The most perfect weather again ― bright & soft ― almost cloudless ― blue & gold ― purple & silver: not cold ― not hot.

Rose at 7.15. Alas for the industrious days! Breakfast.

Went to the post at 9 ― found a letter from dear good Jane Husey Hunt: ― very kind & nice, & written before she ˇ[can have] received mine. ― Then to Taylor’s, & Boyd’s: ― & found I can draw on Drummonds thro’ Taylor as I please. ―

Returned at 10.30 ˇ[& acc.ts with G. ― wh. he has kept nicely enough] ― & then began one of the Corfû pictures working till 1 ― when I prepared a lot of drawing things for Ascension ―― & was there by 2. That view seems to me impracticable ― unless ― se non ― εὰν μὴ1 ― by dodgeries.

So, at 4.20 I left: tho’ Major & Mrs. De Vere ― (Mrs. de V. a very nice woman ― face ― manner ― disposition ―) ― Mr. & Mrs. Decie, & Bolland ― all playing Croquet on the “green” at Ascension, the Priest of Ἁγίου Ελίου2 looking on!

Talked with him & them, & home by 6. Found poor George in gt. distress & angry: Spiro would not remain quiet, but having gone back to Sir C. Sargents, has become very ill, & has gone home ― the Doctor having bled him twice today. Little Καραλάμπι also is ill of fever. ― Dined, ― thanx to G. ― very nicely ― & then sent him to see about his family. ―

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

  1. Both the Italian and the Greek are repetitions of the English “unless.” [↩]
  2. [The church of] Saint Elias (NB). [↩]