X8 ―

All gray, wintery, & windy. ― How dim a life is all this I am now leading. I wrote to P. Williams, & to Edwards.

Rain. ― Newspapers. ― Emp.or L.N. at Milan!

Letters from Mrs. Bell, M. Hornby, (with a Memoir of Mrs. J.H. ―) & Nicholson, of Lewes ― with Photographs.

At 11 went with Mrs. A.T. ― little Hallam, & AT in a fly ― (it rained,) to Norton Ferry, when AT went to town. ― Back, & much talk with ET. ― Lunch. ― Then walked alone on the Down ― not rain, but gray.

X9

Dark & worrying. ― violent indignation.

Dinner at 6. ― Captn & Mrs. Bouverie ― who is the original KNIFE ― of 1845 in Rome! ― ― & Mrs. F. Simpson’s sister.

Did all my possible to amuse them; & 2 young ladies for E.T. ― who is certainly one of the uttermostly perfect women I have yet seen. ―

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