Edward Lear's Diaries

C. Church is going to get married: ― a comfort.

O sad day! Yet how fine & like summer!

I could not work, but went at once to Ann’s ―

She seems to sink: no nourishment stays. ― Dear dear Ann! Always joyous at seeing me ― “my precious!” yet somehow clearer & distincter in mental life. ― Ellen ― poor thing ― seems sadly unable to bear up ― & ˇ[this is] not to be wondered at.

Then I went to the Doctor’s, & waited till he had been to see her & had returned. “We are losing ground,” he said: & explained that the inside not acting, occasioned the rejection from the stomach ― & that continually weakened the poor dear, worn by pain ― & sleepless. ― He agreed to call in Lawrence. ― & I left ― & home. (Mrs. Andrè was at the door, but I could not speak.) ― Wrote many letters. E. Rimbault came. Walking to & fro, at last, at 3.30 I set out again, & walked to 20 Stonefeld St. Ellen was out. Dear Ann had been worse ― more sick. I sate with her. Her clearness, & boldness in dying ― how glorious! She repeats ― “Eye hath not seen ―[her]” Sometimes she spoke suddenly ―”what a blessing you are here! ― not among the Arabs!” ― & again ― when I held the basin for her ―as soon as she could speak ― “O my love! How disagreeable for you! How sorry I am!” ―― & “bless you my dear Edward! what a comfort you have been to all my ˇ[your] life!! ―”

At 5 I came away: Ellen owned she could not sit up, so I went to the Doctors & begged him to send a good nurse. ― Then I walked home. ――

Dined at Sir F. Goldsmid’s: particularly pleasant & sensible & cheery party. ― Lady G. is a ‘singularly’! clean Jewess ― & really charming.

I came away at 10.30.

Ἒχασα πάσης σωτερίας λιμένα!¹ ――

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

1. I lost every harbour of salvation (NB). [↩]

Restless; rose early. Doctor’s letter, Ann ― dear Ann ― passed a worse night as to the head, ― but the sickness has dimished a little, & she has taken some nourishment.

I worked a little at the camels in Beirût ― but people came: first.

Sophy Bergmann
Parry Crooke.
Franklin Gould.
Fanny Coombe
Laura Coombe.
Mary Ann North
Miss Norman.

Latterly I painted a little again, but at 4 I went to Burlington in an Omnibus.

Ellen was at Ann’s; ― then I saw dear Ann: ― her pain is dreadful. But she never swerves in the least iota from cheerfulness, affection ― patience. Kind words to myself ― & of Ellen, ―& of Sophy Bergmann were the few she spoke: ― but the sickness seemed to come on, so I could not stay ― for exciting her is the worst thing at present.

O! O!      O! O! O! O!

I wrote a short line to Sarah: & then walked slowly ― by 6.30 to Sophy Bergmanns.

There wise Mr. Taylor ― (who married Harriett Waddilove,) remarried, & the new Mrs. Taylor ― & a Miss Proctor.

Somehow I got thro’ the evening: but was at home before 11.

I wrote to Sarah, & wish she could come.

X3

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

X2

F.W. Gibbs
Dr. J. Hooker.
Mr. Busk.
Edgar Drummond
Mrs. E. Drummond.
H.G. Bruce
Mrs. Bruce
Margaret B.
Rachel B.
Nephew ―
Governess.
Miss Gould
Miss Sarah Gould
Miss Louisa Gould
Governess.
Miss Carr
Miss Alice Lushington
Miss ―― Lushington
Sir [W.M.] Davidson.

Note from Ann’s Doctor ― Mr. Rose, saying she was less well. I cab there directly. She was up ― but I fear she will hardly wholly recover, although I cannot bring myself to realize this as yet.

Went to the Doctor’s afterwards.

Then home. Man came to alter cabinets, & then people came by heaps.

Wrote many letters.

With all this uncertainty of Ann’s health, I seem to move in a dream.

At 4.30 walked to Mrs. Stanleys, Crakes, & Col. Hornby. Saw no one.

At 7 to Sir W. James’s. ―

Dinner & evening very pleasant. Ἐτραγούδησα τι.¹

Found letters from S. Bergmann. ― & Mr. Rose. Ann is a little better.

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

1. I sang a little (NB). [↩]

Mr. Whitman.
Mr. Chappell
Miss Chappell.
Mr. Evans
Mr. Astley.
Mr. Morier
Miss Morier
Miss Waldegrave
Mrs. Cartwright
Mrs. Mildmay.
Mrs. Cockerell
Mrs. Benson.

Fine but gray ― & colder. I am unable from constant interruption to work ― so I give it up & lead a life of idleness ― drawing “nonsenses” at times, ― but sleeping at others.

Letter from Leycester Penrhyn. ― good Mr. Penrhyn died this morning at 4. ―

So we all depart. ―

Went out at 5.30 ― but it poured with rain, & I got wet. Paid Bicker’s bill, ―& bought sox &c. &c. &c. ― Home, & dined on cold meat. ―

Wrote to E. Tennyson.

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

Quite too dark to work, drew nonsenses:

Mrs. W. Tottie.
Miss Tottie.
Mrs. Beadon.
Elizth. Beadon.
Mary Ann Crake…
Mrs. Bishop
Mrs. ? ―
Lord Somers
came

who¹ staid till 4 ― talking a good deal. The criticisms, tho’ wanting in many points, are always ― or nearly always, worth attending to. He is very unhappy & restless ― & I fear will not be less so poor fellow. ―

At 4.30 I went to the Marylebone ˇ[H. St.] & bought some flowers for Ann, ― & then to her in a cab.

She is suffering sadly ― from this gathering in the back of her neck, poor dear.

After I left her, I went to her Doctor ― (Mr. Rose, Trinidad Place, Liverpool Road,) & saw him.

He says, if the swelling does not spread upward, & as yet there does not seem a tendency to do so, it will come right, ― tho’ giving much trouble & pain. But as yet, he says, he cannot tell if an incision will be necessary. ― It seems very sad that poor dear Ann should suffer so. ― I wish Ellen were with her.

So I came back.

At 7 to W. Beadons: only Col. [Carden] there. Mr. B. very unwell. Col. C. is a very wooden & tiresome man ― tho’ I dare say very good. ―

‘Στὰς δέκα σ’το σπῆτι.²

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

1. Connected to “Lord Somers.” [↩]
2. Home at ten (NB). [↩]

Fine, windy, ― gleamy-cloudy-showry. ―

Rose at 7 ― & cabbed to Foord’s, with a note also to leave at Sir F. Goldsmids.

At 9 Dickenson came & took away the old Civitella.

Did no work all day: sleepy. I remember debating, in Rome, as to if I shall ask 40£ or 50£ for that picture!

It appears to me that I shall then be enabled to make a Greek tour, if no other. ―

W. Raleigh
Fearon
Mr. Morier
Mr. Sayer
Mrs. Sayer
Mrs. Shakespear
Mrs. Percy Coombe
Mr.? Percy Coombe

No one came later, till 4 when lo! Mr. Bell. ― kind old friend. After he went, I at 5.30 walked to John Goulds ― at 6. ― Γεύμα φαμιλιατικὸν.¹ Miss Yates (― governess)  Miss Gould (Elizabeth.) Miss Sarah, & Miss Louisa: & the youngest (Australian) son ― Franklin. The evening was pleasant on the whole, & I did as much as I could to make it so. Afterwards, I sang a good many Tennyson’s. ―

Ἐνθημήθης τόσων ἡμέρων.² ―

᾽Στὸ σπῆτι διὰ ἓνδεινα, καί κουρασμένος πολὺ.³

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

1. Family dinner (NB). [↩]
2. Remembered all those days (NB). [↩]
3. Home for shelter, and very tired (NB). [↩]

Very fine. Wrote 10 letters: & then grew utterly tired & cross, ― (for it was ¼ to 11 ―) & ordered breakfast, which I finished just as C.F. came. The late breakfasts don’t suit me: & poor F. is none the better for coming out.

After he left, G. Clive & Edwd C. came. ― & W. Lushington. I begin to evacuate the society of official peepl: ― they bore me. Albeit to-day I was really in a good temper. At 2 walked out & called on

T.G. Baring.
Mrs. Stanley
Mrs. Buxton
H.J. Bruce.
Sir North
Mrs. Gladstone
Lady Farquhar
& Sir H.G. Holland

only the Bruces at home. I had written to

James Edwards
Mr. Edwards
Lord Derby.
Fanny Coombe
J. Hutchinson.
Chappell
Rimbault.
W.F. Gibbs
G. Middleton

At 6 to C. Manby’s. Tom Wyatt & Matt there, & a Mr. Hamilton. Very pleasant evening. Walked home with them. And when I returned found a letter from Sir F. Goldsmid, buying the Civitella for 150 guineas! So the old brown picture goes at last!

Βέβαιως, ἂς εὐχαριζοῦμεν τὸν Θεόν διὰ ὃλα τὰ καλὰ πραγματὰ του.¹

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

1. Surely, let us thank God for all his good things (NB). [↩]

Cedars.

Fine till 4. Hardly any work done. Poor darling Ann came ˇ[at 11] ― very fading & poorly. But in good spirits. We dined together & she went at 3.30. Heaps of people came.

Ann
W. Evans
Mr. Strutt
Sir F. Goldsmid.
Mr. Julian Goldsmid
Monckton Milnes
Mrs. M. Milnes.
Leopold Acland.
C. Manby.
Mr. Thornton
Gambart &
follower ―
F. Cockerell

At 4.30 rain. Cab to Trafalgar Square & evening ― to 8 ― at the Coombes.

Walked to Park Lane, cab home.

(This was the last day my dear Ann came to see me. ―
O life! o sorrow!
Perry Stone.
5. April. 1861.)

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

Cedars. ―

Dark ― & from 11 to 12.30 pouring rain. ―― Worked little ― being unhinged.

Came Miss Head, & Mrs. & Miss Verey.

After they had gone ― (ἐυτυχῶς!)¹ Lord Stanley, who staid an hour. He was very nice & pleasant ― & animated: but towards the close of the visit, was abstrait. I was much pleased to find he had been to Sheen & had seen Penrhyn. ―

Later, ― queer & maniacal ― came good old Sir T. Acland. His visit was rather painful than otherwise as he is greatly aged, & the youthfulness of his character, tho’ natural, appears affected. ― But he is a good man, & liberal & charitable to a wide degree.

Rain & darkness & no work: ― it is indeed folly to talk of work here. ― At 5:30 came J. Gould ―― hardly altered ― kindly & coarse. I said I would dine with him on Monday ― & see “the girls, just as they are.” ― & I prevented the description of that case or phase, as he lingered on the stairs. J.G. is a fine plain specimen of downright perseverance & intelligence.

Did not go out. At 7 to Mr. Sayer’s ― large noisy party.

My next neighbour, Mr. Monro is a Tasmanian, & knew the Denisons well, both in V. Diemensland² & Sidney. Mrs. M. is a most Ladylike & pleasing woman. But Lady Monro distracted me with noise: & altogether the party was oppressive. Concerning Miss Dixons ― διὰ³ Mrs. Gladstone [stabilita]⁴ in Downing Street. ― Mrs. Shakespear does not return to Corfû. ――

XX

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

1. Fortunately (NB). [↩]
2. I.e. Van Diemen’s Land, another name for Tasmania. [↩]
3. For (NB). [↩]
4. “Settled,” but Lear seems to have written “statilita” which is not an Italian word, as far as I know. [↩]

Cedars.

Fine. Hardly any work done ― yet some.

C.F. came, & breakfasted solo ― at 10:30. ― Then Mrs. Malcolm, & Miss M. ― the latter a bore: then Genl. M. ― Later Edwd Crake. ― And later, Lady Waldegrave, & little Constance Braham. Lady W. was extremely nice, & so natural.  ― At 4.30 walked across to Croydon □, & left a card at Cosways: ― called also at M. Milnes’s ― & on Lady James. At 7 to Mr. Morier’s. ―

Extremely pleasant party. ―

The whole evening was charming ― current, lively: what grave converse there was was real & good: & no end of fun: ἒπειτα, μεν, εκαμε καλλίζην μουσικὴν, ἠ κυρία Λεῦτπολδ, κανείς δὲ ετραγούδησε.¹

καὶ ἐπιζρέψε εἰς τὰς ἒνδεκα.²

Letters, from J. Hutchinson: ― Geoff Hornby: & Ann.

Penrhyn ― (I asked at Mrs. E. Stanley’s,) is no better.

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

1. Then Mrs. Leutpold played beautiful music, but no one sang (NB). [↩]
2. And came back at eleven (NB). [↩]