Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

School reopened this morning.

Soden of Epwell White House asked whether the Trustees would allow him some land to do some necessary mounding between the Furze Land which he holds and some fields on the farm. I asked him to let me know the length required. He would do the labour if we would fund ???

Miss Lamb of Burdrop gave a magic lantern for the use of parish (cost £20).

Soden called about the mounding. I sent him down to Mr Woolgrove to fix a time for meeting at the Heath.

Inns called and asked for use of schoolroom next Friday as Dixon had made up his mind to start a reading room and having collected some subscriptions thought there should be a public meeting for the affordment of a Committee. Would I take the chair? I replied that I would lend the schoolroom but could not promise to take the chair; I felt a great reluctance in associating myself with a scheme which seemed to be foredoomed to failure.

Dr Wilkinson sent me a letter which Dixon had addressed to him asking for subscriptions to his proposed reading room.

Charles Woods butcher called and paid me £11 for rent (Church Close £10, Bite of slinket £1).

This evening the Dixon Reading Room meeting was held in the schoolroom. I did not go but wrote a note to Inns saying why I could not.

Webb’s wife wrote of inconvenience of notice to him as she expects to be confined in about a month. I wrote to say they might stay in cottage rent free for a month or 6 weeks after her confinement.

Trustees’ Meeting. Coals are said to be 38/- per ton, so the Trustees determined to defer the distribution for a week or two leaving it to the discretion of myself and Mr Woolgrove.

The Great Elm at Sibford Ferris was very greatly damaged by the storm last night.

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3. last out on Nov. 26th ’93.

Mr Thomas, horse dealer of Shutford, will call tomorrow to look at the mare with the view to purchase and send her to Gloucester fair.

Horse dealer called; said mare had some good work in her yet. But he will not bid for her this morning. I asked £12.

Frank this evening expressed a great desire to go on the Stage. He thinks it his avocation and that he would rise to the top of the profession.