Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Drove to Sandford.

Went to North Cheam to see Mr Hole. Drove with Mr Hole to Surbiton in afternoon.

Hole and I walked to Merton, ??? etc.

Hole and I walked to Ewell this evening.

Hole and I went to London. Called at Longman’s and Spottiswoode’s. Mr Reader told us that the London School Board had rejected the U.K.S. because of an allusion to Ananias and Sapphira in a lesson on truthfulness.

Hole and I drove to Epsom this afternoon.

Returned to Oxford.

Drove to Sandford. Mr Lee had Mr Wickham’s pony who ran away with him at Littlemore on the return journey, pitched Lee out but without hurting him. I picked him up. His pony went all the way to Oxford near the Railway Station without committing any damage to any one or thing except himself and the carriage. Harry was with me. Lee was wonderfully upset by the accident, and as pale as possible when I picked him up.

Drove to Sandford. Agreed to give £100 a year for the house in Bradmore Road on condition of certain improvements being made.

Rev ?James? Young spent the evening here.

Rev F and Mrs Wilson spent the evening with us.

Sent Hole a new lesson on “Truth” for U.K.S.

Received telegram from Mr Chamberlain saying he would bring his son on Monday next.

Frank Coghlan accompanied me to Sandford.

Chamberlain came as a pupil. Terms 100 guineas, 40 weeks per annum.

Snow.

Attended ruri-decanal meeting at Iffley.

Dined with Mr Lee at New College.

Drove Bell to Yarnton and Cassington.

To Sandford by rail.

Holy Thursday. Drove Bell and Rosa to Sandford this evening and did all the duty.

Took W Evans, of Jesus, to Sandford.

Met Mr Chamberlain of Norwich at breakfast at the Clarendon. He said the Church of St John Maddermarket was vacant. It was in the gift of New College. Might he ask them to appoint me? I replied that it was kind of him, but it would not suit me to go there.

Bell went to Cheltenham, her mother being very ill.

Wrote to Mr Richardson, solicitor of Bristol, and sent present of book to his son. “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice through the Looking Glass”. I did this as some return for what I thought Mr Richardson’s kindness in not charging me for what he did in the case of myself v. Bessell, for when I proposed to pay him he asked me not to mention it. I know him before as acting in W B Morgan’s ??? when I was one of his creditors and was made Trustee. He afterwards sent in his bill in which he showed great liberality to himself.

My “contract” pony cast a shoe as Harry was driving him from Ayers’s. So I had to hire another from the Lamb and Flag and paid 9/- for it. I was very late at church, but Lee suspected what had happened.

Called on Rev Mr Kitchen at Sandford Hill.