Archie in Charlotte’s 1854 diary
May 24th 55 Brunswick Square [Brighton]
… Brighton looked beautiful, so bright. Lady & Miss E Scott, Mr Getis & the Miss Hearisichs came in the evening. Their Brother had gone to Coutlands, so could not come. Had a long talk with Elly. Heard that [Archie] is coming on the 5th Oh dear!! Been very ill. One sister married; other going to be.
June 18th Sunlaws [Charlotte removed the portion of her diary between 26 May & 18 June; consequently the start of this entry is missing.]
… meditate over a “Treatise on Prayer” by Bickersteth, & found it very difficult to keep from wandering to what has been too much the subject of my thoughts for some months, – [Archie]. At present, is connected with all my thoughts. Cold wind, so walked about, & came home, without having obtained any sensible profit.
June 22nd
Received a nice letter from Meed approving Velly’s conduct, with respect to [Archie].
6th July Sunlaws
Bad day; so did nothing but talk, & c. partly about [Archie]. Miss K advised if comes in Aug: to finish quite, as all seem averse to the idea. Cannot help being sorry but suppose, it is best; unless changes very much.
There is no mention of the August visit in this diary, although some entries later in the month have been removed.
September 6th
[Charlotte is at Blair Atholl (to attend the Athole gathering) and meets among the soldiers present Sir Robert and his brother Mr Fletcher Menzies (Dunbar’s cousins) who look at her with “some curiosity.” She is thankful that neither Dunbar nor another person (name coded) makes an appearance.]
Nov 22nd Peterborough
I am sorry to see that the 66th is ordered to embark on Friday for the Crimea. Poor Dunbar! I fear I can never hope to see him again; for he is too delicate to bear the hardships, even if he is not shot. It makes me very sad!
Charlotte has been reading newspaper reports from the Crimea and hearing news of various men in her acquaintance. The 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot is Dunbar’s regiment.
13th Wednesday
My sisters arrived, at our old house, 14 Cavendish Place [Brighton]. Mary & I walked on the esplanade, then went to wait for them. Oh what horrid recollections that drawing room brought to my mind! & what changes have been since! Miss Harris gone (she is in Germany) Capt: Warry went with Mr K & me, from that house to my 1st ball; now he is in the Crimea. When there I became acquainted with Mr Dunbar; now our connection is over for ever, & he is at Gibraltar; & it was there that I saw poor Capt: Nolan for the last time, & now he lies buried in a foreign & enemy’s land.
Miss Harris ceased to live with the family on 25 April 1853 having joined them around the time of the death of Charlotte’s mother in 1850.
Charlotte refers to hearing of the death of Captain Nolan in the Crimea on 13 November 1854.
