June 1846

Whit Monday 1st June 1846

A very slack day owing to the Whitsuntide holidays.  Coals sold only 24 tons.  Met James Smith’s wife and son in St Martin’s Lane, having not seen them for a considerable time since.  Surprising news from Granny Shepard this evening that her son John Shepard, who is my uncle, who has nearly completed his 43rd year, bathed today for the first time in his life at the Metropolitan Baths, High Holborn, opposite Southampton Street.  Wrote a letter for Charles Waters to Viscount Canning for an order to fish in the ornamental waters of the Regent’s Park.  Mr Edwards commenced travelling for orders for Eccleston Wharf – brought us one to begin with, though of very little account being low in price.  (He was Morris’s former clerk).

Wednesday 3rd June 1846

Saw old Mr Walker of Dean Street for first time – a very old man and dresses very old fashion.  He was present when Margaret Nicholson attempted to stab George III.  Bad works these holidays – men nearly all absent.  Odd men in, very drunk and very saucy – one named Whiffin, in answer to a question, told me to ‘Ax his ass’.

Editor’s note:  Margaret Nicholson, a housemaid, attacked George III with a dessert knife in 1786, and having been found insane was committed to Bedlam Hospital.

Thursday 4th June 1846

John Lane completes his 22nd year, and Joseph Richards his 31st ditto.

Friday 5th June 1846

Self (Nathaniel Bryceson) complete my 20th year today.  The King of Hanover, fifth son of George III, completes his 75th year.  Uncle John Shepard bad with his back, an old complaint but which he has been free from some years, but is now confined to his bed, and which he supposes proceeds from his bathing for the first time last Monday.  Therefore poor Granny Shepard has her son and daughter laid up.  Gave Shepard a shilling to drink my health, this being my twentieth birthday.

Saturday 6th June 1846

Had quite a shindy with carmen by putting in force for first time the rule of making them produce their toll tickets and make them pay for the deficiency, which was this week 1s 1d.  Mr G Lea spoilt it all by ordering me to pay them, thereby giving them a good excuse for losing them again, or rather to say they have lost them, instead of which they go out of the way to avoid and pocket the toll money.

Sunday 7th June 1846

Rose early, breakfasted, and afterwards went to St Ann’s Coffee House, Oxford Street, opposite Bozier’s Court, and afterwards to Tottenham Court Chapel and sat alongside Ann.  Met George King and his mother there.  After dinner took little walk about St Giles’s, Drury Lane and Covent Garden.  Discovered for the first time a head and foot stone of a portion of the Bryceson’s family in St Paul Covent Garden Churchyard.  After tea had Ann up in my bedroom.  After showing her my story of London, got at indecent practices.  Took walk with Ann in evening about the Strand and returned by Holborn.  Had pint of 4d ale and biscuits at the Sun and Punchbowl, Holborn, nearly opposite King Street.  Uncle John Shepard absent from his chapel this evening – this is a sign that his back is very painful.

Monday 8th June 1846

Mary Howard, maidservant at Eccleston Wharf, this day completes her 20th year.  Uncle John bad in bed all day and unable to work or to get a man in his place.  Poor old Granny Shepard had to go to King’s and let them know.

Tuesday 9th June 1846

Uncle John Shepard completes his 43rd year today – a sorry birthday for him – being laid up with the lumbago in his back and almost helpless.  The Queen’s birthday kept today – illuminations in the larger houses of business in the West End.

Wednesday 10th June 1846

Took trip up and down the Grosvenor Canal in Mr George Lea’s boat.  Very awkward with the sculls, being quite unused to them, and had like to got into mischief by nearly getting capsized by a large vessel, but I got out of the way and escaped the danger.  Afterwards George Palmer, horsekeeper, took me all round the Basin.  Discombe brought home new shoes, tied with strings, and of light make, being certainly the neatest pair of shoes that I ever had, having neither tips or nails.  Price 10s.

Friday 12th June 1846

Took walk in evening after tea with Ann across Hungerford Suspension Bridge.  She was greatly alarmed while thereon, fearing that it would break down with her extra weight, which is about eight stone.  Returned over Blackfriars Bridge home, whither she was not so frightened, it swinging not.  Came through the Temple.

Saturday 13th June 1846

Met an old schoolfellow of mine at coffee shop in Elizabeth Street.  Have not seen him before for about nine years – his name Parsons.  Regularly mucked out the office by myself, swept floor, dusted shelves, and cleaned windows by my own free will.  If I had been ordered to do it, it would have gone ill with me as formerly.  Two of our men, Whiffin and Burton, had the impudence to bathe in the canal in broad daylight and before several spectators.  This is a penalty if known.  Mother taken much worse, not expected to live the afternoon through.  Sent for me to go up; I went.  She said but little otherwise than that she thought she should not live long and squeezed my hand as if it was for the last time – ‘time will prove’.

Sunday 14th June 1846 

Rose at half past 2 o’clock (moonlight) and went to locks at the end of Grosvenor Canal, opposite Battersea fields, and met there by appointment George Palmer, James Robinson and his son, whence we all proceeded in Mr George Lea’s boat ’Clara’ up the river to Chiswick, where we all landed, and after looking over the churchyard, especially Hogarth’s tomb, we launched (it was about 6 o’clock).  We landed and had pot beer at public house in Chiswick, but though I took but little, it so disagreed with me, having an empty stomach, after nearing home I jumped from boat into the Thames, but could not swim across, the tide being against me.  This was on the Middlesex side the river, a little beyond Putney Bridge.  This is the first time I bathed in the Thames, heretofore always being in the Serpentine or Canal.  Reached the White House, Pimlico at 8 o’clock, and arrived home half past 8.  Went to St Magnus the Martyr near London Bridge.  After service, whilst looking around, I  was accosted by a man civilly to tell him the date of a stone in the church which he could not see, who was no other than old Thomas Williamson, a singular character living in New Road, St Pancras.  We had little conversation and parted as we were going our different ways.  After, walked to Greenwich Hospital and paid to see the Painted Hall and Chapel.  Returned home by railway from Greenwich owing to the new shoes which I wore for the first time drawing my feet into blisters.  Wore also white stockings for first time.  Got home about half past 8 o’clock.  Poor old Granny Shepard completed her 75th year today, also her last tooth but one came out today.

Tuesday 16th June 1846

Ordered a new beaver hat to be made at Quick’s Hat Manufactory, Pimlico.  It is to be a broad-brimmed – height of crown seven and three eighths inches, brim two and five eighths inches.  The new carriage road in front of Chelsea Hospital opened for public traffic for the first time.

Thursday 18th June 1846

A fancy bazaar held in the Royal Gardens of Chelsea Hospital in aid of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest.  Many of the nobility there, tents and booths erected.  Brought home new hat from Quick’s of Pimlico, price 10s 6d.  Uncle John Shepard continues to get worse, unable to leave his bed.

Saturday 20th June 1846

William Monk, brother to Henry Monk, an extensive charcoal dealer of Leeder Street, Chelsea, died about this time in Chelsea, aged about 48 years.  He was afflicted with an asthmatical complaint, which at times he suffered much from.  I am troubled with a terrible feverish headache, which, if it does not abate by Monday, I shall be unable to attend the office.  Nine years since the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, in commemoration of which the Park guns were fired.  Mr Guest completes his 61st year.

Sunday 21st June 1846

Rose at 7 o’clock, head aching, but not violently.  Breakfasted and went to coffee shop in Dean Street, opposite Little Dean Street.  Afraid to venture far, so went to Salem Chapel, Meards Court Soho, with old Granny Shepard – Mr J Stephens minister.  After dinner strolled into St Anne Soho Burial Ground.  One funeral stopped an hour.  At home till 6 o’clock looking over maps.  Expected Ann to pay me a visit, but was disappointed.  Afterwards took walk through Camden Town and returned by Pancras and the New Road.  Met an old acquaintance by name Bill Worley, and the Revd Arnold White, formerly a minister of Tottenham Court Chapel.  Mich and another fellow workman of Uncle John Shepard came to see him and afterwards wanted to see my curiosities, but made it too late.  Very much to the gratification of old Granny Shepard, who was mightily displeased at the thoughts of it.

Monday 22nd June 1846

This week begins one gang off and one on – that is one to work every other day; ditto screeners.  Taken very feverish in afternoon which increased towards evening as to make it difficulty to walk home, such violent pains in head.  This night about 12 o’clock a violent storm arose accompanied by thunder and lightning, and rained through the night, a thing much desired.  Benjamin Robert Haydon Esq, a painter of great eminence, committed suicide at his residence, 14 Burwood Place, Edgware Road.  He was born January 1786, and was aged 60 years.

Editor’s note:  Benjamin Robert Haydon, history painter, was frequently in debt, being imprisoned several times, as well as feeling embittered at his rejection by the Royal Academy and the committee selecting artists for the new Houses of Parliament.

Tuesday 23rd June 1846

Rose very bad in my head, but as the day advanced became better.  Good drop of rain fell, of which we have not had any for the last five weeks.

Wednesday 24th June 1846

William Monk buried in St Luke’s Chelsea Burial Ground.

Thursday 25th June 1846

The Corn Bill was brought into the House of Lords, where Lord Stanley was to oppose it, but after all the opposition was very feeble and the second reading of the Bill was carried by a majority of 47, the number being 211 to 164, and the great measure upon which the country looked for salvation was carried without a division.

Friday 26th June 1846

Matthew Ward completes his 62nd year.

Saturday 27th June 1846

Mother completes her 49th year, and her fifth of her marriage with Matthew Ward.  Sir Robert Peel and his colleagues tendered their resignations, which Her Majesty accepted, and sent for Lord John Russell to Construct a Cabinet, which he did accordingly.

Sunday 28th June 1846

Rose at 5 o’clock and went to the Mechanics’ Bath, Little Queen Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, for first time this season and had a dip.  Breakfasted and then went to Bow.  Got there at quarter past 10 o’clock, took inscription off tablet in the church, stayed service time and dined at coffee shop in Bow.  Left ditto quarter past 2 and strolled towards Poplar and Blackwall.  Got too far off, walked side river towards home and took the steamboat from Poplar to Hungerford.  Arrived home about quarter past 5 o’clock and had tea, and afterwards Ann Fox came up, but I could do nothing with her having a plaster between her legs in consequence of the soreness there.  Uncle John Shepard much better this week, having attended his chapel morning and evening.  Queen Victoria crowned eight years today – bells ringing merrily.

Monday 29th June 1846

Balloon went up from Cremorne Gardens, Chelsea.  Saw it very plain in the Quadrant.  Grand Review in Hyde Park this morning, His Grace the Duke of Wellington Commander in Chief.

The weather this month has been extremely warm and dry, things scorched up for the want of rain till the 22nd, since which we have had slight intermediate rains which gives hopes yet of a favourable harvest.

Coals sold at Eccleston Wharf this month: 908 tons 6 sacks.

The new carriage and foot road fronting Chelsea Hospital was opened the 16th instant: this is a decided improvement, being before so very narrow, and looking so confined.

St James’s Church Piccadilly has a new painted window being put in place of the old one which was very plain, having no stained glass.  The present from without, though not finished, looks very showy.

There is now erecting a strong scaffold at the top of the Triumphal Arch, Constitution Hill, opposite Hyde Park Gates, and immediately fronting St George’s Hospital, for the purpose of erecting an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, which will be very conspicuous from the Duke’s residence, Apsley House.  It is expected it will shortly be erected.

This month has been unfortunate to our family for illness, my mother being very bad all the month and at one time not expected to live and still keeping her bed.  My Uncle John Shepard has also had a severe attack of the lumbago in his back, which confined him to his bed about a fortnight, but from which he is now fast recovering, though unable to work.  Myself have been very indisposed, having a stoppage in my bowels accompanied with a severe headache, which one time I thought would have confined me also, but have managed to keep my work.  Granny Shepard has been nearly knocked up with attending on them, her son and daughter.  It also fatigued M Ward very much having his rest broke every night by attending a sick wife, and also attending the bugs, which in their room in warm weather, almost devour them.

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Nathaniel's adventures continue in July