“Today is Christmas Eve. I awoke at 7 and got up at 8. At 9 Lehzen and I breakfasted. At a ¼ to 11 came the Dean to get his Christmas box. We then gave it to all our people. At 1 we lunched. At ½ past 2 came Mr.Westall till ½ past 3. I gave him a pair of silver candlesticks. At a ¼ to 7 we dined downstairs. Lady Conroy, Victoire, Sir John, Edward and Henry dined here. After dinner came Aunt Sophia. Then when Mamma had rung a bell 3 times, we went into the dining-room where all our tables were arranged in the same way as last year. From Mamma I got two lovely side-combs, a stud, a lovely cushion of her own work, annuals, books, prints, handkerchiefs, a lovely cloak, a blue poplin dress, and a pink embroidered dress. From Aunt Sophia an onyx necklace and earrings. From Aunt Gloucester, a carbuncle broach. From Lady C. Jenkinson, a case with a penholder, pencill-case, paper knife, bottles, and paper holder, of tortoise- shell inlaid with gold. From Lehzen, a lovely music book and a beautiful pencil-top. From Sir John some prints. I gave Aunt Sophia an annual; Lehzen a stud, an annual, a bottle, and a rubbed box; Lady Conroy, a ring; Victoire, a colour-box; and Sir John, a cup. Mamma gave them all many other pretty things. We then went to my room, where Mamma’s and Dash’s table was arranged. I gave Mamma a bracelet, a sachet of my work, an annual and an album. Aunt Sophia gave her a mother-of-pearl almanack; Aunt Gloucester, a pair of gold earrings. From Lady Catherine Jenkinson a beautiful screen of her own work. From Lehzen a china tray and a penciltop. From Sir John an annual and a little memorandum case. Dashy’s presents were, a basin of bread and milk, three Indian-rubber balls, and two bits of gingerbread surrounded with branches of holly and candles. I stayed up till ½ past 9. I was soon in bed and asleep.“
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