Sunday, 29 May 1859
There seems no improvement, ― at least, very little.
Rose at 5½. ― How am I to “get through” a country [gr.] church & the services, & F. Hepburn’s reading a sermon were all good ― & the whole affair a pattern & model as indeed are the whole family & parish; ― responsibilities are not shirked or mauled here. ― Talk with Mr. Beck & Mr. Burton. ― & at 3 again to church. (A Robin has built in the pew. Mrs. Ingram’s ― & has hatched young ones.) After afternoon church, equally good in all ways, & quite a pleasure ― we all walked to Bineham , & thence by pretty green lanes back ― I mostly with young Philpot, brother of the Roman P. ―― Dinner; both the other Blencowes, & F. Hepburn. ― 12 in all. In hospitality as in everything else good, this excellent family shine.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]