5th January 1826

Dr Ballast grew fearfully indigestible after his lunch – roast fowl and a pudding – and took to his bed. The porters began to play dice, smoke pipes &c, and so we took it for a holiday. Walked into town with Will Sykes, wandered about a bit, and then to Covent Garden, exploring all the streets thereabouts.

The sights of Covent Garden were the following:

– A man with a wooden leg

– A pineapple

– Some Bluecoat boys, also let out from school (whom we loudly despised as bluebottles)

– A downed horse (poor beast!)

– Gregwood Forsythe (rich youth!)

We met Forsythe, quite by chance, coming out of a cigar-shop on Wellington Street. He told us that he now has his own digs near the Adelphi and asked if we should like to pay a call one evening and have supper – and so I now have the prospect of a decent meal – at last!

I told Papa about this unexpected invitation when I got home and he offered to lend me his second-best collar and cuffs. I have also borrowed tuppence from Fanny, with a view to purchasing THE GREAT ARTICLE. I am, however, still sixpence short of the necessary. Sykes happened to come round after dinner. To make up the difference, he suggested that we should apprentice one of the boys to a chimney sweep – ‘as they’re always after the little ’uns.’ Sykes may not be much of a scholar but he has a very inventive turn of mind.

Six o’clock p.m.

Papa says that we cannot sell Fred nor Alf, ‘however great the temptation.’