January 1846

Thursday 1st January 1846

Edward Heskett, fellow clerk, had to leave a letter at the White Horse corner of Dean Street and Oxford Street, to which place I accompanied him thither and there had a glass of ale at his expense.

 Friday 2nd January 1846

Mr George Lea, accompanied by Mrs Lea and Mr Lloyd, started for Barnet this morning.  Tasted of three different puddings this evening from Ann Fox.  Took walk with ditto through Westminster Abbey.  William Filkins, wagon carman, completes his 21st year.

 Saturday 3rd January 1846

Saw in Chelsea ‘Leg of Beef Soup 2d per Bason’, so had a bason for dinner, which make-believe bason was nothing more than a large saucer on a high stand, with a broad thick bottom with pieces of meat like so much twine.  ‘Remarks’: no more Chelsea soup.  Edward Heskett, fellow clerk, made me present of a very nice mince pie.  A maidservant of all work, Catherine Bird, left her situation at the wharf this evening.  Left off old black trousers, otherwise they would soon left me off.  Old Matthew Ward, father to the present Matthew Ward, if had lived would have completed his 96th year this day.

 Sunday 4th January 1846

Morning, went to Tillman’s Coffee House, Tottenham Court Road, to read newspaper.  From there to the Old Bailey to see preparations for the execution of Martha Browning tomorrow.  After dinner took walk with Ann Fox across Westminster Bridge to Horsemonger Lane County Gaol, to see if any preparations were being made for the execution of Samuel Quennell tomorrow, but such was not the case.  Returned back over Westminster Bridge, through St James’s Park, and continued walk through the Green and Hyde Parks.  There rested ourselves on an old seat opposite one of the gates.  Returned home through Oxford Street.  Granny Shepard bought me a pair of worsted stockings for 1s 2d.  Ann gave me a shilling off what she owes Granny, leaving only 8d unpaid.

 Monday 5th January 1846

Evening, after work, went to Mrs Olive in Crown Court, Soho, and read to her my log book for the preceding year.  Ann Fox there also.  Mrs Olive very well and seemingly in good spirits.  Took my drab trousers and black roll-collar waistcoat for common use.  Annual Sprat Supper at home.  This morning at 8 o’clock the woman Martha Browning expiated her crime on the scaffold in the Old Bailey, for the murder of Elizabeth Mundell on the 1st of December last.  The culprit showed great presence of mind on the occasion and ascended the gallows with a firm and steady step, and without any assistance.  The body was cut down at 9 o’clock and Calcraft, the executioner, took his departure from Newgate to Horsemonger Lane County Gaol to offer his services for a similar occasion, namely to put in force the sentence of the law against Samuel Quennell for the murder of a shipmate, by shooting him in Kennington Lane.  The execution took place on the top of the Prison over the front gates precisely at 10 o’clock.  The culprit behaved himself becomingly on so solemn an occasion and ascended the scaffold without assistance. ‘Remarks: this is the first execution of a female that I ever recollect in my time, also the first at Horsemonger Lane, and likewise the first time that two executions took place in the one day, to my recollection.

[Editor’s note:  Calcraft was the London executioner from 1829 to 1874.  Horsemonger Lane, now renamed Harper Road, is the site of the Inner London County Court, Borough, London SE1.  Samuel Quennell was convicted for the murder of Daniel Fitzgerald.  Martha Browning was the first woman executed at the Old Bailey for 14 years.]

 Tuesday 6th January 1846

This evening, soon after 8 o’clock Mr Lloyd called me in to the private office and there entered into conversation in which he told me that Mr George Lea proposed to advance my wages to 20s per week, he being well satisfied with my conduct.  In this course of which he gave me two glasses of port.  By my word this is surprising news.

Buckled shoes toed and heeled 1s 6d.

 Wednesday 7th January 1846

Purchased small book for accounts to extract from the newspapers for this year, at Miscellaneous Repository, Princes Street, Soho, for 4d.  Mrs Marshall of second floor gave birth to a daughter this morning early. … Parcel home from Ann Thomas, cook at 22 St James’s Street.  … Cheese … etc for Mother.

Saturday 10th January 1846

Bought pair of gloves at shop, corner of Walkers Court and Little Pulteney Street for 1s.  Bade farewell to old ones by throwing them down the area of the Westminster Female Penitentiary in Meards Street, Soho.  William Osmond, silversmith, of 22 St James Street completed his 31st year this day.

 Sunday 11th January 1846

Morning, wore knee breeches for first time.  A terrible bother we had to get them on and make them meet at the knee and button.  Started for St John Southwark fully equipped (costume, beginning uppermost: high-crowned broad-brimmed hat, black frock coat, strait-collared waistcoat with brass buttons, drab breeches with covered buttons and silver buckles at knees, speckled worsted stockings, shoes with straps and buckles to the same, white neckhandkerchief with plain fronted shirt); but found that I had been to the church about three weeks previous, viz St John Horslydown.  Returned home through the City, Clare Market etc, rather quizzed by some but minded it not.  Afternoon, bullock’s heart for dinner, after which I took walk with Ann Fox to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens etc, returned home to tea about half past 6 o’clock.  Eliza, otherwise Ann Thomas, came to Richmonds Buildings for a short time after which I accompanied her to an acquaintance at 101 Chancery Lane.  There was I kept waiting half an hour after which I accompanied her to her home, 22 St James’s Street.  Pretty good sweating, walked in all about 22 miles.  Met Mr Perry, father of the now celebrated John, in Newport Market.  Paid into bank 20s, making total £15.

 Monday 12th January 1846

Saw Mrs Heskett, the mother of my fellow clerk, for the first time.  Sorrow and trouble are depicted in her countenance, she seemeth not a stranger to misfortune.

 Thursday 15th January 1846

Two-wheel chaise run foul of by an omnibus under Temple Bar, and broke both shafts short-off.  This makes the second damage done to the vehicles within three days.  Wonderful weather, mild as May, sun as warm as spring.  It seems that we are to have no winter, for none has there been yet worth mentioning.  New maid servant of all work came to wharf this evening.

 Friday 16th January 1846

Went to meet Ann Fox as she came through Park Street, Camden Town, and … Place.  Met her near to Davies’s flash china shop.    

 Saturday 17th January 1846

Bought pair of white cotton braces in Walker’s Court for 9d.  Long gaiters finished and ready for tomorrow’s wearing.  The wife of William Spencer, backer in the gang, delivered of a male child this day.

 Sunday 18th January 1846

Wore long gaiters, with drab breeches, for first time.  Went to the church of St Jude, Turks Row, Chelsea.  Sat in pew opposite No 13 South Gallery, and about the centre of the church from east to west (a very plain church - economy seems to be the thing studied by the builders thereof).  From thence made for St George’s Terrace, Chelsea Bridge, and dined with George Palmer and his wife, weigher and horsekeeper at Eccleston Wharf, and had a very nice dinner comprising roast pork, potatoes, greens, and plum pudding and gooseberry tart.  Left at half past 2 o’clock for Soho Square, and proceeded from thence accompanied by Ann Fox to Paddington churchyard.  From thence to the Edgware Road through Kilburn to Hampstead.  Seated ourselves on a seat in one of … a breach of the peace.  Got a shade nearer to committing a capital offence.  Thence homeward through Hampstead Road … Town where Ann met a female acquaintance viz … place where she works ….

 Monday 19th January 1846

Very wet day throughout in consequence of which coals sold was only 12 and four fifths tons, the smallest quantity sold for upwards of five months.  Took walk with Ann through the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.  Sat under old gate that leads to Westminster School.  A maid servant of Mrs Odoni was afflicted with several very strong fits, though during my absence.

 Tuesday 20th January 1846

James Hollingsworth, screener, absent from wharf - it is said through an attack of the gout, and Thomas Dutton, brother to Charles Dutton, present screener.

 Thursday 22nd January 1846

Queen Victoria opened the Houses of Parliament.  Self saw the carriages, including the State one preceded by about six others, proceed from the Royal Mews to the Palace, altogether presenting a very gaudy sight, so covered with gilded ornaments.  In my opinion a procession of aged parish paupers and almshouse inmates would make a much more pleasing sight.  New shirt came home made by Mrs Olive making p…l buttons 2d, also new pair of worsted stockings.

 Friday 23rd January 1846

Mrs Plaice, coal and wood dealer, of Exeter Place, Sloane Street, this day completes her 55th year.

 Sunday 25th January 1846

Wet morning.  Went not to church in consequence thereof, but instead to Tillman’s Coffee Shop and read the news of the week.  Boiled leg of mutton and turnips for dinner.  Afternoon, waited about Rathbone Place but to no purpose, therefore proceeded to Tottenham Court Chapel and Burial Ground, and there looked the tomb stones over, after which I met Ann Fox and took walk round Regents Park etc.  Had pint beer and biscuits at public house in Great Portland Street.  Got home just as the rain commenced.  Ann Fox made me present of a very nice silk hand kerchief.  Paid Granny Shephard for stockings, cloth for new shirt, and neckhand kerchiefs.

 Monday 26th January 1846

Fellow clerk, Edward Heskett, absented himself this day as also last Monday.  This is coming the old solider strong, but it will not last.  Settling night for the stakes (for the late fight between Perry, a black, and a man named Burton, wherein the black was victorious) at Johnny Broome’s, Rising Sun, Air Street, Piccadilly.  Self caught sight of the black on the stairs taking money.  Purchased book in Princes Street, Soho, opposite George Yard, on Human Longevity with a brief account of some persons who have lived a century afterwards from AD 66 to 1799.  Price 1s 10d.

[Editor’s note:  Perry, the black boxer, was born in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, in about 1820.  His fight against Burton, which took place on Erith Marshes on 21 January, was reported in ‘Bell’s Life in London and Sporting Times’.  John Broome was an ex-boxer.]

 Tuesday 27th January 1846

Mrs Skirrow, formerly of 14 Montague Place, Russell Square, but now of Liverpool, died aged 61 years.

 Wednesday 28th January 1846

Mr G Lea experienced a severe loss, the particulars of which are as follows.  Mr Lloyd called upon Robert Wright for his account amounting to 53 pounds odd, which he counted in silver.  When Mr Lloyd got home he found he had 10 pounds short which, supposing he left at Wrights, wrote to him about it, but Wright denied it and swore to it that he paid the full amount and was, or pretended to be, much offended.  ‘Remarks’: this seems to me a strange affair that Mr Lloyd should miscount to so large an amount as 10 pounds.  Had it been .. might have been some excuse, but as it is as bad luck.  George Lea will be ruined by his love of company.  The English public were … apprised of the defeat of the Sikhs in India with the loss of 65 pieces of artillery at … .  The battle was fought under the command of Major General Sir Harry … .

[Editor’s note:  The English commander was probably Sir Harry Smith (1787-1860).  The battles took place on 18-22 December 1845, but communication of the news to England was slow.]

 Friday 30th January 1846

An Irish woman with child was begging in the Strand of a young man who, not taking any notice of her, she gave him a blow in the face whence a bit of a scuffle ensued, and a policeman making his appearance he gave her in charge and she was forthwith taken to the station house in Bow Street.  Self saw the same.

Coals sold at Eccleston Wharf this month: 1357 and nine tenths Tons.

The south side of the Quadrant, Regent Street, is very much lightened, the skylights being made the width of the roof of the colonnades, from Air Street to Regent Circus, in consequence of the late duty being taken off glass.  They were formerly only a small fanlight just over the shop fronts.  In shape they now somewhat resemble the cucumber frames – they will be continued the whole length both sides the way.

The weather this month has been very remarkable all through, yea, the oldest person living remembers not such weather for January.  It commenced quite warm and has so continued, the climate being of the temperature of May month.  We have had a good deal of rain, but for the shortness of the days it is almost like unto summer.  No winter have we had yet, neither is there any appearance of any coming.

The Corn Law Bill of Sir Robert Peel became early this year the all engrossing subject.  On the 28th January Sir Robert Peel introduced the Corn Bill to the notice of the House of Commons for a second reading.  Previous to this time the Right Honourable Baronet had freely unmasked himself.  He had declared for Free Trade and the country was with him.  This example was followed by his colleagues, Sir James Graham, and the Duke of Wellington, and the great financier, Mr Goulbourn, were foremost in advancing protection as a robbery, and agitating free trade as a right, to the House and occasion to which I allude.  There were present 556 members and the bill was carried by a majority of 97.

Nathaniel Bryceson's adventures continue in February