December 1861
[Needs prettifying]
Sunday 1st December (Advent)
Went to church morning & evening. In the afternoon we went to Sunderland Terrace.
Monday 2nd December
Heard from Tina Noble. Richard & Georges wedding day.
File 080:
Stayed in all the morning, wrote to Maggie. In the afternoon called on the Bartram’s & took a walk in the gardens.
Tuesday 3rd December
Wrote to Lindsay & Alice. Lunched in Sunderland Terrace, Mary, she walked across the gardens with us.
Wednesday 4th December
Alice & Lindsay’s wedding day. Lunched in G.S. Fanny Isabella & Miss Philpott walked across the gardens with me. Isabella drank tea at Mrs Kingdons.
Thursday 5th December
Wrote to Tina & Jane. Mary lunched with us.
Friday 6th December
Foggy day.
Saturday 7th December
Miss Parkinson, Mrs Harris, Miss Brown, Turners & Bartrams.
Sunday 8th December
Went to church morning & evening & received the Sacrament. The Archdeacon preached in the morning. We took a walk in the gardens in the afternoon & had our piano.
Monday 9th December
Lunched in G.S. Auntie brought us back in the carriage.
Tuesday 10th December
Lunched at the Arnolds.
Wednesday 11th December
Mary spent the day here. Charlie came to dinner.
Thursday 12th December
Mary came over to see us, I walked part of the way back with her. Surtees went to the cattle show.
Friday 13th December
Wet day.
Saturday 14th December
The day on which our beloved Prince Albert died. May comfort be sent to our Queen from above, under this her bitter trial! He died at 10:50 o/c p.m. we went to see the Bartram’s in the afternoon. Wrote to Tina.
Sunday 15th December
Today we heard of the death of Prince
File 081:
Albert! What a sad loss he is to all. Went to church morning & evening. In the afternoon we called in Norfolk Square & Surtees called with me in Gloucester Square.
Monday 16th December
Mary lunched here; we walked part of the way back with her.
Tuesday 17th December
We went to get our morning[1], met Mary in the Grove & went back to lunch with her.
Wednesday 18th December
Went to church, had a very nice sermon from Mr Brooks. Went to see Mrs Wynter in the afternoon. In the evening went to a party at Miss Parkinson’s.
Thursday 19th December
George’s birthday. Walked over to the Arnolds to lunch. Went into the city to see “The Pursuit of Pleasure”, met Charlie there, Mary got her shawl, went to Millbank. Fanny, Polly, Isabella & Margaret came to tea, also Capt. Connell. Nellie Bramley was staying there, we had games at old made in the evening & sang some of Christy’s Minstrels. I slept there.
Friday 20th December
Went out with the dear chicks in the morning, we went to St James’s Park. In the afternoon walks with Georgie to the pen technique and, met the carriage with Auntie, Maggie & Jesse in it, we went to Regent Street & Georgie & I walked home. Mrs Gibson came in the evening.
Saturday 21st December
Nelly’s birthday. I walked home to Kensington. Papa, Isabella & I walked up to Bedford Road.
File 082:
Sunday 22nd December
In the morning went to Christ Church it was all hung with black on account of the death of our dear Prince. In the afternoon we went to Sunderland Terrace, in the evening we went to church.
Monday 23rd December
Lindsey’s birthday. A very sad & mournful day! Our beloved Prince Albert’s funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, how I feel for our poor Queen & pray that she may have strength given her to bear her great sorrow! In the afternoon though was a special service at the old church, Mr Wright preached a beautiful sermon (Matthew 24 to 44). The bells were tolling the greater part of the day – a day never to be forgotten by all.
Tuesday 24th December
Mary came here to lunch & we walked part of the way back with her.
Wednesday 25th December
Christmas Day. We went to church in the morning & received sacrament. In the afternoon called in Gloucester Square & in Norfolk Square met Clayton and Mary Mitchell.
Thursday 26th December
Went to see Miss Jenkins, Miss Edith J.& aunt Harriet. Dined in Sunderland Terrace, Mary & Charlie came in the evening.
Friday 29th December
Edwards birthday. Clayton came to fetch me to go to the Crystal Palace but when I got to the Station I found the Mitchell girls were not going so I went on to Millbank instead; stayed the night.
Saturday 28th December
Went with Georgie & the children to see Eliza Arbuthnot
File 083:
at the Stuart Ferrer’s in Eaton Place, then walked home. Went P withapa in the afternoon for a walk. Mary & Charlie came to see us & brought Isabella back.
Sunday 29th December
Went to church morning & evening. Went to see the Bartram’s in the afternoon.
Monday 30th December
Went out with Papa. Susan[?] left.
Tuesday 31st December
Went with Papa to Bedford Row. Mary lunched here & I went out with her. The last day of the old year.
---ooOoo---
[1] Mourning ?
