Leathley, Charles, Diary of Charles Leathley, circa 1833
- Title(s):
- Diary of Charles Leathley.
- Published/Created:
- England, circa 1833.
- Physical Description:
- 1 v. (16, 30 p.) ; 24 cm.
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsDA688.L43 D53 1833Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund[Request]
- Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/9571868
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- Bound in modern quarter black morocco and red marbled boards.
Manuscript diary, kept by Charles Leathley of London, circa 1833. The diary is in two parts, covering distinct aspects of his life: one, his working day-to-day existence in London, and the other, an excursion through various towns during the summer. Writing is in a single neat hand throughout, in pen and brown ink. The two parts are separately paginated, suggesting they were never part of a single journal volume. Biographical details of Leathley remain unidentified, and the year (or years) of the diary entries are unrecorded, although the paper is watermarked 1833.
In London, Charles begins his diary very glumly, saying "This day begins my time of bondage." This portion of the diary, in 16 pages, is dated from 20 July to 17 October (no year is given). Charles records a rather dull working life, having been hired as a clerk in a counting house in Temple, London, for a Mr. Colquhoun . He writes: "I do not at all like the work I have to do now..." upon being given a new task having to do with "Postage books." Leathley stays on the same mournful note throughout this London segment of the journal. He dislikes the crowds, and gets "a little hurt in the hip" in one crush. He records a dog bite that sends him into a rather anxious and fearful state. He seeks out medical advice for it more than once and soon after frets that a friend has also been bitten by a rabid dog. Stomach complaints and rain-soaked feet figure prominently in Leathley's entries here.
The "excursion" portion of Leathley's journal (30 p.), in which he records a series of rambles with friends between 24 June and 19 July, seems written in a much more alert and positive tone. Among the towns he visits are Maidenhead, Pangbourne, Cheltenham, Burton upon Trent, Rotherham, Conisbrough, and Sheffield. He records details of meals, inns where he and his friends stay, and people that they meet. Based on the matter-of-fact nature of his journal entries, Leathley does not seem to have a particular goal or vision for his travels--he seems simply to enjoy being on the "open road" with his companions and being able to determine his own schedule and destinations. - Subject Terms:
- Burton upon Trent (England) -- Description and travel.Conisbrough (England) -- Description and travel.Leathley, Charles.London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century.Maidenhead (England) -- Description and travel.Pangbourne (England) -- Description and travel.Rotherham (England) -- Description and travel.Sheffield (England) -- Description and travel.Taverns (Inns) -- England.Voyages and travels -- England.
- Form/Genre:
- Diaries.
- Export:
- XML