Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1873, April 17, Thursday 

“Laundress El ptmva, cheque £12.” Key lost.

I think that this and the previous peculiar phrase on April 12 have been encrypted using a simple Caesar shift cipher. If we shift each letter along the alphabet by 7 letters (a to h, b to i, etc), then the April 12 phrase iexwyxk fr ptmva tgw uxeel becomes pledfer my watch and bells.

The word ptmva (watch) is repeated in today’s partially enciphered phrase, with El perhaps being the Latin et (and) with an uncrossed t.

Given yesterday’s entry referring to receipt of a cheque from Longmans, I think a reasonable interpretation of all this is that Stevens had a cash-flow problem: on the 10th, he “pledged my watch and Bell’s” at a pawnbroker in order to pay the rent on his house. After receiving the Longmans payment he was able to write a cheque for £12 to the pawnbroker in order to re-possess the watches and obtain sufficient cash to pay the laundress.

Tim Huckvale

1873, April 28, Monday

Harry at home this morning.

Wrote to Bishop of Oxford (Mackarness) about my ordination to the Priesthood.

1873, June 8, Sunday 

Trinity Sunday. Ordained priest by Bishop Mackarness. Left in evening and went to Reading where I stayed the night at the Great Western Hotel.

1873, June 9, Monday

Went to Ryde. Rosa confirmed by Dr Samuel Wilberforce Bishop of Winchester in Ryde Parish Church. I arrived before close of address. Saw the Rector Rev Alexander Poole, who was Precentor of Bristol Cathedral when I was there. He was formerly curate of St Mark’s, Kemp Town, Brighton. I had a few moments conversation with him in the churchyard. Visited the Misses Moore, Missenden House, where Rosa is. Took a private lodging.

1873, June 11, Wednesday

Hired a horse and carriage and drove Rosa, Miss Dunsterville, and Miss E Dunsterville to Osborne and Whippingham. The horse went very well, but was very troublesome and particularly “screwy”. I found out after a time that the poor animal’s neck was galled by the collar and when I got back to Ryde talked severely to the owner for sending a horse out in such a condition. Of course he made a humble apology and said it should not occur again.

1873, June 13, Friday 

Cull of Balliol called this evening. He is going out as Head Master’s Assistant to the Government Academy at Colombo.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.