January ~~~1 WEDNESDAY [1-364]~~~ 1st Month 1851
Circumcision

The Year of the Exhibition dawns at last; rather stormily, & with unnatural weather for this season, warm and even sultry, with winds which do not freshen the air. - This 1st January is in a worldly view a great improvement on last year's and perhaps so in all views; I hope so;- What I feel most want of is a companion with whom I can consort & live equably; Jones¹ is another instance in addition to the Coxes²that intellectual company without corresponding social and domestic will never suit me;

~~~2 THURSDAY [2-364]· ~~~

I am essentially, with all my longings after something beyond this tame existence, a wing clipped barn door fowl, & unless I have some fair partner or brother bird of a feather, I grow sad & leaden. Wm. Dewse³ suits me more than Jones, Geo. Thackery⁴ more than Charles Cox; the equable duration of one and the fitful enthusiasm of the other testify this; Wm. & George I love; Jones & Charles Cox I respect & admire.

~~~3 FRIDAY [3-362]~~~

Last Monday evening I had Mr. and Mrs. Barnesley [neighbours] to spend the evening with me & we played the first game at whist ⁵ which had been played in this house of the "Serious family", Mrs. Griffin's [landlady] horror of card playing & its ungodliness seems to exist in quiet companionship with her refusal to sympathise with the afflictions of those whose afflictions are of their own bringing on; for these she has a godly hatred or rather a bigoted & sectarian one. On Wednesday I wrote to Mr. McGowan, [Head of Vegetarian Society] in answer to his application for my subscription posted 8 months ago.

n.b. The items placed in (round brackets) were placed there by Charles. The ones in [square brackets] are my comments, in an attempt to make the text more understandable. JD

~~~4 SATURDAY [4-361]~~~

Last night I wrote a long letter to George Thackray in reply to his last, giving him a general invitation to come and see me, at his own time and convenience; also wrote to James in reply to his.- I am beginning Leigh Hunt's Journal & Douglas Jerrold's works in monthly numbers so as to bind up.- Note from Barnesleys desiring to go to Malvern tomorrow.- Quiet Saturday at the office.- In town in evening, paid Weaver, bootmakers bill 1/19/6.

5 Sunday -2 aft Christmas [5-360]

Unclouded morning, but fearfully muddy; after breaking fast walked up to Barnesleys; waited until they rose; too dirty for Malvern; I walked on to Boughton [area where Uncle Henry Walker lived]; Aunt and Uncle in London. Jane [aged 17] with face-ache, dined with them; Harry [aged 25] and I studying Theatricals; Harry working at a farce "Cross Purposes" and I modified "The Murdered Pump" from Leigh Hunt's Journal to suit 1851 and the stage- Up to tea with Wilsons⁶, meeting Fanny, Mary Anne, Miss Waring.

~~~6 MONDAY [6-359]~~~
Epiphany. Dividends due at the Bank, South Seas and India House

Wrote last night to Uncle Clepham, not having heard from him this month past, also to Miss Smith, and to Post with both. - Met Mr. & Mrs. Barnesley walking out together this morning looking very blissful and delightfully idle. - Got cough now on hand a week, which I am desirous of disposing of, at a great sacrifice. Aunt Wilson and Jones down at my rooms this evening; walked uptown with Jones to Anderson's the Druggists⁷, then to Hilbournes and settled with Mrs. B for two shirts made me by Adelaide⁸

~~~7 TUESDAY [7-358]~~~

I have commenced taking in Leigh Hunt's Journal and Douglas Jerrold's writings, both in Monthly Parts, to bind up when complete; this is the first edition of Jerrold's collected complete writings and is exceedingly well got up in regard to typography & size; the series begins with his novel of St. Giles and St. James; Leigh Hunt's genial humour and oily polish will prevent Jerrold's acridity from corroding one's disposition and will check each other's undue influence.

~~~8 WEDNESDAY [8-357]~~~

Last night I was with Mr. & Mrs. Barnesley to spend an hour or two at his mothers; present: Miss Bridges, 2 Miss Mayburys, a deaf Miss Mathews and the Barnesleys; playing at cards interlarded with Miss Bridge's good humoured, laughing but somewhat broad and unreasonable attack on vegetarianism, of the principle of which she knew nothing.

~~~9 THURSDAY [9-356]~~~
Fire insurance ceases

Yesterday I had a long letter from dear Mother, being the first this year, & after the longest interval that has elapsed between home letters since I left York; her letter had reviving influence on me and instantaneously drove away the depressed spirits under which I have been labouring since the year began; Uncle Charles has left Stockton [on the Forest] & is domiciled at Sevrus Place near York, and will prove a pleasant calling place for Father who can now visit the relation who holds the most sympathetic feelings with him; they have spent a very quiet Christmas at home. Mother sent me a pen machine, which I exhibited to Alice Griffin⁹ as a pocket pistol and she, touching a spring was filled with the most laughable consternation.

~~~ 10 FRIDAY [10-355] ~~~

At the same time with Mother's, I had a letter from Friend-Uncle William¹⁰ giving me some slight hope of coming over to Worcester as he is meditating on a visit to his brother at Leicester and would in that case, of course come on over here. Wrote to encourage his good intention and keep him in the vein.

~~~11 SATURDAY [11-354}~~~

Letter from Mr. McGowan Secy. to the Vegetarian Society acknowledging my letter and explanation in regard to my subscription.- Letter from Miss Smith, she has been unwell and consequently could not write, but it would appear from Mother's letter and Aunt Charles's gossip that Miss Smith is paramount in Uncle Clepham's house; Aunt being superseded, oh! scandal! it would seem no place is holy to thy unholy eyes.

12 Sunday - 1 aft Epiph [12-353]

I sat up until 2 this morning writing to Mother in reply to her last and giving her all the news I could muster. Went up to Mr. & Mrs. Barnesleys to breakfast, meaning all of us to go to Malvern but the weather looks stormy and foreboding so we did not, but we three walked downtown and up Rainbow Hill and Landsdowne Crescent& the fields adjoining coming back after a very muddy walk to my lodgings to dinner; Jones also dropping in and joining us, towards four, we all turned out and had a walk up Gas Hill and on theTolladine Road, [lower right of map] taking the fields to the right and coming back past the Railway to tea at my lodgings after a delightful (?) mud bath. Walked up to post and met Harry Walker bringing him back to tea with us. Mrs. B. being very merry and all spending a pleasant day. Finished my letter home last night, and also wrote to Mr. McGowan with subscription of 2/6 to the Vegetarian Society & offering to be their Local Secretary for this district.

~~~13 MONDAY [13-352]~~~
Cambridge Term begins

At Deighton's this (Monday) morning and got "Wuthering Heights" by Ellis Bell, sister to Currer Bell, (Charlotte Bronte).

~~~14 TUESDAY [14-351]~~~

Wrote, last night to William Dewse, with commissions, amongst others to see after Harriet Best, preparatory to my planning a country house for the summer; also wrote to William Bacon.- Letter this morning from Ned Thackray of a melancholy nature in which he bemoans the usage his Father gives him "continually trying every small pretext to annoy him" and so on; Ned had evidently written in a fit of the spleen and so I wrote back to him a longish letter of admonition and encouragement. Wrote also to Bellerby to know if he could do copy me a daguerreotype portrait of self to frame in the place of one now at home, & other matters.

~~~15 WEDNESDAY [15-350]~~~

Received Yorkshireman containing account of an action brought by William Richardson against Uncle Thackray for horsewhipping him, laying his damages at £50 - Uncle got his whipping for £ & I dare say he thought the pleasure cheap.

~~~16 THURSDAY [16-349]~~~

Finished 1st volume of "Wuthering Heights" by which is only a faint mirror reflection of her sister's genius; it is forced and unnatural & the style is coarse without vigour, and the coarseness is affected and put on. Mr. Barnesley called in last night on his way to Mrs. B from Birmingham where he had been called away from her since Tuesday morning; sad fate! - Putting my books & book closet in order this evening, the Griffins having too noisy a party to admit of writing or reading.

~~~17 FRIDAY [17-348] ~~~
An Eclipse of the Moon

Jones called in this morning having been to a Ball at Charles Allen's of Leominster on Wednesday evening, returning yesterday morning. Began George Sand's Tale of the Devil's Pool.- Wrote to Father to buy and send me a pair of braces by Aunt & Uncle Henry. The Eclipse could not be seen, the sky being too overcast & cloudy for it; very heavy rains falling since yesterday morning.

~~~18 SATURDAY [18-347]~~~

Letter yesterday from Mr. McGowan acknowledging receipt of my subscription, and my volunteering for the Local Secretaryship for this district, which he has forwarded to the officers of the Society for their consideration.- Finished my Christmas accounts yesterday and hope now to be a little more at leisure than I have been for a month of so past.- In the town this evening after I had left the office.- Read the "Devil's Pool" by George Sand, as pretty a tale as I ever remember reading; pure, fresh, & earnest as a mountain stream, & sparkling in the light of genius.

19 Sunday -2nd aft Epiph [19-346]

No letters from home as anticipated; went to Silver St. Chapel, [just off Lowesmoor Rd] none of the Griffins there; heard a very excellent sermon from W. Crowe on the Errors of Religion, breathing liberty of conscience & pointing out the best course he considers so, to follow: after sermon he gave a notice that the Rev. Mr. Somebody would use his pulpit next Sunday to enlighten his congregation as to the merits of the Seaman's Society, but he begged to caution them against aiding him with any money, for Mr. Somebody had promised to do without any and he, Mr. C "hated trickery in religion. Let us pray."

~~~20 MONDAY [ 20-345]~~~

Yesterday I went up to Boughton to dinner and tea, playing in the garden & talking in the house, arranging to send all of them to York. A course I should grieve to see carried out; called at Barnesleys & found them just returned from the ascent of Malvern, very tired; on up to Wilsons to supper and to see my dear Wild Roses¹¹. - Letters this morning from Mary Eagle & Elizabeth Lascelles, the latter of whom, with her blessed comely English face is going to accompany her family to sallow Yankee-land- most vile. Wrote long letter to her last night, bidding her goodbye and sending her as good advice as I could; also wrote to Polly.

~~~21 TUESDAY [21-344]~~~

Letter from Father this morning; Aunt & Uncle Henry still in York staying at Thackrays; Uncle Charles settling down in York, having quite disconnected himself from Stockton; letter also from little Ned Walker. Wrote this evening to Lindsay, scarcity of time cutting it short.

~~~22 WEDNESDAY [22-343]~~~

Last Monday week one of the fowls which I had brought from York, Ned Thackray having given me them, was missing and after diligent search was decided it had been "stolen or strayed"; on Monday last one of Mr. Griffin's men had occasion to open an old sawpit¹² and there found my poor chicken, having been an entire week without food; by care and gentle nourishment we have good hopes of recovering it.

~~~23 THURSDAY [23-343]~~~

Last night I went up to Barnesleys; decided to go to Wilsons on Sunday to suffer a martyrdom in miniature by taking tea there; I going to Mr. B's to dinner.- At Deighton's yesterday, bought more paper, washing book etc. and got Monte Christo out of library. This morning letter from William Bellerby saying he can copy me a daguerreotype portrait; he is very busy working for the exhibition; will send me something where-with to repair my casts.

~~~24 FRIDAY [24-341] ~~~

At Mrs. Plane's last night to return the old lady her glass, which she brought me with her present of jam in, then to Hilbournes; no news of Eliza; got her address and this (Friday) evening wrote long letter to her- to know what she is doing in the far counties; she is at Marsh House, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire, staying with some distant relatives there; named to her my idea of taking a house for the summer and proposing to her to come and be housekeeper for me.- At Post Office in evening.

~~~25 SATURDAY [25-340]~~~
Conversion of St Paul

Mr. Needham's business, [F. Needham, Charles' employer, was a coal & corn merchant & agent for the Worcester Canal Company] in despite of railways opposing him in all branches of it, increases, and my labour proportionately so, in so much that I scarcely have half an hour between Sunday and Sunday available for any purpose of my own; it struck twelve this evening before I left the office; and I am glad to note that things go more smoothly and correctly now, than when I was more disengaged; my thoughts have no wandering time.

26 Sunday - 3rd aft Epiph [26-339]

After breakfast (at 10), it being too rainy to go to Barnesleys to dinner as intended, I sat down to a long correspondence home, sending Father all the news, opinions & reflections I knew and had on hand, writing also to little Ned Walker sending him "Punchinello's Industrial Exhibition" which I had bought the other night at Morgans & giving him the history of the Lost Fowl; also wrote to Charles George in reply to his last & sending all in one envelope to Ned;

~~~27 MONDAY [27-338]~~~

Yesterday, after dinner went up to Wilsons to tea, expected to meet Mr. and Mrs. Barnesley but they did not come owing to the heavy rain which also prevented my little Roses coming; spent an unusually quiet & therefore, pleasant evening, read Guy Mannering (Drama) through, with Mary [aged 15].- Long and retrospective welcome letter from Will Dewse full of honest feeling and rugged but glowing eloquence, breathing brotherly attachment. - Jones called at the office on Saturday night- for I had not seen him for 10 days previous.

~~~28 TUESDAY [28-337]~~~

Yesterday, was christened at the Cathedral by the Bishop of this place, the child of an Amaponda chief & woman born in England being the first occurrence of such an event. - Heavy rains still continue; the opposite bank of the "cut" of the canal to my office burst this evening, the water flooding the cottages close by to a considerable depth. Very busy at the office; did not leave until past 10.

~~~29 WEDNESDAY [29-336]~~~

Received Yorkshireman, as usually I do weekly, from home; nothing of importance; the daily papers, which I see, inform us of another "crisis" in France, Louis Napoleon having 3 ministries within a week; now that the Prince has shown the factious enemies of the Republic that he will not be cowed and led by them, he is hampered & harassed on every side. - Sent Herald home and Yorkshireman to Uncle Clepham. At Deighton's, ordered scrap-book, & notes and Queries.

~~~30 THURSDAY [30-335]~~~
King Charles' Martyr sentence fulfilled[THIS LAST BIT ADDED BY CHARLES]

Letter from Bessy Lascelles relative to her emigration; she does not leave for a month or so yet. Up to see Mr. and Mrs. Barnesley off to Manchester by the 7:40 a.m. train, where they take up their future residence; I expect it is a Temperance Hotel they enter on, and for the management of such a place Mrs. B. appears eminently calculated; she had got a severe cold; made her promise to send me receipt for lemonade, - Full of snow and sleet.

~~~31 FRIDAY [31-334]~~~
Hilary Term ends

I am advancing rapidly in reading Dumas' Monte Christo with deep interest which is rather curious seeing that I have twice before read the first chapter or two and then cast it aside as unreadable and worthless; his Marie Antoinette broke the prejudice I had against Dumas and I am now likely to became his admirer, though if I were asked what I particularly admired in him I should be at a loss what to say, but there are scenes in Monte Christo which by their vivid sketching are daguerrotyped at once upon the mind's eye; the escape of Dantes from the Chateau d'If and his admittance on the smuggler is exquisite and yet in the most common place language.

Footnotes for January

¹ Jones, neighbour and friend, probably the A.H. mentioned in the accounts, possibly Alfred Jones, 27, bank clerk, living in York Place with his widowed mother. He had a 12 year old brother Fred, a hop merchant's clerk

² Coxes, cousins who live in Liverpool

³ Wm Dewse, friend who lives in York

⁴ Geo Thackray, cousin who lives in York

⁵ The cards were bought on December 31st, and cost 2/6.

⁶ Wilsons, Charles' aunt and uncle and cousins

⁷ see accounts for what he bought and the cost

⁸ The cost of having a shirt made was 2/ each

⁹ Alice Griffin, 17 year old daughter of the landlady

¹⁰ Uncle William, possibly Uncle Clepham's first name

¹¹ Wild Roses, young girls who live near the Wilsons whose last name was Rose

¹² Mr. Griffin was a carpenter/joiner.

ACCOUNTS FOR JANUARY

CREDIT
 

DEBIT