Mr Campbell
April 1857. Charlotte is still staying with her sisters in London. An acquaintance, Mr Campbell, takes a particular interest in her. Although she takes a fancy to him, it is too soon after the Archie affair to think of marriage.
27th Monday
Went to a dancing party at the Miss Campbells, with Mrs Abbott. Sholta had a headache, and could not come. I danced a good deal, but not more than once with any one
April 28th 8 William Street
Went to “Her Majesty’s”* with Lady Hall*. Took Mr Maclaurin*, & gave a ticket to Mr Campbell when we called on his Sisters this afternoon. I am always put into an armchair on one side of the fire, and Mr Campbell sits beside me! He made himself rather “charming” this afternoon, & made me feel a little shy; and shewed that he had watched my every movement last night, though he did not dance more than once with me. If he is thinking of anything he is doing it very nicely. I like him; he is so gentlemanly & kind & nice, & is I think one of the the few nice men there seem to be in the world; – but I hope he will not do anything for to consent to marry him now, at any rate is quite out of the question. Lady Hall was very agreeable this evening, & Mr Maclaurin bewitching, & Mr C. (who came very late,) was agreeable too, though he gave me the provokes a little, especially because he allowed Mr Maclaurin to go & look after the carriage, instead of rushing himself as he shd have done. “I Puritani”* with Ortolani & Guiglini*. Latter enchanting.
April 29th 8 William Street
Went with Sholta to a little party at the Bryants; – a kind of farewell to Miss Bryant, who is to be married in a fortnight to Mr Tollemache, rather a nice looking person, though with reddish hair & quite a Tollemache in appearance*. He was there, & Baron & Baroness Maroccheti* (whose interesting studies we went to see a few days ago). They are both particularly nice looking people; Mr & Mrs Walpole; (the former is blind having been so all his life.) The Bishop of Jamaica*, Mr Campbell &c. The __ sisters sang trios, & made me join. The youngest Miss B. has a nice voice, but wants teaching. The nicest of all that I have seen of the family is Lady Bryant, a particularly nice old lady. Her son was there. He talks a great deal, & very loud, with the remains of a stutter. He always talks Ruskin & Tennyson at the pitch of his voice to Sholta, & did so to-night. Mr C. talked a good deal to me, also Mr Herbert Stewart a most unprepossessing individual, who, however, improves much on acquaintance (Lord James S.’s 2d son)
Notes
“Her Majesty’s”
Her Majesty’s Theatre. A West End theatre established by the playwright John Vanbrugh in 1705, it was situated in the Haymarket. At the time of Charlotte’s visit in London it was the main rival to the newly opened theatre at Covent Garden.
Lady Hall
Most likely Julia, wife of Sir John Hall of Dunglass, 5th Baronet.
Mr Maclaurin
Possibly related to Dr James Chichester Maclaurin, who had married Elizabeth Kerr Scott-Kerr (1763-1845). If so, he was a distant relation of Mr Kerr’s.
I Puritani
“The Puritans”, an opera by Vincenzo Bellini.
Ortolani & Guiglini
Soprano Angiolina Ortolani (1834-1913) and tenor Antonio Giuglini (1827-1865). Giuglini had made his London debut on 14th April 1857, to instant acclaim. I Puritani was Ortolani’s debut, in which she sang opposite Giuglini.
Miss Bryant … quite a Tollemache in appearance
Emily Susan Bryant (d. 1915) married Arthur Frederick Churchill Tollemache (1825-1874). The heads of the Tollemache family were the Earls of Dysart.
Baron Maroccheti
Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867). Celebrated French sculptor, born in Italy. He had made his home in London after the fall of the July Monarchy in 1848. A bust by him of William Makepeace Thackeray stands in Westminster Abbey.
Bishop of Jamaica
Aubrey George Spencer, 2nd Bishop of Jamaica. At this point he was living once more in Britain, having retired from Jamaica in 1855.
