Edward Lear's Diaries

Letter from C. Flint.

Finer, & less cold. Regrets at going, & would I could stay, but it is not possible. All packed. Called on Mr. Hewitson ― out, ― Dickenson’s man, Ford, came, & packed the poor Cedars. ― & I left all my things with him, & then came away from Oatlands Hotel, which I shall often have to think of pleasantly. ―― Walked to Chertsey. There, at the Swan, took a Dog Cart, ― & came to V. Water¹, & Sunninghill, where I found C. Flint & his 9 children. He does not seem much older, nor does she. ― We drove to V. Water, & saw the skating: & there was Cheales also ― a far more simpatico² fellow. I went to his house ― where his new wife is ill still.

Then C.R.F. took me to the Rail ― 5. Seymour Bathurst in the carriage ― & we got to Waterloo by 6.30. Stratford Place, tired. No note from C.M.C. So I dined on cold beef & came to bed ― after unpacking boxes.

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

1. Virginia Water. [↩]
2. Pleasant, nice. [↩]

Drew 20£ from Drummonds

Darker & colder. But as if that wasn’t enough, they began to saw & thump over my head; & do all I could, I could not get it stopped. The fact is, they are repairing rooms, & don’t care if I stay or not. So, ― weighing this, together with the impossibility of working well at the large Cedars in the little room ― & that the larger ones are too cold, ― I resolved to go ―: the expense of this place too is great: ― though on the other hand are light & better health. Finally, “ἄς ὑπάγωμεν.”¹ ― So I violently packed up all things ― & at 2 came in a fly with part of my roba,² ― & having been to Drummonds & to Stratford Place, returned again to Oatlands by the 5.15 train.

Dined quite alone, ― & as they would not let me rest even after dinner, but sawed & knocked as much as ever, I grew, naturally, furious, & ordered a fly to leave the place, when at length they chose to put a stop to the nuisance.

A sudden resolve, but I think ― necessary.

Ann is 70 to day.

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

1. Let us get going. [↩]
2. Things. [↩]

Cedars   day

Cold bitter, ὤς πρώτον.¹

Worked ― but not very regularly, at the Cedars. ― Wrote to Ann & others.

At 3 ― (letter from J.H.B. ― very nice.)

Walked to Chertsey ― paying for the “loaves” of yesterday. ― All the gray hard ice ― & the strange cold world! ! ! Yet it inconveniences me far less than any damp cold.

Dined at 6½. Miss Howard only ― potius aper.

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

1. As before (NB). [↩]

Cedars   day

Darkish, but colder than ever.

Ἐπιζολὴ ἀπό Ιακώβου Ἒδουαρδι: ― ἡ Κυρία Λίζηρ εἲπε, ὃχι.¹

― Poor lad, ― this distresses me. ― καὶ ἐνθημοῦμαι τῶν ἡμέρων ― ὃταν ἢτον οὓτως ἂσχημαι.²

Worked at Cedars ―but cold, & worrying about J.E. So at 3, I went out ― most frightful bitter wind ― & all black frost! ―― Beyond Weybridge, a man, wife & 2 children ˇ[& a 3^rd coming] asked me for money ― not as people accustomed to beg: I had none, but said, if he would walk to Chertsey ― I would try & get a loaf. ― So he walked. “Thomas Burke” Waterford County ― but for 24 years working in England. A good woman ― “Moir” trusted me for 2 loaves ― so we walked back & gave them. Just then ― a poor fellow ― evidently also new to begging & half crying ― stopped me ― “John Harris” ― of Wallingford ―― working at Bromley ― but stopped by frost ― wife & 2 children at Chertsey: ― he would be too thankful to walk back to Weybridge, & did so ― where I got trusted for 2 more loaves. I begin to be proud of my “countenance.”

X

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

1. Letter from James Edwards ― Mrs. Lizer said, no (NB). [↩]
2. And I remember the days ― when they were bad like this (NB). [↩]

Cedars ― day.

Packed, & sent off the Masada. ―

Cold ― frost again: as hard as ever.

No letters ― no papers: ― no nothing.

Cleaned & shaved the Cedars. ―

But I could not work. Lunched at 3, & at 4 walked ― o Lord! what bitter cold! ― by Weybridge & back.

Ἐγευμάτισα μονος, ― καὶ τώρα δὲν εἶναι ἄλλομονον Miss Howard ἐδῶ.¹

Wrote to poor dear Lady Bethell, Emma Parkyns & Emily Tennyson.

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

1. I dined alone ― and now there is no one else here but Miss Howard (NB). [↩]

Est-il possible? ― rain ― then snow: ― then frost ― all kinds of filth.

W. Raleigh came at 9.15. Breakfast & looking at drawings & the Masada picture. ――――― Writing to Foord, & then “Institution[.”]

At 2, with Raleigh walked to Paines’ Hill & Cobham, & on to Esher, & back by Hersham. ―

Dined at 6½. ―

Talk & Tennyson. W. Raleigh is certainly a most interesting & pleasant fellow: fully colonial & foreign experience for so young a man: & [withal] of taste & “cleverness.” ―

He went away at 10.30.

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

Masada 24 day ― καὶ ἐτεληώθη.¹

Fine ― but gray. Not so cold ― a thaw.

Breakfast late with J.B.E. μαλώνει πάντοτε.²

Worked at the Masada  till 1. ― Reckoning the half hours, I have done it, be it what it is ― in 3 weex.

J.B. Edwards went at 2. Hewitson came, & Mrs. Davidson. Walked ― 4 ― 5.30. ―

Found W. Raleigh here ― who comes to morrow. Dined alone. ―

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

1. And it is done (NB). [↩]
2. Always quarrelling (NB). [↩]

Masada 23 day

Frightful cold ― al solito.

Letters from Ellis Ashton, ― (his letter is painful to me, ― as exhibiting weaker weakness ― gossip ― &c. &c.) ―― from Lady Bethell ――― very sad: ―― & others: ― from S.W. Clowes ― &c. ―――

Worked a little at the Masada: ― & at 11.30 S.W. Clowes came: ― hence no work. Went to Lyle’s & Hewitson’s with him ― lunch ― & to Weybridge at 2: ― it was very kind of him to come from Woodhouse really to see me.

Returning ―― found J.B. Edwards here! ― (on the ice ― però ―) so I worked a bit, ― & at 4 walked with him round Weybridge.

Dined: ― bitter cold room: ― afterwards ― in my room till 10.30. ―

Much talk διὰ τὸν πατὲρα του ― καὶ, ― δὶα τὴν Κυρὶαν¹ ――

Awful cold! ! ! ! ! ! !

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

1. Much talk about his family ― and ―― about the Lady (NB). [↩]

Masada 22 day

Colder if possible ― & less sun. ―

Worked at the Masada ― all day, in the colder large room. W. Lushington came.

At 4 walked round Weybridge. O! Cold! ! ! ! ! ! !

Joseph Raleigh came to wish me good-bye ― he sails tomorrow from Plymouth. A good youth ― & interesting me much in a way.

Dinner. Miss Howard & Mr. Fairie.

Wrote & read little: slept.

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

Masada 21 day

Very queer life! (the sun shines now ― it never did in the summer!) all bright & gray: white earth ― & sky ― clear ever.

No letters, except from Foord announcing the frame of the old Bassæ being on the way here. ― Painted at Masada ― off & on all day ― but very doubtful if it will ever do.

At 3.30 the case & frame came ― & the ancient Bassæ ― rechristened “Masada” out came: ― having been to America & Rome by way of voyages. ― By 5.30 I had got the picture with the frame [into the] end Coffee room, & there I must work for the next days. The Masada don’t look very promising to me ― very pale & water coloury: ―― & needs a deal of force & color.

Little boy ― Laville Evans ― in knickerbockers ― came & looked at Nonsense book &c.

Wrote to J.B.H. ― Mrs. Husey Hunt, ― C. Flint, F.L., ―.

Nice letter ― afternoon ― from Lucy Francillon.

Did not go out. ― Dined at 6.30. Miss Howard: Mr. Anderton, an old 77 City Hercules, & Mr. Fairie ― with whom I sate afterwards ― & who also came to me, awhile.

Now that Masada is out of my room, I have put the Cedars forward ― to finish next. ―

X

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