25th - 28th February 1859
Saturday 26: Tired out with the week's work; very bad about the legs; fancies I have a touch of rhumatism in the knees. read at intervals during the week, Howitt's Rural Life of England.
Sunday 27: Sunday Ps. CXII v.4 ' Man is like a thing of nought: his time passeth away like a shadow'.
Monday 28: Received a letter from Reuben, descriptive of the East Worcestershire Election, and the riots that took place at Bromsgrove on account of it. Mr. Disraeli brought in his reform bill which is not democratic enough for a great portion of people; surely knowledge and property ought to have the greatest share in the representation of a nation. Messrs. Walpole and Henley secedes from the Ministry, not agreeing to that part of the bill relating to Counties.
In great care about Edgar & baby, who are very ill indeed with the cough; can get but very little sleep of a night on account of it; hopes that Mrs. A will not be ill with the worry & fatigue; am pleased that Rupert is getting better. Henry falls down and cuts his knee very badly:- 'when troubles come, they come not singly but in battalions'.
28: Reuben was CH's brother-in-law, Reuben Baker, who worked for a draper in Bromsgrove at this point.
Comment