October 1 WEDNESDAY [274-91]

Wednesday morning letter from Mother enclosing one from Uncle Joseph by which it appears he is desirous to do all he can to promote the misery of Henry's widow & children, having discovered that she & he were not married. Wrote back in evening to Mother saying Joseph had better be written to & that Aunt  M must regulate her administering to his Will or no, by his proceedings; Mother says Miss Smith is losing her situation & is coming to see her. Miss King had been staying a day or two; Aunt and Uncle Cox still at Sevrus Place. -

~~~2 THURSDAY [275-90]~~~

Thursday morning letter from George Thackray who is about to go to Mr. Monkhouse the Lithographer for 3 years, which is like to prove a good spec. Thursday evening wrote to Mrs. Barnesley  sending her receipt for French finger;  & promising to go soon to Manchester.-

~~~3 FRIDAY [276-89]~~~

Friday morning letter from Miss Russell inviting me there for Sunday week.- Wrote long letter to William Dewse by way of stirer-up, on his long silence the P, P. & I, Mary Wilson, Kate Hilbourne & Jones down in evening, etc.-

~~~4 SATURDAY [277-90]~~~

Today, busy at office, commencement of Hop Season & the rest. At Graingers & Stratfords.- I am in deep reading of Carlyle's Cromwell letters.-               

5 Sunday -16 aft Trin [278-87]

Letter from Mother to know my further advice as to Aunt Mayfield & the writing to Uncle Joseph; Miss Smith staying at Mrs. Eagles having left her situation; Aunt Cox taking objections to her coming to our house, with small cause, I think. Indoors all morning  replying to Mother's letter- as to Miss Smith & the course for Aunt Mayfield to adopt. At Aunt Wilsons; after dinner Jones came; walked up to St. Johns with us & CG & I went to Boughton to tea & stayed the evening there, reading, writing & hearing music.

~~~6 MONDAY [279-86]~~~

This is my 22nd birthday, melancholy circumstance, marking my progress on the road of life by fearful looming mile-posts, which coming suddenly to view looks ghastly.- This evening had a party to tea & evening's pleasure-consisting of Aunt, Uncle, Mary, Rich, Eliza, Emily Wilson; Jane & Maria & Fred, & Miss Mayfield from Hanley Castle[1], a 53rd cousin, Miss Griffin, & Miss Jones. games, forfeits, acting-charades "Inn-O-cent", & other amusements, spending the time pleasantly until 11 o'clock when the prospect of tomorrow's labour caused us to give up; accompanied Jane & Maria to St. John's.

~~~7 TUESDAY [280-85]~~~

Long letter from William Dewse after a wide interval of silence; making Mary out as the offence-taking party in the quarrel, which as usual in such things originated neither knew how; he has been a fortnight in Leeds & is disgusted with it; he does not go to the Exhibition, proposed instead to visit Worcester again next Summer, consents to contribute to the P I & P-

~~~8 WEDNESDAY [281-84]~~~

A newspaper of recognition this morning from Fair Emma Vokes, in return to a London News I sent her a few days since; it is pleasant even to have a pleasant recognizing glance from such a beauteous dame; ah! could we renew our old acquaintance, it would be widely different, all was Simplicity & Innocence then, now it would be doubtful wisdom & dubious knowledge; but to look on her beauty alone is exalting, it partakes of the nature of the angels; God preserve it long that I and others may look at her & feel the better for it.

~~~9 THURSDAY [282-83]~~~

Wrote letter of enquiry to Miss Smith to know about the causes of her leaving her situation & present circumstances, & this morning (Thurs) had a long one from her explaining all; her lady having a dropsical complaint required other attendance than hers; she is now staying with her Aunt Smith in York, she is deeply concerned at the treatment Aunt Thackray has shown; refusing to speak to her when she called, rumours of Aunt Jane's letter as to her (Miss S's) behavior at Stockton had reached (her) Miss S ears whereat she is deeply & justly concerned, she has heard too of Aunt Cox's uncalled for prejudiced remarks to Mother requesting her not to receive Miss S; all which is very wounding to          Miss S.

~~~11 SATURDAY [284-81]~~~

Old Michaelmas Day

Wrote her a long addition to my letter explaining all as far as I  can, believing her, fully innocent in thought & word or deed to Aunt Clepham, & deeming apology due to Miss S from her slanders; at the same time requesting to know from her own lips how far several things reported of her are true viz: variety of statements as to her income from her own mouth to different persons, the slight assumption of authority at Aunt J's. Bought at Birleys & sent to Edward Thackray as a birthday gift to his coming of age a pair of good razors;[2] Charley sending a wallet in addition; wrote with it a short benison. Letter from Ned on Friday with his card "Mr. Edw Thackray"! Wrote to Miss Russell in reply to her last saying business will prevent my leaving early enough on Saturday evening to reach there.-

12 Sunday -17 aft Trin [285-80]

Sunday, no letters arrived so wrote more; read Carlyle all the morning; CG being at College; walked on the Crowle Road as far as Ronkswood & back by the London Road (field).

~~~13 MONDAY [286-79]~~~

After dinner yesterday CG & I went to Wilsons to tea; Fanny Rose there; pleasant, refreshing play on the Park Hill, with beautiful prospect of the town below & surrounding country. Monday, still no letters; busy at office; Got promise from Mr. Needham of Nomination to School-of-Design for Richard Wilson to attend it, he manifesting predilections that way. Disposed of the rest of my poor poultry.[3]

~~~14 TUESDAY [287-78]~~~

A long dearly welcome letter from Mother, enclosed open to Chas Geo which annoyed me very much & wrote by return to tell Mother so. She encloses me a letter she had had from Miss Miles, very affectionately written - no mention in it of me, or my letters- it shows her good judgement & prevents all discussion- which would be painful.- Ned Thackray's coming of age had gone off with spirit, Aunt & Uncle Cox staying over my birthday & Neds; Miss Smith not present at either, which pains me for it seems that Aunts Clepham, Cox, Charles & Thackray have combined to expel & vilify her; so in a letter which I wrote back in the evening I avow my intention of fighting her battle.-

~~~15 WEDNESDAY [288-77]~~~

Got Mr. Needham to nominate Rich Wilson to the School-of- Design; Uncle W & R down to receive the nomination. Saw my beloved cousin, John Brooks for 1st time - a "Dyks Rodney" by profession, with dubious character. Mr. N went to Bristol (Tuesday).- Added PS to home letter, & off

~~~15 THURSDAY [289-76]~~~

Wrote last night to Lindsay, replying to his former one & its topics; mainly on love & its singleness which I doubt the consistency of, hope it won't sound treason to Lindsay's ears; told of Miss M's letter, closing communication between us.- Letter from Mother accounting for sending me her letter in the manner she did- satisfactory too, the dear old lady thinks I spoke rather sharp about it- doubtless I did- and it seems now I had no cause.

~~~17 FRIDAY [290-75]~~~

Wrote yesterday to Uncle Clepham to ask after him, not having heard since he was in London & received letter from him this (Friday) morning, our letters having crossed; he was recalled suddenly from London by ill news- a customer of his who owed him £180 & whose bill for £150 he held- had failed.- Wrote to Ned Thackray to make enquiries after the present send him, having heard nothing of their receipt; wrote also to George on his becoming a Lithographer  with exhortation to go on with perseverance.

~~~18 SATURDAY [291-74]~~~

Letter from Ned this morning with thanks for the present which he had received safely, but had been too busy to acknowledge earlier; his birthday went off with spirit; festivities kept up until 5 the following morning. Does not say who composed the party. I am desirous to know if his well constant, but now slighted friend, Miss Smith was present. I fear not. Read the London News with details of the distribution of prizes amongst the contributors to the Great Exhibition; no one I recognise among  them, except Mr. Webb of Worcester for his Horse Hair Manufactures; the contents of the Crystal Palace are now fast evaporation.

19 Sunday -18 aft Trin [292-73]

Letter from Miss Russell this morning speaking of disappointment at my not going to see her; with a general open invitation & promise to visit me in the Spring. CG & I walked up Tolladine Road & crossed fields to Crowle & back through Newtown ; eyeing at Ronkswood, a pretty cottage to let "furnished"; very curiously. Up to Boughton in afternoon, posting on the way there, Illustrated London News to Miss Riley. Maria very unwell yet with her toe; Harry at Bredon; all the rest well & good tempered; playing at What is my thought like? Jane, CG, Harry and I at Albert Smith's Entertainment[4] on Friday night last; as well given as previously but his looks marred it for he wore am abominably large beard & moustache; there was a pretty effective picture of Folkestone Harbour by Moonlight added to the views.-

~~~20 MONDAY [293-72]~~~

Monday morning long letter from Miss Smith still feeling deeply Aunt Thackray's slight of her & Aunt Clepham's letters; these Aunts sting as bad as wasps. She attributes Aunt C's disposition to the mischievous tongue of a nurse there at the time.- At Hilbournes in the evening.- Aunt Wilson & Mary called; in their perignations in search of a situation for Mary.

~~~21 TUESDAY [294-71]~~~

Pleasant surprised by a letter from Lucy Cox on Tues morning, not having had one for years; I had written her a scrap in a letter of Jane's to her, also one from Charley- kind & good humoured as usual, wishing to see me in the Happy Valley again; wrote back a long letter to him mainly bearing on Harry & the course I think we are almost bound to pursue towards him in regard to his soi-disant marriage, namely to seek explanation from him & to see if some justice cannot be done his poor wife; wandering & homeless.

~~~23 THURSDAY [296-69]~~~

Working at an article for the proposed mag in evening.- Astonished on Monday by the gift of a sovereign from Mr. Haines the Coal Master, which I thought best to deposit in the Saving Bank before it flew off.  Wednesday a busy day at the office, Mr. N. being away at Bristol again. Jones down in evening. Did a trifle at article for the Mag.-

~~~24 FRIDAY [297-68]~~~

Jones down last night; he & I & CG walked up the New Road, & then CG & I came in & I read at Carlyle's Cromwell which I am now in the 4th volume of giving this great work the best perusal I have yet had in chance of doing & learning some good.  I hope from it or I had better not have looked at it; Grainger lends me it, he has an immense collection of works bearing on Cromwell & the times of the martyr Charles & Nell Guyune- defender Charles second.

-~~~25 SATURDAY [298-67]~~~

Mr Needham has been down at Bristol this week the same as he was last & only returned last night.- I had a letter from Father on Thursday morning saying he, Mother and Miss Smith had been to the Palace at Bishopthorp in company which was pleasant to hear; I answered his letter with a long one last night mainly about Miss Smith, about removing lodgings should Mrs. Jones have room, & saying I should not be home at Xmas.

26 Sunday -19 aft Trin [299-66]

Charley and I started at 11 o'clock for Malvern going by the Upham Road a little way & then by a by lane past Shenards & Warnard Greens, through a beautifully tinted country at the fall of the leaf, on to the Wyche which we dined off bread & cheese[5] at John Davis as I usually do; then along the brow of the hills through the clouds, so speaking, which dragged along the summits into Malvern; & back to Worcester again by the regular road; found Eliza Wilson (our horror!") at the rooms & Mary & Richard came after.-

~~~27 MONDAY [300-65]~~~

Wrote to Ned Thackray, & to Uncle Clepham to the first on our Malvern trip, his birthday & other matters, to the last on his loss, on Aunt Thackray's unkind treatment of Miss Smith & on the illness of his youngest. Busy all this day at the office, as indeed Monday usually is. No letters, I met Jones in the evening and we had a long walk, and a talk together as we formerly used to, talking of Harry and his ways & habits, no credit to him, on marriage in general with its bearing on himself in particular & his relations with home.-

~~~28 TUESDAY [301-64]~~~

This morning a long letter from Charley Cox in reply to my last on Harry; Charley considers all his actions to arise from a perfect system of selfishness, almost unknown to himself, the breadth & depth of which envelope his whole being; he thinks anything that is to be said to him had better come from him than me, which is true, since it would be more likely to have effect.

-~~~29 WEDNESDAY [302-63]~~~

Wrote in evening to Miss Smith- a long letter on Aunt Clepham & herself with encouragement to her to be of good cheer. Jones, CG & I at the [Athaneum] in evening of Windsor Castle & the Exhibition.- Letter from Miss King, whose illness had prevented her writing previously, her brother John is dead, indeed her family seems a fated one.

~~~30 THURSDAY [303-62]~~~

Aunt & Fred Walker called yesterday dinner time.- Wrote to Mr. John Mayfield at Hagley, my Great-Uncle as to William & Mary Mayfield & their conduct as being most praise- worthy- as to Henry & the condition in which he had left his affairs, & the good look-out for his widow has. A newspaper (Yorkshireman) from Emma Vokes, the third I have had from her, showing she still holds me in remembrance, which is pleasant to reflect on, something joyful to know one's name in now & then on the lips of my little pretty sweetheart of 10 years ago, grown now into the bloom of womanhood, handsome & worthy of all admiration.

~~~31 FRIDAY [304-61]~~~

I have hired a man to work at my garden for a week or so and to get it into good order; planting out, making a strawberry bed, dressing asparagus, forming new walls, laying on crating of ashes on them,[6] & bringing the whole in to a creditable condition.
Footnotes for October

⁵³   Miss Mayfield may be Emma, aged 14.

⁵⁴   See accounts for cost of razors

⁵⁵   See accounts for the value of the poultry

⁵⁶   See accounts for the cost of the entertainment

⁵⁷   See accounts for the cost of the outing under November accounts

⁵⁸   See accounts for the cost of the extra gardening under November accounts

 

ACCOUNTS FOR OCTOBER
CREDIT
Date	Description	£	S	D
01-Oct	FM Needham 1 month's salary	6	13	4
13-Oct	Sale of 3 fowls at 11 d ea		2	9
	DB Walker towards extra lodging		1	0
	Do for pocket-book charged to a/c at Graingers		2	9
20-Oct	Mr. Haines, Coal master, Gift	1	0	0
		7	10	10
DEBIT
Date	Description	£	S	D
01-Oct	F.H. Needham, amount lent 26th July	5	0	0
	Geo. Grainger, Stationary & Book reading		1	8
04-Oct	Stratford, Illustrated London News		1	0
07-Oct	Mrs Griffin-Board		9	9 1/2
	Lodging		7	0
08-Oct	Geo Birley - pair razors for E. Thackray		7	0
09-Oct	Do for postage		1	4
13-Oct	Stratfords. Ticket for Albert Smith's		1	0
14-Oct	Mrs. Griffin- Board		4	1
	B'ham		1	0
	Lodgings		5	0
	Geo Nicholls Subs to Lottery concern		1	0
20-Oct	Worcr. SB	1	0	0
		7	19	10