As yesterday ― perfectly clear, & cool, tho’ hot ― so to speak ― Rose at 4.30.

Coffee & off at 5. Very lovely among the Chesnuts a=top of the Foce.

Drew both ways, & by 8 ― came to the town & called on Mr. Walton, who gave me a hearty reception. Mr. Scott was there, & a nephew, & I breakfasted with them. Poingdestre’s picture is good. At 9.30 ― (Mr. Walton & Mr. S. were just going to Leghorn:) went with G. to a hill & drew till nearly 11. Returned to Mr. Waltons, & he went with me to see Rauch’s statue of Fredk. The Great.But I really could not see any more than that ― for that was worth seeing. ― Left good Mr. W. & came to the town ― seeing the Duomo, & returning by 12, when I dined. I should not like to live in Carrara apart from the fact of the mountain grandeur being all torn up continually & artificialized, ― everything is one great click click rap tap hammer clammer, chippchipping of marble. It is a Marbellous place, & business-like, & for a mountain paese,1 clearly.

The “Hotel” people are very stupid ― awful. The dinner, at 12, as bad as might be ― barring a few potatoes & beer. ― Slept till 3.30 ― but it had unluckily clouded ― & tho’ I went up with Andrea & G. to the Foce & drew till 7.20: yet it was not satisfactory. A foolish supper of hot water & pasta, with leather omelette. Bed at 9.

“Tom Burke.”2

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

  1. Small village. [↩]
  2. Tom Burke of Ours (1843) by Charles Lever; Lear, probably having been given them by the author, is reading Lever’s novels in the order they were published. [↩]