Edward Lear's Diaries

Gray ― moist, rainy now & then, very warm.

Went early to Taylor’s, to ask about cases arrived by Sidon Steamer: ― & at 10, sent G. for them.

Lo ― they came, but one was too large to come upstairs, so we had it opened below: & got all the things out by degrees. ― The getting it down into the cellar was a worse job.

Meanwhile I placed on canvass 2 Philœs & a Spezzia, & made Tracings of Janina & Athos & Massa: ― but the day was disagreeable & weary.

Hutton came: ― Luard sent 2 dux ― & Craven also, ― & De Vere ― & Mrs. D.V.’s brother (Burke ―) being dead, ― & I not to go to the Casino.

At 5 ― I walked a little way ― seeing Aubrey De V. ― & returning to dine at 6.30.

G. went to Spiro’s ― & I penned out all the remaining Troy sketches till 10.30.

Unwell more or less all day.

No fire ― too warm, till dinnertime.

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

Very pouring wet day ― & darkish.

Placed, on canvass ― Mt. Blanc from Col de [Balm]

Mt. Blanc from St. Martin

& Dead Sea ―looking North.

Letters from
{all by the Regular Trieste Boat,

1.  Charles Church
2.  T. Cooper.
3.  Dickenson.
4.  Lady Goldsmid
5.  Mr. Gush.
6.  Hansen.
7.  Mr. Jones.
8.  F. Lushington ― he is to be married on the 21^st.
9.  Sarah Street
10. Mr. Tarrant,

By Alex.dria Steamer 11. Miss Goldsmid.

From Taylor 12. Lady Reid

Dined at home. G. went off to see Spiro on a report that he was ill again: but he was not much so.

X4

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

Wonderful weather again. 1 ― but towards evening ― cloudier, yet always fine.

Did not go out all day. Unwell more or less[.]

Placed on canvass in outline ―
Courmayeur ―
Pont Pelissier
& Mer de Glace ―

Dined at 6.30.

(but, tho’ the Ἀτμόπλεον¹ came in at 5.30 ― no letters were given out.[)]

Penned out till 10 ― the last Egyptian sketches I have here.

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

1. Steamer (NB). [↩]

Fine early: cloudy at 12 ― & mist: hard rain after 1.

Unwell: & physic. Did little but read. ―

At 2 called on the Maudes, then on the Herberts, & lastly on the Sargents ― getting home by 5.30.

At 7 ― to the Woolff’s.

Good wines: food così.  Evening pleasant. The Florentine is more likeable as more known.

Col Bruce is a θαύμαζον. ¹

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

1. Marvel. [↩]

Fine, but cloudy mostly: gleams of sun.

Cold, & not well all day.

Worked at Turin ― Alps chiefly: from 9.30, to 4.30 Major Peel & Capt. Clifford came ― just as I had set all my paint, whereat I was horrid-cross: but then, Capt. C. is doubless a great bore.

Letter from Drummond ― $237. is in their hands.

At 4.45 ― walked the short round: cloudy moon, & gray evening, but warmer.

Spiro has gone back to Sir C. Sargents.

Dined at Boyds: not very pleasant. Evening very tiresome ― charades proverbs &c. &c. ― company έτζι κ’έτζι.¹

Came home cross, as I have been all day.

Bad night.

XX3.

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

1. So so. [↩]

Same wonderful weather  but cold

Worked at distances of 3 Ascension Corfus, & a Porto 3 Scoglie.

Col. Maude came in & sate some time.

At 3, was going out, when Mr. & Miss Bolland, & Mrs. Lyell came.

At 4.30 ― walked the “long round,” ― & called on Spiro, who goes on well.

At 6.30 ― Luard came & dined with me ―pleasantly enough. & I penned out till 11.30

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

Wonderfully calm & bright ― but cold particular.

G. returning at 7.15 ― says Spiro is now going so well that he will not sleep there anymore.

Posted letters to Lady Waldegrave, & C.F.

Worked hard all day at Butrinto.

Col. Wynne, & Capt. Bridges came.

At 6.30 ― walked by the Parga new road round, & called at Spiro’s: saw him, he is up, & walking, but very weak.

Dined at the Herberts

A very delightful evening, tho’ suffered at dinner from the fire behind me: & also from poor [dear] A.D.V. who at times is a bore. ―

Home by 12. ―

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

Calm again, & lovely ― all day: but cold.

Wrote to Lady Waldegrave & C.F. till 10.30[.]

Painted, from 10.30 to 5 ― at Butrinto.

At 5.15 ― walked to Kastrades & back by 6.15.

6.30 Dined. ― 7.30 to 10.20 ― penned out 3 Egyptian drawings ― Thebes. ―

Werry methoddikle, we are.

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

Tremendous North wind. Bright after 10.

The morning was gray ― & stormy ― & rainy. At 10 it cleared, by a vast North wind: sea furious ― boats all nohow. At 1.30 ― Steamer from Trieste to Alexandria came in, but is now ― 2 P.M. still going round & round ― for no Pratica boat can go out.

I have sent up to Mrs. De Vere to decline dining there ― being really all cold & unwell.

Worked at the Ascension, [], & S.ta Decca views.

The sea was little calmer at 4, , when a boat got the mail off.

Result of the mail ― διά ἐμὲ¹ ―― the Evening Mail up to the 30th ― & a very nice grave letter from C.F. chiefly about poor Mr. H.

Dined at 6.30 ― at 7.30 ― penned out till 10.30 ― [over] 1856 drawing of Corfû.

G. went to his mother’s: he is all put out by Spiro’s illness, & by the little possibility of arranging better here in Corfu ―: & it is plain to me they all wish to go & settle at Athens or Patras.

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

1. For me (NB). [↩]

Warmish ― gray ― & showers of pouring rain.

Accounts &c. ―.

Painted at 3 Ascension Corfus, from 9.30 ― to 5.

Barr called.
& later, Luard, who staid looking at sketches till 6.20.

6.30 dined.

Letters from Emily Tennyson
Fanny Coombe
& William Nevill ― {who has taken Sir S. Lawrence’s house in Russel Sqre!

Penned out till 10.45.

XX2

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