Fine all day. Rose ― & wrote to Sir J.R. Mr. Cortazzi ― Ann, & W.N. ― & some Palestine Journal. ― Breakfast at 9. Talk about A.M. ― & the brother, a letter to whom & the Governess H. gave me to read. ― Palgrave came ― but I saw him not.

Worked at Lord Clermont’s Jerusalem ― & the Bethlehem till 3. Then I went out, & a cab (6d) from Princes Road  to Orsett Terrace. ― All the R.s1 out. Wrote ― & returning to the Road ― there was Miss Ashdown ― & all 3. Jenny was as savvy as could be ― & dear little fat Helen: Mary looked very pretty. Omnibus to beyond Angel ― 6d ― Mr. Frith out: but his man gave me a Φωτο of the Mt. of Olives, which I greedily grasped ― & omnibus ― 6d ― to Finsbury Circus & Broad St. At 5½ ― Mr. & Mrs Bell & J. Salton. All somewhat older, but Mrs. B. very unchanged. Dear Mr. B. is perhaps a little irritable. Dinner ― & evening: much talk of Palestine, I think I jaw too much ― Μοῦ φαίνεται ὅτι λαλῶ παραπολὺ.2 ― At 10, left with J.S., who put me in the omnibus ― No. 4 ― 6d ― & so to Oxford Terrace, & near thence to the Mall in Cab ― 6d ― 2/6 in all. Very propitious ― all things considered, & home by 11.15. ― H.H. up writing letters to A.M. & the rest ―: & very good & right & noble. ―

X6

Mr. Bell ― story of a rich quack & poor Physician. ‘Why do you ride in your carriage, & are rich?’ said the latter. “― How many of those who pass us are intelligent beings” said the Q. “One in a hundred perhaps ―” quoth Medico. “Just so ―: & that one comes to you: the 99 fools to me: so I get rich, & you don’t.” ―

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

  1. The Reids. [↩]
  2. “It seems to me that I talk too much” (D. Harvey). [↩]