Rose at 6, for Greek lesson. Very dim & hot Scirocco all day. ― Worked ― (2d day) at T.G.B.’s Parnassus: but only by fits. ― Sandbach came in , ― & later, at 4, Drummond, with whom I walked, by the River, ― returning by 6 ― very pleasantly: he is a remarkably nice man, in all respects.

Dressed 6 to the Woodwards‘ ― where Mrs. W. did not expect me ― having forgotten asking me ― tho’ she remembered it luckily & said so to B. Mathews. After dinner a most sad dispute occurred: a real annoyance. Nor can I well remember what was its first origin except that Presbyterians & Dissenters coming to church was spoken of, & I vindicated their doing so on the grounds of there being but one Church in Rome. ― All 4 flew at me & pointed out the Prussian, & the American services ― I said, if you think it is inconvenient for dissenters to go to our church, it would be better that it were generally known that you disliked their coming. “What do mean by it being better that it were generally known ―” said Mrs. W. ― angrily? ― “In order that they might be more consistent.” said I. Mrs. W. said  then things about Quakers & Presbyterians ― “they may be called Xtians” ― &c. &c. of so shocking a nature that I was really perfectly disgusted & distressed. The poor fool evidently supposes no one but “Anglicans” can be said ― & W. said ― “the Q. of E. has no more right to go to a Scotch kirk than to a mosque.” “Church? said Mrs. W. ― it is not a church at all ― it is a kirk.” ― I scarcely spoke again all the evening, ― tho’ a Mr. & Mrs. Meynall came: ― & I believe I shall never go to see them again ― since the company of bigots & fools is not good for anyone who can avoid it.

XX

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]