William Allingham’s diary, 1869

Dine at Bertolini's, and see old Mr. Seymour in his accustomed corner.

Mrs. Clough's. 20 Eaton Place, — Lady Simeon, Venables, etc.

Lymington. Mrs. S.'s — Table turning. Mrs. S. attacks my want of faith. ' We know^ etc., ' cerebration,' etc. (what can one say in such case ? and silence offends).…

Lymington. Invitation from Mrs. Tennyson for to-day to meet ' Mr. and Mrs. Fields and Miss {Biglow Papers) Lowell.' 3 o'clock steamer, I find them on board and…

Farringford. Lovely view from bedroom window, over the trees Hurst Castle, Solent, and England. Birds singing. I had the great pleasure of accompanying Miss Mabel…

Cross to Lymington with Miss Lowell and the Fieldses. M. L. said Tennyson offered her her choice among his books for a gift, and she chose Maud — ' I found it was…

Longman (by Tom Taylor's advice) asks me to write verses to a set of fairy draw- ings by Doyle. A job of this kind likes me not, yet I accepted the offer, and have…

Internal gloom. To Lyndhurst (invited) ; Whitehorn meets me with Miss Dickson's carriage : Bird's Nest, Miss D. and Mrs, A'ide. I walk off over moor, Matley Wood —…

Walk to Whilley Ridge ; cowboy says the bull ' blared ' {i.e. bellowed).

Out to Sway and Mead End, dine under old tree, near sunset time. Shall I go to Exeter, to British Association ^.

Start for Exeter (having arranged for Customs duty). Reception Room. Dr. Hooker, etc.

Totnes, Dartmouth, Dean Prior (Herrick), Brent, and back to Exeter. (See Rambles by Patricius Walker.)

Bideford ; Westward Ho (absurd name). Clovelly.

Back to Lymington. I love Devon.

Move to Wellington Place ; write on chimney-piece of bedroom : — I hope that in this House I may No evil do, no evil say.