William Allingham’s diary, 1878

Carlyle, Dr. Carlyle and I to King's Road and have our hair cut. I keep a lock of C.'s, which has still some brown in it. He says, ' Curious 1 — that head (the…

To C. at 2.30 ; with him and Mrs. Lecky in brougham to Browning's, 19 Warwick Crescent. B. (in rough gray dress) received C. with great emphasis. ' How good and…

Helen and I to an evening party at Tennyson's at 14 Eaton Square. Arrive 9.30. Mrs, Tennyson on sofa. Mrs. Thackeray Ritchie and husband, Browning, Gladstone and…

We all go to Shere, H. and I, Sonny and Sissy. Cottage delightful — woods — bluebells.

Chelsea. Returned after six months n in the country (Shere and Dover). Mary Aitken came in the evening. Her uncle is v^ell.

H. went again to-day about 12.30 to C.'s, and brought back two life-like sketches in colour. He was mild and genial to-day, and bade her come again. C. said to me,…

To Carlyle's at 2.30, and found him stepping — slowly climbing — into the usual hired carriage. He said, ' I feel I may die any time.' I asked, ' Did you ever in…

To Carlyle's. Found Browning in the drawing-room, talking earnestly to him — 'and here's AUingham '—talk. Lord Beaconsfield. Browning — ' I met him at dinner last…

Carlyle, Mary and I in carriage — drove along the Embankment and stopped to see Cleopatra's Needle. C. put his head out of window and took one look, then leaned…

Carlyle and I in omnibus. Rain, so we did not alight at Charing Cross, and I suggested our going into St. Paul's — to which, to my surprise, he agreed. He h^"n6t…