Thursday, 22 December 1859
Very bright & fine & less cold. ― Finished packing, & at 10.20 took a Cab to the Bank, where I “accepted” the 350£ stock I had “bought.” Then to Drummond’s, where I drew out 35£ & left a letter to transfer 95£ to S.W.C. & 5£ to a charity. Then home, & to my vexation C. 4tescue had just gone. ― But soon afterwards, F.L. came in. And he it was who tied up my railway rugs &c., & saw me off at 12.30. Strange life.
At 1.20 was at the L. Bridge station, great Xmas confusion. Off at 1.30 & at Folkestone once again, by 4. Comfotable room, & dined at table d’hôte, ― a bore: ― the eloped Mrs. Gurney talked of &c. Wrote all the evening, & up to 12 ― some 20 or 30 letters.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]