Queen Victoria’s diary, 1849

Arrived here after a quick but not very pleasant passage. The day was fine and bright, and the sea to all appearance very smooth; but there was a dreadful swell,…

The day was grey and excessively “muggy,” which is the character of the Irish climate. The ships saluted at eight o’clock, and the “Ganges” (the flag-ship and a…

Safely arrived here: I now continue my account. For the first two hours and a half the sea, though rough, was not disagreeable. We entered Waterford Harbour…

Here we are in this very pretty spot, with a lovely view of the Wicklow Hills from the window. But now to return to yesterday’s proceedings. We got under weigh at…

We drove into Dublin—with our two ladies—in Lord Clarendon’s carriage, the gentlemen following; and without any escort. The people were very enthusiastic, and…

At twenty minutes to one o’clock we left for Dublin, I and all the ladies in evening dresses, all the gentlemen in uniform. We drove straight to the Castle.…

There was a great and brilliant review in the Phœnix Park—six thousand one hundred and sixty men, including the constabulary. In the evening we two dined alone, and…

At a quarter to twelve o’clock we set out, with all our suite, for Carton, the Duke of Leinster’s; Lord and Lady Clarendon in the carriage with us. We went through…

We reached Belfast Harbour at four o’clock. The wind had got up amazingly, and the morning was a very bad and stormy one. We had not had a very quiet night for…

We arrived after a dreadfully rough though very short passage, and have taken refuge here. To return to Friday. We left the Phœnix Park, where we had spent so…

The weather no better, and as there seemed no hope of its improvement, we decided on starting at two o’clock, and proceeding either to Loch Ryan or Lamlash. Lord…

We started at four o’clock in the morning, and the yacht rolled a little, but the motion was an easy one. We were in the Clyde by breakfast-time, but the day was…

We anchored yesterday in Roseneath Bay, close to Roseneath—a very pretty spot—and looking towards the mountains which you see in Loch Goil. One of them is called…

It seems like a dream to be here in our dear Highland home again; it certainly does not seem as if it were a year since we were here! Now I must describe the doings…

At a quarter to eight o’clock we started. The two boys and Vicky were in the carriage with us, Alice followed with the ladies. It was a long journey, but through…

After writing our letters, we set off on our ponies, with Miss Dawson, Macdonald, Grant, Batterbury, and Hamis Coutts; Hamis is Gaelic for James, and is pronounced…

At a quarter-past eleven we drove (the three gentlemen going in another carriage) to the road along which we went with Lord Portman the other day, and up to a small…

The morning was very fine. I heard the children repeat some poetry in German, and then at ten o’clock we set off with Lady Douro in our carriage, and drove on…