[Manuscript] Diary of Sergeant Browne, principal flautist in the Royal Artillery band, Woolwich

1862 Diary of Sergeant Browne, principal flautist in the Royal Artillery band, Woolwich, Over 425 pages. Played at the opening ceremony of the International Exhibition under Costa, having been at the rehearsal attended by Meyerbeer - good descriptions of both events - and at the Horticultural Gardens next door throughout the length of the exhibition and elsewhere (Crystal Palace, Willis's Rooms, private houses, Lord Mayor's Show "nonsensical custom"). Comments on operas seen "it is a pity that Mozart should have wasted his talents" (on Don Giovanni): "enraptured with the singing of Patti" in Lucia di Lammermoor: sees Joachim, Blondin, many celebrities including Prince Napoleon ""How like he is to the Great Nap only much taller": records the R.A. playing the "celebrated cricketers of All England whose fame is sounded throughout the world (following) their late conquests in Australia": much comment on Garibaldi, and national and international events. The diary of Sergeant J.A. Browne 1862 stationed at Woolwich, obl.8vo, boards worn, spine lost, some pages loose, handwriting somewhat faint but easily read. The following is a precis of the entries. Sergeant James Alexander Browne was born 1838 at Artillery Place Woolwich to a military family - Grandfather was a sergeant major in the 6th Carabineers, was wounded 1798 (Irish rebellion) and again at Buenos Ayres (1806): father was a staff sergeant Royal Horse Artillery, an uncle bandmaster for the 49th Regiment and a half brother, also 49th regiment was killed at Inkerman. Browne joined the Royal Artillery band at Woolwich, as their principal flautist and also played first violin at several orchestras. He also composed, chiefly arrangements of other works. v In 1870 he transferred to become bandmaster of the Royal Horse Artillery consisting of 36 men with kettledrums, in which his two younger brothers, George and William, also played. Browne retired from the RHA in 1877 when the RHA band was amalgamated, was for a spell musical director at the Royal Court theatre (1880/1) became bandmaster for a schools association, editor of music periodicals, composer and author of books on music subjects. Jan 1 1862: plays at a party by a Mr Constable of Plumstead 9th: Americans agree to release Mason & Slidell "good sense has prevailed but "the desire of the (American) people is evidently for revenge" later Americans 10th Played at Mr Appleton's Annual Party 15th Went to the British Museum & then to the Adelphi 16 to London with wife but without children: Saw at United Service Institution "dress worn by Tippoos Sultan at Seringapatan 23 A terrible calamity at Hartley, nr Shields "which has thrown the deepest gloom over the North of England" when the beam of the engine broke as the men were being hauled out of the coalmine 5 killed and 215 buried alive and eventually discovered dead. Relief of 407 widows &Orphans: Her Majesty contributed £200 Feb 21 16 men drowned by the overflow of water into a lead mine in Wales, 5 killed and an number wounded by the falling of two houses in Hackney: 49 killed by an explosion in a Merthyr Tydvll mine. March 1 attended funeral of Lt Col Baddely with long details of the procession (senior officers) and of the service "conducted in the most Popish manner" 5. Played at a Ball at the white Hart Bromley 7. Played at a lecture hall to illustrate a lecture on music 10 Funeral of "one of our little boys" who died of diphtheria, he having been in good health the previous week. 13 Brother George enlists into the Royal Artillery as a trumpeter April 8 Played at Willis's Rooms: an amateur concert "given by ladies and gentlemen of the highest circles" for the benefit of the sufferers of the Merthyr Tydvill disaster: prices very high (guinea & half Guinea). Funeral of Major Adye (diphtheria) Easter Monday. Ticket for the Reading Room 29th Engaged to play the flute under Costa for the opening of the International Exhibition: attends first rehearsal Exeter Hall.: feels "honoured to have taken part in the performance of an Overture composed for the occasion by Meyerbeer, superintended by the great master himself. It is composed of an kind of Triumphal March, a Dirge (in honour, most probably, of the founder of the Exhibition) and a Grand Finale, worked up on the melody of Rule Britannia. At the conclusion of the piece Meyerbeer was thanked by Earl Granville in the name of the Queen, the Commissioners and the Country for his trouble in coming over here to superintend the production of his work. The veteran composer was greatly affected, particularly when for about 10 minutes the hall resounded with greetings of welcome and he feebly attempted to return thanks. The next piece performed was one by Sterndale Bennett to words of Tennyson's. M. Costa here got himself into a little trouble with the public over this piece: he having refused to conduct it on account of a personal quarrel between himself and Dr Bennett. A rather pretty March of Auber's (composed for the occasion) with the Hallelujah Chorus and the National Anthem concluded the rehearsal." Here mounted in the album: Small photo of Costa: newspaper report of the rehearsal; Letter from the Sacred Harmonic Society engaging Browne (playing flute) for 2 rehearsals and the opening concert (all for 2 guineas): His entrance ticket for the Exhibition Hall (mentioned next) May 1 "The great event of the year" "Arriving at Cadogan Pier about 11.45 I proceeded towards Cromwell Road and after fighting my way throuqh sundry crowds band showing my green ticket to about 500 policeman I was enabled to arrive at Stand 129, my place in the orchestra. As nearly an hour would elapse before the ceremony began, I at once proceeded to take particular notice of the guests - native & foreign - who had arrived at the "world's fair". The first persons pointed out to me were the Japanese Ambassadors who arrived yesterday for the first time in this country (I have no doubt they were highly delighted with the affair, and will go home to write a book about it- if they don't they are a contrast to any Englishmen who go a few miles from their shores) Baron Brunow, and the Turkish Ambassador (between whom, bye the bye, the Austrian took his seat in a significant manner) sat in front of these strangers, I was pleased to see among the Ambassadors, several of the descendents of Slaves from Hayti, Dahomey Sc. who in this country, happily, are as welcome as any other foreigners. Many distinguished officers of our Army were looked upon with great interest - none more than Sir Thomas Trowbridge who lost both his legs at the battle of Inkerman, but who was walking across the dais as though he only had the gout. His false understandings' must be of great strength for he is a very heavy man, and I thought the circumstance very remarkable. "here comes Poll Cambridge" said Pratten, who was standing on my left, and presently the Duchess and her two daughters, the Princess May, and the duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz appeared and took their seats a short distance from those placed for the Commissioners. Suddenly we were all brought to attention by a flourish of trumpets and we (an orchestra of 400 and chorus of 3000) struck up "God save the Queen". The National Anthem, especially when performed by large masses has always a very striking effect on men. The procession having arrived from Buckingham Palace they proceeded to the other end of the building, and we neither heard nor saw what was going on, but it was merely an address delivered by Earl Granville, and answered by the Duke of Cambridge. The trumpets struck up again and the procession moved towards our end, proceeded by the bag pipes of the Scots Fusiliers, who performed, what old Gaels alone would call "fine tunes". Arriving in front of the orchestra, the Duke of Cambridge took his seat on the Throne, the Prince of Prussia on his right, and Prince Oscar of Sweden on his left The rest of the Royal Commissioners viz: Lord Palmerston, the Earl of Derby, the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London, the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons, took their place on either side of the Royal visitors - Earl Russell and the other members of the Cabinet facing the Commissioners. The special music was then performed (to which none of the grandees appeared to pay any attention, excepting Lord Palmerston, who was twisting and turning and giving evident signs of the pleasure he experienced from the performance. The noble old Premier was at the rehearsal yesterday, when he was introduced to Meyerbeer, each doubtless feeling himself highly honoured by the notice of the other. At the conclusion of Auber's "March", a prayer was offered by the Bishop of London, the "Hallelujah" was sung, and the Duke of Cambridge, in the name of the Queen, pronounced the Exhibition open. The National Anthem concluded the ceremony, and we of the orchestra soon dismounted and mixed ourselves with the visitors, the number of whom was very great. I walked up one side of the building and down the other, but owing to the pressure of the crowd (in addition to feeling tired) I was not in much humour to pay particular attention to the world's treasures and quitted the building about