The Diaries of Josiah Chater – 1848

Excerpts from Josiah Chater's Diaries 1848

Excerpts:

1848

1st January – New Year’s Resolution

I had the pleasure last night of hearing the Bells very merrily ring the Old Year out & the new one in I have made a sort of a resolution which I hope by Gods blessing I shall not fail to carry into effect that is to be more careful in my manner & conduct to those around me & not be so giddy & thoughtless & oftentimes very wrong both in temper & fun in making reducule of things I ought not  I never recollect having made the like resolution on a New Years day but I hope I may have strength of mind enough to carry this my first attempt into effect I sent home my box & a little letter to Eliza

February 19th – Town v Gown fighting

My box came as usual with Gloves and Waistcoat ready washed with a letter from Eliza saying Apl 10 was fixed for her to go to the Home & Colonial School she also told me poor Alfred Mizen was dead & was to be buried today he died last Sunday the Gownsmen have become as bad as they were when Tom Thumb was here for last night they marched about the town in regiments of about two or three hundred with Pokers & all kinds of heavy weapons of both offence & defence this evening they have been [as} bad one poor fellow pulled into Mr Barratts he looked allmost [sic] dead there were about 50 townsmen after him one Gownsman last night got his leg broken and many others very much hurt

March 3rd – Josiah gets a raise

Mr Lilley was going to London this morning but somehow or other he did not but he settled with us he gave me 10£ & adding the five I had in the summer makes it 15 he also agreed to give me twenty next year he was very pleasant enquiring after the state of my health & asked me if I should like any other position on the Establishment I thanked him & preferred being where I am he also told me I had absented myself rather too much in the day time & he merely mentioned it for my own good aswell as his own & that it was not well to form such habits I told him I had not quite sufficient exercise but of course I could not expect more in the day time & he told me I might get out as soon as I could after Eight & to leave off posting at Seven.  We went to Mr Blumson’s to supper had part of the ham Ward sent him from Dewsbury(?) & some veal & mince pies &c we also had music & singing after Supper the first time I ever went to sup at his house

June 5th – A Trip to London

I got up this morning at ½ past five started after breakfast by the Seven 15 train for London arrived there with John Moden after minutes before ten we rode to Temple Bar + went to Clark + Davidson’s office where we waited for Mr Eaden + Mr Lilley after which we all marched off to Westminster Hall there we waited till two Oclock our case not being call’d for  we were dismissd[sic] until tomorrow 10 Oclock one of the clerks took us to see the House of Lords a very splendid place  there was a case on there I saw Lord Brougham[sic]  Campbell + Cottenham + as much as I liked of the place  then marched off __ + I dined in Fleet St at the Rainbow Tavern had a pretty good dinner but had to pay for it rather  he then went to see the Chinese __ + we agreed to meet at 4 Swans Bishopsgate St at ½ past ten at night  I went to Cannon St but Aunt was not at home  I then took a cab to Grays Inn Good  found Eliza gone from the institute to lay down having the head ache after I had conversed with her for a short time + had a wash + we started for Mr Cohens ___ Square where we found Annie who was as much delighted as surprised to see me we tea’d there + Eliza took a __ at Kings __ for the Polytechinc 1/- each where I had a truly _____ feast I heard a famous lecture on Chemistry  saw the process of cotton spinning of the Dvier[?] + Diving Bell the Microscope, ____ Glass blooming, ______ ___, _____ views, + several other interesting things we stay’d until nearly Eleven  I hired a cab + saw Eliza safe then walked from ___ Road to Bishopsgate to sleep I had good supper when I got there + an hours rest before bed

June 6th

No(?) John Moden came last night I got up at seven this morning breakfasted at same place then marched off to Guild Hall saw Aunt & Sarah there tripped off to Westminster Hall got there by ten but no-one(?) being there I went to the Abbey & had a look round that just to fill up the time at ½ past two we learn’d that our case could not come on this sitting & that the next would be in a fortnights time accordingly we were dismiss’d & Mr Lilley told me to get down sometime today I & JM dined today in Holborn at Tom’s(?) Coffeehouse after we had a stroll through the Lowther arcade & other places they were very moderate in their charges.  I went for Eliza & Annie & off we went in a buss [sic] for Madame Tussauds __ I paid for them but it would not do after last Evenings amusement very well but nothing intellectual about those inanimate figures when we left the girls walked all the way from there to the Bishopsgate Station with me I was dreadfully tired & I know they must have been before they got home nor had I any refreshment until I got home in to market St at ½ past Eleven thus ended my two days jaunt my expenses that I charge Mr Lilley with is £1.12.3 & what I spent myself 13/1 I bought a book in Parliament St for 3/- Communications with the unseen world

August 24th – Visit to Cromer

Mr Howlett call’d us at 5 Oclock & up I jumped we had dress’d & departed by 6 Oclock call’d [home?] where Mr B had two parcels of mutton sandwiches ready for us, we walk’d at the rate of 4 miles an hour throughout & arrived at Cromer at ¼ past nine it being 13 miles & a gloriuous morning it was I enjoy’d the walk very much the country is so beautifully intersected with hill, dale, wood, & heath. Our first job at Cromer was to walk onto the Beach & have our breakfast after which we march’d to the coffee house & had two cups of tea & bread & butter for 5[pence?] The next thing was a sail we embark’d about ½ past ten & landed at ½ past 12 at the end of two hours I must say enjoyment on our return I stopp’d & had a bathe from out the boat, very convenient, swam round 300 times & got in again but I had not been in but just time enough to get my shirt on when I was taken very ill presently I was sick & oh how horribly I did feel until the fit was over which lasted about ten minutes then I was all right again & after our landing we went up to the light house a good way from the Town & saw all over it from top to bottom how it work’d & c look’d out from the outside & return’d to the downs where we laid down finish’d our sandwiches & went to sleep for ¾ of an hour, got up & felt quite refresh’d, march’d through the Town buying some fruit on our way & walk’d upon the cliffs at the other end thereof had not proceeded very far when it came on to rain & away we scampered reached the Red Lion where we had two bottles of ginger beer & a good long rest before starting for Marsham The town of Cromer is situated completely on the cliffs & a good distance above the sea (the Lighthouse is 282 feet above high water mark) the Town itself is but paltry but the view of the seas is sublime & the sands are very good indeed we wander’d about for a long time upon them in fact we spent a most agreeable day indeed quite satisfying all my anticipations at ¼ past 4 we started for home unfortunately it just at that time it began raining & continued to the greater part of the way but we were lucky enough to find means to hang on behind the _ coach for 8 miles which was a great assistance. we walk’d & ran another mile as far as Ingworth tollgate & waited there whilst a tempest of thunder was passing over during our stay there an Empty fly came up & the driver ask’d us to ride to Aylsham 1 ½

September 2nd – Agnes gives Josiah a gift

In my box I received a letter from Annie enclosing one from Eliza to her this afternoon Agnes gave me a very beautiful purse made by herself of steel beads & lin’d with purple Satin it is a very treasure but I liked the manner in which it was given very much better than the manner evinced by a Lady who subsequently sent me a present.  She (Agnes) merely said “I made this for you if you will accept it” but there wanted no vulgar compliment to induce me to understand she meant it such an artless mode could not but [correction: set?] raise her much higher in value in my estimation The subsequent one was a basket of peaches from Miss Nutter with her love how absurd, from a girl [whole phrase crossed out] who cannot know much of me I should have been much better satisfied with respects but I declare I feel hard[l]y(?) inclined to send my respects even, with my thanks I do not think it consistent for Girls to be so very fast She may expect my love in return but I could not think of it for a moment [whole phrase crossed out]

September 28th – Josiah in love

Mr Lilley got home last night but was off again this morning to London quite unexpectedly Mr Blumson is gone to Sawston & Lindon & consequently I am all alone in my glory had to write two letters on business I also wrote a letter to Dr Marsh of Leamington respecting the Model Parish to gain information about it rather a bold stroke but of couse no matter to me who I write to Saw Agnes this evening but never heard of such a stupid fellow when ever I see her & have an opportunity to speak I feel as though my mind was bottled up & I had not got a word to say I think it is my eyes are covetous & monopolize all the time I can get with her to have a good feast to themselves for I do nothing but look into her eyes, it is so perfectly absurd but it is just so & a reason for it I am not able to advance with anyone I would talk for a week & on any subject in [assurance?] of speaking bless her I fancy it must be cupid sitting on the end of my tongue to make it quiet if it is _ to admiration in this ‘labours?] _! time may perhaps disclose the phenomenon at all events I am content to wait providing she does not think it deteriorating to my personal or mental attractions – What stuff & nonsense to write in this my log what a pity I waste ink & paper about i

October 5th – A Visit to the Observatory

Best is better but still not able to attend Mansfield is in the Shop & John Moden is about the same Mr Lilley went away at two Oclock and did not return I had a gossip with ma’ amour [sic: apparently not mon?] Agnes when her Mama was gone to Church it is too bad but I cannot help it I gave her two bunches of grapes from off my vine she tells me everybody is tantalising me her about me & I told her I could [correction] sympathise with her however I cannot commit to paper __ our(?) dialogues to bring it to a conclusion speedily I could only add [correction] we were very happy & very sorry to part company at eight Oclock William & I walked up to the observatory it was a glorious night for observations he introduced me to Mr Todd a very nice young man & very clever he took us over the place show’d us the instruments three of which we had a peep through one placed to see the stars as they pass’d the meridian the other at the top of all we saw the moon & could discern the shadows of the Mountains thereon a very interesting sight & through the Northumbrian telescope we saw a star of the eighth magnitude I would add that through the first we observed the planet latest discovered called “Neptune” about as big as a star of 6 Magnitude the Young man was very pleasant & afforded us a very great deal of useful information in asmuch as we were both highly gratified [correction] with our evenings entertainment reached home at 10 Oclock The object glass alone of the Northumbrian telescope cost £800 [correction] the telecope [correction] was given by the Duke of Northumberland a very munificent present last monday Miss Hutton came to visit Miss Aikin sister to the one that was here in the beginning of the year & so exactly alike are they that