The diary is concerned mostly with fashionable life in London, containing many lists of guests, descriptions of parties, masques, and "revels," details of evening dress and costumes, and sometimes sharp commentary on incidents such as waiting for her carriage for half an hour because her servants had been given "tickets for beer" by her hostess. De Crespigny sometimes quotes conversation extensively. The diary also details a trip to Brighton, where the writer was deeply offended at not being asked to dine at the Pavilion
Description:
Mary Champion de Crespigny (1750-1812) was married to the Admiralty official (later baronet) Claude William Champion de Crespigny. She entertained a fashionable Naval and court circle that included the Prince of Wales, and also published at least one novel, as well as a poem in tribute to Lord Collingwood (1810)., Phillipps MS 11956., Annotated on inside front cover: Journals in continuation of the year 1809., and Binding: marbled paper over cardboard, with title: Journals 1809 and 1810.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
De Crespigny, Claude Champion, Sir, d.1818. and De Crespigny, Mary.
Subject (Topic):
Upper class, Social life and customs, Women authors, and Brighton (England)
James Blood’s pocket diary (84 p.) contains brief entries for his 1850 wagon trip across the plains to Sacramento. He describes the trail, landscape, and his companions. In the back of the volume are what appear to be the scribblings of a child.
Subject (Geographic):
California --Gold discoveries and West (U.S.) --Description and travel
