Edward Lear's Diaries

Stormy ― west wind ― & high.

Spiro is better again.

Wrote to Ellen, & to Mrs. W.F. Beadon, till 1.30[.]

By 2.15 ― reached Spiro’s ― dirty & wet, for it rained.

Spiro is somewhat better, but I feel by no means ˇ[feel] assured of his total recovery. There were all the family except Ἰωάννι, & Χριζὸς. ― Τατιαννὲ was there ― a woman with great grace of form ― & fine make ― & a beautiful face. Fancy George having said a word of his wife ― the ancient dodger! Returned by 3.

Church at 3.30. Craven preached ― & not badly.

Afterwards called on the Decies ― & ate Lemons. ―

“Home” by 6 & dressed ― & to Sir C. Sargent’s ―

Pleasant evening ― only A.D.V. is too absurdly dreamy & abstracted=bosy[.] Sung AT. ―

Home by 11.

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

Cloudy all day ― & S. wind.

After breakfast, as I began to work on the Florence, ― G. came, dreadfully alarmed, saying that they had sent for him, as Spiro had a relapse. At 11, I, unable to work easily, called on Mrs. Herbert, & then went to Spiro’s, whom I found better after having been bled, but I cannot help fearing, very ill still.

Returned & worked, & read till 3. ―― Day very gray.

Letters from Mrs. Beadon ― W.F.B. is always worse ―
Dickenson ― (Major Reynolds wants a picture of Corfû.[)]
Mr. Edwards ―
Holman Hunt
& Ellen. ―

4 to 6 ― walked ―:

6.30 ― dined ―

8, sent George to his Mothers for the night.

Penned out Butrinto drawings till 10.20.

South wind ― but little of it.

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

Same weather ― a few clouds: none yesterday.

Worked at Florence till 1. Sir C. Sargent called.

Spiro continues better.

At 2 went to Ascension Platforms, working there till 5, & returning by the One Gun road, ― walking with Col. & Mrs. Herbert & Miss Fergusson.

Dined at 6.30 ―: penned out till 11.

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

Weather the same.

Unwell & indigestible. Worked at Florence al day ― but badly.

Walked out at 4.30 ― & called at Spiro’s, who is better.

Dined at home at 6.30, penned out till 10.30.

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

Weather perfectly lovely.

Ἀς δοκιμάσωμεν νὰ ἀρχίσωμεν καλὰ τὸν χρόνον.¹

G. came at 7.15. Spiro is a little better.

Worked at “Florence” till 11 ― recolouring sky, foreground, & city.

Put by my work, as calls must be made to day. Also ― Taylor’s bill of 59£ overcometh me.

From 11 to 2, made calls on Decies, Luard, Sargent, Woolff, Bridge, Stockley, Barr, Sir G. Bullen, Sir H.J. Storks, Peel, Boyd & Loughman.

2 to 4 ― penned out ― Cormayeur sketches.

4 to 6.15 ― walked by the Neo Parga road ― & the usual round. The Mountain’s wonderfully beautiful ― peach=rose, the sea dark purple gray ―N. wind.

Met Sir C. Sargent who tells me Spiro is better, & asks me to dine on Sunday, wh. I wish to do.

Dine at 6.30 ― & dress ― & pen out 1856 sketches, till 9.30, up to which time the Maudes, who have asked me upstairs ― are still at dinner: ― a serious bore, as I had rather fgo to bed. ―I must now send George to his mother’s.

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

1. Let us try to begin this year well (NB). [↩]

Same glorious brilliant weather.

Giorgio returned at 7 A.M. Poor Spiro lies in the same state.

Penned out drawings: incapable of thought=work. No letters by Trieste boat.

Hutton & Sanson called.

G. who was out from 10 to 3 ― says Spiro is much the same: it is Pleurisy ― but they hope, by bleeding again, to prevent danger. Nevertheless, φοβοῦμαι.¹

At 4 ― walked out & was overtaken by Craven ― whose brother married Mrs. Slingsby Bethell’s sister (!)― much talkin[g] of Hackwood, Gussie Bethell &c.

Dined at 6.20. George went home afterwards. ―

Penned out Φιλάτες drawings till 9.15. Sleepy ― tired & to bed.

Ούτως ἐτελίωθη,² 1861.

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

1. I am scared (NB). [↩]
2. Thus ended (NB). [↩]

Same lovely weather ― but cold in the shade.

At 9 ― went out ― principal shops shut by order of the L.H.C. owing to Prince Albert’s death.

Took 4 rooms at the Hotel S. Giorgio for Miss Goldsmid &c., from the 20^th at 10/ a day if they stayed a month, 12/ a day if less than a fortnight.

Returned & made tracings of P. Pelissier & Cormayeur. Giorgio not returning ― I wondered what has occurred & go down to Post ― getting an Observer or the 22^nd. ― (Meet Count G. Henckel ― going off to Alex.dria.) Returned, & penned out ― Ponte Pelissier.

At 2.30 George comes in & says Spiro is taken violently ill ― I fear bronchitis or diphtheria ― 3 doctors are with him. I greatly fear he will not recover this time.

After placing my tracings on canvass, I went out at 4.30. ― & walked by the new Parguenote road ― & so round by Kastrades.

At 6.30 ― found G. had returned. Poor Spiro is in the same state. Dined at 7 ― & afterwards G. went home, & I suppose will sleep there.

I penned out Philates drawings till 10.30.

XX9

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

Particularly lovely day.

Wrote to C. Fortescue & ˇ[T.] Cooper, & H.J. Grenfell, & Mrs. Scrivens.

Went to Church at 11.

At 1 ― saw rooms at the Hotel S. George. At 2, to Sir C. Sargents ― (where was Count G. Henckel,) & then walked with Sir C.S. to Εὐροποῦλι ― wonderfully lovely view thence.

Dined at Mr. & Mrs. Decies ― very pleasant young Luard there.

Returned at 10.30.

Wrote to dear good Mrs. Empson.

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

Fine all day ― bright & not over cold.

Boles all wrong ― & headache.

Painted at Butrinto & Dead Sea ― but ill enough.

Post 2 papers ― weekly express {16^th to 18^th | 18^th to 20^th} & a letter from T. Cooper ―with Insurance receipt &c.

one also from C.F. ―

Mr. Harcourt died on the 19^th! As F. says ― “surrounded by death on all sides ―” ――― one feels really.

I could not work any more but walked out at 4. ―Meeting the Herberts returned with them.

Dined at 6.45.

Penned out but little.

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

Turin half day.

Warmer ― & quite fine! ˆ[nearly] all snow gone off Salvador ― & the sun nearly all day.

9.15 ― to 1. Worked at Turin[.] ― Afterwards ― 2 skies of Philæ & Olympus.

Then Col. Maude came in.

Afterwards Bolland & his sister ― all which unsettled me: nevertheless I did a little of Butrinto foreground.

At 5 ― to 6.15. Penned out a small Janina sketch: 6.15. wash brushes & dress.

7. Dined ‘upstairs’ with the Maudes. Col. M. ― Mrs. M. & her brother ― (who seems a sort of p caste?) Dinner & “entourages” ― not good, or well ordered. ― All extremely “Irish.” ―

Yet Col. M. used to go to breakfast at Shrewsbury House, & asks if there was not a “very pretty daughter ― Sara, & also one, less pretty but very nice, Lucy?”

ἡτον, μὲ φαίνεται.¹

Came down at 9.15 ― & penned out again till 10.50. ― ossia² 11. at the last of the Jánina drawings here.

X8

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

1. The was, I think (NB). [↩]
2. Or rather. [↩]