Monday, 7 February 1859
Very particular lovely mild weather. Went over very early to see S.W.C. ― who is better. Breakfast ―. George’s lesson: ― then mine in Greek. Poi, at 10½, to McBeans, to place the 100£ of Beauclerk; & lo! the Bassæ ― that most wandering of pictures, hath come to Rome! Cagiati‘s ― & S.W.C. again. Then worked, or began to work on the Jerusalem ― but at 1 Lord Stratford came ― & looked over all my Palestine & Athos drawings ― staying nearly 2 hours. I do not choose or prefer not ― (modo Herodotas ―) to write down his conversation: ― but it was as one might expect from a real actual mastermind, & I believe, as upright an one as exists. Worked again, from 3 to 4½ then called on Williams ― out: & so sate with S.W.C. ― & afterwards with Mr. Woodward, who seemed to me very [poorly]. Returned home at 6 ― & dined ― too well. Wrote Gk. Excercises afterwards. Benouville had called.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]