Edward Lear's Diaries

XX2

Snow on Salvador.

The “bore” increases. ― All day long ― preparations for a gt. dance are going on ― above ― dragging furniture &c., & even the sleeping room above mine is to have the musicians! So I go partially mad. ―― Place 2 more tracings the 9^th & 10^th on canvass, & work at the Firenze. Aubrey de Vere & his brother Major de Vere come in. ―

Wind changes to south, yet black & cold. I go & draw at the Temple below Ascension ― but it soon gets too cold. ― Walk to One Gun, where I am absorbed by Woolff & a Col. Rose ―& walk home.

Dine. But the Noise upstairs is horrible ――& I really turn over all sorts of ways to go ― or be quiet. I imagine I must sleep out. ― At 8 ― unable to bear more, went out to Boyds, but they were dining out. Returned, & called on Mr. Craven, the 2^nd padre, on the 3^rd floor ― he having called me today. Found that Mrs. Craven had just been confined. The Paymaster of the 4^th was there: ― after sitting till 10 ― came away. The Maud ―or Maudit ball had begun, & sleep belowstairs was out the question ― so I packed a few things in a knapsack ― & taking G. with me to Turlock’s, got a bed there. Pouring rain & south wind at last.

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

A bitterly cold day ― all through. The west room is so windy I give it up, & breakfast in the studio or middle room. Made Tracings of 3 views ― 2 of the Ascension Corfu ― & 1 from Gasturi: ― & afterwards “whited” the skies & mountains of Turin & Florence. Then, at 2.30 ― went out, with my sketch book in Jannis “Coliseo Nuovo” as George calls it ― & drew below Ascension, ― walking afterwards to One Gun. ― Dined at 6.30. ― & penned out (!) my sketch afterwards. Heard George read ―― & made a fuss about the stench in the kitchen from the drain ―― which is serious.

The amount of bore here is formidable, but I have gone in [for] withstanding it & fighting it out.

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

Turin 2^nd day.

Did not sleep all night ― the “plash of the harbor sea” is “anything but pleasant” ―― seeing there is a fierce North Wind set in. Towards 6 slept, ― but rose at 7.30. ―

Worked at Turin ― nearly all day.

Col. Maude from upstairs came: ― a really nice pleasant fellow ― & ― lo! ― he is one of Aunt Kate’s Maudes, & has staid at Winwick & at Knowsley. ― He obligingly came to ask me to a “little dance” on Friday ―& hearing I would not go to it ― said he hoped anyhow a “system of pot-lucking” would be brought about between the 2 floors. ― At the 1^st page of the Nonsense ― he rushed away in a fit.

At 4 I walked to the Temple below ascension. It was a gloomy-purple afternoon & the Olives were darkest gray.

[]¹ Certainly the beauties of that Promontory are wonderful. ―

Came home. Very high wind & cold, & dined at 6.30[.] These rooms ― (the grates are small & bad ―) are so cold that I sneeze & nasalize continual. ―

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

1. A large blot covers one or more words. [↩]

Florence ― day 2

Same exquisite weather. Rose at 7.

Posted 7 letters ―. Observer of the 24^th Novr. & a very kind nice letter from Mrs. G. Scrivens.

Set to work hard on Fairbairn’s Florence, & did a great deal. ―

At 4.30 walked up to Ascension ― & beyond, ― & down by the road. ― Home by 6.15.

I should not stay another year here ― Certes. If I could only get tin enough, I would do all my destined Topography, & then try to settle once & for all in England: near Highgate if I could.

O my dear Ann!

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

XX1

Perfection=weather ― al solito. ― & the band=music, the whistle of the Man of War, ― the plash fo the harbor sea are not unpleasant.

Wrote a good deal [Mrs. G. Scrivens, Mrs. Husey Hunt, Mr. Edwards.]¹ ― & put various outlines in canvass ― & later, a table having come from Χριζὸς, arranged oil paints &c. &c.

Did not go out at all ― as I remember I did not in the Casa Chiessari. But prepared to dine, when at 6½ came in Oswald Middleton, who is ordered off to Caphalonia on Saturday ― wh. I am very sorry for. I ask him to dine tomorrow.

Dine: oh! what a noise overhead!

& write.

Terrible row upstairs: If ― as in 1855 ― I had not forced myself so ― I would find my heart to go away.

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

1. In the page for 1 December, circled and connected to this point by a line. [↩]

Perfectly bright again, & colder. Rose at 7.30. ― And after breakfast ― sit to write letters.

Wrote to Mrs. G. Clive.
Mrs. Coombe.
C. Fortescue.
W. Holman Hunt.

At 2.30, was going out, when Sir C. Sargent came to ask me to do so ― good-naturedly enough. So I explained why I couldn’t come to him, ― & walked out. To Fort Abraham ― & to the Govino Road & back. ― Then Calon, & the mirror=reflex of the hills & water were something wondrous today. ― Sargent is of the Sargents of Lavington, nephew to Manning, (Archp.) Wilberforce, Bp. Oxford ― &c. &c. ― His cousin, Miss Reeves, seems to have been to Holman Hunt’s Studio ― with the Guests or Camerons. ―

In the “City” by 6: ― & to Carter’s ― where were the 3 persons usually dining there: ― & we passed a pleasant evening enough. Home by 9.

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

Florence & Turin Day 2

Perfectly clear & bright again ― all Amethysts & gold.

Worked at the Florence & Turin Outlines all day long, & nearly completed both in pencil. Grew horribly weary & tired.

At 4.20 ― walked out by the Alipu=Potamo ― upper Mandruchio giro. Clouded ― & S. Wind ― depressing & gloomy.

Against my will went & dined at Woolff’s ― Count Henckel & one of the Miss Curcumelly’s only. Horridly bored at dinner, ― the good-natured Counts incessant talk ― & Mrs. W.’s namby=pamby smallness ― & also W.’s fluffy zigzag talk.

After dinner came in Strahan ― & Mrs. W. played most tiresomely. Came away at 10.20 ― as they were setting down the Cards.

Really, were it not solely for the winter ― & the voyage, & the dread of London Darkness &c.  ― I would send the fact of expense gone to to the right about, & leave Corfu at once ―: however I suppose it is better to be patient for 3 months.

So ends November 1861

I hear Aubrey De Vere has come to day.

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

Florence, Turin ― Day 1

Perfectly fine ― but cloudier towards sunset ― so much so that “I had thought that it would have rained.” ―

Breakfast at 9. Placed the tracings of Florence & Turin partly on the Canvasses: a long & tiresome task.

At 4.30 walked out to One gun ― meeting Sir H.J. Storks ― also Woollff who walked back with me, & asked me to dine tomorrow ― wh., I said ‘yes’ to ― having refused twice before. Dressed & at 7 to 4^th in Citadel ― & dined with young Oswald Middleton: ― a pleasant & gentlemanlike lot of Officers. Home by 10½.

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

The same glorious weather ― & not quite so cold.

Rose at 7. Breakfast at home. Arranged & unpacked all the morning. Count Henckel came ― but I could not have him here much, seeing he walks & whistles. At 2 called on Lady & Sir C. Sargent, they seem nice people, & have a jolly little boy ― & a pleasant niece. At 3 walked with Sir Charles, & with Boyd to Alipu ― crossed to the Potamo bridge ― a very pleasant walk.

At 6 ― dined at Carters ― Count Henckel  , the 3 men of yesterday, & a surgeon of the 4^th. ―

Ate too little & drank too much.

X8

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

As brilliant & clear as Earth can show. ― Rose at 7. Paid Turlock ― (Royal Hotel ―) Bill ―― a very well conducted  & quiet Hotel. ― A walk on the Parade with Boyd. /Introduced by Peel to young Storks. ――?) To Casa Παραμυθίοτι, George also. Bolland there, but they are going. While they went out on one side, we spread gradually on the other ―― & so on, all day.

Taylor sent chairs &c. ― & before 5 we really got the whole House into something like order.

At 7 dined at Carter’s. Count Henckel & 3 English there: & a really pleasant park.

Home by 8.30. George tells me Spiro is vy. unwell[.]

Evidently ― one has lived in Corfu 5000000000 years ― if not more.

Slept at Casa Παραμυθίοτι ― for the first time.

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