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7 March 1863 — Exeter House, Roehampton | |
Saturday. 7th [March 1863]. I got up at about 10 but long before I was dressed all our party except myself & Mr Schr had set out to see the procession of the newly arrived Pss fm Danemark. I had my breakfast & then practised my singing before I got ready. I then put on my grey foulard trimmed with purple & rushing over to Marias I borrowed her french cashmere shawl. I & Schr started for Putney at 12¼ and caught a train at Putney, arrived at Waterloo we got into a hansom & driving over Westminster Bridge put down at Waterloo house in Cockspur Sqr & a policeman got us safely over the street thro’ the crowd into the United University Club. We went directly to look at our seats wh were in the lowest tier, & saw there Mrs Baget & immediately afterwards Mr Thomas. He took me down & gave me luncheon consisting of coffee & ices—& then I sat a long time in the drawing room with him & his party– At about 3 we took our places & Miss Thomas sat next to me. We waited a long time & had to amuse ourselves by watching the crowd– Every now and then a poor half-maddened dog wd come rushing down the street [&] afford great amusement to the populace who hooted & goaded the poor animal to distraction– At about 4 the swaying crowds & murmurs of delight were the signal of the approach of the royal procession and there gradually appeared the carriages of the Westminster procession but there was total silence till the royal carriages came on– The cheers wh greeted the Pss Alexa were deafening & the ladies waved their handkerchiefs– The Pss bowed right & left & the Prince also but catching my eye he instantly recognised me and smiled & bowed very kindly. The Pss exceeded all her photos in beauty and looked particularly nice—poor little thing she must have had a hard days work of it. As soon as the procession had gone by I must not forget that Mr Layard was in the last carriage & waved his hand to me. I & Schr rushed up the Haymarket & jumping into a hansom drove to the Park as far as Disraelis house and going into the Park hired places on a plank resting on 2 ladders. We had to go up a ladder to get up wh we easily did and had a very good view of the procession passing between the volunteers who were drawn up 2 deep on each side of the road right across the park. As soon as this was over we got into a cab & drove to the club where Mr Schr wrote a letter & I waited. Mr Day the Don came and spoke to me– We then started to get a cab and drive to the Station but there was not one to be had and we had to walk all the way. Unluckily it came on to rain hard & I got very wet altho’ we had an umbrella. We just caught a train but it was so full we were obliged to go 2nd class and when we got to Putney we had to wait a little time for a fly. We got home just after the M., Mrs Glyn, Connie & Miss K. who had been to see the sight from Dr Kynastons the Head Master of St Pauls– Blanche came in, having dined with Maria, at 12– Mr Layard had taken them to the Bricklayers Arm Station, having given them places in the reception room. We all went to bed early & very tired. | |
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