RECORD: Emma Darwin's diary for: 1886. CUL-DAR242[.50]. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua, corrections by John van Wyhe 4.2019. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of Richard Darwin Keynes. See the introduction to Emma Darwin's diaries here. All of the diaries are also available in a single file here, which has the latest corrections.

Introduction by Christine Chua:

At 78 years old, it is inevitable for Mrs Darwin to feel tired and poorly some days. Mostly she appeared to be her cheerful self, sociable and gracious. She playfully called her grandchildren her "chicks".


[title page]

Renshaw's Diary & Almanack for 1886

[End paper]

Poste Restante

Bayreuth Germany till

Aug 10

Gypsophyllum [um crossed] a

Statice

Chrysanth.

Multicaulum yellow –

Waldsenen Schumann op. 82. Litolff

[Title page]

[Printed page]

[January, February]

[March, April]

[May, June]

Ch.

L.HP

W.H

[July, August]

[September, October]

[November, December]

Dulin

Dule

[Printed page]Rf

[Printed page]B

[Printed page]B

[Printed page]stamp

[Printed page]stamp

[Printed page]Sun

[Printed page]sun

[page break] 18

[Printed page]sun

[Printed page]D

January 1886

Friday, 1 January 1886

Saturday, 2 January 1886

W & - [crossed]

Sara went

January 1886

Sunday, 3 January 1886

Monday, 4 January 1886

Leo & B. went

Kempsons came

Tuesday, 5 January 1886

fine cold day

left off iron & Q.

m. better

Wednesday, 6 January 1886

Ella came

Thursday, 7 January 1886

frost

well -

Friday, 8 January 1886

headache

blue pill

Saturday, 9 January 1886

well

January 1886

Sunday, 10 January 1886

began iron & Q –

v. poorly all day.

Monday, 11 January 1886

pretty well

Tuesday, 12 January 1886

Do -

Wednesday, 13 January 1886

quite well

Thursday, 14 January 1886

Kempsons went

Friday, 15 January 1886

Saturday, 16 January 1886

January 1886

Sunday, 17 January 1886

Monday, 18 January 1886

!!

Bessy went to G. Allens

Fr & Ellen here

well

Tuesday, 19 January 1886

Wednesday, 20 January 1886

v. well

Clement & Frank W dined

Thursday, 21 January 1886

not so well –

Snow & change in night

Friday, 22 January 1886

Saturday, 23 January 1886

Stanfords & Newalls _

R. B L

January 1886

Sunday, 24 January 1886

Monday, 25 January 1886

Tuesday, 26 January 1886

Wednesday, 27 January 1886

Thursday, 28 January 1886

Friday, 29 January 1886

Saturday, 30 January 1886

Litches

January - February 1886

Sunday, 31 January 1886

Monday, 1 February 1886

H. Ida came

Tuesday, 2 February 1886

walked a good deal

Wednesday, 3 February 1886

done up.

Thursday, 4 February 1886

Friday, 5 February 1886

called on Mrs Ward.

Saturday, 6 February 1886

Hor. & Ida went home

February 1886

Sunday, 7 February 1886

saw Mrs Edwards

Monday, 8 February 1886

Tuesday, 9 February 1886

v. fine sharp frost

Isabel Akers came

Wednesday, 10 February 1886

Thursday, 11 February 1886

Friday, 12 February 1886

Saturday, 13 February 1886

Isabel went

Litches came

rheumatism

Bad foggy weather

not. v. well since Tuesday

February 1886

Sunday, 14 February 1886

Monday, 15 February 1886

rheumatism

Blue pill

Tuesday, 16 February 1886

Pretty well

Mrs Newall called

Wednesday, 17 February 1886

Thursday, 18 February 1886

well all these days

Friday, 19 February 1886

Saturday, 20 February 1886

February 1886

Sunday, 21 February 1886

Monday, 22 February 1886

Dinner Party.

Hughes

Slaters

Glazebrooks

Rachel came

Tuesday, 23 February 1886

tired

Cinderella

Wednesday, 24 February 1886

well – drove to Grange in mg.

Thursday, 25 February 1886

tired

Friday, 26 February 1886

Saturday, 27 February 1886

February - March 1886

Sunday, 27 February 1886

Monday, 1 March 1886

went to Mrs Newall

Tuesday, 2 March 1886 

poorly

Maud & Gwen

Wednesday, 3 March 1886

rheumatism

Thursday, 4 March 1886

Ditto

Friday, 5 March 1886

better

Saturday, 6 March 1886

March 1886

Sunday, 7 March 1886 

Monday, 8 March 1886

Tuesday, 9 March 1886

Wednesday, 10 March 1886

Maud & G. went to Liverpool_

Thursday, 11 March 1886

Friday, 12 March 1886

Saturday, 13 March 1886

March 1886

Sunday, 14 March 1886 

Monday, 15 March 1886

Tuesday, 16 March 1886

much better

Wednesday, 17 March 1886

Thursday, 18 March 1886

came downstairs

weather changed

Friday, 19 March 1886

v. hot

Saturday, 20 March 1886

March 1886

Sunday, 21 March 1886 

Monday, 22 March 1886

went in Bath chair

m. better

Tuesday, 23 March 1886

Wednesday, 24 March 1886

went out twice

Thursday, 25 March 1886

Friday, 26 March 1886

Saturday, 27 March 1886

March 1886

Sunday, 28 March 1886

Monday, 29 March 1886

Tuesday, 30 March 1886

Baby at Wychfield [Frances Crofts, daughter of Francis and Ellen Darwin]

Wednesday, 31 March 1886

Snow came

April 1886

Thursday, 1 April 1886

Friday, 2 April 1886

poorly since Wed -

Saturday, 3 April 1886

Snow went

better

!!

April 1886

Sunday, 4 April 1886

Monday, 5 April 1886

called on Mrs Jackson

Tuesday, 6 April 1886

pretty well -

Wednesday, 7 April 1886

stormy day

Thursday, 8 April 1886

Ditto

Friday, 9 April 1886

Saturday, 10 April 1886

12 st 10 w clothes dress

after lunch.

Leo & B - came

April 1886

Sunday, 11 April 1886

poorly all day

bad night

Monday, 12 April 1886

L. & B went

began bismuth &c

better

went out

Tuesday, 13 April 1886

tol

Do

Wednesday, 14 April 1886

v. weak in mg –

Mrs J. W to tea

Thursday, 15 April 1886

m. better

Mrs Marshall to tea

Friday, 16 April 1886

Amy W.

pretty well

Saturday, 17 April 1886

Do

April 1886

Sunday, 18 April 1886

Quite well –

rain -

Monday, 19 April 1886

beaut day

!!

Tuesday, 20 April 1886

v. well

v. cold

Wednesday, 21 April 1886

v. cold

Mrs Ruck came

Thursday, 22 April 1886

Leo & B. to Orchard

quite well -

Friday, 23 April 1886

beaut day

!!!

Do

Saturday, 24 April 1886

!!

Do

April 1886

Sunday, 25 April 1886

!!

out a good deal

Monday, 26 April 1886

!!

Tuesday, 27 April 1886

!!

fine

Bessy & Dickson went

Wednesday, 28 April 1886

Better day

Mrs Jackson & children

May 1886

Thursday, 29 April 1886

cold

frost at night

v. well

Friday, 30 April 1886

!!

sharp

Em. Thorley came

v. well

Saturday, 1 May 1886

wrote Caroline

May 1886

Sunday, 2 May 1886

!!

Monday, 3 May 1886

Came to Wetherby Place

Tuesday, 4 May 1886

!!

drove out in Bath chair

Wednesday, 5 May 1886

Sibella called

Thursday, 6 May 1886

Cicely & Mabel called on Mrs Norman

º70

Friday, 7 May 1886

Saturday, 8 May 1886

weather changed to cold fog.

saw Ellen T.

May 1886

Sunday, 9 May 1886

Rheumatism

Monday, 10 May 1886

Tuesday, 11 May 1886

Wednesday, 12 May 1886

called on Mrs Croft

Thursday, 13 May 1886

Friday, 14 May 1886

Saturday, 15 May 1886

Came to Abinger

bright stormy day

May 1886

Sunday, 16 May 1886

Rain all day

Monday, 17 May 1886

came to L. H P. w Hen.

Storm -

Tuesday, 18 May 1886

had Mr [Insdrie]

Wednesday, 19 May 1886

in bed

Thursday, 20 May 1886

Laura came

Friday, 21 May 1886

All week

Saturday, 22 May 1886

May 1886

Sunday, 23 May 1886

Maud & Gwen arrived at Cam -

Monday, 24 May 1886

began to get up

Tuesday, 25 May 1886

Wednesday, 26 May 1886

up a good deal

Thursday, 27 May 1886

came to K. Sq – w. Hen –

nearly well

Friday, 28 May 1886

Ida came to K. Sq

Saturday, 29 May 1886

went home w. H. & R -

May - June 1886

Sunday, 30 May 1886

!!

Monday, 31 May 1886

!!!

Hen went

Tuesday, 1 June 1886

!!

Wednesday, 2 June 1886

!!

Bessy returned

Thursday, 3 June 1886

Friday, 4 June 1886

Saturday, 5 June 1886

v. tired

!!

June 1886

Sunday, 6 June 1886

!!!

Monday, 7 June 1886

m. better

Tuesday, 8 June 1886

!!

went to Grantchester

Ditto

Wednesday, 9 June 1886

Miss Lee lunched

Thursday, 10 June 1886

Friday, 11 June 1886

Saturday, 12 June 1886

Litches came

!!

well all week

June 1886

Sunday, 13 June 1886

Monday, 14 June 1886

Tuesday, 15 June 1886

Wednesday, 16 June 1886

Thursday, 17 June 1886

Friday, 18 June 1886

cold N. E wind

Saturday, 19 June 1886

June 1886

Sunday, 20 June 1886

Monday, 21 June 1886

came to Down

met G. Maud & Carrie

v. cold

Tuesday, 22 June 1886

r. better

quite well all week

Wednesday, 23 June 1886

wind changed to S.

!!

Thursday, 24 June 1886

!!!

Friday, 25 June 1886

!!!

G. Maud & Carrie went

Saturday, 26 June 1886

!!!

June 1886

Sunday, 27 June 1886

!!

Monday, 28 June 1886

!!

Tuesday, 29 June 1886

Drove in Holwood

Wednesday, 30 June 1886

!!

Little Marriotts came

July 1886

Thursday, 1 July 1886

!!

Friday, 2 July 1886

!!

Saturday, 3 July 1886

F. E. W came

G. Maud & Carry

very hot & clou

returned

July 1886

Sunday, 4 July 1886

Monday, 5 July 1886

Tuesday, 6 July 1886

Godfrey & Hope came

Wednesday, 7 July 1886

Thursday, 8 July 1886

Friday, 9 July 1886

Godfrey & Hope went

Cold & slight rain

Saturday, 10 July 1886

F. E W. went

July 1886

Sunday, 11 July 1886

charming day _

Monday, 12 July 1886

Leos Litches George's & Mr Crawley went

rain

Tuesday, 13 July 1886

Called at Keston Rectory

cool r. pleasant

Wednesday, 14 July 1886

Thursday, 15 July 1886

Friday, 16 July 1886

Saturday, 17 July 1886

July 1886

Sunday, 18 July 1886

Monday, 19 July 1886

Tuesday, 20 July 1886

At C. came

!!

Wednesday, 21 July 1886

Sat out in hay field

Thursday, 22 July 1886

drive to Cudham

Friday, 23 July 1886

Rain all day_

Saturday, 24 July 1886

Litches & Leos –

!

July 1886

Sunday, 25 July 1886

Monday, 26 July 1886

Tuesday, 27 July 1886

Cold & dismal

Wednesday, 28 July 1886

Thursday, 29 July 1886

Friday, 30 July 1886

Saturday, 31 July 1886

Litches

August 1886

Sunday, 1 August 1886

!!

Monday, 2 August 1886

fine in p.m -

Tuesday, 3 August 1886

drove to Leaves Green

Wednesday, 4 August 1886

Thursday, 5 August 1886

v. tired

Friday, 6 August 1886

Ida & H.

nice day

!

Saturday, 7 August 1886

Q. well

!!

August 1886

Sunday, 8 August 1886

!!

Picnic at sandwalk

Monday, 9 August 1886

H. went

Tuesday, 10 August 1886

Rain & muggy

Wednesday, 11 August 1886

Ida & chicks went

Thursday, 12 August 1886

Fr & Dubba went

Friday, 13 August 1886

came to the Camp

Saturday, 14 August 1886

went to Rotherys

!!

August 1886

Sunday, 15 August 1886

Monday, 16 August 1886

Tuesday, 17 August 1886

24

Mr & Mrs Yonge dined

called [crossed]

poorly

W. went to Frankfurt

Wednesday, 18 August 1886

25

v. tired

Thursday, 19 August 1886

26

v. unwell in bed

Blue Pill

Friday, 20 August 1886

27

!!

Better got up

Mr Keele

Saturday, 21 August 1886

28

!!

m. better

August 1886

Sunday, 22 August 1886

15!

v. tired

sat out

Mr Rothery called

Monday, 23 August 1886

16

Lady H drove me to Bagshot

Wm met me at Bishopstoke.

Came thro R. Stoneham Park

Tuesday, 24 August 1886

17

cold

drove w. William

Wednesday, 25 August 1886

18

Thursday, 26 August 1886

19

Bessy came

!!

Friday, 27 August 1886

20

!!!

Mrs Seymour & children

Saturday, 28 August 1886

21

!!!

Invite Carry W _

August - September 1886

Sunday, 29 August 1886

!!!

Quite well came down

see 2 leaves back

Monday, 30 August 1886

!!

v. hot -

Tuesday, 31 August 1886

came home

Wednesday, 1 September 1886

Thursday, 2 September 1886

Friday, 3 September 1886

Saturday, 4 September 1886

Snow came

September 1886

Sunday, 5 September 1886

!!

Monday, 6 September 1886

Harrison & Arthur came-

Snow went

Tuesday, 7 September 1886

!!!

Wednesday, 8 September 1886

!!

Harrison & Arthur went

Thursday, 9 September 1886

rain -

Friday, 10 September 1886

G. & Maud from Barlaston & Brit. Assoc.

Saturday, 11 September 1886

September 1886

Sunday, 12 September 1886

Monday, 13 September 1886

Ellen & baby

Tuesday, 14 September 1886

Wednesday, 15 September 1886

Cold E. W –

exped. To Penhurst

Thursday, 16 September 1886

Mr & Mrs Huddlestone

16 st [crossed]

!!!

13 – 3/4 lb

Friday, 17 September 1886

!!!

Saturday, 18 September 1886

Ernest comes –

Dr & Mrs Ogle

!!!

September 1886

Sunday, 19 September 1886

!!!

hot

Monday, 20 September 1886

!!

All went

Tuesday, 21 September 1886

Wednesday, 22 September 1886

Thursday, 23 September 1886

Frank came

Friday, 24 September 1886

Saturday, 25 September 1886

unwell in bed

Leos came

cold

September 1886

Sunday, 26 September 1886

Came down in evg.

Monday, 27 September 1886

wind changed

some rain

Leos went -

Tuesday, 28 September 1886

Gwen went

Wednesday, 29 September 1886

September – October 1886

Thursday, 30 September 1886

Friday, 1 October 1886

Saturday, 2 October 1886

October 1886

Sunday, 3 October 1886

!!

Monday, 4 October 1886

!!

Tuesday, 5 October 1886

Wednesday, 6 October 1886

Came to Cam

Thursday, 7 October 1886

Friday, 8 October 1886

Sir J - & Lady Hooker & Reggie

Saturday, 9 October 1886

Joanna Horner

write to L. Pertz & to Susan & Joanna

October 1886

Sunday, 10 October 1886

Georges dined

Monday, 11 October 1886

Fr W dined

Joanna went

Tuesday, 12 October 1886

Wednesday, 13 October 1886

Hookers went

Thursday, 14 October 1886

Friday, 15 October 1886

Saturday, 16 October 1886

October 1886

Sunday, 17 October 1886

Monday, 18 October 1886

Pertz came

Tuesday, 19 October 1886

Miss Clough & Miss Sharpley to dinner

Wednesday, 20 October 1886

thunder storm

Mrs Ward & Miss Bateson to lunch

Sharpley [crossed]

Thursday, 21 October 1886

Friday, 22 October 1886

Pertz went

!!

Saturday, 23 October 1886

October 1886

Sunday, 24 October 1886

Monday, 25 October 1886

Tuesday, 26 October 1886

cold fog

Wednesday, 27 October 1886

Ditto

Thursday, 28 October 1886

!

X

Friday, 29 October 1886

!!

Hammonds dinner p.

Dales Thorleys

Newalls

Dr Jackson

Saturday, 30 October 1886

October - November 1886

Sunday, 31 October 1886

Monday, 1 November 1886

Tuesday, 2 November 1886

Wednesday, 3 November 1886

Thursday, 4 November 1886

went to Mrs Jackson

Friday, 5 November 1886

Alice B. C. came

Saturday, 6 November 1886

November 1886

Sunday, 7 November 1886

!!

Monday, 8 November 1886

!

Alice B.

Tuesday, 9 November 1886

Alice B. C. went

B. & I poorly

Wednesday, 10 November 1886

Rain

Called Miss Gladstone

Thursday, 11 November 1886

Rain

Friday, 12 November 1886

Bessy to Aberdovey

Saturday, 13 November 1886

Tol. day

Mrs J. W.

Mrs Graves called

Leos came

L

November 1886

Sunday, 14 November 1886

!!

Monday, 15 November 1886

Went to the Orchard

!

Leos went

Tuesday, 16 November 1886

!!

Wednesday, 17 November 1886

Thursday, 18 November 1886

went to the Grange

Friday, 19 November 1886

!

Saturday, 20 November 1886

came from the Grange

called on Mrs Jackson

Litches came

November 1886

Sunday, 21 November 1886

!!

Monday, 22 November 1886

!!!

Tuesday, 23 November 1886

!!

Wednesday, 24 November 1886

!!

Bessy returned from Aberdovey

Thursday, 25 November 1886

!!!

Friday, 26 November 1886

muggy -

Saturday, 27 November 1886

November - December 1886

Sunday, 28 November 1886

Monday, 29 November 1886

Tuesday, 30 November 1886

Wednesday, 1 December 1886

Thursday, 2 December 1886

Friday, 3 December 1886

Saturday, 4 December 1886

December 1886

Sunday, 5 December 1886

Monday, 6 December 1886

Tuesday, 7 December 1886

Wednesday, 8 December 1886

Thursday, 9 December 1886

Saw Mrs Jackson

Friday, 10 December 1886

Saturday, 11 December 1886

Bessy to Leeds

Litches came

December 1886

Sunday, 12 December 1886

Monday, 13 December 1886

went to Wychfield

Litches went

Tuesday, 14 December 1886

very cold & bright

Wednesday, 15 December 1886

Thursday, 16 December 1886

Friday, 17 December 1886

came to the Orchard from Wychfield –

feverish & windpipe

Saturday, 18 December 1886

m better

Hen & R. came

Bessy from Leeds

December 1886

Sunday, 19 December 1886

Monday, 20 December 1886

Tuesday, 21 December 1886

Hen. went home

Wednesday, 22 December 1886

Thursday, 23 December 1886

came from Orchard

Friday, 24 December 1886

W. & Sara came

Saturday, 25 December 1886

December 1886

Sunday, 26 December 1886

Snow storm

Monday, 27 December 1886

Telephones all broken

Tuesday, 28 December 1886

bad night

Wednesday, 29 December 1886

not so well

Thursday, 30 December 1886

better

got up before lunch

W. E. D went

Friday, 31 December 1886

[page break]

[page break]

[page break]

[page break]

[page break]

[Blank page]

p. 126. Wyen to end of paragraph

Mem for Inland Rev –

1 butler

1 coachman

1 boy.

4 [crossed] gardeners 2

3 [crossed] 4 4 wheel. Carr-

Armorial - £2 – 2

settled Jan 87

[Memorandum for 1887]

Oliver's bride

1/- Mrs Oliphant


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022