrs Robert Wilmot calls and Mrs Palairet. I write to RH and send bills, Rogers and Hoare, Stones and Beer. Analyse Letts diary.
10th
Write to Southover for Gartell for the Deaf and Dumb Institute and to Mr Hearn. Fineish day, mild but showery. The soup kitchen begins. Attended the Town Hall Committee, Mr Benthall, Mr Horton and several others there. Many come, the western half of the town only. Call on Mr Clappin about private lessons for John, £5 5 0 half year. After dinner walk with Carree and Agnes to the Park. Wet and muddy. Tried the hill Gainsborough, meet Robert and Mrs Wilmot, very nice young man and wife, and home by Duck St. Agnes to music lessons and Frank gets Valentine's at Ellis's. John goes to Mr Clappin's after tea. Carree and I call on Mr & Mrs Harper, sit some time and chat about the choir, Mr Pickering etc. Heard from Mr Beor this morning who contradicts Brown.
11th
A fine and mild day. Write to Mr Harris in answer to a letter received as to the bond, £750. Agreed to send copy to Mr James and agreed to refer all disputes to Mr Falconer the Swansea Co .. Co … Judge. Agree to allow claim for moiety of Caswell, Herberts Houses, agreed to forgo the bond, all claims against me being dropped. Propose to buy and ask what they will offer if inclined to buy of me, I not desirous to sell having been long purchasing there. Write also to Charles at Mr Morgan's at Bristol via Athlone from London. Mr W Lyon calls, go with Carree to the town and call on Mrs Palairet's daughters, all go to tea there and ride the pony. Spend evening in quiet.
12th
Beautiful weather, glass high, frosty morning. Write to William and read over draft deed of Biddlesden conveyance to Frederick etc and give my ideas on the arrangement. A morning's work. Carree writes to Fanny at Lewes. Walk out with Carree and Alice. Call at Colonel Matthias and walk over fields to Westbury etc and home by Duck Street for exercise and to kill time. Post the letters. Copy letters in reference to Caswell.
13th
Very beautiful, a frosty morning. At 10 attend the soup kitchen committee and go to the Reading room. Copy out some of the lessons in chronological order in regard to Caswell law suit. Walk with John to the Sisters in the park, a constitutional walk. Meet the Fussels (and Robert and Mrs Effie Wilmot call) returning from call at the Castle. Go again to the Reading room for 1 ˝ hours. Hear from Uckfield, Mr Green of Malling dead. We sit in the drawing-room. Harding's book sent up.
14th
A fine day, frosty a.m. Sun makes the roads very muddy indeed. Copy out many letters relating to Caswell to get this unpleasant affair and unaccountable conduct of EKJ my wife's brother in a tangible point of view. Easy of reference and explanation. Walk early with Carree and Alice to see poor in her district (Dogs Cross etc). Called at Miller about butter, he better a little, very ill. Glad to get out of the mud. Thought to go to the Reading room to read the budget, do not go though 9d is taken off property tax.
Sunday. Very cold and unpleasant, not out. Mr Harston preaches xi C… 17v? Great High Priest, p.m. again with Carree and Alice, Mr Horton - Give unto Caesar etc - walk to the Park, pleasant walking, birds singing. How strange Charles has not written from London or since he left us a week ago tho' asked to do so. Very thoughtless and ungrateful.
16th
A very foggy morning, not a bad day. Mild and pleasant. Receive letter from WM about Biddlesden deed. Read Cambrian etc. Copy letters relating to law and Chancery, EKJ and Caswell. Mr Southwell calls. Mrs Palairet calls and walks out with Carree to the Park. Miss P has tea here. I walk alone late to the Park and walk for a wager with myself from the Sisters (trees) to the mid gate and back to the entrance gate, in 15 minutes. Do not go to the Reading room as intended. Mild pleasant day.
17th
Mild dull pleasant day, inclined to wet. Go early to the Reading room, the budget speech not there, should be. Notice the committee. Attend the soup kitchen committee for the poor, an idle midday after dinner. Walk with Carree and Alice to the Park gate etc with her hoop. Call at Mr Fussell's and take a schawl(sic) Welsh white £1 0 0 and walk in his garden. Attend Board of Health at 7.00, nothing particular happens.. Money wanted, 1,000 at least to get out of debt a little. Water rates are being made and more water supply laid on. There till 9.00. Boys went out, hare and hounds, Frank not home till past 7.00, one of the few who lasted out. John gets a severe fall at gymnastics. Help Frank at verses before bed time.
18th
Nice mild weather. Finish copying letter relating to Caswell, write to Mrs James and Mr WFM as to Charles lost, where is he? Walk with Carree, meeting her at Ensors after going to draft £6. Paying former small accounts and paying Edgar for 2 hats about 10 days ago. Done up and call on Mr & Mrs Palairet. All at home, she walks with us up the Dorchester Road, Emma rides Mr Fussell's horse!! We return over the Dancing Hill by the gas works home. Copy some papers in evening and read Macaulay in Edinburgh Review.
19th
Fine mild dry day, ground in fine order. Write to Herbert Ord and to Mr Beor, comment and add parts to my Caswell affair in the chronological sheets I have written out of letters etc. Read Edinburgh review and Convocation etc. Walk with Carree and Alice into the town. Go to Ensors, pay Carree there 10/-. Lining bought, she has a sempstress (Lewis) at work at home. Walk over Clay Pit field to the Park. Alice will carry and play with my stick. Carree calls at Mr Ball's going to Dublin. Am not at the Reading room. John and F go out at hounds, Honeycomb etc, and former attends choir and Clappin. Frank tired and has verses to do, help him etc. J has a short letter from Charles etc, Ireland.
20th
Beautiful day, glass high, read Edinburgh Review, railways etc. Receive letters from Bristol. Charles has been there and gone to Ireland. Carree hears from Mrs Rooke her sister Emily Marcon very ill. No wonder! Read Edinburgh Review, rights of women, and look over Caswell affair. Write to Mr Beor. Order at Stokes 3 dozen Seville oranges and 10lb sugar at 7. Mop at Penny's 2/3 and go to the Reading room till tea. Emily Richards at tea.
21st
Still remarkably fine weather. Write long foolish letters to Frederick Payler, Willey and EM Tenby. Walk alone 4.00 to Mr Palairet, finding sitting on a chair in the orchard grubbing apple trees. Enough to kill a tic dolereux man! Give him the manuscript account of Caswell to look over, he being a bit of a lawyer and read and explain it to him in part. Met Em and Al there. Read Cambrian and Illustrated News. Cold wet wind.
Sunday. Cold south wind, fine and dry. 3 times at church, Mr Harston preaches on Charity, more especially charitable thoughts, opinions and conduct. At 4 with Carree to the chapel, I cannot hear a sermon there. Very good, I heard, as advice to the boys on their conduct in life. With Emma at 7 again to church, very full. Mr Harston always gives a good sermon from St Paul to the Corinthians - Run the race and keep steadfast, no wavering and changing. Very good.
23rd
White deaf cat found dead near the door, why, bleeding at the mouth, inflammation of the lungs? Not well some days, she was a great favourite, so gentle and so peculiar. Settle Elizabeth Grove's wages, first year in full. Carree engaged about dresses, Lewis a dress maker in the house. Not from home or house all day. Write to HJM, Merton. Prepare 3 dozen Seville oranges and 2 dozen sweet for marmalade. Mr & Mrs Palairet call, he has read some of the Caswell letters and agrees it is all a trick and shame. Originals with Lucy Holland, a very she-devil. Do not get out, poor white cat makes us all dull and heavy.
24th
Cold dry and not pleasant except being dry. Not at church morning or evening. Receive letter from Mr Harris, no further information from Swansea, he sends me the Trusts of the Bond, so far favourable. Write and send to Frank about gas light for Deaf and Dumb Asylum. Walk with Alice to Scott's for lemons and buy figs and wait about till Em and Ag come home from school at Miss Santes. Make a call at the Castle with Mr and Mrs Palairet, he drives up Carree. Talk with Mrs P of EKJ etc, hard case. Walk with Carree to the town, Stokes and call on Mr Goldsmith's, slowly better. Chop the orange peel and weigh it etc. No jars, can't store it.!!!
25th
Very foggy, cold, disagreeable today. Go with the children, Emma and Ag and Al and Carree to church at 11 o'clock. Not a good congregation. Make marmalade 11lb orange i.e. 3 dozen Seville at 1/3 (ie) 4/3 and 2 dozen … 1/- say 5/6 and 14lb sugar at /6 = 8/2 which is total cost 13/8. Buy at Gartell's 8 small white jars, walk with Alice and leave book of Dumb and Deaf at Mr Stevens up the hill and home by Duck St, go to Sharpe's for Alice and to the Reading room and home to tea. Servants go to church at 7. Read a little of Pluralites of Worlds Decalogue, rather deep. Met Rutter at Mr Hutching's house and look it over, wish we could take it. Plenty of room, 100 asked or 3,000 to buy. Open to an offer.
26th
Frank's birthday. Houndsell takes in all the potatoes etc. I write to Hutchinson, Wycombe, about his chair bill for Bucks Yeo. Hunt for a property receipt. Mrs Duncan and Miss McCready call. Write and send mss letters, law and Caswell, to William, Uckfield. Difficulty about the requisite stamp, above 4 oz, charged /9 as a book. Frank has a party of school boys, very riotous till past 11.00. I go to church at 6.30 and to a meeting called for additional curates in large populations at 7.00. Mr Sweet, secretary from deputation, a very good speaker and very earnest. Disclaims any party spirit. Assist all they can yet do not allow any good done by Pastoral Aid, not even alluded to by name! That's not right. Call at McCready's, find the poor boy (imbecile) sinking, not expected to live. Beautiful day, cold air.
27th
Fine morning, cold and frosty. Heard from CEM, at last a long letter last night. Again from Mr Harris who has not heard from Mr Brown since copy of bond! Write him a long letter and post it myself. Read Plurality of Worlds. Go to the Reading room at 4.00 and read Times of yesterday and today. Full of debates on the Canton bombardment. Go with Carree to church at 7, rather late. Mr Horton preaches on the Sacrament. God speaking to Moses from the burning Bush, hollow ground. Walk to the Dog House turnpike gate because Carree is so hot and I find it very cold. Not in bed till near 12. Emma at tea next door, Hoddinot, Shuttles there.
28th
What a month of February! Splendid dry month. Farmers could not improve it! Read Plurality of Worlds. Look to the Cambrian, full of assizes. Another case of sheep stealing, W Beynon. 4 years penal servitude. Look to the Illustrated News also. Work hard in the garden. Houndsell here, can't leave him. Am not from the house and saw firewood, John burns rubbish. Carree and daughters all take a long walk. Frank gone paper hunt.
March 1857
1st (Sunday)
Fine and dry but cool. Sacrament, Carree and I stay with Emma. Great number stay, not out till p.m. Carre goes again at 3, I with Em and Ag and F at 7. Mr Harston from 2nd Phill v 1 to 4. He often preaches better sermons. Read, during afternoon service, Scotts Bible, morning lessons. Sit in Mr Thorn's seat.
2nd
Still beautiful dry weather, the glass long stationary at set fair and higher. Read Illustrated and the Cambrian. Mrs Palairet calls, talk of Mr Butcher's house etc etc. Emma hears from Miss E Marcon, Mr Brickworth dead suddenly. After dinner meet John and go to Rowe's about box of compasse … mathematical, box £2 10 0! too much. At Pollard's, a silver watch chain 10/6 and key not paid. Read the Times, no news. Walk by Duck St and Gainsborough Hill and Castleton to tea. Miss Palairet here. Remarkable tranquil weather.
3rd
Read Blackwood, Lord St Leonards a most wonderful man, raised from the lowest to the highest rank, now 75, having undergone labour superhuman. Walk to Honeycomb Wood to see the fox hounds, they run aground to a drain in Lent Hay. I never saw the ground in such beautiful order so late in March. Rather misty or foggy, chilly and cold, get a good walk ˝ way to Thornford and home by the Park etc. At 3 attend meeting of Deaf and Dumb got up by Mr Stevens. I declined to propose a resolution not being prepared and not being a Sherbornite vrai, it being for a district branch here. Speakers Gooden, Stevens, Lyon, Harston, Dr Williams, Grant, Dampier; all prosy. Tea and then to meeting of Board of Health till 9.00, supply of water and fire engines.
4th
Rather windy, dust flies a little. It has long been most remarkable quiet weather. Read Blackwood. Write to William at Mrs Woodward's, London 48 Devonshire St, Portland Place, going there tomorrow and send Mr Speeds opinion about Caswell. Go to Reading room, ministry beaten on Chinese question by Cobden, 263 gives majority of 16, will they resign or dissolve or bear it? Call on Major Hammond, out. Walk with Colonel Richards by gas works, new road to Dorchester Road home. Go to Mr Fussell's and Sherwood's for powders etc, Alice not well. Go through Houndsell's account etc. Cold day and wear no upper coat! Mr Stevens calls and Mrs Palairet. He, Mr P, gone to Wales.
5th
Fine and dry but very cold west wind tho' sunny. Read Western Africa (Anderson), write to Charles, Athlone. Walk with Carree to Westbury, Mrs P joins us. Go up Dorchester Road and by the new road to Castleton. Meet Mrs Digby, Mrs Stevens and afterwards Mr Digby driving. Mrs James and Mr Henning, Mr D enquires who we are, we afterwards learn. I go to the town, we all go, Sharpe's and Webber's and go to the Reading room, dissolution of Parliament talked. Poisoning in China etc and murder in New York. At a party (small) at Mrs Stevens, only Col and Mrs Richards, Mr and Miss Bartlett, ourselves 2 and Miss West. Chat etc and singing etc. Home before 11.00.
6th
Fine and dry and cold. Read Western Africa, and analyse Letts diary for February account. Read 16 no. Dorrit. Expect Mr & Mrs Digby to call, no. Go to the Reading room, no news but a dissolution of Parliament …. Mrs Palairet calls and walks with Carree and with Ellen P takes tea. Asked for money for washing and for Eliz Lewis's wages, can't, have it not.
7th
Dry and cold, not unpleasant cause dry. Receive letter and papers from Mr Harris (Stroud) trusts of Bond £750. Read Western African, Cambrian and Illustrated. Draft at bank £5 and receive interest warrant SWR £6 19 6. Out with Carree to Ensor's and Stokes and walk with Mr & Mrs Williamson by Long St to the Park, castle and on alone to the mid-gate and home to tea. Enter accounts in the evening.
Sunday. Wet morning, Carree does not go to church. Mrs and Miss James sit in our pew, north transept under repair. Dry rot etc. Mr Harston preaches on 1st lesson, Isaac, Jacob and Esau etc. In afternoon again with Carree, Mr Horton gives a good sermon from Lamentations. At 7 with Em, Ag and F, Mr Harston again from 3 Phillipians 3 verses, Our Saviour as God and Man, the best proof of our Saviour's divinity, proof against temptations etc.
9th
A regular March day, cold windy showery snow rain, fine and gloomy. Glass rising again and high. Read Illustrated and club books, Critic etc. Not out till 4.30, post Heydon's(?) paper to Mrs James. Go to Reading room, call on Major Hammond, ill, better and from his house home to tea. Receive and write no letters, a blank day.
10th
Sharp frost, fine but very cold all day. Write to Mr Harris, Stroud, in answer to him of 6th having sent the trusts of bond of £750 of Mr James, the trust's never executed and only EKJ named as one trustee and he now contesting everything. What do I wished done or recommend. Suggest Mrs James being consulted. Send copy of Mr Trev Jenkins bill paid 1849. Walk with Carree late after 4 to the post and meet Mrs Palairet and call in on Mr Goldsmith and go to Jumers(?) Draper. Wander about or loiter, John at photographs. Go late to Cold Harbour to see a woman about the Eye Infirmary. Mrs Palairet with us and home to tea. Help Frank at verses and enter diary. All morning hunting over paper box etc.
11th
Beautiful winter weather, cold &. sunny. Receive letter from Mrs J to Carree as to her going to Tunbridge wells on 18th, answer tomorrow, yes. Write to Mr Beor about building on Redlay(?) of Mrs J, is willing. Out before dinner to get coals. Pay Mr Mees for Mrs James fly, in return go to Windsor Cottage to inquire about stinks and drains in the cottage, see one Tanner there – dinner on boiled peas. He a first class mason at the church from Taunton. Call and see Mr Penny on the same subject, we both members of Board of Health. Mr Chandler to be seen about it. Walk after dinner with Carree, Emma, Ag, Al and Miss Palairet and Miss Horsford up the Dorchester Road and cross to Gainsborough Hill and through the town home. I go to the Reading room till dark, no news except Parliament is to be dissolved, the Ministry have had a majority on tea duties of 60!!! They are stronger than before.
12th
Fine dry day, coldish and Carree and children say windy, I thought quiet and still. Read a little of Anderson's Western Africa and go out to garden, Houndsell here, make hot bed and empty it first and carry manure over the garden. J Parsons trims the pear tree. All day in garden till tea-time. A Guernsey man calls with silks etc. Send Mrs James a letter to fix Carree's going to Kent and Bristol. Alice receives a letter from Miss Spencer. Frank rolls the lawn etc.
13th
Houndsell comes to dig ground, comes on wet at 12.00, cleans water cocks and goes home at dinner time after drinking the last bottle of beer without asking leave. Finish Anderson's Western Africa about elephants and rhinoceroses etc etc. Not a well written book tho' full of adventures personal and exaggerated. Order at Allen's ˝ peck ash kidney 2/6 = 1/3, 2 rabbits 1/2. Call on Arnold to postpone payment of bill one mon. Pay Jenner for Carree £1 10 0. Call on Bishop saddler about railway and election. Constituency to be contested by Mr Portman? and many MPs for this constituency to shift places and go to the Reading room for 2 hours. Call on Mr Horton about Mrs J, he out. Borrow, of Bishop, the Journal to see politics and read Pluralities of Worlds etc. Help Frank at verses.
14th
Glass fallen greatly, full on neck(?). Very windy day, rain and sun. Go only to Reading room, no letter, no papers. Read Illustrated, Emma dines at Mrs Palairet's. Carree, Ag go to the town. I am to meet them, go by Black Horse and Long Street, overtake Colonel Richards. Mr Benthall meets us at his gate, makes us come into taste Constantia, a capital Cape sweet wine. Call at Ensor's for Carree, miss her and walk by Duck or South Street to the Park as far as Haydon Gate to see new foot path. Wet coming back, have an umbrella for a wonder, home to tea. 4.30. Johnny not out all the evening, goes at 7.30 to Mr Clappin's. Read in evening.
Sunday. Not a fine day, sloppy and rainy. Mr Harston a.m. preaches on Joseph and his brethren, a very good sermon. Miss James in same pew. In afternoon with Carree and Alice, Mr Horton preaches a very good sermon too. At home all evening and read Genesis, Joseph etc. Children go to 7.00 church.
16th
Beautiful day, Mr Pickering takes several photographs of us, come out good, not perfect. Houndsell here and digs and prepares for seeds. I all day writing to Wm in regard to Frederick's account from 1819 and send him my book of old accounts to Devonshire St London W. Write to N E Vaughan about election. Mrs Palairet here all day working for Carree's journey, very kind and dines here and Ellen. A child, newborn, found in Cheap St, wrapt up and alive, may live. Whose is it? A mystery all day. The town full of reports of course. I merely walked to the post late and home again. Help Frank at verses and read Illustrated, Atlantic cable etc. Mrs P leaves 9.30
17th
Houndsell in garden, plant potatoes 2 sorts and finishes digging all. Mrs Palairet spends most of day with us, worked for Carree yesterday because going tomorrow to Tunbridge Wells. This is a cold raw day and some rain after 1.00. Planted potatoes a.m., ash leaf etc etc and dig among rhubarb etc. Tho' I am not over well, pains in shoulders, after dinner with Carree to Ensor's and the bank plan V of N Rail warrant due 20th in bank £1 19 6. Go to Sharpe's and meet a Miss Tabbot, a dasher, to be Mrs Kingdom. He there. Mrs Digby calls and leaves cards for him, we are both out. Buy 1oz. of onion seed Parsons, not paid.
18th
Beautiful morning, rise at 6.00, Carree to start for Tunbridge wells. Bus at the door at 8.00, cord the boxes all ready, go with her to Yeovil and on to Marston and walk back over Cadbury and Corton Denham Hills, splendid views west and northerly. There came on a misty rain but beautiful for my return. Back to dinner on the table 1.30, nicked it to a T. Rather a long and tiring walk over the steep hills. Get glimpses of Hon. Mr Byron's and Mr Bennet's both. Walk with an old woman who has 2 sons in the army, one in the artillery at Woolwich, George Bowne, and one at Hong Kong, Chinese war. The former 6ft 2 in. Both doing well, the mother now widow Smith, both husbands killed, one run over by Lord Digby's waggon, the last killed by a bull. I at home all p.m.
19th
Heard from WM London yesterday. Dull damp day, no letters received or sent. Am out early to Sherrin's for meat and go to the Reading room till 10 having first returned about 2 tongues to the pickled. Hear news of Mr Harston son stopped at turnpike gate going off with Mary W--l--t last night. He is a silly fellow and conceited one, now the father will be cut up. He sends his son off? I read Bentley, poor no. and call on Palairet, out, and again at the Reading room till tea. Meet Emma and walk to Castleton, call on Mr Stevens and pay deaf and dumb. Go to his garden to ask for cucumber plants etc and home. John to Mr Clappin's, Frank to choir. No end to work, Mr Pickering photographs.
20th
Houndsell ˝ day, wet damp muddy close. Nothing to be done in garden. Received no letters. Statement, sent a Law Life assurance, very prosperous. Get out to call on Mrs Palairet to make some arrangement for this evening, conjurer. Mr P going and children all mad to go. Muddy and disagreeable. Get tea early and off to the Town Hall by 7.30. Meet Mr Palairet and get good front places. Some of his tricks very good, neat and clever. The best the inexhaustible bag of eggs, he gives us but few. No doubt he is a great humbug. Half his time taken in talking badly about the ‘hart of natural magic'. Order at Harding's 2 gall spirits, 6 gin, 3 brandy at 6d = 18, 3 whisky the…
21st
Houndsell all day sowing etc. Windy and cold, out early as old fellow is here to see if he does something. Too windy to sow, put the ground a little in order. Ready, plant Jerusalem artichokes and saw up wood to get rid of the rubbish of it. Mrs Palairet called to engage me and children to take a walk p.m. and stay tea, in Westbury. Get there about 4.00 and walk with her, Em and Ag and Alice and Ellen on Stowford Road to hunt and gather violets. Horrid cold work and few to be found, white or blue. Tea there and home by 9.30, how wretchedly cold and windy returning from our walk, enough to kill Alice, east wind, piercing. Receive letter from .. Tunbr. W.
Sunday. Sharp frost, ice and very cold. Mr Harston preaches, the Arch(sic) of the Covenant, all typical of our Saviour. He seemed out of spirits from circumstances earlier in the week, his son, conduct, see 19th. Feel unwell and low and do not go out all afternoon. Church at 7 with Em, Ag and F, full congregation as if in expectation of something, but no. Mr Duncan preaches, ‘We are Christ's', a very good sermon. His language pithy and nervous and distinct voice, will make a good preacher. Mr Horton going to York with young Harston.
23rd
Sharp frost and some snow. Write to Mr Beor about election etc. Out early with Alice, pay Norman. Call at Mees, very ill, order 1 gal bitter beer. Meet Mr Benthall, call on Mr Goldsmith, receive for Dix shawl £1. Pay difference ... for Reading room subscription to October last? Well opened in garden, water bad. Leave Alice at Mrs Grosmith's, dines and tea. At home till tea-time. Well pumped dry, foul. Am in Col Richard's garden, sow some mustard etc. Book club this evening. Good attendance, buy My Exile 12/6 2 vols, quarterly 1/- Eden 1/- and … -/4.
24th
Dull cold disagreeable today, glass falling and comes on a wet evening. Snow and rain. Copy deeds of 12 bond £750 and write to Mr Harris, Stroud, and send him copy of deed of Tr with Mrs James undertaking to pay it if assets prove deficient and write to Mr Richard Edwards that Mrs James goes to Bristol tomorrow and carries papers I want him to look at. Post them and post 2 letters and 2 papers for Mr Benthall where I call to enquire. He is far from well, a good hearted man. Go to the Reading room, write a note to Mr Harper about caps and hats. Attend meeting at 7 of Board of Health £1,500 and more in debt. Not home till 9.30, Mr Avery in chair, William Ffooks comes late. Fear, myself, Penny and Bishop and much discussion on loss of water and water supply. Receive letter from my wife.
25th
A thorough wet day. Write to Carree going to Bristol today with Mrs James. Sleepy and unwell, the air oppressive. Go to the post and the Reading room. Teach Alice to write, a letter to mamma. Evening breaks off fine. John Ffooks declares a dividend of a fractional part of a farthing! A fact, some 20th part of a 1d.
--- Charles Morgan died on 5th April 1857 ---