October 1846

Thursday 1st October 1846

Mr Dietrichsen, proprietor of the Royal Almanac, committed suicide by cutting his throat at his residence of the firm of Hannay and Dietrichsen, medicine warehouse, 63 Oxford Street.  He was aged about 40 years.

Friday 2nd October 1846

Mr George Lea bought black draught horse at Croydon Fair and not before it was needed.

Saturday 3rd October 1846

Ann Fox met me at midday in Pimlico near the Wharf with her small black clock.  Exchanged Ann’s small black Dutch clock for one of the same colour but much larger and very old fashion at Mr Eves, broker, Little George Street, Chelsea, for a florin and the small clock.

Sunday 4th October 1846

Breakfasted and afterwards went to coffee shop near the Royal Exchange, a turning out of Cornhill, from thence to church, St Mary Abchurch (I have noticed of late that all plugs are up in the City to keep the streets cleansed and to keep away the cholera (if possible) which is now prevalent in some parts of Europe and which it is feared will ultimately pay a visit to England, but it seems confined to the City, not having noticed any thing of the kind in the suburban districts).  Stopped at home all afternoon taking black Dutch clock to pieces and oiling it; hoped to have it in going order by dark, but was deceived, it being a more tedious task that I calculated upon.  Had Ann up in the evening as usual.  Took walk in evening with Ann to see Providence and Episcopal Chapel, Grays Inn Lane, and returned by 9 o’clock.

Monday 5th October 1846

The election for Lord Mayor took place last week in which Alderman Sir G Carroll was duly elected for the ensuing year by a majority of nine.

Editor’s note:  Sir George Carroll (c1784-1860) was a member of the Spectacle Makers Company and Alderman of the Candlewick ward from 1839 before becoming Lord Mayor.

Tuesday 6th October 1846

Bought very nice book, ‘The Memoirs of George III’, at Miscellaneous Repository, Princes Street, Soho.  Suicide of the Swiss Giantess this evening - for particulars see next day.  I knew deceased well by sight and spoke to her once in Leicester Square the 18th September last concerning a fire that then illuminated the skies and which was the last time I saw her.  She was biggest woman I ever saw, standing about 6 feet 3 inches in height and proportionally bulky.

Wednesday 7th October 1846

Miss Harriet Lea completes her 1st year.  Suicide of the Swiss Giantess, Eliza Laurence, alias Madame de Lebzi, better known as the Swiss Giantess, supposed to have thrown herself from Waterloo Bridge yesterday evening as she was last seen alive about 10 o’clock on the above bridge.  Her body was floating up the river near the Red House Tavern, Battersea, and was picked up by a lighterman (belonging to the Citizen Pier) named Rock this morning about 8 o’clock.  In her pocket was a piece of paper upon which was written No 9 Shorter’s Gardens, Seven Dials, knock twice and ask for Emma.  The last time deceased was seen alive in the neighbourhood of her residence was last night at public house, Sherrard Street, Golden Square.  She was 51 years of age, never married, had one son who did not live with her.

Editor’s note:  Nathaniel must mean Short’s Gardens.  No further biographical information about the Swiss Giantess can be found.

Friday 9th October 1846

Ann Fox completes her 45th year.  Met her in St James’s Park.  Walked accompanied by her homeward.

Saturday 10th October 1846

Most business done with teams this week than any previous.  Coals sent out 167 tons 3 sacks.  Had some cocoa and read newspaper at new coffee shop, Old Compton Street, Soho, near the churchyard, for first time.  A stylish affair this, it is fitted with seats, tables etc, polished mahogany.

Sunday 11th October 1846

Morning went first of all to St Paul’s Cathedral and took down in scrapbook the inscription on the statue of John Howard, the celebrated prison visitor.  From thence went to church of St Mary Aldermanbury.  A prayer offered up for the suppression of the approaching famine or otherwise scarcity of food which at present threatens this country, also a sermon for the aid of the sufferers by the late disastrous fire at St John’s Newfoundland.  No collection was made today, but it was given out that a visit would be paid to all the parishioners in the ensuing week.  200 houses are reported to have been destroyed by the devouring element, the inmates of which are houseless and the climate there very severe - destruction of property is computed at a million sterling.  Wet afternoon - stopped at home looking into Latin dictionary, progressing but slowly.  Had Ann up in the evening.  Got to our old tricks.  I spent a little seed up her petticoat.  Very narrow escape of being caught by Old Granny Shepard as they must have met on the staircase.  Practised a little Latin till quarter before 10 and went then to rest.

Wednesday 14th October 1846

Bought eight prints (portraits) at printsellers, Princes Street, Soho - 8d.  A destructive fire broke out about 5 o’clock this morning at the Red Lion Public House, Great Wild Street, Lincolns Inn Fields, which entirely destroyed the stock in trade and furniture and must have burnt very fierce, although … was hardly damaged.  Went to see it in the evening.

Friday 16th October 1846

Took black Dutch clock to be repaired at Vogt, clockmaker, Goodge Street.

Saturday 17th October 1846

White cat at Wharf today for first time.  Mr Ternan, well known in the theatrical world, died this day aged 42 years.  He was born in Dublin, 1804.  He married Miss Fanny Jarman at Edinburgh, by whom he has left three children surviving.

Sunday 18th October 1846

Very wet morning.  Went to New Tottenham Court Chapel, Grafton Street, Tottenham Court Road, in consequence of the weather preventing me going to my regular church.  The rain descended in such torrents that I was obliged to wear two coats and carry umbrella likewise; even then I returned home wet, it raining without ceasing.  At home all the afternoon reading history Queen Anne etc.  After tea had Ann up as usual.  Carried on the same game as heretofore.  Took walk in evening with Ann through Fleet Street etc; returned home quarter past 9 o’clock.

Wednesday 21st October 1846

The old rectory house of St James’s Westminster, which stood in Piccadilly, is now quite cleared away to the foundations, preparatory to the building a new one.

Friday 23rd October 1846

Brought black Dutch clock from the doctor’s in Goodge Street and fixed it in room.  The remains of Mr Ternan (who died - see 17th instant) were deposited in the churchyard of Christ Church Blackfriars, followed by his two brothers and a few private professional friends.

Saturday 24th October 1846

Had bread and cheese dinner at the Gun Tavern, Pimlico.  Tap room lately fitted up with seats and partitions; cut date 1846 in the partition.

Sunday 25th October 1846

Chilblains getting very troublesome - obliged to use onion and salt to them.  Wore worsted stockings for first time this season.  Went through the Temple and round the church and through the churchyard.  Copied into scrapbook Latin inscriptions over door in Farrars Buildings, as also one within the railings surrounding the church.  Went inside and saw Knights Templars brass effigies.  This I believe is the first time I was ever inside the Temple Church.  From thence to St Mary Aldermanbury, Bow Lane.  Rained very heavy all the way home, at times so violent that I was obliged to put up at different times.  Beef sausages for dinner.  A duel of an afternoon.  Stopped at home translating Latin and taking to paper some particulars of Granny Shepard’s family from her own words, of which she tired and waxed wrath with me for bothering her so.  Had Ann up in evening as usual.  Afterwards took walk with ditto through the City by Fleet Street to St Paul’s churchyard, and then returned home, whence I arrived half past 9 o’clock.  White puppy fell overboard in the canal and was drowned.  Mr Richard Latham completes his 43rd year (a fellow clerk at Eccleston Wharf).

Wednesday 28th October 1846

Intense thick fog all day, as in some few cases to require the aid of links.

Friday 30th October 1846

Took Ann Fox’s black Dutch clock home and fixed it in Mrs Kennington’s kitchen.  Ann made me present of a silk handkerchief of large pattern.

Saturday 31st October 1846

Had the unpleasant job to discharge James Hollingsworth from his employment as screener through repeatedly absenting himself.  But he saw and promised the master better attendance in future, upon which a reconciliation was effected and he was permitted to resume his employment.

The front of Buckingham Palace presents a different appearance from the commencement of …, being encircled with boarding which extends round the front rails as far distant as the semi-circular pathway.  The Palace is to be enlarged, which, from the continued cart loads of rubble taken away and the cart loads of bricks taken in, appears that the alterations to be undertaken will be very extensive.

The exterior and interior of St James’s Church Piccadilly is now undergoing a thorough repair and beautifying, the windows of which are nearly half fresh glazed, which suffered extensively from the effects of the late storm.  The foundation of the new rectory house on the same site as the old one is just commenced.

The gallery or bridge in Richmond Mews, Richmond Buildings, back of our house, which … from the pianoforte maker to the premises opposite, has been roofed over with glass.

The weather this month has shown appearance of the approaching winter with … fogs which the last 10 days has been very prevalent.