Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Received letter from Bentley & Son, publishers, declining my MS “Stories and Sketches from a Vicar’s diary”, after keeping it for a month and asking where they should send it.

Joshua Lamb called for Loggin poor rates for February and May which I paid by Loggin Cheque.

Homo, nomine Bates, Bailiffa Aulac Comitatis de Banburio, venit hoc mane portans summonitionem ascriptam ad H.E.S. ut appararet XXX Junii et solveret summam £1. 5s. plus 2/- pro summonitione Cheney et filiis impressariis de Banburio. Mater ejus eam ad eum misit. Ego Cheney scripsi.

I drove Bell and Rosa to Brailes this afternoon. We took tea with Sophie and Maud Smith and their sister Susie (Mrs Given). The mare went beautifully, both there and back.

There is a great strike of Cabmen in London for lower charges to be paid to the masters. London was much quieter than usual on Tuesday and Saturday last and there was scarcely a cab to be seen.

Very dark and cloudy this morning with some rain. Cleared up in afternoon. Called on Mrs Shellswell, Ben Messenger. He and his wife complained bitterly of the condition of the woman Neal, a widow, whom their son Joseph keeps at John Lines’s and by whom he has three children. She was “like a mad ‘ooman’ said Ben, cos our Ben put her out o’ our garding and ‘oon’t let her take our faggots away.”

I called at Barton’s to see the mother of the girl Susan who is back with John Lines again. Visited Mary Sabin, Charles Holtom’s wife, and John Webb’s.

Bell, Miss Sottick and I walked round Sibford Ferris, the Elm and Alcocks Lane this evening. Addie Lamb came for poor Rate. Visited Widow John Holtom and William Hawtin.

Fine. Harry writes that he thought Cheney’s Bill had been paid. Cheneys write politely to me, that they will be very glad to stay the action if the money £1. 7. 6 be paid before the 30th inst.

George Beere wrote me a note asking for a trifle towards his expenses of getting his eyesight restored at Oxford Eye Infirmary. He has been almost totally blind for two or three years, but is better owing to the treatment undergone. Miss Dix gave Rosa 1/- for him. I added 1/- and took Bell and Miss Sottick to Tadmarton to give it to him this evening. He was very grateful.