Edward Lear's Diaries

Villa Petraja. 7.

One of those perfect cloudless calm days ― only known in Autumn here. A wonderful loveliness if one could but enjoy it, from sunrise to starlit night. Rose at 6 & painted till 8. Kind note from Janet Hunt. ― Newspaper ― & then pretty regular work all over the Petraja till 4. ― But it is not, & cannot be a very satisfactory picture. ― Letter from J.B. Edwards ― vague. & Ellen, enclosing one from poor R. Boswell, in a wretched state. 10£ must be sent to him at once.

Dined on 4 small Vitins, & 2 smaller taters. Immediately after, began to work on Dead Sea, & did a good deal of the tree. At 7.15 ― walked al solito on the parade: a crowd near Hastings, so turned back. ―

A very queer weary week. Of letters written, & answered

Lady Bethell Westbury answered  9^th. 25^th ――        9^th Sept.
Gussie Bethell answered                 3^rd. 25^th ――       3^rd
John Cross ――――――                9^th. 25^th ―――    9^th
James Hornby ―――――              25^th ――――      ――
S. Clowes answered ―― 6^th ―        25^th ――              6^th
S. Street answered 2^nd ――            27^th ――              2^nd
Mrs. Bergmann answered 6 ―       28^th ―――          6^th
C. Church ――――――                25^th                      ――
Mrs. Clive answered 2^nd ―            25^th ―――          2^nd
Mrs. Empson ―― 5^th ―                 25^th ―――          5
Holman Hunt answered 6 ―         25^th ―                  10, 6 all are yet unanswered
J. Lacaïta ― 10 ――                        25 ―――            10

M.A. Crake sent an invitation to a pic nic to day! ― I think I see myself there!!!!

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