Sunday, 1st December.

Church a.m. Dr. Gouldram. Good sermon. Walked with May and Riley p.m. Called on Taylors, 54 Gloucester Terrace. Walked afterwards with Robert, dined at home, Willie L. with us. Sir Peter arrived from Brighton very poorly.

Monday, 2nd.

Lecture a.m. Rode, dined with the Taylors 54 Gloucester Terrace. Played Muggins.

Tuesday, 3rd.

Lecture a.m. and p.m. Poor Sir Peter died this morning. In the morning after lecture rode up and had a chat with Margaret, who seemed to expect the worst.

Wednesday, 4th.

Lecture a.m. Worked at theatricals for R. G.

Thursday, 5th.

Lecture a.m. & p.m. Theatricals.

Friday, 6th.

Lecture a.m. Took up application for Canada. Got wet, shirked p.m. lecture. Theatricals. Dined with May.

Saturday, 7th.

Rode a.m. to Horse Guards about Canada. Saw General Forster and R.G. Theatricals, and home to dinner.

Sunday, 8th.

Church, collection a.m. Walked to Highgate with R.P.L. Dined with the Tathams and bussed. Walked home with D. Graham.

Monday 9th.

Lecture a.m. Run to earth by Devereux at A. & N. Club and to Horse Guards; there ...

(A gap in the diary, several pages having been cut out – EDH)

In this intervening period John has committed himself to serving in the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia with a view to leading their Militia. His diary resumes after he has embarked aboard 'Adelaide', a steam bound for Halifax. He also seems anguished about some failed romantic aspiration, although no hint remains of the young lady's identity

Monday, 30th.

... to common things – such a word does not express what I feel, cannot express the vacancy created, and without any reason assigned. Can she think – this is wrong. I must not write. Let me think what I may. What I think is my own, what I write may become the property of others. Let me try and forget Folkestone and Brighton. 'Tis easy to say “forget”, is it easy to do so, time alone can show – this is: what will be? I am or ought to be going to turn in but must see Worthing, my Mother’s pet place before I turn in. Worthing with all its associations certainly ought to be dearer to me than the others. May it soon become so for the sake of those with whom the places are associated. May it soon be. My old friends rise almost too fast before me, elbowing one another; I would they could elbow one memory out of my mind.

Tuesday, 31st.

Making a beautiful passage: off the Start about twelve o’clock, the pilot started with our letters. Past the Eddystone about one, lay down for a couple of hours to get warm, did not succeed; dinner and felt better. Past the Lizard about 5 and St Agnes and the Bishop about 10 to 10½. My last look at England to wind up the old year. Cold and glad to get to bed, with a bad headache.