Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

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.

Drove to Sandford.

Thomas Braddell returned.

Hughes called.

Finished duty at New College. Miss Constance Dunsterville came on a visit.

Went to concert …

… only in evenings for week commencing this evening.

Mr and Mrs Julius Sankey came this evening, accompanied by Mr Colenso, a medical pupil, son of the Bishop of Natal.

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”.

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

“Connie” Dunsterville left.

Finished duties at New College “for good” as regards week-day services.

Mr Leonard called.

At Sandford all day. Comet visible.

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.

Comet visible. Intensely hot. Mr Arnall came in this evening.

Intensely hot. Advertised my “House to Let, Furnished” in the “Times”.

Preached in the open air at Littlemore Asylum this afternoon.

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.

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.

My bruised heel kept me in doors all day. Mr R F Heath called this evening.

Preached at the asylum this morning and at Sandford this afternoon. Preached at Carfax for Fletcher this evening and to enable me to do so Lee took my duty (my last) at New College Chapel.

Bell, Rosa, Harry and I took tea at Rev F A Wilson’s.

Visited patients at asylum at Littlemore. Dr Heurtley Sankey returned with me to tea and supper.

Bell went to Cheltenham.

Dined at Rev F A Wilson’s with Rosa and Harry.