Rose at 7½. ― ever fine ―― but colder. ― I cannot go to that odious hoopful crowded mob called church. So, after hearing Giorgio, & then sending him to his own church, I wrote Journal. ―

At 11 Gibbs came in , & appointed a walk at 2. At 1 I called on Williams ― & returned. At 2½ ― with Gibbs, went to the Prætorian camp at Villa Macao.1 I ― cold & unwell. ― Retuned at 4 ― & called on the Knights, sitting with C. Isabella, & Helen till after 6: ― all very dreary & sad. ― Then ‘home’ to dress, & to the Brights. All the family in a fuss about a sick cousin. ― Macalmont, a foolish fat good man, & W. Palmer there. The latter is most agreeable  if he pleases, but apparently only so δὶα νὰ2 turn the conversation on religion. But, like all these perverts, he is ill bred; & laughs at “Greek superstition” or “Puseyite ways” ― utterly overlooking the fact that we protestants consider it ungentlemanlike to laugh at Loretto or S. Gennaro. ― His defense, yet contempt of Gladstone really riled me. ― At 10½ ― came Gibbs ― & at 11 ― we all came away. I left Gibbs, who goes tomorrow ― near his Hotel: ― he is the only man here I care one farthing for ― except Charles Knight ― & good G. Kokali.

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

  1. Castra Praetoria, “Così nomavasi il campo edificato da Sejano ai tempi di Tiberio, nel quale erano gli alloggiamenti dei soldati pretoriani […] Si riconoscono le vestigia di queste caserme dentro la vigna del Macao.” Nibby, Antonio. Itinerario di Roma e delle sue vicinanze. Roma: Tipografia Aurelj, 1830, vol. 1, 278-9. [↩]
  2. “As to, in order to.” [↩]