Slept not over well ― but late ― rose at 7¾. ― Read Burckhardt.1 After breakfast ― Gio. being out, I prepared for the Ἄραβοι,2 & began to work on the Bethlehem for Husey Hunt. ―

Mr. Perkins
Miss ― ―
― ― ―
Mr. Stansfeld
Mrs. ― ―
Mr. Freeman.
Mr. Stocken
Mrs. Stocken
Master Stocken
M. Sampayo.

Few people came ― grazie a Dio,3  & I worked on till 4, when lo! ―

THE BASSÆ! & THE CIVITELLA!

all came upstairs. Considerable difficulty & fuss ― all the more that Clowes was to dine with me, & it was G.’s first dinner here. I went out, nearly at 5 ― & met A. Benouville; ― he is a good fellow I suppose, & clever man ― but, del mondo4 perhaps: I do not know. ― He tells me Gallier is here ― “Je l’ai vû quelques semaines passées ―”5  ― & Lanoue ― who has been out of his mind. ― After leaving him, I met Bright, & walked with him a bit. Then read papers ― & going upstairs at 6¼  found that G. had made a mistake with the key ― & had taken out that of the soffitto6 ― shutting the door, ― so we were shut out. ― A world of fuss with a locksmith, ― & S.W.C. came up. Poor Giorgio said little, & I nothing, for it was hardly a negligence. After a dreary time ― the door was opened. ―
Dinner, contrary to all expectations ― absolutely excellent. ― A most good & excellent servant is G. Κοκαλι. ―

At 10½ S.W.C. went. A pleasant evening. ―――

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

  1. Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, Swiss traveller and orientalist. [↩]
  2. “The Arabs,” i.e., the visitors to his gallery. [↩]
  3. “Thank God.” [↩]
  4. “Worldly.” [↩]
  5. “I saw him a few weeks ago,” French. [↩]
  6. Lear probably intended “soffitta,” Italian for attic, and not “soffitto,” which means “ceiling.” [↩]