The Diary of George Price Boyce 1851. 24 Sep 1851-25. Mr. F. W. Topham (age 43), who arrived at Bettwys yesterday, made himself very agreeable in the evening, performing several conjuring tricks exceedingly cleverly, to the intense entertainment and astonishment of my boy, Jack, Mary Hughes and her little girl. The mother seemed almost as much frightened as astonished, and to think he had dealings with His Satanic Majesty. I never went into such paroxysms of laughter or at any rate not for a very long time. He swallowed jugs and potatoes .... A very pretty and interesting girl sat for some time in the chimney corner, Elizabeth Pritchard, from Pwlhelly. Mr. Topham (age 43) also greatly enlivened us by relating Irish adventures and characters met with in Galway, where he had been with Goodall and Fripp, Phillip, etc.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1851. 26 Sep 1851. Went up again, with Messrs. Topham (age 43) and Fripp, to Transcfon and finished drawing of interior. Had Ellen Pritchard to sit as before in chimney corner, Mr. Topham (age 43) gave me a few hints on my sketch, using the brush upon it, warming the tone and giving serenity of colour and atmosphere to several parts. He principally used raw sienna, vandyke brown and French blue and yellow ochre. He offered to take me to the Hampstead Conversazione and the Graphic Society?

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1851. 28 Sep 1851. September 28. Discussion with Mr. Topham (age 43) on Ruskin (age 32), and his opinion seemed to be that he was a very clever writer but no artist, and not having any pretension to constituting himself a judge in art matters.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1852. 05 Jan 1852. To Clipstone Street. New model, beautiful girl of North Irish extraction, Miss Ryan, a dark though warm glowing clear complexion, lovelv dark eyes, and fine though womanish features and very black hair. She fainted away during the sitting, which was only of about an hour. Mr. Topham (age 43) introduced me to the meeting of the Graphic Society, at the Flaxman Hall, University College?'

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1853. 01 Jan 1853. Mr. Topham (age 44) called on me in Gt. Russell St., looked over my drawings; recommended me candidly not to try for the Old Water-Colour Society this season. Hoped Anthony and I would join him in Spain this summer. Drew at Clipstone St. for 1½ hrs. Last sitting of Miss Nicholl. She has been sitting to D. G. Rossetti (age 24) in a sitting posture.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1853. 21 Jan 1853. Mr. Duncan (age 49) and Mr. Topham (age 44) called on me and gave me, particularly the former, some useful hints on my drawings.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1854. 06 Feb 1854. Took to Old Water-Colour Society's Galleries 7 drawings and studies in competition for the associateship. Met Mr. Topham (age 45) and his daughter Polly at the door.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1854. 08 Feb 1854. Topham (age 45) took me to the Graphic Society's Exhibition, a host of fine things were exhibited—John Millais' Ophelia, several beautiful drawings by Girtin and Turner, by W. Hunt (age 26). Wallis said he liked my drawings and asked the price of the Westminster Abbey—15 gns .— 1st nibble.