1 April TUESDAY [91-274]

With CG at Pickfords introducing him to Mr. Taylor & he at once began his duties and got through his first day promisingly. Drayton stays to initiate him into the way.

~~~2  WEDNESDAY [92-273]~~~

Wrote to Uncle Charles last night.- Letter from Uncle Clepham this morning saying he accompanies his sister to Leicester on Friday & must see [me] either there or in Worcester as if there could be any doubt which; wrote to ask him to come on Saturday so as to have a quiet talk in the evening undisturbed by fears of early rising. CG and I walked up to Boughton this evening in conformity with Monday evening's arrangements and found, with their customary thoughtfulness and politeness, all had gone out or to bed.-

~~~3 THURSDAY [93-272]~~~

Charles George's junction with me is a very important item in my progress since he is the first friend I have lived with; we have one sitting room & meal together, Mrs. G. charging us 5/ each; we have separate sleeping rooms.

~~~4 FRIDAY [94-271]~~~

I now hope I have done with those depressed-spirit attacks which came out me now & again when quite alone in my room; a cheerful human face is a great dispeller of vapours or blue devils, as indeed it is the only foe to attack all supernaturalism with. His good humour will counteract my tendency to melancholy & I trust, make me a better being.-

~~~5 SATURDAY [95-270]~~~

Dividends due at the Bandk & Sea House

Last night I wrote a long letter to Uncle Charles respecting CG and his arrangements and prospects, this evening we walked up to Wilsons where he soon entered into their spirit & was friendly and social with them, for he has no false pride & is ready to own fellow spirits without looking at their dress; -  Yesterday afternoon, at tea time, we were in the town; my hours are now quite altered to suit CG's; breakfast 1/2 p 7, dinner 12! tea 4!!!!!!! With CG in town this afternoon; at office till 11.-

~~~6 Sunday - 5 in Lent [96-269]~~

Our Lady Day

CG and I started for Malvern about 10 and reached the Hills by 1; ascending them by St. Anne's Well; resting here and there by the way, reading Mr. Hoods descriptive & intense poem, "The Haunted House", on the top met Harry and John; all hungry, found a woman on the hills with basket of Malvern Cakes[1] & consumed a quantity;  In North Malvern, which was a new portion to me and is far the best of the hills because the wildest, we walked back together- critics & criticized. We got home by 6, had tea, and then CG and I walked up to Wilsons & found all the younger ones & the Roses there; Aunt & Uncle up at St. Johns,- called on Uncle to introduce CG to him.

~~~7 MONDAY [97-268]~~

Letter from Father this morning; Mother is poorly & cannot come before Thursday & Friday; a sore disappointment,

~~~8 TUESDAY [98-267]~~~

On Saturday, Mr. Needham and Frank Flinn had a slight quarrel on some small matter & yesterday (M) FF gave him notice that he should leave. Mr. N. regretted CG not being at liberty to accept the situation but thought it not too late yet for CG to leave Mr. Taylor as he is only on trial & Mr. Taylor is a hasty violent tempered man and not over-well disposed to him; wrote long letter to Uncle on the subject; & today Mr. N. renewed the topic; had an interview with CG, & wrote himself to Uncle so that I may now hope to have him in my own office, which will be far preferable to Pickford, wrote again to Uncle Charles and also to Mother hoping she will come on Wednesday, or Thursday at latest, and with last commissions.

~~~9  WEDNESDAY [99-266]~~~

Fire Insurance Ceases

Letter from Uncle Clepham written from his brother's at Leicester wishing to know what day Mother is coming so as to regulate his own visit; wrote to him to say when, & to wish [him] to come on Saturday.- Last night CG & I up at Boughton & met with as uncivil a reception as they could give, Jane refusing to play for CG & the rest not speaking or coming near.

~~~10 THURSDAY [100-265]~~~

Letter from Father this morning saying Mother is coming tomorrow evening, which damped my hopes of seeing her sooner altogether, for I had got Mr. Needham off to Birmingham & arranged everything for a day free from hard work. However she is coming; This evening Mary and Eliza & to my surprise (and a little annoyance) told me that Aunt had had a letter from Mother in which she says Father will not let her come alone and will accompany her; I & CG went back with them home & read Mother's letter. Father has evidently meant it as a surprise but Mother spoilt it by her letter.-

~~~11 FRIDAY [101-264]~~~

Cambridge Term ends

Fidgety day, & at 1/4 to 6 at the Railway Station with CG, Aunt Wilson &  Mary, and there met dear Father & Mother and with them - Uncle Clepham! So I had a surprise & a welcome one after all; Mother better, Father & Uncle hearty; all safe with a loss of only a basket of eggs, which slipped away to London in the surprise of meeting Uncle at Derby,  he having come up from Leicester & joined them there.

~~~12 SATURDAY [102-265]~~~

Oxford Term ends

Uncle Henry & Jane & Uncle Wilson with us last night, Father, Uncle, CG and I in the town. Today with Uncle, Mother & Father in the town;- over Chamberlains China Factory. Wrote to Uncle Charles last night and Father had a letter from him this morning to report progress of business as he is managing all.- Uncle Clepham & I up until 3 in the morning talking over our private matters & clearing up misunderstandings, arriving at a perfect comprehension of one another's view & finding after all we were both in the right, our talk bearing in part on Miss Smith & her visit to Uncle C, refusal to come to York; Uncle C putting the case in a new light by showing that if she had come to York & returned to Stockton as we desired, it would [have] given Uncle C's [home] the appearance of her home.

~~~13 Palm Sunday [103-262]~~~

At College (all of us) and then to the Locks & back in the afternoon. Father, Uncles Clepham and Wilson, CG, Jones (who called and got his introduction) & I took a cab to Malvern, opened, smoked cigars, looking gentish; upon to the Hills & on to the Wyche, and back by 8 to tea- talking out the evening.-

~~~14 MONDAY [104-261]~~~

Sent 7 newspapers to Trinity Lane to different persons.- Walked with Uncle Clepham up the Hill at Breakfast time & at 1/2 past 1 he left us for Leicester, resisting all inducements to stop longer; he is a noble man & I feel proud of his friendship.-

~~~15 TUESDAY [105-260]~~~

Easter Term begins

Last night up to Wilsons, to tea; Mary Mayfield there;- Letter this morning from Miss Smith who has gone as shopwoman to Mr. Halley, the draper;- Wrote to the London "lost" Dept. last night as to the missing basket of eggs.- With Father in the town a little. Had a quiet evening in my rooms, - Mother & Father, CG & I forming a nice quartet for whist; CG & I beating Mother & Father- giving my deserted rooms the air of Home. Mary Wilson called on leaving her work[2].

~~~16 WEDNESDAY [106-261]

Harriet Mayfield called this morning, and with mother talking with her some time; sorry to see her, lost in reputation; trust the influence of Mother will be beneficial to her. Mother and Father calling on old friends and cronies. Invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Flinn (Frank is their son) for Sunday- declined with thanks.- In-doors in evening, talking, teaing, writing, reading, playing cards etc. Eliza Wilson [aged 13] here with her rompinG.

~~~17 THURSDAY [107-258]~~~

Letter from Uncle Clepham from Leicester; he is staying longer from home than he expected, having had an extension of his parole from Aunt; he is sorry now that he did not stay longer with us; but complains about our shameful treatment of him. "being stingy about a few coals" - continuing too his good precepts & advice - Father and Mother up at Daniels; wrote to Uncle Clepham as to meeting Father.-

~~~18 Good FRIDAY [108-257]~~~

Hol at all Public Offices

Mary Wilson came down to breakfast with us & after being at the office for a half-hour, Mary, Eliza, CG, Father, Mother & I walked up the Tolladine Road, crossing the fields to Crowle Road & on to Perry Wood, getting glimpses over Worcester; To Wilsons, surprising them by a fearful inroad to dinner; at office and back, tea at Wilsons, Mary Ann Brooks called to see Mother; had to dispose of her scientifically, without I or Father seeing her; She looks more "wandering" than ever.- Chacky-fiddling, the Roses there; dancing & playing.

~~~19 SATURDAY [109-256]~~~

Easter Eve. Hol at Com Please & Law Offs

Wrote to Uncle Ned Walker yesterday.- Busy day at the office, Kept Charles George hard at it until 1 o'clock in the morning, his first hard day's work, the poor lad. Had something to do to keep awake and addition was an absurdity, multiplication a futility.- With Father and Mother in the town, arranging tomorrow's "outing" ; at Davies: etc. in to tea; Aunt Wilson with us;- Letter from Miss Smith. She has already left Halley.

~~~20 Easter Sunday [110-255]~~~

Letter from Uncle Clepham; he leaves Leicester tomorrow for home, too early for Father to meet him; who will not leave until Tuesday, now, wrote to tell him so, also to Uncle Chas to meet him etc. Mary Wilson, Adelaide Hilbourne, Father, Mother, CG & I started in cab to "Holt Fleet[3] by 10:30 a.m. & walked up to the Weir; beautiful scenery; summery day; pleasant companions.- Tea at Mrs. Smiths in her splendid room with prospect of the country. Back by 7 o'clock after a happy day.

~~~21 Easter MONDAY [111-254]~~~

Hol at Chancer, Com Please & Law Offices

Wet through last night, going to the feast. Aunt and Eliza Wilson, Uncle Henry in last night. Lazy day at the office; being Eastertime the men not much inclined for hard work. Harry, CG, Father and I at Theatre to see some of the Old York players:[4] Reynolds, & his two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Poynter, Lewis Ball etc. Macbeth & the Village  Lawyer, the pieces; Miss Agnes Kemble playing Lady Macbeth, she is a member of the great Kemble family but nothing more than ordinary; her features are noble & expressive but her acting is very tame & insipid; the whole play wretchedly "put on". -

~~~22 Easter TUESDAY [112-253]~~~

Hol at Chancery, Com Pleas & Law Offices

Father has been talking of going these last two days but will stay over tomorrow on the condition I get holiday, which I did, calling on Mr. N at the house after leaving work, for that purpose then walking on the Ketch tea-gardens to join Father, Mother, Miss Griffin, Mrs. Jones, CG & the Wilsons with Jane who were there; playing at ball; by the river to Wilsons to tea & home by 11 after walking up to Boughton with Jane.-

~~~23 WEDNESDAY [113-252]~~~

St. George

This morning CG, Father & Mother & I started by the 9:15 coach for Malvern[5] and got to St. Anne's Well just as the first thunder storm of the season broke out; Father & Mother back into the village but CG & I kept on to the Wyche & lunched at a little shop there to an alarming extent; shower while there; back into Village; returned to Worcester by 4 o'clock coach; CG & I got off at Bransford Bridge and went round to Boughton for Maria & Jane & kept waiting an hour caught in Broad St. in heavy storm; refuge in Birleys, rest having umbrellas went on; bought hair-brush, envelopes etc. Jones called in; Maria wishing him away. I had to speak sharply to her on the impropriety of her objecting to my company: Harry called.

~~~24 THURSDAY [114-251]~~~

Father left at 7:10 this morning for home after the longest stay from there I every remember his making; he would appear to have enjoyed himself too, which is a gratification.

~~~25 FRIDAY [115-250]~~~

St Mark

Father's visit has been a noisy uproarious one; everyone has been attracted by him. Uncle Henry accompanied him as far as Birmingham on his way to L'Pool. With Mother in town yesterday afternoon & indoors with CG & her all the evening. At Wilsons this evening for Mother, with CG; Eliza has conceived a violent affection for CG & exhibits it in a most outrageous fashion threatening to kill him utterly; letter from Father announcing his safe arrival at home, finding everything in trim; also from Wm. Barnesley with invitation to Vegetarian banquet to take place at his Hotel today.

~~~26 SATURDAY [115-240]~~~

Busy day at the office;  managed to get away by 10 o'clock however & so avoided the yawning scene of last Saturday; with Mother in town at dinner time, Birleys and other places; town looking gay & bright with gay faces & dresses. - Came on dull & cold in evening.

~~~27 Low Sunday [117-248]~~~

1 aft Easter

Dull morning, shutting out all prospect of a country walk; Mother & Charles George at St. Martin's Church where I was christened; I kept at home, talking with Mrs. Jones[6] & wrote long letter to Uncle Clepham & after dinner, Mother, CG & I walked up to Aunt Wilsons, and had tea and spent the afternoon & evening there. Miss Waring there; Jane and Maria came after tea there, and I walked home with them; Maria opening a discussion on some hasty spoken but two sentences of mine as to their driving my visitors away, and wishing to know to what I alluded; told them it was to Adelaide, & to Mr. Jones that my remarks applied & to the ill manner Maria spoke of the latter.

~~~28 MONDAY [118-247]~~~

Mother had letter from Father this morning wishing her to return home at once though this is only the 4th day since he left; wrote back to him to say how unreasonable I think his request & that Mother would have another week.- Indoors all the evening. Heavy showers of hail & sleet.

~~~29 TUESDAY [119-246}~~~

Letter from Uncle Clepham from Stockton, where he had arrived safe & found all right;- & containing a lecture on Vegetarianism.- Very violent storm of Hail this morning;- wonder how the Great Glass House stood it; it is to be opened by the Queen in State on Thursday.- Jones came down in evening; Mrs. Hilbourne came with Mother; astonished by sudden irruption of Uncle Charles who came to see after CG & take Mother back, on most excellent scheme of Fathers; felt much annoyed by it, for to oppose his wish would make him "ill" to give way to it would be humouring wrong; it is unjust & unkind of Father, because with the alternative I must needs give way to his wish.-

~~~30 WEDNESDAY [120-245]~~~

Oxford and Cambridge Terms begin

Mother had [a] letter from him this morning wishing her back on Thursday; but she wrote to say Tuesday & after some demuring I was forced to give in- With CG up Sansome Walk, B Square and back by College etc. to Wilsons, & home with Mother & Uncle Charles.

 

Footnotes for April

 

²⁶  see accounts for cost of the cakes, etc.

²⁷  Mary was a dressmaker.

²⁸  see accounts for cost of the trip

²⁹  see accounts for cost of the trip

³⁰  

³¹  Mrs. Jones is the Griffin's widowed daughter, Elizabeth, aged 22, having a 2 year old baby daughter also called Lizzy.

 

ACCOUNTS FOR APRIL

CREDIT
 

Date	Description	£	S	D
April 1	Balance from March		1	10
	FH Needham, 1 mo. salary	5	16	8
			2	6
		5	18	6

DEBIT
 

March 25	Mrs Griffin, weeks board lodging to date		11	4
April 1	DO		11	4
	Joe Smith			4
	Knife sharpening			1
	Jas Bromley, one month's ale		2	6
	Do -5 gallons ale at 1/8 say		8	0
April 4	Richard Wilson - 1 pair gloves to order		3	2
April 7	Deighton, books and stationary, as p account		14	6
April 8	Mrs Griffin, weeks board & lodging		10	0
	Gingerbread nuts			2 1/2
April 19	Stamps			6
April 21	Mrs Griffin, board and lodging		14	10 1/2
April 18	Trip to Holt Fleet, Cab and tea for Adelaide and self		7	0
	Theatre (pit)		1	0
April 23	Expenses at Malvern			7 1/2
April 26	John Fulwell			6
	Cap at Chaplins		3	6
April 28	Wine- 1 bottle at Joseland		3	6
Balance to May			5	0
		5	18	6