December 25 Thursday – Christmas – Sam and Stoddard went to church services in the morning at the Salisbury Cathedral. After lunch they drove to Stonehenge. Before dinner Sam wrote from Salisbury, England to Livy.

Today I attended the grand Christmas service in Salisbury Cathedral, in company with recumbent mail-clad knights who had lain there 650 years. What a fascinating building it is! It is the loveliest pile of stone that can be imagined—think of comparing it with that solemn barn at York. And then we drove by the Old Sarum—all day I was thinking lovingly of my “Angel in the House,”—for Old Sarum & Salisbury naturally recall Coventry Patmore’s books—& then we went to Stonehenge. A wonderful thing is Stonehenge. It is one of he most mysterious & satisfactory ruins I have ever seen [MTL 5: 534]. Note: Patmore’s (1823-1896) two books The Angel in the House (1854-6) were in Sam’s library [Gribben 536].

Sam and Stoddard dined with William Blackmore and friends and enjoyed music afterward.          

Mr. Shirley Brooks wrote to Sam.

My dear Sir, / “After compliments”, as the Orientals say, by which in this case I mean no compliments at all, but the heartiest good wishes of the season, I am to say to you, on the part of the partner of my expenses, that we shall assemble some friends here on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, at 9 o’clock, for frivolous conversation, to be atoned for by serious supper at 11, & so we hope to see in 1874 agreeably. It will much increase the chance of our doing so, if you will give us the pleasure of your company. Will you? / Always yours sincerely / Shirley Brooks [MTPO]. Note: Clemens accepted