Edward Lear's Diaries

Fine ― misty, no sun. Rose late.

W.F. Beadon came & breakfasted.

Worked but little all day ― only finished the Dead Sea.

F. Thrupp
Edwd Penrhyn
Emmy Penrhyn
R. Cholmondeley
Gambier Parry
came

At 5 Dickenson, who fixed the Palermo picture in its frame.

Thence to 7.30 I worked ― arranging the books &c.

8 to Mrs. Seymours

Good dinner &c.: & both my neighbours very pleasant.

Evening ― various folk. P. Bouverie & Mrs. P.B. Miss Bromley. Mrs. Ford. ― & others.

I came away at 12.

Find another letter from C.F. asking me from Lady W. to Strawberry Hill.

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

Fine. ωσαν καλος καιρος.¹

Began to work, & did a good deal towards finishing the Dead Sea ― only by fits. For first came good old Ellis Ashton & then ― Jemmy Edwards & Mr. Maclean; later C. Fortescue, ― & after that W. Nevill Junior. ――

At 5 I went out ― & to R. Academy, where I saw little I cared for. Dillon’s Nile, ― Cooke ― Lehmann, & Hook.

Returning ― met W.P. Frith. το αποιον πραγμα εκαμε επαναζοιν τι να εις την καρδιαν μου.²

At 7.30 to Mr. Norths. Bonham Carter & Mrs. B.C. Mr. & Mrs. Headlam, & Mr. Robertson of Hastings ― & a Mr. & Mrs. Marsh. ―The dinner was excellent, & the party wholly pleasant. Marsh only was dogmatic & quacky ― assuring me that Baalbek was the port of Thebes ― & on the Red Sea, ― which as he would have it so, I assented to. ― Later we  looked at drawings, & I sang a lot of Tennyson.

Home by 12.30. ―― Very pleasant evening.

Said Mr. N. ― “my brother in law, David, says you’re a damned good fellow ― & I quite agree with him.”

XXX3

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

1. [?] good weather (GT). [↩]
2. Perhaps something like “everything makes me think of what I have in my heart.” [↩]

X

Fine, all day.

Dreary weary sorrow!

Slept.    X1

Later, worked off & on at the Clive Dead Sea, which was nearly destroyed by R. Martineau; ― it fell from its frame when lifted.

Mrs. Wyatt, Constance, Mrs. Thurnam, ― who still recalls 1849 to me ―― & another Miss Wyatt. They are a good lot ― all.

Later, poor Mrs. Martineau, Miss M., & Alice M. Επειτα ― James Hutchinson ― considerably older, but cheerful as of old.

& then, James Edwards. The broad Gardiki river & the Asphodel pale-gleamy fields are visible to me. ―

The prolonged uncertainty of the Dead Sea worries me sadly. ― The immediate many difficulties are however got over. ―

I saw in the paper ― died ― … Somerville, formerly Inspector of Hospitals, & later, chief Physician at Chelsea Hospital, at Florence, in his 93rd year.

Whereon the Garden at the Nemi, & the walk at Genzano rise to sight.

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

Fine ― yea, ― even sunshine all day long! ―

Wrote, & did somewhat to the Dead Sea early.

At 1 called on Mrs. Leake: poor lady: she was very very kind & nice & talked much about him.

Then on G. Middleton at dinner. E. Drummon’s: out. ― Crackes ― Miss C.: & Mrs. Hamilton C.: pesante sono.¹ ― Across the Park ― deserving preachers ― to K. Macaulays, where were Mr. & Mrs. F. Pollock, & R. Cholmondeley. RC ― Walked with him a bit. Talk of the Dr. Vaughan Bishoprick. G. Clives ― out. Evans’s ― away. Simeon. Lord Farquhar, out.

Home by 6.30, & was very angry to find that Thomas had opened the door ˆ[of my back room] to R. Martineau, as well as to Mr. Desanges, whom I don’t know at all. ― Whether they had touched the picture, or if it had slipped, I do not know, but the sky had come off on to the glass a little ― to my dreadful disgust, & I sent back a season ticket left by Desanges for his V. Cross pictures, in a horrid rage.

At 7.45 Dowgr Lady Greys. Lady G. ― is, I fancy, livelier & better than 2 years ago. Lady G. always the same. Dr. Wadhouse, whom I always liked. ― Mr. Mrs. & Miss Robertson, rather bores: & one ――― Vyvian. ―

Old R. (who talks of the loss of his [sons],) turns out to be a brother of Mrs. North! ― being his name was Majoribanks,  & he took the name of Haggerston, & Robertson afterwards. Before I knew who he was, he, talking of Berwich, was asked by me as to the place climate &c.: ― & I said I had a friend []² there, on a commission &c. &c. On wh. he flared up, & said ― “is he a proper, clever, good, & right man? & would you tell him how glad I should have been to see him at ―――, only under the circumstances?

1. I suppose Lear meant to say “they are hard to bear,” but since “sono” might also mean “sound,” perhaps “with heavy sound.” [↩]
2. A blot makes this word difficult to read. [↩]

Finer; ― gray ― & only a shower or two.

Dickenson came & took away the last of those Parnassuses incubi, Lord Clermont’s. ― Mr. Gush & his daughter came also. ― Later W. Nevill junior ― & then Henry Hetcher, who has travelled everywhere, & is (still) a really nice fellow. ― After Willie N. went, came F.L. ― It seems, Dicky B. is not going with him as Sec. J. ― Began to work at the “Dead Sea” ― & then came Major R. & Miss Yates ― & after that Philip Bouverie & his 2 little girls.

Did not go out: but at 7.45 ― cab to Kenneth Macaulays ―

Reg. Cholmondeley should have come.

This dinner was pleasant: ― & G.S. Venables extremely kindly & nice ― & far more softened than I could have expected. The anecdotical portion of the dinner was very funny: ― Spedding ever very beautiful=real. ―

Evening also pleasant. ―

V. Spedding & Thompson, & F.L. & I behind, walked on. Midnight. ― I came home allein, μόνος, solo, seul, alone. ― But it don’t vex me now as heretofore. ―

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

11XXX

Queer mechanical work, ― this journal writing.

At 6 fine ― [but slept].¹

At 8 rain. 10 cloudy. 12 dark.

& thence to 5 frightful outpouring rain. J. Gibbs, & Capt. Gibbs came. ― & ― I think, no one else, till Mrs. George Clive & Ansibilla ― who staid a long time 4 to 6. ― & are a comfort, ― being kindly, & reasoning, & well-informed, & well-bred, & feminine, ― besides well-looking. ―

At 6.30 I called on 2 or 3 or 4 places ― but came back at 8 ― & dined on cold beef & beer.

Wet nearly all day. ―

(X12)

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

1. Lear wrote “stepl.” [↩]

Dull gray: ― dark: ― pouring rain from 2 to 7 ― storms.

Worked but little, but really got off Farquhar’s, & Bruce’s Parnassuses ― & Miss Yates’s Jánina. ― The many details* of visits one can hardly record at this hour, 11.30 P.M. Ogle is a singular fellow. ― Beauclerk is kindly & pleasant. ―

* Dickenson
R. Bright, Mrs. B. & Nephew
Mary Anne, & Catherine North.
S.W. Clowes.
Willie Nevill.
Charles Wynne.
Ogle ―――
Beauclerk

At 7.45 to H. Farquhars. (Bulfinch in Swiss cottage cage.[)]

Dinner remarkably good. Wines super good, and plentiful. Objects around pleasant & rememberable.

Mrs. S. very dull ― but I talked a great deal: ― next neighbor, Whitbread, pleasant.

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

Damp ― dark ― raining at times.

Incessant fuss. Carpenter setting up Folio stands.

Mrs. S. Gurney & 2 friends: C. Braham: F. North. ― Foster: ― Dickenson. ―

Worked a little at the last of the Parnassusses. ― & slept.

Whereon came George Middleton ― much talk of Col. Leake: ― & B. Husey Hunt, which was refreshing.

At 7½ to Philip Bouverie’s ― dinner.

P.B.’s dinners are always of the nicest dressed & looking people ― couples ― all, or single. ― There were

Mr. Dudley & Lady ―― Fortescue.
Mr. & Mrs. Watson Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Somebody Somebody
Capt. Somebody
Miss Seymour.
P. & his ― oh so slow! Wife ― but good.
& Mr. Someone.
12 & E.L. ……

A kind of weariness pervades me after these monotonies: though of good will there is much.

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

Cloudy: not wet.

Rose before 8. ― Worked at a Parnassus. ―

Woolner came. And poor dear Ann: ― & young Willie N. ― Then Mrs. & Alfred Seymour. Ann ― & W.N. lunched. ― Ann went at 4.

Ann seems older to-day than I have seen her, but I hope that is from the close & hot air of the day. Regarding Sarah & Ellen she is clear & well-judging in all she says: ― but she seems to look forward to leaving all more certainly & distinctly. This, I trust, so long as we can keep her happy & quiet, will not be for many many years; ― & her new lodging ― with her old friends Miss Randall, & Miss Peel, seems to me more desirable than any I have known of her late abodes.

At 7.30 to Col. Clowes. Col. C. Miss C. 3 Arkwrights & George C. ―――― A “mixed society” truly.

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

X10

Wet all day.

Ach. Worked but little; slept much, at one Parnassus. ―

Henry Bruce came & staid some time. Dined at Lady Farquhars.

Harrie F.
Mrs. ―― F.
Dowgr. Lady Wenlock.
Lady W. Russell.
Arthur Russell.
Douglas Kinnaird.
Sir Rob.t Alexander.
Duke of Cleveland
Earl Grey
Countess Grey.
Baron Marochetti
& one or 2 more.

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