Spent the day at Versailles. Two churches French Protestant: a very mean and shabby, and the Notre Dame de Versailles a fine church of the Romish type – the singing, entirely by girls, at the service I attended, was very sweet and pleasant.
Visited the Church of the Madeleine, where a grand wedding was going on, the Place de la Bastille, the Prison La Roquette where Archbishop Darboy and a number of clergy and Gens d’Armes were murdered by the Communists in 1871. Visited also the cemetery of Pere la Chaise. Left Paris on return to London at about 10 pm.
Arrived at Calais at 6.30 am. Left by Steamship Maid of Kent at 9.30. Very stormy. Arrived at Dover at 12 being 1 hour late on account of the roughness of the weather, the wind being in our teeth. Went to Mr Brown’s Bushey Villa Brixton where I stayed.
Went to East Dulwich, saw Louie, Mrs Collett and some of the children. Lottie and the rest were not at home.
Went to East India Docks. Saw Cousin Emma and Aunt Emma, Mr J P Howe, Captain Dutton and R Woolcock.
Went to Loose, Maidstone, to Rev Dr Martin’s, Shernold House, where Rosa is staying. Saw Dr and Mrs Martin and Annie and Rosa. In afternoon we drove to Debtling to see Jennie and her husband (Mr and Mrs Rugg). Stayed all night at Dr Martin’s.
Returned to Bushey Villa, and then home, arriving at Banbury about 6.
Bad cold caught in travelling yesterday. Dr Routh called this evening and asked me to borrow some astronomical Magic lantern slides for him to use in lecture at Witney. He told me Mrs Ellis was very ill. I said I would go and see her tomorrow.
Mrs Ellis died early this morning. Attended Penny Bank morning and evening.
Called on Canon Payne. Not at home. Went to Banbury. Mr Kirkland, from Pinegrove, Dundee came as a pupil at £150.
Gave out clothing club tickets.
Frederick Inns and Henry Bishop called this evening and asked my advice about sending their children to school. They refuse to pay the 3d per week assessed to them by the Trustees. I told them I had already given them my advice and they had not taken it. I objected to their wasting my time or that of individual trustees about the matter. But they staid some time.
Esau Tarver called with his allotment rent.
Funeral of Mrs Ellis. Visited school. Called on Mr Whale and Mrs James Rimell.
In bed all day with violent cold.
Click on an entry date to view an image of the original diary page.
Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.
