Edward Lear's Diaries

Fine & warm ― aye & sunny ― throughout.

Rather an odd day. Rising at 8 ― wrote a long letter to Mrs. G. Clive & some notes. At 10.20 C. Fortescue came ― very unexpectedly ― for I thought him away. Hamilton, his brother in law is dead: ― so now, only Mrs. H. Mattie, & Chi, remain. 40scues feelings & expressions are true & gentle & good. This morning was very nice. ―― Afterwards I went again, to F.L. & Arthur Stanley, ― J. Blencowe came, asking me to dine: but I had resolved to go to Williams’s. At 2½ to London Bridge ― & to Woolwich. There, on as bright a day as in years gone, I crossed the Artillery ground. There Phipps was alive, Lina & Susan & all: & dear Lady Hornby. All things seemed gay & bustling as then: yet how much of the “then” exists no longer ―― in myself  as elsewhere? | otherwise.

At Edwd. Williams, I found him out, & they were both to dine out ― whence dismay on kind little Mrs. W.’s part. So I came away & hurried to train ― but lo! just then, off it fizzed. Whereon I took a fly to Greenwich (4) & by train reached L. Bridge at 6. Cab to Stratford Pl.: dressed, & to 32 Brook St. by 7. ― Mr. Blencowe, Mrs. B. John & Mrs. J.B. & 2 very fine nice Children. Dinner pleasant, but επείτα έφωβήθην διὰ τοῦς τρομεροὺς τρόπους τοῦ Κυρίου Μπλέκνω.¹) Poor Mrs. B. was much agitated thereby. ―― Evening also pleasant. Ἒμενα ἐώς τάς ἓνδεκας ― ἐλπίζων ὃτι δὲν ὀμίλισα παραπολὺ.² ―

Prayers: long.

X

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

1. Then I was terrified by the dreadful manners of Mr. Blencowe (NB [↩]
2. I stayed until eleven ― hoping I didn’t talk too much (NB). [↩]

Gray dull, cold, dry. ― Some sun, later.

Letters from Mrs. Clive ― & Frankland.

Put outlines on Canvass, (tracings,) for

Lord Clermont’s Dead Sea
Mr. Whitman’s Thebes
――――――― Thebes ―
Jameson’s Ioánnina.

No-one came at all at all.

Packed & arranged mightily.

At 6.30 went to Brie’s & ordered 6 ft. of drawers, ― & to S.W. Clowes, who was just going out: so we joined tactics, & dined together at the Blue Posts ― very pleasantly & well, ― for 8/― each. ― Went home & smoked with him afterwards. Home by 11. ―

XX

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

Darkish ― gray & cold again.

Mrs. Gurney
Mrs. Curwen
Miss Curwen
Mr. Curwen.
Lord Wenlock.
Mrs. Stuart Wortley.

Absolutely set to work on J.E. Cross’s Dead Sea ― & finished it ― & took that & Jerusalem & Baalbek to Foord’s at 5. ― The Gurney visit, was cheerful ― but decision as to their non taking Beirût. Lord Wenlock’s & Mrs. Stuart Wortley’s visit was very pleasant: I always like them both ― so many years back! & now each has 9 children ― so out of 2 ― are 20. At 5 to Foords ˇ[in a cab] ― & Roberson, & then walked to Mr. Bell’s ― very noisy, dusty, city ― odious.

Evening pleasant, this dear good Mrs. Bell’s always fussing detracts more than it should. Dear Mr. Bell, & she also however are both goodness itself. At dinner the Bishop of Labuan came in ― a bearded & most unaffected Bishop ― quite delightful & novel quâ Episcopus. Hyde Salter is potius aper but I suppose learned. At 10 he & I walked [as]¹ far as the Temple. ― Cab home.

Devellopement [sic] of the Weld affair. He had a woman habitually into the home; & when his wife was away, she slept there, & he cooked for her. The servants mutined, & was found. ― He, (attacked,) denied all: but ultimately, confessed all.

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

1. Blotted. [↩]

Very fine ― warm.

S.W. Clowes.
W. Evans.
Mr. S. Bradshaw
Mrs. S. Bradshaw.
Dr. Henry
Mrs. Henry
Archibald Peel
Earl of Durham.

Took up carpets.

Finished ― in a way, ― the Cedar drawing ― possibly for E. Clive. Anyhow ― put away all drawing & painting, which, with my connexion of multiplicities, is wholly impossible in May of London.

Dunque, non v’è altro a far.¹ ―

The first visit was jovial & friendly.

The 2^nd was sedate & surprising.

The 3^rd was aristocratic & incomprehensible.

At 5 I went to Foord’s, & to Sir W. James ― & back, making calls. Then at 7.30 to Fairbairn’s. ― (Intanto² ― F.L. had called.)

The evening as well as dinner were delightful: constant converse of a good order. Mrs. F. is, as Daddy had described her ―a kind of Emily Tennyson.

Daddy’s Two Gentlemen of Verona was on the walls ― & what a picture!!

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

1. So then, there’s nothing else to do. [↩]
2. Meanwhile. [↩]

Harvey Bagot
Alfred Bagot
Col. Bagot.
T. Wyatt.
Ellinor Bagot
Miss Sneyd.
Willy Nevill.
Mr. T. Baring.

Fine. But, having got my Clive Cedars into a mess ― I could not work any more, & meant to give them up ― as well as the Cross 3 drawings: being in a state of upsidedownness.

The 2 Bagot visits were as ever, kindly & good. ― Willie N. is a puzzle: ἥ θὰ εναι καλὸς πολὺ, ἥ κακὸς πολὺ.¹ ― Quite late, came Mr. Baring, who seems [to be]² a most plain  & straightforward man. He admired the Cedars greatly, & asked me to stay at Norton Court: ― but I don’t quite see how I can go. ―

At 6 I walked to Thrupps ― (out.): & called on Mrs. Seymour, & the Bertie Percys: ― & so back, & arranged mounted drawings of 1838. ― At 8 to Blue Posts.

The [] Bradshaw is an evidently nice fellow.

We went to Sam’s rooms afterwards: & at 11.30 I was at home. ―

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

1. He is either very nice or very mean (NB). [↩]
2. Blotted. [↩]

Fine early & sun!! ― Later clouds. Warmer.

C. Fortescue.                 before I went out
Octavius Smith |          when I was out.
―――?                       |
Mr. [Malsden]              |
Lady F. Harcourt |
Mrs. Somers Cock & 2 children          |          after I returned
Lady Buxton |
Mrs. Head |
Harvey Bagot.                                     |
Mrs. Wyatt |
Miss Prie.                                             |

at 10.30. Went to the R. Academy, a task necessary. Also to National Gallery.

Also to Daddy Hunt’s picture & bought a life of him.

Worked at E. Clive’s Cedars for a time, & at 6.30 to Frith’s.

Variety of duty at dinner time. Both Mrs. A. & Mrs. D. are very pleasing, but a triad of discourse was impossible.

The Dixons are very Tropic=English.

Frith is as good-tempered & small as of old. Mrs. F. more cheerful. Ansdell always pleasant.

Evening ― Mrs. Broox played. ― But there were ― ἂς εὐχαριζοῦμεν τόν θεόν! ― κανεῖς χαλία.¹ ―

Ἣλθα είς τήν οἰκείαν διὰ ἒνα Κὰβ.² at 12 P.M.

Frith said, Mulready once told him this. He, (M.) had called on Wilkie, then living in Norton St. (?) ― & had found the street noisy with Bagpipes ― which noise increased to the house & was found to be inside it, & insupportably loud [continues in the previous page, connected by a line] Said Wilkie, when he came down ― “Its just my mother who is dee=ing, & the Bagpipes were what she liked best, so I’ve just had them to her bedside!” ――

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

1. Let us thank God ―no one was bad (NB). [↩]
2. I came home by Cab (NB). [↩]

Dry ― but quite sunless ― out cold.

Drew at Edwd. Clives’s Cedars, from 10 to 3.30.

No-one came!! & no letters!!

Walked to Daddy Hunt’s, & found him working at Lord Lansdowne’s little sketch of the Lantern Maker: ― the quaintest letter from Lord L.! ― who, having been at the R.A., & having seen there the original painting, just 4 times the size of the sketch he had bought, ― writes to H.H., noticing the “misapprehension” by which his painting had been sent to the R.A., whereas he had only lent it to be altered!! ― So much for noble & amateur  discernment!!!!! ― Talk with H.H. was very pleasant: ― he is always so clear, & so just. ― The Scape Goat is engraved. ― Walked to Lady Bethell’s & left cards ― Mrs. Carpenter is dead! Dressed, & at 7.30 ― to Sir J. Lewis.

The dinner ― (very good,) & all the evening, were pleasant. C.M. sang ― his voice always most beautiful, but no feeling, nor emphasis.

Walked to St. James’s St. with him, ― & cab home by 12.

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

X

O bother. Dark & damp. What a horrible climate is this of England!

I was beginning breakfast ― when C. Fortescue came, it is very nice & good of him.

Just as he was going, at 1 ― who should come but Majr. Shakespear!!! ―― I agreed to dine at the Sayers ― so at 2 ― I went in a cab to Woodberry, where were W.N. Willie, & Ralph, Professor or Dr. Kranz of Bonn, & a Mr. Tennant. I lunched there, & at 3.30 walked to the [Angel] (by Highbury,) & omnibus home by 6.

At 7 to the Sayers. Only Major & Mrs. S. besides Mr. & Mrs. S. There is always something not quite comfortable in the house. J.S. is too fussy & braggy about his Φωτόγραφy.¹ Mr. S. too bothery about the “conduct of the nation to Prince A.” ― Mrs. Sayer ― though really sharp & shrewd, is too tactical. Mrs. J.S. is not to be found fault with, & I wish J.S. were more attentive to her, tho’ he don’t mean to be otherwise.

Mrs. S.’s discourse διὰ τὴν βασιλεύσην² is pretty true. Ὁ Πρίνγεψ³ is doubtless the main stay of the affair. Most probably he knew what she could & what she could not bear, & prevented her seeing the Dss. ― rightly enough; because to have done otherwise would have had a worse effect than the sorrows which really did take place produced. ―

――― had said that the scene on the Q.’s visit to the Dss. & finding her unable to recognize her was, frightful: ― imploring her to speak &c. ― “Bad” said Mrs. S. “she has no mind ― & to a child beyond her particular trade ― royalty: only P.A. has kept her right ―” ―― What a pother!

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

1. Photography. [↩]
2. About the Queen (NB). [↩]
3. The Prince (NB). [↩]

Pouring rain till 12 ― damp, hot, & showery, after.

What weather.

At 9.30 came Foord’s men, who placed the Cedars back in the room, Beirût below on the same side, & Pentedatilo above, so a world of space is left. ―― Then I sent off my piano, not a whole month in hire, ― but the deadliest necessity of using it is over, & it is out of tune.

Arranged various drawers &c. ― & made a tracing & an outline of the Cedars for E. Clive’s drawing. The Crakes called & asked me to dine.

So at 6 cab there.

Evening tolerably pleasant. ― Mrs. C. has many solid good points, wh. do not appear always.

The good dear old Gentleman fades, but brightly=slowly. Edward is a good man & son. ―

Walked home by 11. Pumping ship in Hyde Park St. ― I saw with horror ― “Any person &c.” written above one: but with far more horror a policeman close by. Ἀλλὰ, δὲν εμπωροῦσα νὰ λείψω,¹ ― & the sagacious policeman did not molest me.

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

1. But, I could not leave (NB). [↩]

XXX

Cedars, ― perhaps finished.

Τὸ κακὸν.¹

Lighter day, looked at Cedars, & I think finished all ― or nearly all I can.

At 5 came poor Lady Selina Vernon ― alone poor dear, her visit was very pleasant to me.

At 6 I called on S.W.C. out ― & on Lady James ―. Dined alone at Blue Posts, & home by 8.15. Letter from Mrs. Clive ― She & they go to Barkham tomorrow.

At 9 ˇ[8.30] came Charles Cockburn, now full Colonel, just landed from the Ellora. I showed him H. Bruce’s, Hyde Beadon’s, & poor W.F. Beadon’s letters, from which he plainly saw how the case really is. At 9.30 he went. ― He says Mauritius is a perfect climate.

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

1. The evil (NB). [↩]