Edward Lear's Diaries

Fine all day: no rain.

Dear me! what an astonishing bore are these idle days here! ―― They even begin to become interesting from their excessive immensity of boredoms ―

Letters from
Mrs. G. Clive ― very nice as usual.
Tarrant.
Dalziell ―
& a lot of nonsense proofs.

Arranged rooms for showing pictures &c. ―― & then, drew nonsenses: ―――

Came ―
1 Geo. Scrivens,
2 Mrs. Geo. Scrivens.
3 Mrs. Middleton.
4 W. Scrivens,
5 Mrs. W. Scrivens.
6 Capt. Dalrymple.
7 Edward Crake.
8 Mr. Harness.
9 Mrs. Crake.
10 Miss Crake
11 Mr. Napier
12 Mrs. Napier,
13 small Napier.
14 Mrs. Martineau
15 Miss Martineau
16 Miss Alice Martineau
17 Alfred Martineau
18 Edward Martineau.

At 6 went to Rail, but no C.F. nor by the last train. So I dined alone at the Sussex, sulkily.

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

Fine & calm nearly all day ― small showers & cloudy at times. ―― Letters from Mrs. W.F. Beadon. W.F.B. not so well.

Took, & “saw off” ― 6 packages, by rail to Stratford Pl.

ˆ[1] trunk ― ˆ[2 3 4] 3 frames: ― ˆ[5] Easel: ― & ˆ[6] box of drawings. ―

Resolved, but with gt. difficulty, not to go to Littlegreen. ―

Wrote to T. Cooper: ― Dickenson: & Lady Goldsmid ˇ[to go there on Monday.]

Walked to Hastings ― saw G. Middleton ― & various Crakes ― & Mrs. G.S. & the poor A. Fowlers ―: their boy still lives.

Returned. Lunched at Crakes, & walked out with Edward ― & M.A.C. (who left us soon.) Spoke with E.C. of W.N. ―― he did not seem to recall that W.N. was his godfather.

Went to the Cemetery ― & returned by Ore: ― altogether a pleasant walk. Met the Postman, twice; the first time he gave me a letter from C.F. who comes tomorrow. ― 2^ndly  ― from J. Hutchinson, who is going to be married, ―― to a Miss Murdoch ― cousin of G. Parry. I hope, & I think, he will be happy: he well deserves to be so, if trying to do a man’s best in life be a desert. ― Came back & dined at the Sussex Hotel. ―

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

O bad! ― and such a day! All through, black clouds & pouring beating rain & hail!

Packed 6 packages, & should have sent them to town, but it rained so. ― Dawdled, & read, & wrote, but the least possible of all. At 3 letters from J. Simeon, who is to marry again, Lord Colville’s sister, I am glad of it; he is the kindliest of human beings & could never be happy unmarried. ― And from Jambo: dear good Jamie. And now I half intend to go to Littlegreen once more ― despite expense.

George Middleton came ―: that man is a good man: &, altho’ he says no, ― a philosopher. It is a pleasure to shew him paintings, as it was to dear old Col. Leake. ―― Walked with him to Warrior Square, ― intending to go on to the Fowlers, but it was late, & violent rain at times.

At 6 went up to the Crakes. ― Edward came, Mr. Harness ― & Van: ― & the little dinner party was really pleasant & jovial. ――

Dear old Mr. Crake grows far feebler daily.

At 9.30 he went to bed. Edward, V. & M.A. went to a dance. ― I & Mr. H. sate with Mrs. C. for a time, & then I walked to the Sussex with Mr. H. Vastly silly he is ― He “hoped the aristocracy would send no more pictures to popular exhibitions, ― why should they?” ――

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

Very fine at sunrise: clouds at 8. utter gloom at 10, & violent atmospheric behavior all day ἔπειτα.¹

Breakfast. No letters. ―

Worked ― a very little at Petraja, & Athos ―― & packed, finally 6 packages.

1 large black box
2 case of frames
3 do.
4 do.
5. Easel
6. Wooden case of drawings

Read Trollopes ― 3 clerks: ― & packed at intervals. At 3 letter from T. Fairbairn: very nice & kind.

At 4.15 went out, called at V. Crakes ― no one in, but the baby: ― (I wonder why I love children so.) But I heard Mr. C. was worse, & called there. Saw M.A.C. The old gentleman had fallen, when left alone last night for a minute ― & they seem all thoroughly alarmed: they have changed his bedroom to downstairs, but still he is out with Mrs. C. to day.

I wish Edward were come. ― M.A.C. says he cries bitterly, at the prospect ―― so clear his mind ―― of leaving them all. ― (My dearest Ann did not so: she had a wider faith in a greater God.) ――― But this is very affecting & sad.

I then went to G. Middletons ― & saw all 3 ― père, mere, fils: & not without pleasure. ―― Then to the Fowlers’ ―: Mrs. F.’s servant, (Mrs. F. the elder,) has come down: but there is no help for the boy Alfred, who, by the last letter, is sinking. ――― After that, (I had met Mr. Whitmore & G.S.,) walked to the W. Scrivens ― where there was a kindly welcome & nice dinner. Capt. & Mrs. Dalrymple ― made 8. ―

Sang: as did Capt. D. ― & boisterous wind notwithstanding, returned home by 11.30.

XX

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

1. Afterwards. [↩]

Rose at 6. Wet

For all that ― these are kind & good folk, & perhaps I may see them no more.

Breakfast at 7 with B. ― & off by rail ― (he to Brighton,) by 8. At 119 Marina St. Leonard’s at Sea ― by 9.30.

Letters from Mrs. G. Scrivens, & Cramer’s bill.

Began to work, but grew ill X. Then came Gush, with Miss G. so I walked to Hastings with them; returning ― called on Fowlers ― (nothing more heard & all away) ― & was photographed. Saw G. Middleton also.

Home ― worked a very little: but rather read “The 3 clerks.”¹

Ugly letter from J. Harford ―― & better from S. Robinson.

Dined. & read. & sulkied. ――

At 6.30 walked again to Hastings, & saw the 2 little Fowlers, ― the parents have written that there is no hope for poor little Alfred!

So I came slowly back, & went to the Sussex for some Soda water, & lo, there was Mr. Harness ―so we talked from 8 to 10, & he was very pleasant. His likings of Lord Byron, & his unlikings of Lady B. are interesting. ―

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

1. Anthony Trollope, The Three Clerks. A Novel. 3 vols. London: Richard Bentley, 1858. [↩]

Awful day ― sunless, & pouring rain ― happily not cold.

Breakfast at 8 & wrote letters ― / when the “femmine” went to church ― to

J. Hutchinson
W. Holman Hunt.
A. Empson
E. Newsom.
J. Edwards &
W. Beadon.

Pouring rain. Shewed Photographs.

(As a sample of how even intelligent middleclass Angli know of foreign affairs, Bern asked me, “Where is the Pope now?”)

At 4 he & I walked a bit as it held up half an hour, but returned wet.

Sleep & deadly Anglo Sunday God hating idolatrous puritan Pharisee silence & sermon reading. ―

At 6 dinner, & better fun. But I weary of English Sundays, & must break off from lying conveniently lowly.

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

Fine early, but soon clouds & wind, & at 11 ― rain.

Worked a little at Athos, & the Dead Sea sky, & packed most things. At 1 called on Crakes & Fowlers, & Mrs. G.S. The Fowler’s have worse accounts of little Alfred, & go up to town tonight.

Pouring rain: returned to lodgings in fly. ―

At 4.30 to Lewes ― rain always ― heavy.

Dinner alone with B.H.H. Mrs. H.H. ― Margaret Blackmore & Helen Costa came later from an Archery meeting & dance at the Hook. ―

X

So end 5 weeks since I came to England & 4 here.

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

To dine with A. Fowler.

Fine very early ― but cloudy & very windy by [8].¹ ― At 10 stormy, & then rain. At 2 fine again, but rough & windy. Fine, but cold all the rest of the day & night.

Letters from
Margaret Caetani ―
& Daddy Hunt.

Worked at La Petraja ― & Athos.

The 3 brothers next door came in at 3. ― at 4.30 I went to Hastings, & called on Mrs. G. Scrivens ― & at 6.30 dined at Fowlers. Reginald there ― much better. I have never seen these 2 together since at Greenlittle ― 30 years ago or more. Now, Alfred is 43 ― Reginald ― 41.

The evening was extremely pleasant ― only A.F.’s oldest boy is very ill. Mrs. A.F. is a very good & pleasant & intelligent woman.

Came away at 10.30.

I dread Lewes tomorrow ―the cold!

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

1. Blotted. [↩]

The same superlative loveliness as yesterday.

And nearly the same destructive supineness & languor διὰ τὸν ἐμαυτόν μου.¹

O! my Greek! ― o all things ―
O Earth! ― o life! ― o time!

Yet I worked at times ― on the 2 statue Thebes, & pretty well left it spoiled. Then ― (having read the Dodd family thro’[)] ― on the Petraija ― which howbeit I improved. ― Also I apparently finished the Schloss Elz. As for the Matterhorn & the Statue Thebes ― they must, I fear be put by. This deadly lonely sitstill application I can go on with no longer, ― & I even wish now that I had decided to go back to town next week.

[ , have]² to say, I must dine at V. Crakes.

Letter from Ellen ―she is at Deal: & I am glad she has gone there, with her husband’s relations: he was so good a man, that she will always find her loss more soothed by being with them who knew him best.

At V. Crakes, were Mr. Harness ― Mr. & Mrs. & M.A. Crake, & a Mrs. Acres, a very pleasing woman, to whom I sate next at dinner. Dear good old Mr. Crake ― fades ― fades: ― how accurate & bright his mind is! ―

Mrs. V.C. sang later ― & rather nicely: ― I, two songs. ― At 10.15 walked home with Mr. C. & M.A.; ― & Afterwards, with Van & Mr. Harness ― who is 73 ―.

Moonlight, but cold, ― cold, ― cold. ―

― ah! alas! διὰ τὸν Καλογέρον τον Κερκυριώτην.³

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

1. For myself (NB). [↩]
2. Blotted. [↩]
3. For that Monk from Corfu (NB). [↩]

Perfectly & wondrously calm, bright, & lovely ―― all day.

Yet, for all that, a strange & sad day. It is inconceivable how my days distance all speculation as to their nature. ― I got wrong ― between 7 & 8, ― over the Thebes picture, getting it all hard & gaudy with Color too red. ―

Then breakfast was uncomfortable ― as nearly always here. Then, unwilling to return to work I doubted if I could mend, I dawdled & read “the Bertrams”¹ ― & then working again, made my work worse. Indigestion also, & then

X quite suddenly ―after so many days & such mending health.

After that I finished the Bertrams & worked no more ――――: so that the day ― so clear & calm, ― was lost.

But I own this sitting in the back room & as it were shutting my eyes on all nature ― does madden me.

Again I did work though ― & from 5 to 6.30. ―

Letters from Egg, & Mrs. Hunt ― wrote to the latter & intend to go there on Saturday. ―

At 7 walked ― moonlight ― & 7.30 dined at the “Sussex” ― & walked again. Wrote to Mrs. Clive.

Pale cold moon: yet now, as in 1823 ― ever strangely influencing me. Do you remember the small yard & the [pump] at ――― in 1823, & 1824, when I used to sit there in the cold looking at the stars, &, when I heard that Lord Byron was dead, stupefied, & crying?

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

1. Anthony Trollope’s 1859 The Bertrams. A Novel. [↩]