Edward Lear's Diaries

Wet mostly ― afternoon finer.

Packed & wrote.

At 11 to Drummond’s & drew out 120£

To Scotts & then Bank ― & shops &c.

Took ticket to Vienna. (9.12.)

Placed 100 in new 3 per cents ― & got 24.10 dividends.

Paid Dent: & called on S.W. Clowes ― who asked me to dine at Blue Posts at 6.30.

At home & wrote till then ― when I went there & found he had asked Sir R. Wilart so I backed out of a gt. bore.

Dined at home & wrote till late[.]

Gave checques for 55£ 9d. to

Dalziel                   25
Beale & Cramer            10.10
Hunt & Woolner            13.13
Mr. Rose          ―        6.6
――――――――――――――
                          55.9.

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

Slept well ― & am in better health, thank God,, than for many months past.

Came to town at 10. Called on Dalziels.

Pouring rain. Agreed with Routledges about the Book of Nonsense.

All the rest of the day went in packing & shopping ―. Dined at home.

XX1

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

Damp ― rainy.

T. Fairbairn came at 9.30 & we went to Woolners ― where the child=[grousse] is beautiful.

Then I to Routledge.

Afterwards to Dents ― Passport &c.

Robert (Dr.) Phillismore called me in the Strand, & asked me to dine on two days, ἀλλὰ δὲν ἐμπωροῦσα.¹

At 3 to W.N.’s ― & to Bells’ ―

(They are all away ― “going to their mountain home.”[)]

Ἐτελειώθη² Broad St. ―

Then to W.N.’s ― & with him to Woodberry.

Willie ― Ralph ― & Albert Jourdan were there ― & the Evening was very pleasant though poor W.N. feels leaving Woodberry.

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

1. But I could not (NB). [↩]
2. Perhaps “finally,” Nina writes “this means finish or complete, make perfect.” [↩]

Very cold, & bright all day.

Wrote to
Mrs. G. Scrivens
Jameson.
Daddy Hunt.
W. Nevill.
Ellen Newsom.
Mrs. Clive.

& packed & arranged drawings. ―

At 2 went to the Fairbairns’. ―― Wonderfully interesting children ―― Constance & Arthur ― the deaf & dumb.

At 3, with them & their Father, to the Gt. Exhibition, wh. is certainly most astonishing[.]

Sandford, the Secr.y.

The 2 children are delightful.

No one else dined there ― but I cannot remember to have passed a pleasanter evening.

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

Heavy fall of snow ― large flakes! ― from 7 to 9 ― when it cleared, & was cold & fine all day. ― Bad headache.

Wrote till 11 ― when Mrs. Robinson came. Lady Louis is dying. Afterwards ― T. Woolner, & AT.

At 1 cab to Dalziells ― more talk about the book of Nonsense ― & ordered 1000 to be printed.

Home ― then out to pay bills & to Dents about the new Leake watch. ―

Returned & dressed, & cab to Brompton at 5.30. Called at Trafalgar Sq.re & left a book for P.E.C. Then to Major Foy’s: ― Caroline Jones there ― & that was a blessing ― for Cousin Jessy is not A no. 1. ― She is flirty & foolish ― a “clever fool,” ― & full of the gossip of garrison life. The Major is a chubby magnified Cherub looking [f]oggy man ― but a gentleman, & kindly & hospitable. But their life is not happy. Caroline is an angel. ―

Home ― cab ― by 10.30. ―

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

Dry ― (dry) i.e. (dry.) & dull ― fine all day.

Wrote notes till 11. ―― Cab to Dalziells. Bother about the Nonsense. ― Foords. ―― & so to Routledge ― where we think 2/6 is too little a price ― & 3/6 proper & just. ― A wary Scotchman is Routledge. ― Then Roberson’s, where I bought (newly) colors &c. ― & so home by 5.

At 6.30 came F.L.

And, thank God we dined pleasantly.

& so ―

ετελειώθη.¹ ―――

Saw Mrs. Robinson & poor blind Sir J. Louis, at [Pilbicher’s] shop. ―

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

1. It ended (NB). [↩]

Wrote to
1 Maclean
2 R. Boswell ― with 2^nd half of 10£ note
3 W. Nevill.
4 Jessy Foy
5 Taylor
6 G. Kokali
7 Lady Goldsmid
8 Lady G. Grey.

[Ver]y fine & bright day. It certainly has been a lovely autumn.

No letters: ― wrote 8.

Dickens came. ― At 11 to Rouledge’s & saw Mr. R. who won’t buy the Nonsense, but offers to purchase 1000.

Then to Mrs. Leakes ―― poor Lady! After telling me about some friends in Corfû ― we went into Lunch, during which she consulted me about dear Col Leakes Epitaph: ― & I suggested an insertion relation  to his Archæological works ―

Her words stood.

An accomplished scholar
He was distinguished for his search after truth.
He preserved the ˇ[ancient] History of Greece from obscurity,
& the modern from misrepresentation ――

Mine ―――

An accomplished Scholar,
He was distinguished no less by his search after truth,
Than by his assiduity in communicating it to others:
And, through his many Archæological & Topographical publications, he rescued &c. &c.

I went at 2 ― & taking leave of her, she surprised me greatly by offering me a note ― saying in the sweetest & kindest way, yet greatly affected ― that she wished to give me some memorial of her husband, who had taken such interest in me & my works ―: the note contained Fifty pounds!! ―――――――――

Ἀς ἐυχαριξουμεν τὸν Θέον!¹

Home, & to Drummonds, where I drew 30£ then to J. Senior’s, where I read & signed my will, ― & received the Probates of my grandmother’s & dear Ann’s. ― Bern came in for a minute.

Home again ― no Clowes, ― so I took 2 Pheasants of Surrenden=Dering, ― & a book, & 2 mosaics, & walked to Brompton, where I dined with the poor Coombes ― who are naturally sad ― as that old [Prater], dying with over 100,000£ ― has left them nothing ― & worse, ― withdraws by his death an annual 20£! ―――― Walked back.

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

1. Let us thank God! (NB). [↩]

Exceedingly lovely till noon ― then cloudier, but fine.

Out on the Terrace at 9. Breakfast. Mrs. Galton is not altogether pleasant, ― tho’ civil to me. ―

Shewed Julian drawings. ― Talked a great deal with Lady G. who grows as it were sensibly.

Sir F. & I walked out from 12.12 to 1.15.

Then Lunch: & Miss Rowen came also.

At 2.45 left these accomplished & truly kindly & agreable people ― & came by rail to town at 5.20 ― to Stratford Pl. at 6.

Found letters from
1 Jessy Foy ― asking to dine.
2 E.A. Drummond: ― very nice.
3 Whitmore, (about a frame stand.)
4 Lord Clermont ― very kind.
5 Maclean: ― extremely satisfactory & good.
6 Lady Georgiana Grey ― kind as always ― asking me to dine on Sunday.
7 R.S. Boswell: acknowledging receipt of half 10£ note. ― and
8 Taylor of Corfu ―.

Bought Canphor & packed Carpets ― & at 7.30 dined. ――

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

Morning very fine. Rose late ― 9. ― Terrace & Autumn tints. ―― Breakfast. Mrs. G. has a certain harshness. ― Shewed drawings ― & Sir F. & Lady G. chose an Athos picture ― for 12£. Nothing can be nicer than their wholly well-bred modes & ways, nor more lastingly pleasant than the memories of their kindnesses.

Lunch. Mrs. G. absurd ― wishing to go out to Easwell ― whereas it rained hard. Mrs. G. is not very wise. Julian Goldsmid came ― a pleasant young fellow. Talked with Lady G. a good deal: she is certainly A. N°. 1 ― for fascination of Commonsense & good-breeding converse. ― At 3.45 Sir F., J.G. & I walked out ―: Julian’s descriptions of Norway were pleasant enough. Pouring rain: & the village of Egerton. Returned & dressed.

7.30 dinner ―― Mrs. G.’s singing & mine. ―

Read of a Lverpool Steamer wrecked.

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

28398. Number of Bank Note for 10£ ― half of which I sent to R.S.B. by post.

At 11.10 to L. Bridge: & so to Puckley; & to Surrenden Dering by 2.

Lady Goldsmid was at Lunch, with Mrs. Galton & her 2 little girls ― & a Miss Thomas ― (Frances T.’s niece,)[.]

Afterwards Lady G. Miss T. & I walked out ―: a pleasant day, pleasant walk, pleasant company. ―

Sir F. out hunting ― returned at 7. ―

So we dined at 7.30. ― “Nonsenses” exhibited, & bed early.

But all really happy ‘lines.’

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