Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Sunday in Liverpool. It was half past ten o’clock last night when the Canada came to her moorings after a capital voyage of 10 days and a few hours. Such a run few steamers have had indeed it has been the first favored trip this year. We feel grateful I am sure but it is all so like a dream...

Monday. Arose in time to have an hour before good Mrs Blodget’s breakfast at ½ past eight. Jamie employed the time in walking to Dr Raffles about 3 miles where he left a package of autographs he had expressed a wish to possess. J. went after breakfast down town with Mr Thayer while I occupied...

After a long draught of sleep on Mrs Blodget’s most comfortable bed we started early Tuesday morning for Chester. It was my first look at an English first class car and I fear I felt inclined to swell & appear nabob-ish but alack! Alack! how all present things dwindled before the picturesque...

Wednesday. Could resist London no longer, therefore took the train thither at ½ past nine (first class the poetry of travelling) & came to London, dear grand, lovely, old London at 3 o’clk. Drove from point to point for Lodgings—very busy week. Whitsuntide. Ascot races. &c. Came at last for...

Thursday June 16th Went with an enormous crowd to Ascot. The Queen arrived in state from Windsor at ½ past 1 o’clock. We stood very near her. It was a lovely sight. Returned to town with our American friends at 4 o’clk—dined. I was alone when the door flew open and Parker & Fairbanks came...

Jamie saw Tennyson today Friday the 17th Saw St. Paul’s with Mr Parker. We went into the Crypt where Wellington lies with lamps burning about him and a magnificent stone sarcophagus over him. Nelson, Trafalgar’s hero lies behind him. After walking through the queer old streets and looking up...

Saturday morning we were up betimes and soon after 9 started for the Palace of Art accompanied by our very good and kind friend Mr Bennett. It was something to write Kate about—a day in real life equal to the highest aesthetic desires. It was so beautiful that it seemed perfectly surreal, like...

—which I stayed at home reading a large part of Sunday—the 19th of June. In the afternoon attended service at St. Paul’s—grand music—preaching by Thomas Dale. Drove to Regent’s Park to see the display which must be one of the greatest in the world. Walked to the Temple and saw the...

Monday the 20th Charming call from Mr Bennett. Go with Mr P. to Westminster. Remove to our lodgings—23 Northumberland St. Strand. We have been very cosy in the old York Hotel, and it is something to be so near St. Pauls. Jamie is among the trade today.

Tuesday June 21th Mr Bennett came in to breakfast with his hands full. He brought us Allingham, Leigh Hunt’s early books, Mozart’s photograph until we laughed at the quantity of things which were secreted about his person. Put our things in order in our pretty lodging rooms—was interrupted...

Wednesday. Charles Reade and Fairbanks came to breakfast at ½ past nine. Reade talked remarkably for two or three hours describing a case at law in which for Charity’s sake he was interested and where he had expended 70£ every 3 months it had been deferred by Lord Campbell. He also described...

Breakfasted quietly refusing to see Mr Kuntze who called. Messrs Parker and Fairbanks came in directly then afterward Thackeray and his daughters two charming girls. We go there tonight. Before starting however we went to see the Royal Academy where we passed two happy hours. We saw some lovely...

Came home a little ill and stayed in bed and in our rooms all day Friday thereby losing a nice dinner with Thackeray at Greenwich. It is, the result of mere excitement, and amounts to entire exhaustion physically and mentally.

Saturday 25th Breakfasted with Whitworth Jones Esq. at 9 o’clk. Mr Russell was there and we had a cosy merry time enough. Wheelock’s and Church’s pictures were about the room making it seem quite American. Russell kindly went with us after breakfast to see the Guards in the square of St....

Sunday morning. Went to hear Spurgeon and came away surprised and delighted. The man is so young and so true with powers to fulfil in a small degree at least what his heart dictates. He is said to be only 22 years of age & does not look one moment older. The audience was immense, Surrey Gardens...

Monday June 27th Mr Hawthorne and Julian (an interesting boy) came to breakfast at ½ past nine. Hawthorne wishes us to take a Villa near Florence where they lived; he said the bells of Florence sounded exquisitely there and beside the place was haunted. He dislikes all people of pretension but...

Tuesday. One of our sunniest days! (it poured hard). Dickens came in the morning. Such kindliness as shines through that man’s clay. We dine with him next week. Went down to Mr Edward Jesse’s to pass the afternoon and evening in his little bower. Such a home! And such a man and woman as live...

Wednesday. Rested at home chatting with visitors until nearly 3 o’clk when we started for Twickenham to see Mr Bohn’s flower show. The garden and all its surroundings were lovely and the pretty dresses of the ladies appeared to great effect. Dear Mr and Mrs Jesse were there. We made the...

I did not rise early Thursday June 30th but my darling did and came bringing me flowers before I arose, lilies and roses in melodious confusion and while I lay still looking and loving him and them I heard good Mr Bennett’s voice. Soon my locks and the posies were in order and we had such a...

Friday July 1st Jamie went away with Hawthorne and Bennoch to an antiquarian dinner at Sir Charles Moon’s a magnificent affair. They examined an old castle in Kent and dined; met “en privee” as the French have it but “on crowned heads” as I would phrase it. Just after Jamie went I had...

Saturday July 2d Started at 12 o’clk to see Gerald Massey. We knew him at once as he stood whip in hand looking into the car windows before we stopped. I do not think the recognition was mutual however nor do I think he has a close intuitive grasp of character. We jumped into his tiny pony...

Jamie became so nervous and unhappy that we determined to return to London Sunday afternoon which we did in spite of their united desire that we should stay. I do not think Jamie could have slept again in that house. Mrs Massey is clairvoyant and it has probably affected her nerves. We (Gerald...

Monday July 4th Detained a little by a late breakfast. Obliged to speak to Mrs Hughes and in the end unintentionally to blame the servant (through Mrs H.) who was at the root of the matter. We started at 12 o’clk for the Paddington Station on our way to see Captain Mayne Reid. A fine carriage...

Tuesday July 5th Returned to town at 10 minutes before 12. Found Mr & Mrs Hawthorne & Julian awaiting us we all had lunch together and a delightful talk; Hawthorne will stay here now until October in order to take out a copy right for his books.

The next day of Wednesday the 6th we were to have passed together at Gads Hill with Dickens. I was too ill to stir from my bed all day so Jamie went alone. Dickens met him at the station with Wilkie Collins. He kindly said much about being sorry I was not there. Dickens carried Jamie to...