Sunday, 11 December 1859

Cold. Near frost: ― and the dear good people of this house keep its passage so awfully cold I am half dead, & deaf with one ear. Wrote letters till lunch. ― After that, Bernard & I, with one Inigo Gell, & one ―― Beard, walked to Bible bottom & Caburn. The Downs were very […]

Saturday, 10 December 1859

Very cold. Wrote several letters. ― Went to Drummond’s & drew £150. & paid Foord 46. Jones.            42 Roberson.    29. ― Saw the new Bassæ frame at Foord’s. At 3 came to Hayward’s Heath, & had to wait there till 5 ― then to Lewes. Very bitterly cold, & not very […]

Friday, 9 December 1859

Foggy ― but dry. ― Wrote till 11. At 12.10 ― off by rail to Leatherhead ― & there by 1.5. Walked to Ellens. Poor Ellinor! ― what a crush of all that was so happy! ― After dinner ― (poor W. was asleep till then,) I went in to see him ―: he is […]

Thursday, 8 December 1859

X3 Very fine ― & warmer. Rose at 9. ― Breakfast dully. ―― Wrote & read. ― At 1 Lady W. & talk. Then lunch ―”but pork goes [on] for [ever]” Then Lady W. & C.F. ― W.B., Miss Bolton & I walked to Teddington & thorugh Bushy Park, (where we saw a demented Ass, […]

Wednesday, 7 December 1859

Particularly fine day. The morning was lovely ― & the long shadows over the green bright grass! ― At 9 ― C.F. went to town. At 10 breakfast rather void & solemn. ― Wrote afterwards & read the “suppressed passages” in the H. Walpole letters ― to my great amusement. ― Sent letters to post. […]

Tuesday, 6 December 1859

Very nice letters from C. Wynne, & Simeon. ― At 9¼ ― F.L. came & breakfasted. Talk mostly of the Bassæ affair. ― Let us be glad anything is preserved ― but ― how much is gone “for ever”! ― which I write, remembering Corfû days. ― After F. went, I wrote ― & packed: […]

Monday, 5 December 1859

Gloomy ― but not cold. ― The breakfast at Woodberry is most distressing ―: Willie is more horribly bearish than it is possible to conceive. ― At 9¾ we left in the Brougham, W.N. Geoff & I. Kindest of human beings is dear old Will Nevill ― but he cannot look forward to confort from […]

Sunday, 4 December 1859

Health better. Very cold & bad morning. ― Fearful day of cold ― rain, fog, wind, & darkness. No one went to church ―: I wrote a good deal. Dinner at 1. ― Dessert at 4 ― Tea at 6. ― supper at 9. ― Intervals filled up as may be. ― The positiveness & […]

Saturday, 3 December 1859

X1 A sad & annoying day. Rose at 7. Fine, but very cold. Breakfast ― Evans & Gisborne being there. ― Cab to Derby Rail. At 10 off with a very slow train, & worrying talking man inside. At Rugby ― 12.30 waited till 1/15 & off again. Immensely irritated & nervous: X1 At London […]

Friday, 2 December 1859

W. EVANS O dear! What a worrying world! ― all hustle. Rose at 7. Breakfast with all, & the H.J. Sandbachs went. Both he & W.S. subscribed to the Bassæ. Letter from Foord, ― the Bassæ has come! ―― Went at 9 to the Edwards & hung the 2 pictures. Most strange man! Poor Mrs. […]