William Allingham’s diary, 1863

13. — Lymington Pleasure Fair. Booths in the streets with toys and sweets, noise and clatter. Shows — some monkeys and a wild boar, a ' Zulu Caffir ' ; fat woman…

Hear of the death of my half- brother Thomas at Raphoe Royal School, where he was assistant-master — honest and diligent, with a tenacious memory. He was successful…

Heard Spurgeon preach in a tent in a field beside the town. ' If any man thirst, etc,' anecdotes — prayer — good lungs. Rain — Spurgeon put on his hat, many opened…

In the evening walked sadly along the shore of the Solent eastwards by Pylewell — return- ing, brought home a glow-worm and put it in a white lily, through which it…

At Southampton Dock Station my eye was caught by a middle-sized but singularly well-knit figure of a man, strong, light, easy of move- ment, almost Greek in his…

Copy and send off Laurence Bloomjield^ Chapter X,, to Froude. Train to South- ampton, young Parson with pleasant voice arguing with old working man, who said he…

Mrs, Arthur Clough, the poet's widow, who had written to let me know, reached Lymington Terminus with her three children, also her sister Mrs. Coltman and her…

A very kind letter from Charles Kingsley, quite unsought for, offering me introductions to ' Sam St. Barbe,' (the banker here) and Captain Mildmay. Next day a…

Stick at L. Bloonifield, Chapter XL, all day, zndfms/i.

Came to Freshwater and walked with Mrs. Clough and Mrs. Coltman on Afton Down ; slept at the Albion Hotel, amid a noise of waves. The Landlady a big dreadful woman…

Note from Mrs. Clough, from Bournemouth — ' Mrs. Cameron will be glad to see you at lunch, to meet Mr, Henry Taylor.' Mrs. Clough was returning to the island…

Southampton : Heard Cardinal Wiseman lecture on ' Self-culture ' at the Hartley Institute. An Irish priest, he, in general appearance ; face like a shrewish old…

Cross by 3 o'clock Boat, invited to spend Sunday at Mrs. Clough's. Rainy and roughish. The Coltmans are gone. Mrs. Clough tells me I am invited to go to the…

In the forenoon I walk over alone to Farringford ; find first Mrs. T., the two boys, and their tutor, Mr. Butterfield, fair-haired, modest- mannered. T. at luncheon…

Walk, Boldre, Hay ward Mill, Common. Gypsies — old woman asks me to look at her son who is very ill in waggon. I see him, lying pale with heavy black eyes and…

Finish twelfth and last chapter of Bloomfield and post it.

Fine evening. New Forest. Holmsley, Wilverly Post, heath and woods in front, russet gold ; rest by a rivulet, thick beech woods, cottage — the woman says it is…

To Rufus's Stone, moorlands under heavy sky, thick embossment of russet golden beech-woods filling the vales, blue distance — showers. How many days of my life I…

News of the gypsy. * Getting better ; lump broke.' Write to Southampton paper against cutting down trees in ' the Ditches ' (old moat).

I receive proof from i^r/^j^r'i^ Mag. of the twelfth and last chapter of L. Bloom- field. Eight of the chapters I have written month by month (missing one month)…

Very fine ; in the New Forest. Holmsley — path to Burley, field -lane fern -banked, delightful. Hamlet on its gorsev common, a big oak among the hollies. Sat down…

Walk from Lymington to Christchurch, by cliffs and beach, — mean, straggling little Town among flat watery fields, by a broad muddy estuary. It has a huge and…

I lunched at Farringford. We all helped in wheeling Mrs. Tennyson to the top of High Down. Then A. T., the Tutor and myself walked to Totland's Bay, the talk all…

After breakfast I took leave of Mrs. Tennyson and the boys. P. civilly invites me to his house at York Gate. When I went to T.'s room he said, ' Come whenever you…

Walked to Pitt's Deep and visited the Coastguard Station ; returned at dusk, dirty roads, starry sky. Be content : what folly in a poor man to wish for an easy life…