Thursday, 12 May 1859
47 years old to day.
& what progress? ―
Almost finished packing ― if one can ever be said to do so.
To Macbeans at 11 ― drew 50£ from Drummonds, & resolved to go on Sunday Morning ― I to Marseilles, Γεώργιος to Malta. Gave tickets for passports. ―― X
Home ― packed, read Sydney Smith, & lunched till 2 &c. At 4 ― went & paid Mengarini, & called at the Marshalls ― only Julia at home: ― a sweet child ― but how oddly kept & treated, it seems to me. Then, walked with P.W. ― by the walls, to P.S. Lorenzo ― &c. I know no one so softened & no one much more good than Penry Williams.
Came home to dine.
X Returning home ― Miss Maria Knight, & Miss Dowdswell came ― I being all unblest, in my shirt, & packing up. But Giorgio said, “[gr.]!”
but they did not.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]