May 11.—We had Mr. and Mrs. Call to dine with us, and an evening party afterwards.
May 12.—We went to hear Dr. Congreve's second lecture. The morning was thoroughly wet; the audience smaller, but still good.
Letter to Miss Sara Hennell, 13th May, 1867.
Yesterday we went to the second of a course of lectures which Dr. Congreve is delivering on Positivism in Bouverie Street. At the first lecture on the 5th there was a considerable audience—about seventy-five, chiefly men—of various ranks, from lords and M.P.'s downwards, or upwards, for what is called social distinction seems to be in a shifting condition just now. Yesterday the wet weather doubtless helped to reduce the audience; still it was good. Curiosity brings some, interest in the subject others, and the rest go with the wish to express adhesion more or less thorough.
I am afraid you have ceased to care much about pictures, else I should wish that you could see the Exhibition of Historical Portraits at Kensington. It is really worth a little fatigue to see the English of past generations in their habit as they lived—especially when Gainsborough and Sir Joshua are the painters. But even Sir Godfrey Kneller delights me occasionally with a finely conceived portrait carefully painted. There is an unforgetable portrait of Newton by him.
Journal, 1867.
May 27.—Went with G. to the Academy Exhibition.
May 29.—Went to the Exhibition of French Pictures—very agreeable and interesting.
Letter to Mrs. Peter Taylor, 30th May, 1867.
I do sympathize with you most emphatically in the desire to see women socially elevated—educated equally with men, and secured as far as possible, along with every other breathing creature, from suffering the exercise of any unrighteous power. That is a broader ground of sympathy than agreement as to the amount and kind of result that may be hoped for from a particular measure. But on this special point I am far from thinking myself an oracle, and on the whole I am inclined to hope for much good from the serious presentation of women's claims before Parliament. I thought Mill's speech sober and judicious from his point of view—Karslake's an abomination.