May 1861
[Needs prettifying]
Wednesday 1st May
Prince Arthur’s birthday. Stayed at home all the morning. In the afternoon Georgie, Richard & I took a walk with the chicks. In the evening worked & read aloud.
Thursday 2nd May
Went with the children to St James’s Park. In the afternoon went out in a fly, called in Gloucester Square. In the evening read out loud.
Friday 3rd May
Took Dynely for a walk, we went to see Mrs Aldrich, she was at home. In the afternoon went with Georgie to pay some visits (Mrs Gambier & Amy Ferrers). Mrs Gibson came in the evening.
Saturday 4th May
In the morning went out with the children. In the afternoon went to the Philharmonic concert with Georgie & Polly. Met Mary, Charlie & Miss Arnold.
Sunday 5th May
In the morning went to St Stephen with Richard. Stayed at home in the afternoon with Georgie & the chicks. Stanley called.
Monday 6th May
Went with
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the chicks in St James’s Park. In the afternoon went with Richard to the Royal Academy, saw aunt Harriet there. In the evening we went to the opera, Covent Garden, heard Le prophète[1] it was beautiful. Stanley went with us.
Tuesday 7th May
Little Georgie & Richard spent the day in the country. In the afternoon we went out.
Wednesday 8th May
Wet day, we stayed in all the day.
Thursday 9th May
Went to church in the morning & received the sacrament at St Stephen’s (Ascension Day); afterwards walked a short way with Mrs Gibson. In the afternoon Aunt Eliz & Auntie, Uncle Jack and Mary Johnston called. We afterwards walked up as far as Grosvenor Square. In the evening Mrs Gibson came to tea. Richard spent the evening in the Gloucester Square.
Friday 10th May
Went for a walk with the chicks in St James’s Park. Richard went to the opera concert at the Crystal Palace with Isabella, Maggie & Tina. We stayed at home all the afternoon. In the evening we went to a dinner party in Gloucester Square. Home about 12 o/c.
Saturday 11th May
Stayed at home all day as it was wet. Wrote to Isabella. In the evening Capt & Mrs Martin came to dinner. Capt and Mrs Wallace
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came in the evening.
Sunday 12th May
Richard spent the day in the country. I went to the prison chapel in the morning. Stayed with the children till 4 o/c, then went with Georgie to the prison chapel. Richard came home about ½ past 11 o/c.
Monday 13th May
Went with dear littleDyneley for a walk to St James’s Park. In the afternoon we walked up to Gloucester Square & saw them all. Got home again a little before 7. Charlie spent the evening with us & left about 9 o/c.
Tuesday 14th May
Went for a walk in St James’s Park with the children. Edward Drury came to lunch. In the afternoon I went to see Mrs Gibson. Mary came to fetch me, we left at 5 o/c in an open carriage. Went to Scarsdale villas to fetch Isabella, then to Westbourne Park Villas & dressed their for Miss Jenkins party. We went there at 10 o/c & it was over soon after 12 o/c. I slept there.
Wednesday 15th May
After breakfast I went to see Aunt Emma & Aunt Margaret. Went with Miss Jenkins at ½ past 11 o/c to Howell[?] & James came home about ½ past 1 o/c. after lunch sat in the drawing room and at ½ past 3 o/c got my things on to leave. Miss Amelia & Mrs Jenkins called.
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Went to the villas & we came home together in a cab. I walked a little way in the gardens with Isabella & Mary then left them & came back home. In the evening I wrote to Ellen Warre.
Thursday 16th May
In the morning went to see Jane. In the afternoon Mary Isabella (J.S.) came over to Kensington. We went to Herbert’s whilst Isabella was having her singing lesson, then we went in the gardens & sat there for some time . Came home at6 o/c. Surtees went to hear Dr Tanseman’s[?] lectures at the Earls Court schoolroom.
Friday 17th May
In the morning I took a walk by myself.heard from Tina Noble. In the afternoon Mary and Isabella came down here in an open carriage & we drove to Mortlake to see Mrs Parkinson. She was out. Then we came back to Kensington & called on the Bartemans[?] – they were also out. I went back with Mary as far as Kildare Terrace & called on Mrs Henry Joubert[?] ; she was at home, also Miss Amelia. Got home again at 6 o/c. after dinner I took a short walk in the lanes with Papa.
Saturday 18th May
Papa’s birthday, he is 53. Isabella came home this morning from the Arnolds.Papa and I walked up to York Street
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to see Aunt Matilda & aunt Noble we also saw Richard Noble. We came home part of the way in the Tramway. In the evening Aunt Margaret, Aunt Emma, Mary, Charlie, Mary Smith, Jane Wynter & youngest Morrison came. They all left about 11 o/c.
Sunday 19th May
In the morning we went to Christchurch. In the afternoon Papa and I called on Norman’s & Isabella Bateson[?], Uncle Henry & Harry called their & we walked back with them to Norfolk Square, Aunt Georgiana was .in we met Uncle, Amelia & little Emma in Westbourne Terrace. Came home about 5. In the evening went to Christchurch, Mr Curtis preached.
Monday 20th May
Isabella and I went to the old church in the morning. In the afternoon I walked up with Jane to Knightsbridge & bought some things for the Nobles[?] also my dress.
Tuesday 21st May
In the morningI took a walk by myself. In the afternoon we met Mary & Mary Smith. In the gardens. We sat down then had a nice at Gregsy’s[?].
Wednesday 22nd May
In the morning went to St Phillips. In the afternoon we walked up to Knightsbridge & brought my best dress in[?].
Thursday 23rd May
Walked up to Duke
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Street & gave Jenny my address to make. In the afternoon set in Kensington Gardens.
Friday 24th May
The Queens birthday. Went up to Aunt Georgiana’s & spent the day. Also went to Gloucester Square, saw Polly, Fanny & Isabella. In the evening Charlie, Mary & Mary Smith came to dinner. Mr Gastroin[?] came in about 8 o/c.
Saturday 25th May
In the morning went into the town . In the afternoon walks with Papa to Knightsbridge & bought some handkerchiefs & stockings and an Indian cloth dress. In the evening Mr Haffenden came to see Isabella as she felt her rheumatism.
Sunday 25th May
In the morning wewent to Christchurch & in the afternoon Papa & I walked up to Sunderland Terrace. We saw aunt Margaret & aunt Emma & met Mary, Charlie & Mary Smith as we were coming out of the house, the latter walked with us across the gardens. In the evening we went to Christchurch.
Monday 27th May
In the morning Mr Haffenden came. I went to ??? to choose some things for Mary’s birthday. In the afternoon took a walk with Jane & in the evening Mary & Mary Smith came to ??? tea with us.
Tuesday 28th May
Mary’s birthday. Mrs Haffenden came to see Isabella. In the afternoon I walked
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over to Westbourne Park Villas & drank tea there. We gave Mary a butter dish. Charlie, Mary & Mary Smith walked back with me.
Wednesday 29th May
Went to lunch in Gloucester Square, saw Aunt Eliza & Mary. In the afternoon took a walk with Isabella & Margaret in Kensington Gardens. We sat down there for some time. I had tea and spent the evening there. Auntie and Uncle went to dine with the Anthony Daniels. I got home about 10 o/c. (Derby day – Kettledrum[2] won).
Thursday 30th May
In the morning Mr Haffenden came. In the afternoon I walked over to Sunderland Terrace. Dined at Miss Jenkins & went to the bazaar in the evening. Mary, Mary Smith, Charlie, Mr Carroll & Mr Philpott came there. I went home with the Arnolds & had some tea with them. Went to Sunderland Terrace.
Friday 31st May
After breakfast came home to Scarsdale Villas. Isabella & I took a walk in the gardens in the afternoon & in the eveningI went back to Sunderland Terrace. Aunt Margaret, aunt Emma & I went to a party at the Gashoins[?]; Got home soon after ½ past 11 o/c.
[1] An opera in five acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer, First performance: April 16, 1849.
[2] Kettledrum (1858–1885) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from August 1860 to September 1861 he ran eight times and won four races. As a three-year-old in 1861, he won the Epsom Derby and the Doncaster Cup and finished second in the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger. At Epsom on 1 June he started at odds of 12/1 in a field of eighteen runners, with Dundee starting the 3/1 favourite. There was much criticism of the state of the Epsom course, which had been badly neglected and was strewn with rubbish.[3] The race was marred by a faulty start which saw several runners left at the start. Ridden by Ralph Bullock, Kettledrum was always prominent and moved up to take the lead from Diophantus in the straight. He was strongly challenged by Dundee on the wide outside and the two colts raced almost level into the final furlong. At this point the favourite faltered, having sustained an injury to his foreleg and Kettledrum was able to win comfortably by a length.
