Sunday, 15 December 1861
Same weather . . perfect calm, color, & brilliancy.
Rose at 7.30. After breakfast wrote to Mrs. AT. L. Reid, & Lady Goldsmid: & coloured some Butrinto drawings ―― wh. took me till 2.30. To Church ― but found it did not begin till 3.30 ― whereby walked about with Mrs. Decie, which hath a Trogon in her hat. ― Clark’s sermon bored me ― yet he means well. ― Afterwards ― walked from 5 to 6 round by the Prism, & back by Munelight.
Dressed & dined at the palace.
A remarkably pleasant evening. ― Sir H.J.S. asked me also on Xmas day, wh. I declined: he seems to me remarkable for good taste & tact. Home by 10.15.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]