In March, Charles talks about a trip to Bredon, going to a China Exhibition, and how they handles a thief in the office.
March 1 SATURDAY [60-305] St David's Day
Receivd L'Pool Mercury from Lindsay & wrote to him not to expect me up by 8 0'clock ; tried to catch first train to Bredon, but missed it; back to breakfast and then started to walk; called at Wilsons; on to Pershore 8 miles and to Eckington 4 further; walked from one to the other by the Severn banks, very pretty; lunched at Eckington, then ascended the Hill; steeper & more romantic than Malvern; rather misty, the Severn running below adds much & the Hills have a less artificial look than Malvern; returned to Eckington and walked along the line to Defford to the Crown kept by Workman, enquiring about lodgings;
2 Quinquagesima Sunday [61-304]
Wrote letter from there to Mother; in reply to hers received this (Sunday) morning saying they had had Mr. Richardson the lecturer with them for a week; that Mrs. Eagle had told her I never need to be at fault for 20 or £30 as long as she had it & talking of her coming over; returned to Worcester by the 7:45 train- Up to Wilson's this evening until 10 o'clock -the one topic Mother's coming, interlarded with my trip to Bredon; what we are to do when Mothers [here]; talking also about Harry whose wife (as they call her), is very ill in London, dying, poor girl, of a broken heart.
~ 4 Shrove TUESDAY [63-302]~
Letters: From Miss Smith, my little cousin, Thomas Richmond Clepham, is strengthening & thriving, Miss S returns soon to York, to meet, I fear, a very cool reception- From Lindsay & Charley a joint stock interlined shockingly rubbish letter; From Edward Thackray with instructions on the rearing of Chickens, and from George on his proposed visit & his hopes of a situation.
~5 Ash WEDNESDAY [64-301]~
At Deighton's last night, & at Morgan's got Five Arts Circular; wrote to Uncle Cox on the Guano affair & to Mrs. Eagle a letter of invitation to come with Mother.- Walked up to Jones' at breakfast hour, returned him Dumas' Three Musqueteers etc. & borrowed Dumas' George; in the evening Jones came to my rooms with me; reading Leader- and Leigh Hunts Journal, talking of proposed Book Club to draw on a London Library with 6 or 8 subscribers, & about house or lodgings at Defford.
~~~6 THURSDAY [65-300}~~
Wrote last night to Uncle Clepham on his new son - Thomas & to ask him to come over to Worcester, bringing Eugene or sweetheart Emily. Wrote to Mrs. Workman also about her terms for board & lodging etc.
~~~7 FRIDAY [66-299]~~
Coming home this evening found my rooms in possession of the Griffins celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mr. & Mrs. G's wedding day after some little hesitation as to the propriety of their taking possession of my rooms without permission, joined in with them; read Longfellow's translation of Tegnes divine poem "The Children of the Lord's Supper", to Mrs Hyde & Mrs. Griffin at their request, Mrs. Hyde at its conclusion, however, wondered Catholics could write so well. Mr. G. was asleep. The Dean of Worcester, the Rev. John Peel brother to the late Sir Robert, came to the office to pay his bill, & talked with me; he is the beau-ideal of a beneficent bishop, placid, almost timid, with apparent ignorance of worldly affairs with more such as he to give kind words the link between rich and poor would be stronger than it is. - Wrote yesterday to Sanders & Otley for their pamphlet on Book Societies
~~~8 SATURDAY [67-298]~~
Wrote last night to William Bacon about Tyler etc. -at Birleys, bought studs Mr. Needham begins to make progress with the Guano trade, which I am glad to see, as having entered upon it at my suggestion I should have [been] annoyed at his losing by it.- At office till past 12.
~9 Sunday -1 in Lent [68-297]~
Quadragesima
Letter from Mrs. Workman of the "Crown" as to her charges for board & lodging. bed 6d tea 9d breakfast 9d making 14/ per week. A sum far too large for me to incur. Received the London Book Circular from Saunders and Otley instead of Book & Book Societies which I had written for. Up to Boughton after breakfast, hearing what York news they had to tell me; tried the Galvanic Battery, rather a pleasant sensation than otherwise; reading L'pool paper etc., talking over family matters; Harry proposing that Aunt, Uncle & Family go to York, while he stays here, sells the house they live in, sends poor old Mr. Powell [father-in-law] out to board somewhere or as Harry jocularly, but in an irreverent manner unpleasant to listen to said, "put arsenic in his nightcap" & takes lodgings in the country; an idea he seems rather determined to carry out, though main objections show themselves on the face of it, as the propriety of selling the only source of income uncle possesses, & the attendance which Harry requires when left.- Unpleasant bickering & disputes arising therefrom. Aunt backing Harry in whatever was most inconsiderate- Had tea & left about 1/2 past 8 -
~~~11 TUESDAY [70-295]~~~
Letter from Mother yesterday morning; she had been to a party at Harries, our old associates of the Y.A.D.S. which I was sorry to hear as she was that she had gone.- With Jones at the Athenaeum "Literary & Scientific Institution" subscribed 3/6 for 1 Quarter from 1st March; reading Colburn & bought January No. essays with critique on Mr. & Mrs. Brownings poetry with extracts; had warm bath last night;
~~~12 WEDNESDAY [71-294]~~~
Letter from Uncle Cox yesterday about Guano auction Sales & enquiring if Harry is so ill as Jane [h]as stated; she saying he has been six weeks from the Bank, which is an error somewhere.- At Wilsons this evening, Aunt wrote to Mother on Monday; had tea there, came back and wrote to Mother about her coming, Boughton topics & other matters.
~~~13 THURSDAY [70-293]~~~
Letter from Charles George this morning, of the windy nature of the former one, he says he hopes to be able to see me during the summer at Worcester though he cannot come at present; with all the promised visits that I have on hand surely I shall have a moderate quantity; the more the merrier for I like familiar faces round about one as infinitely preferable to the stranger ones I now have, separated from me as they are by dialect, thought & manner.
~~~ 14 FRIDAY [71-292]~~~
Letter from Mary Eagle on her Mother's account & saying that owing to two things (one of them a very absurd one: that she will interfere between Mother and her friends) that she fears not to be able to accompany mother here.- Jones I met this evening, after having a short walk; brought him down to my lodgings for a glass of Bromley's ales; talk about Books & Book Clubs and the possibility of working a small Society in connection with Messr. Saunders, Otley, British and Foreign Library- hope we shall succeed in getting it up.-
~~~15 SATURDAY [72-291]~~~
I am reading Dumas' George !- Jane and Maria [aged 15] met me at my lodgings at 1/2 past 3 (instead of 1/2 past 2 as appointed) & we went to see Messr. Chamberlains beautiful exhibition of China, especially of that destined for the Industrial Exhibition; the general treatment & execution of flower pieces & designs of pattern & shape were exquisite, but those of the human figure were all very faulty, being too raw in color & bad in anatomy, with the exception of those done by the late Mr. Chamberlain which were equally as good. An Adam & Eve was beautiful. Did not leave the office until 20 to 1 this morning being very busy. Sending 4 wagons out to Leom-
16 Sunday -2 in Lent [75-290]
After breakfast this morning went up to Boughton; had dinner there; reading Punch, Illustrated News, etc. walked up to Wilsons to tea looking over stray Penny Magazines etc. came back to lodgings about 8 & wrote to Mrs. Workman to decline her offer of lodgings & then Miss Smith a long letter of friendship; trying to coax her over to Worcester.-
~~~17 MONDAY [76-289]~~~
Letter from Miss Smith this morning; added PS after acknowledging it. She leaves Stockton for Northallerton on Wednesday; letter also from Father saying I am [to] expect Mother a week or so before Good Friday.-
~~~18 TUESDAY [77-288]~~~
At Hilbourne's last night and at the Athaneaum; got Blackwood for 1844 out with the "Asthetics of Dress" in to copy; took Fraser in for last month after having extracted Mrs. Brownings beautiful poem "Cry of the Children!" At Jones with pct from Leom. Wrote to Father, acknowledging his last; requesting him to pay Sampson for Diary 4/6.
~~~19 WEDNESDAY [78-287]~~~
Letter from Lindsay this morning, enclosing Schillers "Ideal" with details of his life as he is pursuing it & his daily occupations, how he is learning music, German & attending Mr. Martineau's classes; has got his heart's desire- a piano, & is very busy & very happy; but cannot look for any "outing" this summer, except to Mr. Rawlins at Gresford. Wrote long letter this evening to Uncle Cox on the Guano trade & its prospects, & led on by his enquiries after him, a long disquisition on Harry Walker & the influence his marriage or non-marriage exercises upon all his family & myself; speaking of this topic, in letters, for the first time to any one, seeking Uncle's advice & confidence.- Wrote also to Uncle Thackray as to procuring a situation here for George.- Mr. Bass spoke to me on Tuesday as to whether I knew of a young person likely to suit them as clerk in Pickfords office here in Perrin's place. I then answered - no, but it having struck me that Charles George might like the situation I wrote to Uncle Charles respecting it.
~~~21 FRIDAY [80-285]~~~
At Wilson's last night to tea came back & copied part of the "Aesthetics of Dress" from Blackwood for 1845 which I mean to extract [in] entirety. Mr. Needham at B'ham yesterday.
~~~22 SATURDAY [81-284]~~~
Letter from Miss Smith written at Northallerton where she had just arrived on her way to York. Jones came down to me at office last night. Letter from Mother, Henry Mayfield ill & Charles George this morning saying that he thinks the place will suit him & he should like to come to Worcester. so I spoke to Mr. Needham about it and he at once manifested an interest in it and spoke to Mr. Taylor- Pickford's Manager; he has one or two applications on hand but would bear mine in mind but not thinking this very satifactory, I got Mr. Needham to call on him & speak; the salary is a mere nothing (£20) to begin with, but is progressive; by writing to Wm Bass I could at once get CG in but such a course would render CG's berth a very unpleasant one.
23 Sunday -3 in Lent [82-283]
Letter from Uncle Thackray saying he should like a situation in Worcester for George, and in about 3 months he will [be] ready to undertake one after having been a short time longer at Pocklington under Dr.Wilson.- Wrote to Mother on CG's coming & her own and on Henry's illness; to Chas George [on] the progress made on his behalf; to Ned Walker and Mr. WH Barnesley. Went up to Boughton in afternoon; reading and talking Harry and I read the Honey Moon through together. Borrowed volume 1 of "Household Words" from him.- Eliza came to my lodging at breakfast time bringing letter from William Dewse, on "filles-du jour" etc. he begins to be blasé now and professes to be "Used Up", used up at 20! No letter from Uncle Charles as to know how I am to go with reference to CG.- Miss Jones & Miss Griffin at Aunt Wilsons to tea; I joined them after leaving office; read Mother's letter to Aunt written on Sunday; Henry is better.- Uncle Charles in Liverpool.- Letter from Uncle Charles written from Uncle Coxes and enquiring as to the salary given by Pickford wrote to him by return requesting immediate instructions as to what I am to do. Letter from Uncle Clepham, promising to visit me this summer; Aunt is better, & my young cousin thrives well. Newspapers from Father, Uncle Clepham & Cox.
~~~26 WEDNESDAY [85-280]~~~
Note to Uncle Charles at Liverpool yesterday: Yesterday morning Mr.Needham on putting his key into his cash-drawer was astonished to find it open, & though he could not miss anything not having counted in on the previous night, he felt certain it was in the habit of being opened, so this evening I marked all the silver he left, and counted it particularly leaving one crown, 5 half-crowns & 3 shillings.
~~~27 THURSDAY [86-281]~~~
Letter from Uncle Charles this morning to know when Pickford would require their clerk, so wrote to say, I should suppose on the 1st April, so that CG would have to come on Monday if engaged.- Mr. Needham found his drawer open yesterday morning and two of the half-crowns missing; consequently unpleasant proceedings, consultation with Sergeant Chipp, & suspicions, chiefly laying on Charles Cale and Bishop, the watchman, examining, questioning all day.-
~~~28 FRIDAY [87-278]~~~
Yesterday, the questioning etc. was renewed; suspicion lying heaviest on Mrs.Cale; Charles discharged & ordered to quit his house.- Today began by Mrs.Cale coming to me on going down to the office & asserting her innocence & indignation at the charge. I began to think that none of our regular men have done it.- Mrs. Cale on hearing Mr. N.'s accusation of her in the yard came to the office & talked, argued, protested with him from 1 until half past four, & mastered him; ended by Charles being recalled to his place. [In Accounts it shows Mrs. Cale being given 1/3 worth of tea-perhaps to make up for the insult]. Mr. Taylor sent down for me at night after I had written to CG and requested me to write off at once again for him, did so just in time for the first post, for him to come on Sun or Monday; wrote again in the evening (Thursday) to Uncle Charles and Mother as to her accompanying CG if possible.
~~~29 SATURDAY [88-277]~~~
Letter from Uncle Charles this morning asking for a day or two's prolongation of time; waited on Mr. Taylor and then wrote to Uncle Charles to say CG must be here on Monday so as to enter on his duties 1st April.- So at last I shall have a companion of my liking-
30 Sunday -4 in Lent [89-276]
Did not leave work until past 11 last night. Letter from Uncle Charles this morning saying CG will be with me tomorrow evening but doubts Mother being able to accompany him. At Silver St. Chapel & heard sermon on The Trinity from Mr Crowe, revealing the harsh, unintellectual and bigoted doctrine of the Baptists in full truth. Fire on Tallow Hill.- After dinner wrote long letter home on Mother & CG coming and general news, wrote also to Uncle Charles.-
~~~31 MONDAY [90-275]~~~
Dividends due on India Bonds
Yesterday up at Wilsons and there joined by Jones with whom I returned into town having long talk on CG & the propriety of his associating with him, which we calmly discussed as if we were uninterested third parties, and finally deciding to keep apart.- Letter from Mother this morning, saying she will not come with CG.- At dinner hour astonished by Aunt Wilson & Mary, Aunt Walker & Jane coming; Jane and I met 3:50 train; CG did not come, at 6 o'clock CG arrived and was met at Station by Jane, Mary Wilson and I looking hearty & good humoured; after tea up to Boughton, meeting Harry. CG at once noticing the "critic" disposition which he terms "calling names!"
Footnotes for March
18 Bredon, see map of area
19 see accounts for cost of Circular
20 Uncle Henry Walker was aged 49, and employed as a commercial agent in the linen trade. His wife, Mary Ann, is listed as aged 42.
21 see accounts for cost of studs
22 Harry worked as a bank clerk.
23 see accounts for cost of Ales
24 see accounts for the china he bought
25 see accounts for diarist's salary
ACCOUNTS FOR MARCH
| | | |
| | | | |
CREDIT
| | | | |
| | | | |
Date
| Description
| £
| S
| D
|
28-Feb
| FH Needham, 1 mo. Salary
| 5
| 16
| 8
|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | 5
| 16
| 8
|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
DEBIT
| | | | |
Date
| Description
| £
| S
| D
|
28-Feb
| Mrs Griffin for board, lodging during February
| 2
| 6
| 11
|
| 2 Handkerchiefs a/d=1/2, Do1/3
| | 2
| 5
|
02-Mar
| Expenses from Bredon Trip-
| | | |
| Lunch at Eckrington
| | 1
| 0
|
| Tea at Deford
| | 1
| 6
|
03-Mar
| Jas Bromley, ale
| | 1
| 11
|
04-Mar
| Art Circular
| | | 2
|
| Mrs Griffin
| | 9
| 4
|
| Soap
| | | 3 1/2
|
| Biscuits
| | | 1 1/2
|
05-Mar
| Biscuits
| | | 1 1/5
|
| Stamps
| | 1
| 0
|
07-Mar
| Biscuits
| | | 1
|
08-Mar
| Studs (black) at Birleys
| | 3
| 6
|
10-Mar
| 1 Quarters Subscription to the Athenaum
| | | |
| from 1 March to 1 June
| | 3
| 0
|
11-Mar
| Mrs. Griffin weekly account
| | 10
| 9
|
12-Mar
| Gingerbread nuts
| | | 2 1/2
|
| Do
| | | 1 1/2
|
| Tom Jones
| | | 1 1/2
|
17-Mar
| Weavers
| | | 3
|
14-Mar
| Jas Bromley 5 gal beer barrel
| | 4
| 6
|
| I & E Mason watchcleaning
| | 2
| 6
|
15-Mar
| Chamberlains China, a thimble fo MJ
| | 1
| 0
|
17-Mar
| FH Needham for 1/2 ton top LPs & Gibbles
| | 6
| 6
|
18-Mar
| Mrs Griffin, weekly a/c
| | 12
| 5
|
20-Mar
| 2 Nos Family Herald
| | | 2
|
22-Mar
| Marmalade
| | 1
| 0
|
| 3 lbs candles for lamps/ 8 d from Pumphreys
| | 2
| 0
|
28-Mar
| Tea for Mrs Cale
| | 1
| 3
|
| | 5
| 16
| 8
|
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