Edward Lear's Diaries

Misty & some rain.  ― Slept well. ― Wrote ― &c. & walked to Caburn with B.H.H. [Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Alas! Last month was a sadly non=advancing one. ― [gr.] Painted but little: but packed & sent off 2 packages & a trunk. At 5 ― came by train to Lewes. Mrs. H.H. had gone to Salisbury, where Mr. B. is dying. Bern, & Julia, & a nice girl, Eliza B., were at home. Evening […]

No sleep from 2 to 5 ― then to 8 but no Greek. Dark gray stormy weather. Eyes & stomach bad. No letters early. Worked a good deal at the large Petra ― it is not worse, & that is something. Dread of its becoming so, often makes me flag flag [in] working. At 3 […]

Showery, early. After 12 ― fine. Letter from Regld. Fowler. D. does not come, which seems to vex poor Regld. Worked at the large Petra ― but the uncertainty of getting any more money is queer enough. Accounts of Italy in papers ― all bad. But I get no letters. Walked by the cliff & […]

Frightful bad night of indigestion. XXX14 Worked but little ― at the large Petra. At 6 went to Ellen & W. Newsom, who go tomorrow. Both good people. Home by 7 dined & Greek. ― Day fine, all through. [Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Wrote to Gush Ponsford J. Hornby & R. Fowler. Greek till 8. ― Very wonderfully lovely day all through, & now are beginning those beautiful evening Western skies, which often go on till Xmas. At 12 W. & E. Newsom came, & I put out my 2 pictures carefully for them; & they really were […]

Fine early. 2 pages of Οἰδίπους Τύραννος before 8. No letters all day. Things in Italy unchanged as yet. Worked from 11½ to 5½ at Petra theatre, at first badly ― but latterly well, ― or better. Rain at 5. ― Nevertheless walked to 6 Meadow Cottages, & sate some time with the Newsoms ― […]

No letters. Wrote to Drummond F.L. Macbean & Spillman. telling the first that the second could draw 50£ ― & the 3rd to get 90 dollars from the 2nd. Wrote also to Ellen, & F.L. A good deal of rain all day. At 4 walked to the G. Scrivens, who are always glad to see […]

All unstrung: & unwell. Greek ― & working at the Corfu finishing. & packing up some of the drawings. ― Letters from F.L. & Mr. Potter, who like the pictures. X12! Wrote to Mr. Clark of Cambridge about the Bassae. & F.L. & to Ann. All the Cockerells came at 6. ― & I had […]

LARGE CORFU. Finer. Greek from 6 to 8. Letter from Ellen N. who has come to Hastings. Worked pretty hard at goats, figures & foreground of the Corfû till 5½. All the 3 afternoon letters were very pleasant: kind Mrs. Empson’s delightful. Letters from Dr. Henry W. Langton & Mrs. Empson. The Wagners & Simpkinsons […]