Finer. Rose, not very early, but I read over a great deal of the Mt. Athos tour in bed. ― Prayers, breakfast, & mirth, & W.E. & I walked a bit of the way to Embley: I all the way. A beautiful depth of greenness is this country.  What trees & flowers! ― Pleasant breakfast & afterwards walk with Mr. Long about the grounds ― Rhododendra ― pines &c. &c. Anecdotes of Lord Byron, from Mr. L. ― to whom at Harrow he, Lord B., always gave 5 guineas when he came down. Mr. L. says Trelawny’s account is infamous ― & false: that B. had only one club foot: that he had seen him frequently ― [continually] naked in bathing, & that he never wore drawers. ― Walked home: talk with Mrs. E. &c. ― & then, 12½ came, Taylor, a Doctor, who dined with us. ―

I don’t like dining at 2 ― unless I must be quiet afterwards. ―

At 3.15 W.H.E. & I set out in a pony chaise ― & went near Lyndhurst & up to Stoney Cross, & W. Rufus’s stone1 ― & so back to Wellow by 6.45. ― I was much surprised & delighted by this excursion. The afternoon was bright & lovely; ― the glades & [fresh] tufts I had been prepared for, but not for the views over the whole woody district. ― At the door, Mr. Nightingale ― who told us Lord Palmerston is in again. ― Tea with Mrs. E. ― & talk & some music after, but I was not very well. Supper & singing also again.

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

  1. The Rufus Stone is located in the New Forest, near the village of Minstead, in the county of Hampshire. The stone is a memorial to William the Conqueror’s son, William II, nicknamed Rufus.  It was erected in 1745 and marks the spot near which King Rufus was accidentally killed by an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrell on august 2, 1100. [↩]