Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

… Went to Gaiety Theatre this evening and saw Pantomime of Valentine and Orson. Tea at Hotel.

Called on Mr. and Mrs. Jones at Cintra, Upper Norwood, saw them and Vere. Walked thence to Westbrook and stayed the night at Mountain’s.

Returned to London, and attended Divine Service in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Attended Drury Lane Theatre in the afternoon to see the Pantomime of Sinbad the Sailor in which a procession of the Kings and Queens of England with other historical personages from William the Conqueror downwards; I never saw any representation better done or which moved me more. London people appear to appreciate it, for the receipts are said to have amounted to £16000 in 18 days.

Wet and foggy.

Returned to Banbury per L. & N.W.R. Left London at 3 p.m. arrived at Banbury at 6,15 – 25 minutes late – Webb met me with the dog-cart. Bell was at Mr. Henderson’s.

… Wrote to Longmans about “Annotated Poems” and “Useful Knowledge reading Books” which have been omitted from their Catalogue for 1883.

… Richard Lamb, junior, one of my Quaker parishioners, called to bid me “farewell”. He leaves on Monday for Bessbrook, near Newry in Ireland, to act as junior bailiff on a farm. He is an excellent fellow and will, I doubt not, prosper.

Quinquagesima Sunday.

.. Stopped outside the Methodist Chapel and heard the prayers. I was much struck by the Excellence of some of them, and by the vulgar behaviour of a young man who stood outside near me.

I rang three times at Montagu’s before his housekeeper opened the door. They have so many runaway rings that they rarely answer the first or second summons.

Received Government Grant for School, amounting to £36.16.

Visited School. Observed that the children, on leaving this afternoon did not salute him or me. I told him he should insist on their treating him and Mrs. Elley with proper respect on entering and leaving School.

Rain all day. Walked at night as far as “the Elm”.

Saw W.Brown the Baker quite drunk and falling about in the road.

…Taught in School this morning. Asked the meaning of the names of Jesus. One or two of the children knew. Explained all persons names have a meaning whether we know them or not.

A boy named Bishop was in the Class – whose father’s mother keeps the Wykham Arms inn.

I asked whether any one knew meaning of Bishop. There was no reply for some time. At last one of the Harris’s, Quakers, held up his hand very boldly and excitedly as though he had just worked out the problem and got a satisfactory answer –

“Well, what do you say is the meaning of Bishop?”

“A woman as sells beer, Sir.”

…This evening Vere was very much the worse for drink. I remonstrated with him very severely and told him he must leave my house tomorrow.