| Description | The volume opens with a prayer of thanksgiving, written on the occasion of Charlotte's 26th birthday on 22 April and closes with a prayer to mark the end of the year. In addition, there are also details of the confirmation candidates for her district for 1861 at the rear of the volume.
Particular references include details of a New Years Day ball at 'the Grove', Charlotte's philanthropic activities - she notes that she 'spent a long, long time over poor people's clothes' in January 1861- and attendance at a 'Volunteer Review' on Berkhampstead Common on 9 October. She notes her stays in London, during which she visits the National Gallery and a French exhibition.
Charlotte also travels to Europe with Lady Antrobus in July and August. She visits Paris, Strasburg, Baden, and stays in a village called ?Wildbau, in the Black Forest. Here she takes her 'first bath with tincture of iron'. She details walking and riding expeditions to see local scenery and sights, including an outing with Miss Lockwood who unfortunately suffers an accident - discernible from Charlotte's cryptic 'donkey fell with her'. Charlotte also visits a Russian fete and firework display given by Prince Peter of ?Oldenbourg in honour of the Empress' birthday. There is also the annual family holiday in Bangor in October.
Reading matter includes a History of Prussia, Pascal, 'My life and what shall I do with it?', 'Recollections of Byron and Shelley', Hanley's 'Eastern Churches', 'A visit to Germany 1799, 1800', 'Landmarks in History', and Max Muller's 'Lectures on Comparative Philology'. |