The Final Years Part 2 amended

THE FINAL YEARS PART 2

MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST

MAY

1 Sun Rogation Sunday

Rogation Sunday in the manuscript is written as ROG. S. as the headline entry for 1o th of May

Rogation Sunday is the Sunday preceeding Rogation Days, a period set aside for prayer and fasting in Western christianity. You need to know your religion to be including such a term. I have no doubt that Rev. CJB knew his religion as maybe did Elwes but Wisden?

4 Wed Defeat of the French at Fuentes D'Onor 1811

Rev. Charles Cary Barnard a close friend and family member of the extended Elwes family had an ancestor who was in the 24th Regiment. There are several battles commemorated in the Almanack where the link is that a member of the Barnard family belonged to a battle unit that fought at the battle mentioned. The information source for these details was quite likely to have been Cannons Regimental Histories.

May 4th Defeat of the French at Fuentes D'Onor 1811 Battle honours were earned by the 24th Regiment at this engagement

5 Thurs Ascension day Lord F Beauclerk b. 1773

These 2 days are recorded but because they follow Easter and because Easter is on different days each year these two days are also on different days of the year. In the diary they are recorded as occurring " 14 THURSDAY Ascenscion Holy Thursday" and "17 SUN. AF. AS "

Also recorded on the 9th May is the birthday of Lord F. Beauclerk.

Its not impossible that this man, the 4th son and 5th child of the Duke of St. Albans and his wife Lady Caroline Ponsonby and whose mother was Lady Caroline Cavendish from the Cavendish family knew the Elwes family. In fact its almost certain. Beauclerk was at Cambridge at the same time as F.E.C. Elwes's father as well his best friend an earlier member of the Barnard family Charles Drake Barnard. Also to consider is the fact that Elwes senior purchased in 1799 the Great Billing Estate from another member of the Cavendish family.

Furthermore, a quick study of gentleman cricketers indicates to me at least that there is a preponderance of cricketers with connections to Cambridge and of course F.E.C. Elwes who actually played cricket for Magdalen College and his father have strong connections to Cambridge. Whilst Wisden has minor claims to being the source for this entry, these claims, in my opinion at least pale into insignificance when compared to Elwes's. It should also also be remembered as one match makes clear that Elwes was clearly a strong Cambridge supporter.

Lastly, most of the people listed have but one entry. LFB has both his birth and death recorded. Unusual is it not.

9 Mon British Museum re-opens

Almost this exact phrase "British Museum opens" is used for the same day Saturday May 9th.

11 Wed Perceval assassinated by Bellingham 1812

In the shooting diary a gentleman by the name of Percival (different spelling ) takes a part. Banking records show him as paying monies to Elwes presumably for the shooting.

I have recently learnt courtesy of William Barnard's family history "The Quest for Barnard Bear" that a further ancestor of the Barnard family Anthony Rosenhagen was described as "Private Secretary to Prime Minister Perceval"

12 Madame Elizabeth, sister of Louis XVI guillotined 1794

One can surely wonder exactly why Madame Elizabeth has been included within the Almanack if this was Wisden's work. Of Paris and the revolution years what did he know? However if it was Elwes and I am sure it was, there is an answer. It is known that Elwes's father was in Paris in 1790 and was supposedly one of the last to leave before everything "kicked off" in 1792? which would also indicate he may have been in Paris more than once. Perhaps he even knew Madame Elizabeth. A portrait was painted of him in Paris by society painter Ludwig Guttenbrun in 1790. This portrait is now lost and is known only by a photograph. The photograph shows Elwes Senior with long flowing locks all of his own, contrary to the prevailing use of periwigs. According to family tradition this prompted Queen Marie Antoinette to inquire why he wore his own hair long as he did. Frustratingly his reply has been lost and forgotten.

15 Sun Whit Sunday

This day is noted in the diary on the 24th May as 24. WHIT - SUN.

16 Mon Whit Monday Battle of Albuerra 1811

This day is noted in the diary as 25. WHIT MONDAY

The Reverend Cary Barnard also had a relative serving in the 34th regiment. This regiment fought at the Battle of Albuerra although the relative was not involved

18 Wed Oxford Trinity Term begins Ember week

The diary notes this same day as 27 WEDNESDAY OX. T. B.

Those well versed in religious matters such as C.C. Barnard would understand the significance of "Ember Week"

17 Tues Whit Tuesday William Hooker b. 1796

This day is noted in the diary as 26 WHIT TUESDAY

William Hooker is a member of the Barnard family previously mentioned and his son Joseph Hooker married William Barnard's great grandmother Anne's sister Frances

20 Fri The Hon. Admiral John Byng shot by order of a court - martial 1756

This date is also incorrect. It was in fact 1757.

Elwes makes a number of mistakes with dates. This could be one reason for such early diligence on the part of Wisden not to make mistakes and thus becoming a byword for accuracy. After a retreat to and defense at Fort St. Philllip in 1756 that lasted 2 months the 34th foot regiment watched themselves being abandoned by Admiral Byng. (see earlier mention of 34th Foot)

28 Sat Battle of Solebay (Southwold) Bay 1672

The most likely source for this entry is Motley's History of the Dutch Republic a copy of which Elwes records reading in his diary

30 Mon Sir James Mackintosh d. 1832

There are some loose links but potential links between the Elwes family and Sir James Mackintosh.

Mackintosh visited France and spoke French "uncommonly" well. Elwes's father certainly knew France and whilst in Paris circa 1790 had a portrait (now sadly lost) painted by Ludwig Gruttenbrun. For a time Mackintosh lived close to Ware near where the Elwes family had an estate in the 18th century. He knew Spencer Percival well enough to be offered a seat in Parliament. The most likely reason perhaps however for his inclusion is that Sir James Mackintosh died at Langham Place in London. Elwes's father rented

Langham Hall in Suffolk from Sir Patrick Blake. A half brother of Elwes is recorded as dying in infancy at Langham Hall.

JUNE

June 2 Benj. Aislabie, Esq. d1842 aetat 68

One of the more unexpected cricketers to be included. He has some of the least impressive if not the worst ever cricket averages. He was also a cricket administrator. Hardly reason enough to be included. However, his surname although spelt differently is pronounced the same way as the place where Elwes and his brother rented a hall in Yorkshire. They rented Aislaby Hall Aislaby . This is also one of the correspondence addresses given by Elwes in his Lords Membership details.

June 6 Jeremy Bentham, the jurist, d. 1832

Yet another bizarre entry for Wisden to have chosen were it Wisden's choice. I mean Why? Jeremy Bentham. What possible reason? The link to Elwes is the diary entry that a man of the name Bentham is recorded as being present at a musical entertainment at Elwes's house.

June 7 William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester d. 1779

I can only find the most tenuous of connections to Elwes. Another member of the same family owned Colesbourne Park a distance of 11 miles from Gloucester. Not much of a link

June 8 Reform Bill passed 1832.

Elwes mentions meeting one Arthur Peel who may well have been Arthur Peel son of Robert Peel. However Robert Peel initially opposed the Reform Bill

June 11 Buonaparte captured Malta 1798

Elwes had a brother Frederick Cary Elwes died in Naples but who was buried in Malta. The gravestone was bought by his mother. This at the moment has to be taken on trust because I can no longer find the source of this information.

June 13 Trinity Law Term ends

Another entry that Elwes a former student of Magdalene College Cambridge would understand and might well think worthy of note. But Wisden....

June 15 A fire destroyed property valued at 25000 at Beverley 1860

Francis Drake City surgeon York and another relative died at Beverley and a son of his also Francis Drake was Vicar of Beverley. Francis Drake is related to the Barnard family

June 16 Battle of Dettingen, Bavaria 1743.

There are no family links to this battle. However this is another occassion where the given date is wrong. The actual date of this battle was 27th June

June 17th Battle of Bunker's Hill 1775

Sir John Mordaunt another member of the wider but still close Barnard family founded the 47th foot. This regiment fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill 1775. The 47th regiment also fought in the Crimea at some of the battles recorded in Wisden's Almanack and thus provides a few more of the many links between Elwes and the entries pertaining to the Crimea.

June 24 Cambridge Easter Term ends

Another of the Oxbridge related term entries. Surely as mentioned before these came via Elwes a former student and not Wisden.

At the end of the June page and July pages are 2 horticultural entries

a) "Mulberry trees introduced into England, 1699"

and

b) "Peach and Nectarine trees brought into England from Persia, 1562"

Elwes frequently records going into the nearby Kensington Gardens for a pipe. Its seems quite likely that any information regarding the introduction of mulberry trees and peach and nectarine trees at the foot of the July section may have been sourced from these gardens. But if not here then where?

J U L Y

All the explanations given so far are for entries that pertain to the Almanack. But there is one notable abscence from the Almanack's entries. There are entries for "dividends due at bank " for January, April and October. There ought to be an entry for "Dividends due at bank" for July because dividends such as the ones referred to are payed quarterly. Yet there is no entry in July. This I propose is because according to Elwes's banking records Elwes unexpectedly did not receive the dividend in July that he anticipated. Furthermore there is an entry in the diary explaining that due to a lack of funds the plan of going abroad had to be abandoned and instead he went to Scotland and stayed near his wife's Scottish relatives throughout July August and September

July 1 Battle of the Nile 1798

This has the thinnest of thin reasons for inclusion. The 24th foot were deployed to Abukir Bay in 1801 which happens to be near where the Battle of the Nile took place

July 2 (Dog days begin )

Dog Days refers to the days between July and September when the heat in the Northern Hemisphere is at its most intense. This term derives from Sirius the Dog Star and its position in the heavens during this period. I doubt Wisden had any idea about this.

July 5 D. O'Connell. a Roman Catholic elected member for Clare 1828

D. O'Connell A curious person ( not without merit) to include but with Elwes cometh a link. One of his sisters was married to Governor Fitzgerald a one time governor of Western Australia 1844 - 1851 who came from Clare

July 8 First match played on Lord's New Middle Ground now Regents Park Canal, 1811

Elwes occasionally takes enjoyable walks to Lords from his home in Queens Gate Terrace to Lords Cricket Ground. At some point he must have crossed and quite likely walked beside the Regents Park Canal. For those who do not the Regents Canal it is a deliberately designed and particularly attractive stretch of canal. Part of it encompasses a stretch known as "Little Venice" This is the stretch that Elwes must have crossed. (see also comment about Canals)

July 9 Oxford Trinity Term ends.

Another entry that clearly, surely derives via Elwes and his knowledge and interest in Oxbridge affairs

July 12 Richard Cromwell d. at Cheshunt. Herts 1728 (aetat 90)

Firstly a mistake has been made here Richard Cromwell was 85 when he died not 90. Secondly, a relative of C.C.B. William Drake one time Vicar of Isleworth was for a time a master at Felsted School. Richard Cromwell and his 3 brothers were educated at Felsted School. William Drake is part of the wider but still close Barnard family. A very close friend of Elwes's father was a man from this family by the name of Charles Drake Barnard whose middle name Drake derives from this surname

July 13 Duke of Orleans killed 1842

Duke of Orleans owned the stables and racecourse at Chantilly. Elwes has written a very readable report rather in the style of a "Wisden " cricket report of racing at Chantilly in the year 1863. For those interested I have transcribed this particular report and it can be found in the June section.

I did so to show

a) Elwes's familiarity with horse racing and that therefore he has to considered a far more likely source than Wisden of the lists of the winners of The Derby, The Oaks, and St. Leger horse races

b) Elwes obviously has some knowledge of France and its ways and there as above he has to be considered a far more likely source than Wisden of all the French material in the Almanack section. (See below)

c) Elwes's father undeniably had knowledge of France since he is known to have been there in 1790

In each of the above there is a lot more material within the manuscript or Elwes life family and friends that links Elwes as the likely source of French related material.

14 July Bastille at Paris destroyed 1789

Elwes's father is known to have been in Paris with his close friend the aforementioned Charles Drake Barnard for definite in 1790. A portrait of him was painted by society painter Ludwig Guttenbrunn in 1790. Sadly the whereabouts of this portrait is unknown and is now only known by a photograph from The Connoisseur Magazine. Family tradition has it that these 2 men were some of the last able to leave Paris possibly leaving as part of the British Embassy's entourage. Exactly what these 2 men were doing in Paris in 1790 is unknown but 2 clever young men both Oxford and Cambridge students may have been more than just tourists!!!

16 July Berenger the French poet died

Another of those entries seeming without rhyme or reason. Why would "Wisden" include a French poet above so many British poets. What possible reason could Wisden have had for including Berenger?! I sincerely doubt that Wisden had even the faintest idea about French poet Pierre - Jean De Beranger.

According to Wikipedia his songs such as Le Vieux Drapeau helped to bring about the revolution of 1830 There is a Wisden entry for the 29 July (see below) marking the commencement of the Revolution in 1830.

17 July Opening of Kennington Oval 1845

Kennington Oval was and still is the home of Surrey County cricket. Elwes as his banking records show was for a while a fully paid up member of Surrey County Cricket Club.

18 July W. Mortlock of Surrey b. 1832

There is a diary entry recording the appearance at Wisden's shop of a man named Mortlock. It seems a solid assumption that as W. Mortlock was a cricketer that he was not unknown to Elwes. Elwes also records at his wedding a man by the name of Mortlock. Whether it is Mortlock the cricketer or not is unknown.

19 July Prince Augusta born 1822

Firstly it should read Princess Augusta. Secondly Princess Augusta was the daughter of the Duchess of Cambridge (see entry for 26 July ) and Elwes as has been pointed out earlier has clear links with Cambridge and in particular Magdalene College. His father also attended Cambridge and so too did many another from the Barnard family.

20 July Union of England & Scotland 1706

As his diary records Elwes and his wife spent nearly 3 months in Scotland near Creiff in 1863. His wife's family were prominent local people and he and his wife spent some considerable portions of their time mixing with the local gentry. Elwes also records reading some of Sir Walter Scottt's historical fiction set in Scotland. These facts are the most likely reasons for the occasional Scottish entry within the Almanack section of the 1st edition of Wisden

23 July Fred Lillywhite b. 1829

It is most likely assumed that the Lillywhite entries derive from Wisden's associations with this family and of course this may well be true. Elwes however also has links to in particular Fred. Lillywhite. His banking records show payments to Fred Lillywhite.

26 July Duchess of Cambridge b. 1797

She was the mother of Princess Augusta (see earlier entry 19 July) As pointed out earlier Elwes has numerous links to Cambridge.

28 July Pavilion at Lords burnt down 1825

Whether Wisden knew this or not Who knows? Elwes however as a member of Lords and as a man with a demonstrable interest in history and cricket quite probably did.

9 July Revolution in France 1830

(see the above entries for the 14th and 16th of July) There is a possibility at least that Elwes senior has some links to the French revolution but if so they are very much shrouded in mystery.

A U G U S T

1 August Lammas Day

Lammas Day is a Christian festival day. A loaf would be baked from freshly harvested wheat, taken to a church and blessed. Along with Plough Sunday in January and Rogation Days in May it is a contact point between the Church and agriculture. I cannot see Wisden having any idea of this and maybe Elwes likewise. Elwes's Friend Rev. Charles Cary Barnard ( he who came to 39 Queens Gate Terrace so often it did not signify) assuredly would have known.

2 August Carnot, the French mathematician and engineer d. 1823

Another very puzzling entry for which Wisden surely cannot possibly have been the source. Elwes or Elwes senior given that he was definitely in Paris in 1790 however might be. From Wikipedia comes the information that Carnot was known as "the Organiser of Victory " during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars"

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