William Allingham’s diary, 1865

Proofs of my book, Fifty Modern Poems^ from Bell and Daldy.

' The Dial ' American Maga- zine. I don't like mock- Emersonianism. Balzac's Ursula ; is he an honest writer .? Droll correspondence with E. B. Jones, who wrote me…

At Farringford. Breakfast. A. T. says my poems are * cleaner cut ' than most. ' Are you going away .'' ' ' Yes.' ' You'd think it graceful of me to stay with you…

Euston to Chester, carriage all to myself, read. At Chester came in a family of foreigners, puzzling people. French } No. They were highly conversable, and proved…

Dublin. Car with S. F. to Stephen's Green — ' Chemical Preparation Room ' (jokes about that). Introduced to chairman. Dr. E. Kennedy, and committee, then march…

Call at Ferguson's — invitation from Petrie. I dine at the Ship Tavern, Abbey St., and go with my cousin David and two young ladies to Quaglieni's Circus, first to…

Move from Clontarf to the Verdon Hotel. Call at Capel St. and see Mr. Dan Brett, his legs swollen, sad, — novel reading his only pleasure. Boys read stories, old…

Dublin. Started by rail for Enniskillen at half-past eight. In my carriage a man going to Canada ; we talk about Darcy M'Gee, etc. He had only just time to catch…

Ballyshannon — rainy — my Father poorly. I sit with him and write letters. Little Stewart Johnston, Jane's son. Dr. Sheil, Wm. Lipsett, etc. Walk to the Abbey…

Dinner, trout. Down the Mall, pool filled, beautiful, tide in, salmon-boat hauling in the Pool, always interesting. Chat with numerous friends of all classes.

Walk in the garden at midnight and hear corncrake.

To Bundoran. Uncle Edward's. Visit Mrs. Tomes.

Left old Ballyshannon for Dublin, taking kindly leave of everybody. I don't think I have any enemies hereabouts. My Father and I have been on affectionate terms all…

Dublin to London. ^ One of the characters in Laurence Eloomfield.

London to Lymington. Lym- ington looks very pretty, and the view from my windows in Prospect Place is delightful. I send ' Home- ward Bound' to Dalziel for his book.

Very fine. Walk to Aubrey House, Mrs. Weld, Agnes ; boat to Hurst Castle, the Jersey steamer passes ; fortifications, shingle poppies. Dinner- tea. Mr. Selwood —…

After Custom-House, steamer to Island. Farringford, hid my bag — find some people in the hay -field and Mrs. Cameron photographing everybody like mad. Went to house…

Cloudy. Farringford. A. T. last night intended to come across with me and let me show him some places. Now, at breakfast time, he can't make up his mind. The Queen…

To Farringford. After dinner T. spoke of boys catching butterflies. ' Why cut short their lives } — What are we ? We are the merest moths. Look at that hill '…

Lonely. Walk, field -path, Pennington Farm, standing corn. Ditch crowded with wild-flowers. Would I had a companion !

Steamer to Ryde, Spithead, ships of war. Ryde pier, rich idlers, white shoes, yachts' boats. Steep streets, photographers, libraries, fruiterers, hotels. Old town,…

Sunny. Yacht Pilgrim — the monkey — am shown the young Millionaire's sea-journal and observe such spelling as, ' addopt,' * to or three,' * oceant,' — but of course…

Headache, depressed. Walk to Aubrey House, meet Captain Barton, pleasant friendly man ; he has a turn for languages ; has lived near Buda, and knows Hungarian.…

Steamer Solent to Portsmouth to see the French Fleet now at Spithead, Solferino and other iron-clads, black brutal hulks. We carry a tricolour and cheer the French…

Cloudy but warm — Institu- tion— take the chair at ' Penny Reading ' : any use .'' The people prefer rubbish. Linden arcade, brown half-moon low in the east — mind…

Fine, warm, windy. Trip in steamer. On board a blind man singing to a harmonium played by a woman : ' Became blind at fifteen.' ' Those feel it less who are born…

Walked to Aubrey. Met a poor looking woman who asked, ' How far to Lymington ? ' I answered, ' half a mile,' saw she looked very tired and questioned her. Says she…

Warm and bright — walk in Forest, but without enjoyment — my thoughts astray.

Old Mr. Rice's death-bed — asks to see me and takes leave of me — the feeble white face of a once strong man. The Reverend Mr. W. comes and, he gone, I return for a…

Cross to Island. Mrs. Cameron on board, with heaps of photographs. To Farringford after 5 o'clock, come in at the tail of a ' drawing-room ' in honour of Queen Emma…

To Lyndhurst and visit Miss Dickson at her new house 'The Bird's Nest.' Miss D., quick and pleasant in talk — writes music (as ' Dolores ') and sings her own songs…

To London. At E. B. J.'s, 41 Kensington Square. Rain. In driving from Waterloo past Westminster Abbey saw crowd of people with umbrellas — Lord Palmerston's funeral.

41 Kensington Square — two studios. ' Zephyr carrying Psyche ' — delightful — precipice, green valley, Love's curly little castle below. Designs of' St. George and…

With Lord Houghton to Westminster Abbey. He took me to the Deanery and introduced me to Dean Stanley and Lady Augusta ; three or four others were present. After a…

Lymington, showers. Rev. WilUam Barnes comes to me by invitation. I go up from the Custom-House and find him sitting by my fire in Prospect Place. We dine at 6.30 :…