Edward Lear's Diaries

Damascus

Bother London! ― Dry ― fine, mild, & sunny. ― For all that, I say, bother. Most grotesquely wrote a letter to the Times about the American split: ― of wh. ― anon. ― But then came J. Edwards ― then Robt. Curzon & “Johnny Warren:” ― both kindly. R.C. alquanto¹ absurd. (James Hope & the Dukedom of Napolli! [sic]) Then worked 2 hours at the Damascus. At 2 put the room in order for showing drawings. At 2.30 H.J. Bruce came ― always a pleasure. ― At 3.15 ― (appointment at 2,) Mrs. & Miss Clive, Captn. & Mrs. Houston ― (she with a little dog ― who wanted water ― & wished to P on the drawings.) Mr. & Mrs. Smith of Sanderstead ― & Cosway. Shewed Palestine drawings. Later, ˆ[H.J.] Bagot ― a kindly honest fellow ever. ― The back room was far too small for so much crinoline & company. ― At 5 all went, Mrs. C. leaving a muff ― but calling again. ― Letter from W.N. ― uneasy.

Drove ― by 5.20 to Freemason’s Tavern ― as per advice of Mr. Bell ― & found they dined at Thatched house. Cab thither ― arriving at the soup ― table full, very. Boxall, & Buckton by Mr. B. ― I absquetulate to the bottom, & am amiable to vice. Seize on entomology as a topic, & spiders come uppermost. Hence trap ditto, ― & find that Saunders the Vice is cousin of Prevesa S. ― & that his son has married Annie S. Talk to deafish man on left, & he turns out Matthews of Oxford Militia ― knowing all Corfû ― & lived in the house opposite Romas ― wh. he says left on account of the shocking scenes there ― πῶς ὁ ἀδελφὸς τῆς Διαμαντίνας εἶχα καθ’ ἡμέραν τον κοψαμαλλιἀν του! ! !² ―― thus wondrously confirming the alarming history of Lord Methuen’s informant. As for me, nearly roared. ― After dinner, we walked to Burlington House, ― & the old Linnean routine seemed a dream. Saw Gould, remotely.

Then, went to the Royal Society ― & sate, at first patient, ― the hour one diabolical Professor Tindall rave on gases, figures & the deuce knows what. At the end of an hour I felt I was growing actually mad, ― & flew the brutal torture. Meanwhile, I had seen AT come in & sit afar far off! ― … Home by 10.15.

Wrote a note to R.D.D. preventing his coming if possible, for such days are insanity. “Give me repose or death.”

XXX

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

1. Very. [↩]
2. How Diamantina’s brother had his barber [over] every day (NB). [↩]

Fine ― i.e. dry, windyish, & coldish.

To Royal Institution by 10: ― Masada quite well hung. To Drummonds: & C. Fortescue’s, whom, with H.J. Grenfell ― saw.

Back ― & Bernard & Jane Husey Hunt came ―.

After they went, I painted a fallen trunk in the Cedars. ― Then J. Uwins came. ―

& at 3.30 I went out. Called on Mrs. Samuel Gurney ― 25 ― Lord Somers ― 33 ― Genl. Rawdon 34, Princes Gate.

To the Coombes by 4.30. Percy away. Robert D. Drewitt came ― looking well & younger. Evening pleasant. ―

Walked to Park St. Cab home by 10.30.

Also Sir W. Jardine.

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

Damascus

X2

Dull cold gray day.

Mr. Whitmore called at 10.

Arranged sketches till 12. Then worked at Damascus ― barring that Hervey Bagot came at 2 ― & G. Scrivens at 3. All the pictures seem liked. ―― At 5½ called at the Beadons ― a sick & sad house.

Dined μονος¹ ― at the St. James’s Hall ― very well ― 3/6 ― waiting /3^d ― Pint of Sherry 2/6 = 6/3.

To-morrow, to the R. Institution.

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

1. Alone. [↩]

Damascus

Dry ― coldˇ[ish] ― gray: & windier.

Severn goes Consul to Rome.

Ὦ τὶ μωρὸς πρόξενος!¹

Worked all day at Damascus ― in the front room ― as the other was too cold.

At 5.30 went out: called on Beadon’s, he is more unwell, Markham says.

& James Uwins, who seems to me livelier & healthier. Cab to Roberson’s, & back ― & dined at home.

Letters from Mr. Edwards, G. Scrivens, ― & Mrs. H.J. Hunt. ― And the Masada is hung.

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

1. Oh, what an idiot consul (NB). [↩]

Coldish: gray, darky.

Daddy Hunt came to breakfast: very happy & pleasant morning, & he kindly “preached” ― on all the pictures. He went at 1. I to a set of calls. 1. W. Raleigh. 2. Whitmore. 3 Middleton. 4 Bethell. 5 Coltman. 6 Bouverie. 7. Lushington Dr. 8. C. Buxton 9. R. Curzon. 10. Col. Hornby. 11. Terrick Hamilton. Saw W. Raleigh out. Saw Sir R.B. 14. Oxford Square. At Dr. Lushington’s ― was asked to dine. Ditto by Egg ― whom I met. Home by 6.15.

To G. Clives ― by 7. “dine with us, quite alone, quietly.” ― & of course there was a large party. ― 2 Theophilus Clives ― oddly recalling the days of R. Wyatt & il Capitano¹ Jervis. ― 2 Hamiltons, sons of W.H. ― Cosway ― husband of M.F. ― Headlam & Reginald Cholmondeley.

The dinner was pleasant enough ― but Sybella, next to whom I sate,  does not progress ― μου φαὶνεται,² ― mentally.

Cosway has seen a good deal of Asia, & strikes me as a nice fellow. Later in the evening ἐτραγούδησαν.³ But as there is & was talking, I sang ill: besides the piano was bad.

At 11walked with RC ― part of the way: cab home.

Ὃταν ἐρώτισα Σιρ Ρίζαρδ Μπέθελλ σήμερον ἐὰν ἣθελε ἐλθῇ εἰς ἐμὲ διὰ νὰ εἰδῆ τὰς ζωγραφίας μου, ἀπεκριθῆ: ― “Μάλιζα, καὶ θὰ φέρο ὁμοῦ Πέλμερζον!”⁴

They say he is not well.

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

1. Captain. [↩]
2. I think (NB). [↩]
3. They sang (NB). [↩]
4. When I asked Sir Richard Bethell today if he wanted to come to my place to see my paintings, he answered: ― “Sure, and I shall bring Pelmerson with me!” (NB). [↩]

Lighter day ― & fine all through: colder. ― dry. ˇ[Thomas Baring called.] Letter from Widdrington ― very nice: replied to.

Did portions of Bethlehem ―, Interlaken, & the Cedars, but thought I should work better if it were framed. So at 1, I went to Foords ― & ordered the frame ―――― a queer life of speculative uncertainty, but yet better than nil=idleness: & after all I can pay every debt I have incurred by selling out my “savings.” ―― From Foords, to Bickers & Gush ― & thence to 45 St. James’s Place. ― Mrs. Thomas is dead. ― Poor Thomas! the terrible wrench of these separations. ――

Home by 3 ― & soon after, the Lebanon frame came ― but took up just 3 hours in setting up. J. Edwards came at 4 & went at 5.30. And at 6.30 ― I to Wyatts.

The first thing I heard there was from T. Wyatt who had just come from Lord Ailesburys ― ― that Granville Vernon died last night!

Poor bright kindly Lady Selina!

At Wyatt’s ― as usual, everything was pleasant & merry ― the C. Manbys & the Digby Wyatts: & one Travers Smither, all pleasant & nice ―! In all my visitings, no house is more intellectual more cheery ― more tasteful, ― better. ――

Sang heaps afterwards. Mr. & Mrs. Manby took me home.

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

A dull cold day early ― barely light at 12.30. Afterwards, fine. Unwell all day ― chilled from that damp place last night, ― perhaps it is that I am obliged to work in a fireless room, the smoky chimney forbidding firelighting. ― Worked at Interlaken, but I don’t know if well or ill: ― anyhow I gave it up, & resolved to make some calls before going to Ann.

So I walked out at 3.20 ― cross enough.

Through many places where many hours were past in other days.

Bah!

Then to Woolners. That visit was not satisfactory, in asmuch as W. was crosser nor I ― & very tangly. O bother art!

So I came away ― rather blessing myself. ― But then I called on the Tunallys ― & the slow=grinding vulgarity of that phase of life riled me more than ever.

Whereon I came to Dalzell’s, & gave the 2 nonsenses to woodcut, ― & thence, all the way to Holloway, & Stonefield Street by 6.10.

Ann ― dear Ann so old! ――

& Sarah ― quieter.

This evening was passed  really pleasantly. The talk of N. Zealand ― & my nephew &c. &c. &c. all very straight & true & right.

Left at 10. ―

Omnibus ― horrors ― & bore.

Home by 11.

Φαὶνεται,¹ that Henry has written to Ellen, since W.N.’s death ― with sudden affection ― naming his son’s, & daughters, & their ages. Daughter, (now, only one,) (Mrs. []², Titus,) & 4 sons, youngest 16.

X

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

1. It seems (NB). [↩]
2. A blot makes the surname unreadable. [↩]

Interlaken.

Finer ― & a little colder.

Tarrant called. Worked pretty well from 10 till 4 ― at Interlaken. Mr. Sayer called & sat: ― Invited to dine on Friday ― but I could not go ― so ― as I wished to go once ― καὶ ὅχι πλέον¹ ― I said ― to day. ―

At 4.30 Walked to Winsor & Newtons’s² & ordered 5 blocks of 18 inches by 9½ each, for “the gt. Mount of Olives drawing.” Am I likely to finish it?

Home by 6. at 7 ― the Sayers.

Mr. & Mrs. S. ― Mrs. Shakespear, who did not seem to me to be well: ― & Mr. & Mrs. “Parry Crooke:” Mr. P.C. has not a nice visage. ― The evening however was very much more pleasant than any I ever passed there.

Mrs. Shakespear talked of the Cortazzi &c. ― What dreams! ―

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

1. But not anymore (NB). [↩]
2. Messrs. Winsors and Newton were suppliers of all kind of materials for artists; they also published a series of handbooks, such as The Art of Etching. [↩]

Dull ― damp ― dark.

Worked only till 1 P.M. at the Bethlehem.

Then out. Called on Mrs. Somers Cocks, who was very vaticinative. Then across the Park to Daddy Hunt, who was fortunately alone: ― sate with him till 4: very pleasant.

Then ― call on G. Middleton ― out.

Poi, walked home by Kensington, intending to make other calls ― but durst not cross the dazzly dirty dimmy slippery streets. Home before 6. Θουκυδίδης εὥς τὰς ἐπτὰ. ―¹

Cab to J. Edwards’ Club, dining with him.

This youth vexes me at times ― & I can’t see his way clear.

Home by 10.30.

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

1. Thucydides until 7 (NB). [↩]

Wrote to

It don’t matter when one riz ― for it was pitch dark ― No hope of work ― thick fog ― opposite houses unseen.

So I lit a lamp at breakfast & arranged drawings till 11.30 & at 12 it grew lighter.

Then, ― Dickenson came, & once more the “Cedars” are “before me” also the Damascus & Beirût ― unfinished, but framed & glazed, & the Bethlehem & Interlaken ― ditto. ― How & when are these to be complete ― & ―― which is importanter, ― sold? And the inexorable bill for frames, paid?

Well, ― all the back room is done by 2. ― At 2.30 came “Joinville” “Paris,[”] & “Chartres[”] ― & it is really pleasant to shew them: for not only are they all scrupulous & gentlemanly in consideration & manner, ― but they know the places, appreciate the views, ― & to boot are jovial & light-hearted. ― ˇ[H.R.H.] The Count de Paris, though, looks ill: ― ha is truly a nice fellow. ˇ[H.R.H.] Duc de Chartres ― had had a tooth out. The Uncle, tho’ deaf, is very agreeable & clever. Then “H.R.H.” ― remind me of dear Bob Hornby’s rebuke, & a proper one, to me, when I wrote of the “Cambridges.” “put H.R.H. before the name if you please.”

At 5 I walked to Mr. Morier’s & sate there a little time. The kindly ancient diplomat & his daughter.

Returned to dine on cold beef & beer ―: read Herman Melville, ― & do a little Greek. (Called on poor J. Godley also.)

XX

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