Edward Lear's Diaries

Very fine early: & all day ― but windy & rough.

Worked off & on perseveringly ― tho’ not very successfully. At the Whitmore picture, & Skies of Athos & Thebes ― & the Matterhorn.

Letters from
Lady Reid ― very kind & nice.
& evening post
Daddy Hunt, who does not come.

At 4 ― Alfred Fowler & his wife came ― & 2 children, a friendly pleasant lot & intelligent.

I worked till 7 ― then bought postage stamps & Photographs, & dined for 4/6 at the Sussex Hotel.

Alas! it is to be high tide again to night about midnight, which the constant increase of row & squash, prevents sleep.

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

Fine early ― cloudy midday. Rain from 3 to 7 fine after.

Rose at 6. Worked shilly shally all day ― but the work ― foreground of Dead Sea, was ‘troppo’¹ a bore. After dinner ― Schloss Elz.

Letters from
J. Uwins
Daddy Hunt ― to whom wrote ― asking him here tomorrow. Wrote also to T. Wyatt.
afternoon post,
S. Clowes,
evening post
Sophy Bergmann.

Dined at 4, on a sole. Walked at 7.30, to old Mr. Crake’s ― no one there. Sate till 10.

“We have fallen on gloomy days.”

Αὔτως ἀταλαίπωρος ―²

A dreadful night ― whether from 2 cups of tea or indigestion: ― hardly any sleep. XXX

Reading Savonarola.

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

1. Too much. [↩]
2. “Likewise without any troubles,”  translates Nina, who adds “I am not very sure in which sense he uses the second word: in its ancient sense it means ‘requiring no pains,’ but later on its meaning shifted. Anyway, I think he meant he was just fine, but then his night turned dreadful.” [↩]

Fine all day ― cloudy at times… Mighty dark & gloomy.

Rose at 6 ― & got a good hour & a half before breakfast, of work ― Athos: on which, off & on, I worked all day: ― letter writing ― reading Levers “Dodds,”¹ & B. Martineau calling interrupted me more or less.

Letters from
C. Fortescue ― to whom wrote.
R. Fowler*
B. Martineau
A. Empson
T. Wyatt
L. Francillon ―
Mrs. Howard
Lady Goldsmid.

Dined at 4 ―overboiled fowl & ate it all.

* Tells me that Alfred F. & his wife are here, so at 6.30 I went there & staid till 9. He is ill: & all were nearly killed between Cairo & Alexandria in the Railway: ― 2 carriages smashed ― & all of theirs but the centre compartment.

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

1. Charles Lever, The Dodd Family Abroad. London: Chapman & Hall, 1854. [↩]

Rose at 6 pretty always. ――― Cloudy.

After 12 it rained till 6, & then only muzzled: gray ― dark, stormy boisterous windy: a bore.

Letters from
Mrs. Wyatt ― very pleasant.
Charles Cockburn. Beadon is somewhat better.
James Uwins. ―                              wrote to these 2
Emmy Parkyns.

Worked only middlingly ― at Dead Sea & the 2 Egypts.

Dined badly ― 2 small fishes.

At 6 walked to Hastings ― & sat for an hour with the W. Scrivens. The G.S. come back this day week.

Rain & wind bored me coming back.

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

Rain at times, & high wind all day.

Perhaps the best day yet. Worked more continuously: at the Whitmore picture & the other Egypt & Jánina.

Dined at 4 ― cold half fowl & plum tart.

Letters from
Dickenson
Mrs. Cockerell                                 very nice indeed.
& Gussie Bethell

At 7 went to Van Crake’s ― the old people, M.A.C. & Edward there ― besides some Bretts, & a Webster.

Much bad singing & playing ― mine among the rest.

X

It is certainly curious, how, with the drawbacks of being generally ill & uncomfortable, of loneliness, & of melancholy, & of the uneasiness produced by the life long demon ――

― it is curious how perseveringly I do plod on nevertheless: ― 2 or 3 more weeks will show this plainer if the pictures progress well.

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

Athos ― 1.

As fine, & perfectly calm throughout, ― but clouds at night.

Rather a better day ― ‘abdomen’ less troublesome. Letter from Sarah, enclosing one from Frederick: wretched doing in N. America. ― Worked at Athos ― & later at Schloss Elz, & Thebes & the Matterhorn.

Letter from Mr. Edwards with Liverpool paper, ― proclaiming my Cedars ― & stating me to have “conferred an obligation of the highest order on the Christian  world.”¹ ―― Wrote to thank the father Edwards. Kind nice letter also from Mrs. G. Clive.

Dined at 4 ― wonderful to say ― a roast fowl!

Afterwards went to the Crakes, to take Hamilton’s boy a “long name.” Found a party there, Vandelen & Mrs. V. ― & Mr. & Mrs. Stent ― so staid, & was all the better for company.

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

1. “Mr. Lear in this great picture not only achieved a professional success, but he has also conferred an obligation of the highest order on the whole Christian world.” Quoted in Vivien Noakes, 1969, p. 188. See also Letters, p. 194. [↩]

XX

Assuredly one of the purestly loveliest days it is possible to see on earth. From sunrise all day & evening & night hardly a breath of air, & the sky pure blue ― a few bright clouds at sunset: the sea a perfect mirror, ― hardly rippled, & almost noiseless. ―― Rose at 7 ―after a sleepless night. No letters. Placed outlines of Mt. Athos, Sc[h]loss Elz, & Matterhorn on canvass, & then wrote ― absurdly & continually all day long ― till 6. Posted 24 letters. During the day, the bathers, walkers, churchgoers, sprawlers on the sand, sitters on the shingles, loiterers on the benches, ― were all happy to see. At 6 to Mr. Crakes: Mrs. Hamilton, Mary Ann ―― Vandelen & Mrs. V. Mrs. V. I thought nicer than before. The old Gentleman is visibly feebler & this fading is sad to see, yet requisite.

Came away at 10.

Was playing the Piano when Miss T. burst in ―― &

“O please Sir, Miss Pipkins is ill & the lamp & the Doctor says it may be dangerous as she was a sleeping of a sudden and we’re very sorry, but the light is out, & the fever, & the music is a hopes you’ll pardon him.”

                        answered
1 Col Cockburn.                              4^th
2 Mrs. Cockerell.                             4^th
3 Edgar Drummond
4 T. Fairbairn
5 R. Fowler ―――――                   5^th
6 Mrs. Francillon ―――                 5^th
7 R. Boswell
8 Miss Beaufort                                9^th
9 Mrs. Frith ―――                          7^th
10 W. Gush ―――                          13^th
11 Lady Goldsmid ―――               5^th
12 Mrs. Howard ―――                 5^th
13 Lady James ―――                     12^th
14 Mrs. Mildmay ―――                 10^th
15 W. Nevill.
16 Mrs. Newsom. ――                   12^th
17 Mr. Parker ―――                      4^th
18 Miss Penrhyn ――                     4^th
19 Lady Reid ―――                       7^th
20 Sir J. Simeon
21 F. Thrupp.
22 J. Uwins ―――                          4^th
23 T. Wyatt. ―――                         5^th
24 Roberson. ―――                        4^th
25 J. Harford                                   not answered
26 Mrs. Evans
27 Mrs. Hunt
28 C. Fortescue
29 Mrs. Musters
30 Mrs. Bell

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

Villa Petraja. 7.

One of those perfect cloudless calm days ― only known in Autumn here. A wonderful loveliness if one could but enjoy it, from sunrise to starlit night. Rose at 6 & painted till 8. Kind note from Janet Hunt. ― Newspaper ― & then pretty regular work all over the Petraja till 4. ― But it is not, & cannot be a very satisfactory picture. ― Letter from J.B. Edwards ― vague. & Ellen, enclosing one from poor R. Boswell, in a wretched state. 10£ must be sent to him at once.

Dined on 4 small Vitins, & 2 smaller taters. Immediately after, began to work on Dead Sea, & did a good deal of the tree. At 7.15 ― walked al solito on the parade: a crowd near Hastings, so turned back. ―

A very queer weary week. Of letters written, & answered

Lady Bethell Westbury answered  9^th. 25^th ――        9^th Sept.
Gussie Bethell answered                 3^rd. 25^th ――       3^rd
John Cross ――――――                9^th. 25^th ―――    9^th
James Hornby ―――――              25^th ――――      ――
S. Clowes answered ―― 6^th ―        25^th ――              6^th
S. Street answered 2^nd ――            27^th ――              2^nd
Mrs. Bergmann answered 6 ―       28^th ―――          6^th
C. Church ――――――                25^th                      ――
Mrs. Clive answered 2^nd ―            25^th ―――          2^nd
Mrs. Empson ―― 5^th ―                 25^th ―――          5
Holman Hunt answered 6 ―         25^th ―                  10, 6 all are yet unanswered
J. Lacaïta ― 10 ――                        25 ―――            10

M.A. Crake sent an invitation to a pic nic to day! ― I think I see myself there!!!!

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

V. Petraija. 6.

Work all day ― barring newspaper, & a long letter to C.F. & one to his Aunt. That dear good old Lady is not very well it seems, ― by a nice letter from him to day. One also from Mr. Morier later in the day. Weather fine ― sunny but windy.

Worked at the hills & city, in the Petraja: anyhow, much work is done, come it to what it may, & every day, wearily as it goes by, knocks off one more of this phase of destiny.

Read Miss E. Beaufort¹ at times: too “religious” & flashy. ― Dined at 4 ― on one sole, & 2 potatoes & some few small beers.

At 7.25 walked in the dim dying light. Bed at 9.15.

A week gone here!

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

1. Beaufort, Emily A. Egyptian Sepulchres and Syrian Shrines. 2 vols. London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861. [↩]

Villa Petraija ― 5

X

Windier & cloudier, & heavy sea.

Roe by 6.30. I do not sleep well. ― Painted till breakfast. Letter from Ellen ― F.’s son has gone into the southern army. Wrote to Ellen & Sarah: & worked, ― barring newspaper reading ― till 4.

Dinner ― 2 small fishes.

Worked again till dusk ― then walked out till 9. It is better to go slapdash at this horrid phase of life & get through it.

I am by no means well.

Slept very little.

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