Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1874, June 8, Monday 

Leonard took all my duty at New, so that he and I are now clear again. Mr Johns called this morning. His son left with him, having been “ploughed” at Responsions non mirabile dictu.

Mr Stock, of Pembroke, came to luncheon, and we walked to Water Eaton in the afternoon.

ploughed – “failed”.

non mirabile dictu – literally “not wonderful to relate”, and probably carrying the meaning “no surprise there”.

1874, June 9, Tuesday 

Received a note from Mr. Lee, asking whether I would accept the Vicarage of Sibford Gower, if the College offered it to me. £230 and “middling house”. I replied that I would go and see it.

1874, June 28, Sunday

This entry is incomplete as a page has been torn out of the book.

… only in evenings for week commencing this evening.

1874, June 30, Tuesday

Mr Hill of Littlemore came to dinner and Miss Harbage and Miss Wilson came to tea and croquet. Mr Wilson, Mrs Wilson and their son Fred came to supper.

Received a letter from Hole about the diminished profits of the “Grade Lesson Books”.

1874, July 1, Wednesday

Miss C Dunsterville and Rosa drove pony to Littlemore. Charles Gibson and Herbert Jackson came this evening.

1874, July 6, Monday

Preached Club Sermon. Pope went with me and read prayers. Drove round Marsh Baldon and Toot Baldon. Mr and Mrs Wilson and family came up this evening.

1874, July 15, Wednesday

Carteret Fletcher called and asked me to preach for him at Carfax next Sunday evening. Thomas Braddell went down for Summer Vacation. Drove to Sandford. Visited patients at Littlemore Asylum. Bell accompanied me. We took tea and supper with Mr and Mrs Sankey.

1874, July 16, Thursday

Went on excursion with North Oxford Archaeological Society to Thame, Chinnor, Shirburn Castle and Watlington, where we dined. Drove home through Chalgrove Field and Chiselhampton. We had a couple of drays with 3 or 4 horses each. Coming down Cowley Road into Oxford all the horses in my break went down. Heads and tails hoofs and legs seemed inextricably intermingled. But they soon untangled themselves, jumped up and went on again without the slightest injury. I hurt my heel somewhat in jumping from the carriage. The whole expense of my “day out” was 9/5, viz dinner 3/2, dray 6/3.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.