Tuesday, 29 January 1861
Wrote to
It don’t matter when one riz ― for it was pitch dark ― No hope of work ― thick fog ― opposite houses unseen.
So I lit a lamp at breakfast & arranged drawings till 11.30 & at 12 it grew lighter.
Then, ― Dickenson came, & once more the “Cedars” are “before me” also the Damascus & Beirût ― unfinished, but framed & glazed, & the Bethlehem & Interlaken ― ditto. ― How & when are these to be complete ― & ―― which is importanter, ― sold? And the inexorable bill for frames, paid?
Well, ― all the back room is done by 2. ― At 2.30 came “Joinville” “Paris,[”] & “Chartres[”] ― & it is really pleasant to shew them: for not only are they all scrupulous & gentlemanly in consideration & manner, ― but they know the places, appreciate the views, ― & to boot are jovial & light-hearted. ― ˇ[H.R.H.] The Count de Paris, though, looks ill: ― ha is truly a nice fellow. ˇ[H.R.H.] Duc de Chartres ― had had a tooth out. The Uncle, tho’ deaf, is very agreeable & clever. Then “H.R.H.” ― remind me of dear Bob Hornby’s rebuke, & a proper one, to me, when I wrote of the “Cambridges.” “put H.R.H. before the name if you please.”
At 5 I walked to Mr. Morier’s & sate there a little time. The kindly ancient diplomat & his daughter.
Returned to dine on cold beef & beer ―: read Herman Melville, ― & do a little Greek. (Called on poor J. Godley also.)
XX
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]