Diary by E.B.B.

Mr. Jefferson[1] came to breakfast that he might shoot afterwards. It is very extraordinary: but I never was acquainted with a young man of any mind or imagination—except Mr. Knowles. I do except him. They went out to shoot afterwards: & B, H A & I had the honor of their company at...

So Sam came home in an irrational unchristian state, from the Cricket match last night! Henrietta heard him carried up stairs, & was very much frightened. Neither he nor Bro appeared at breakfast; for Bro went out to shoot, & he went to Mathon—& the farther he goes the better. Henrietta is...

Agreed—that we are to drink tea with the Peyton’s this evening. A bore; but more tolerable than if we were to drink tea with them tomorrow, when my dreams lead me to Malvern.

I had a note on Tuesday from Mrs. Boyd, to desire me, from Mr. Boyd, to take with me on my next visit, Chrysostom’s commentary on the Romans. Chrysostom Ann & I set off at about half past eight, & arrived at Ruby Cottage before their breakfast time. Miss Bordman did not go yesterday. I sate &...

I wrote a letter to Papa,—& a note to Mr. Boyd containing the palinodia of my folly in lending Chrysostom to Dominick.[1] He may be angry with me; for I am sure that he can be angry with me, if I give him cause. I forgot to memorabilize his idea of sending to the Times newspaper, a letter upon...

Today’s account, will not end as yesterday’s did. And yet, it is possible that there may be no letters. No letters. I have been reading the new Testament with its comparative evidences, today, all day. I cannot—the word is correctly said—I cannot make up my mind from Scripture, to do...

Went to church with B & A in the wheelbarrow. If this were likely to last, I wd. not go; and as it is, I am not clear—indeed I am afraid I am clear, that I am not doing right. But my disposition is a yielding one. I have a constitutional dislike of all contention; & therefore I suppose I...

Off at 8 in the morning, with Maddox—after have [sic] tea’d & bread & buttered with her & Minny. Intercepted by Dominic & Henry, who wanted me to breakfast at Mrs. Trant’s, & talked a great deal of native nonsense—Dominick especially. He accused Henry of making use of his ideas in...

So Bummy has agreed to join Mrs. Cliffe’s pic nic today; & so I am to go!— Heigho!—

Very unwell—could scarcely get down stairs, my legs trembled so much. On going into the dining room, a note was given to me from Mrs. Martin, praying me to meet her at the gate, & accompany her, together with Bummy, to Bromesberrow.[1] I felt so unwell, that I negatived the proposal,—& this...

The Jackdaw has torn one of the leaves of my Heynes Homer, the Homer which Mr. Boyd gave to me on his birthday. And why did he tear it? Because Georgie ventured to take the book into the schoolroom, & without asking my leave. Georgie was scolded of course. I had the philosophy not to cry.

I mean to go to Malvern tomorrow, if I can peaceably, & obligingly. Finished the Panegyricus, at last. What is the reason that I have been able to dawdle over it? There must be some reason. A long passage near the end, has a great deal of eloquence, & vivida vis besides: and the general style is...

Henrietta went out to drive at twelve oclock with Mrs. Martin. I heard the boys read Greek—& Latin on account of Bro being at Worcester. By the bye, I hope he may bring home my shoes & combs & Theophylact.[1]

Went to Church, & took the sacrament. I wish the sacramental service were shortened, & weeded of its expressions “holy mysteries” &c. What mystery is there, can there be, in this simple rite? Are there not many weak brethren who shrink back from holy mysteries, and who wd. hurry on with a...

A splendid day; as if earth as well as Heaven were all sunshine. Breakfasted in the nursery; & off to Malvern before eight oclock. Called at Miss Steers’s, with Shelley’s poems. Could’nt get in on account of her being unwell, & not up. Mrs. Boyd, whom the sound of my chariot wheels,...

I wrote this morning to my dear Papa; that my letter might go with 2 brace & ½ of partridges. No letters in return. Composing a Greek song, for an air to the guitar. I rather like the ideas; but the harmony has been torn to pieces, by my looking first to the musical measure, & next to the...

Wrote to Miss Price, because Bummy wanted me to write to Sir Robert[1] & enclose a letter for her. Hearing the boys—and now; it is agreed that we shall go to the Wyche!— Shall I go anywhere below the Wyche!— How happy I should be if I could! But no—I must not mention it; & if Bummy...

No letter again. I have been reading, Iphigenia in Aulide, for the first time. The opening is very un-Euripidœn—which I think Porson observes in his Prœlectio, but I forget his observations upon it.[1] A cloudy sunny looking day—like my disposition. Bummy A & I set off in the wheelbarrow,...

Oh that party at the Bartons. “Ahi dolente parti— … ta!”[1] I must go to it, so I may as well make up my mind gracefully as ungracefully. The Peytons! The Biddulphs!!—

Pheasant shooting of course,[1]—& two brace & a half, & a hare, sent down to be packed up for London: & that is not of course; but very “good sport”. I hope Bro will give me a brace for Mr. Boyd. By the bye, I had dreamt of going to see him today; but Mrs. Biddulph woke me, by asking...

I dont think Henrietta enjoyed herself or her party last night. What was the reason? She generally does enjoy everything of that kind.

Meant to have been off at seven. Off at a quarter past 8—& B & A my convoy. A lovely morning, which I hoped wd. turn into rain that nobody might be able to come for me. Found the majority at breakfast. The minority looked into the room in a few minutes, to ask “Is Miss Barrett here?” I...

Will there be a letter from Papa today? If there is .. , what will it be—rainy or sunshiney?

The bible meeting at Ledbury today. Sorry for it. It is our duty to go; and some allusion may be made to Papa’s absence & the cause of it; & this, I cannot always bear.

I finished my letter to Mr. Curzon today, & Henrietta took it to Ledbury where she went to dine with the Watts’s. My letter speaks a part of my heart with regard to my dear friend—, & the whole of my heart with regard to myself. It is not an uncandid letter. If Miss Gibbons herself were to...