Edward Lear's Diaries

Gray ― gleamy ― calm.

Ill ― from sleeplessness: & no sooner had I begun to work on Florence ― unwell & hardly able with all my attention & application, to proceed as I wished ――― those horrible=silly Mauds began their noises above: ― she playing some 2 score of bits ―not 3 minutes each, from various operas ― all out of tune ―― & between whiles pushing her chair away & scampering: ― her brother whistling or knocking chairs down. Then came in G. ― no letters & only a paper of February 10! ―― So this last straw broke the camel’s back ― & I put all on one side & vowed to go ―― packing 2 boxes ― all my books that instant.

Resolving to walk to Garuna ―― another steamer came in ˇ[at noon] ― so I wait, & at 1 P.M. send G. again. ―

One letter, from Ellen ― who is very kind in writing so regularly.

So I walked straight up ―but slowly, to Sta. Decca. What unsurpassable beauty of distance & of foreground! ― Beyond ― I went one mile & returned ―.

All the 7 miles I did in 16 minutes each, ― as was becoming.

Dined at 7 ― cold beef. ―

All the books, ordered of Bickers ―have come ―― a pleasure.

Penned out a little.

Above is a shrieky shrieky music ˇ[(a day howling all the time)] ―― enough to drive one mad ― tho’ it is scientific enough. ― But it is certain that this sort of life will not do.

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

Gray ― all day: gleams of sun later.

Painted at ˇ[Fairbairn’s] Florence ― olives & vines ―but was very unwell all day.

Col. & Mrs. Herbert & Miss Fergusson came.

Did not go out.

George has a bad eye.

Went at 7 to dine with Miss Goldsmid ―but was too unwell to eat.

Home by 10.

Little sleep ― from noise overhead

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

XX3

Ill ― & hardly able to work at all ― all day.

Large floating clouds ― but fine all day.

Walked a little ― 5.30 ― 6.30.

Dined at 7.

Penned out till 10.

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

Same ― lo stesso ― calm bright perfect.

Worked disturbato¹ ― (Senator of S.ta Maura being brought to see the house ―― & afterwards, the new Italian Consul ― by G. Paramythioti ― Charteris not having taken the rooms after all. ―― Later, came Craven ― who is in doubt about going ― as to a week or two or three: a sad bore for me.[)]

Worked at a small “Florence” till 4.30.

Walked by Mandrucchio & round ― at 5 meeting Woolff & returning a bit with him towards Casa Candoni, & so home by 7.

At 7.30 Luard ― & dined. ―

Read Guinevère again to him.

Penned out no. 6 Spezzia drawing. ―

L. went at 12.

Bed 12.15.

EHI! ONE YEAR AGO! ―

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

1. Bothered. [↩]

Bright & calm.

But, ill for him, who, bettering not with time
Corrupts the strength of heaven descended Will.¹

Also, I read over the oft-read 10^th & 11^th March ― a year ago ― thankful to have kept that journal.

Worked pretty well at the smallest Philæ ― till 3.

Post brought one paper (26^th to 28^th) ― a Saturday ― & 2 letters. one

From T. Woolner, asking me to write to Ld. D. about his Chance of P. Albert monument. I could not do so ― & wrote to tell him so.

From T. Cooper ― enclosing a rather nice note from “Marnie” Yatman. “Do come & see us ― if you are in England ― & we will not abuse Tennyson.” ―

At 4 walked to Potamo ― & the Govino road round returning by 6.45. Very warm & calm.

Dined at 7.15. Penned out No. 5 Spezzia sketches ― till 10.

Maude away. Mrs. M. & her brother howl & thump painfully.

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

1. Tennyson, “Will”. The Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1856. 516 [↩]

Very clear & lovely ―

Wrote extracts for AT paintings.

Resolved ― many resolves. Write no letters.

Called ― upstairs ― only Mrs. Sterling in.

Called on the Creykes: all are more or less disturbed by [these]¹ Earthquakes, ――― of wh. reportws about Naples are rife.

Called on Luard. ―

Church ― with him. Craven preached, on Lot’s wife: Lord ―! How one remembers the Arabs’ comments on that Lady ― at the werry spot of her extinction! It is really wonderful ― the inert absurdity of these poor priests. Yet they “know no better.”

Called on Miss G. ― out ― to Pélica.

Walked there, nearly to Alipù, & back. ―

Home by 6.15. dressed ― & to Decies by 7. Major De Vere there. ― I ― “nervous” & “comfortless” was restored gradually, & the evening was pleasant.

But, the Decies are going! He is made Captain & they go off ――.

Home by 11.

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

1. Blotted. [↩]

Lovely & clear.

Awoke at 3.45 A.M. by a Σεισμὸς:¹ ― then followed the bells. G. says there were 3 shocks.

Worked at Philæ, Grenfell’s. ―

Post only brought a letter, & that from a fool at Leeds, enclosing me sheets of rubbish for my “Book of Nonsense”. I was in a gt. rage.

Ld. Kirkwall called. He says the Earthquake last night was the strongest ever known here: that there were 3 shocks, & a noise lasting 10 minutes afterwards.

Worked hardish ― till 4. ― sky &c. of Philæ.

Walked out ˇ[at 4.30 or 5] ― very clear & lovely, met Straham & joined him a bit: ― returned at 6.30 ― &

Called on Miss Goldsmid ― finding they were both much alarmed at the Earthquake, wh. in those small hours is felt vividly. A closet was thrown open, & glasses thown out & broken &c.

All agree there has been no such shock for some 15 or 20 years. ―

At 7 dined. At 8.30 ― penned out, Spezzia. At 9 ――― lo! another Earthquake! ― one short shock only ― but all the bells rang ― & G. came in to ask if I felt it ― wh. indeed I had done ― yet, as the Maudes are very noisy above ― I was not quite sure about.

This day last year! ― alas!

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

1. Earthquake (NB). [↩]

Quite bright & clear. N. wind ― all day. ―

Not a very ‘comfortable’ day, tho. Chilled, by having the windows open ― observing 5 steamers &c. ― landing of oxen & sheep, ― & towing of oil barrels.

A newspaper, & one number of Once a Week, from F.L. containing AT’s Grandmother:¹ but no letter.

Miss Goldsmid’s Athenæums are the most interesting of the ‘papers’, ― it seems to me ―: the Saturday R. I dislike more & more.

Eyes bad, head bad: ― but at 1, or 2 ― began to work on Grenfell’s Philæ, & worked till 6.10. ― industriously, but ‘έτζι κ’έτζι’!² ―

Did not go out.

Dined at 6.45 ― &, sitting longer than usual, G. waxed cross & bounced about.

Whereat I meekly began to trace (pen) out the first 1860 Spezia drawing. At 10.15 to bed.

The Forts came down at 6.30 ― “to wish me good-bye” ―― they go tonight, silly foolk & no-way interesting. The Maudes are quiet. Only Mrs. Craven is heard ― playing stoutly.

Just this day a year ago I began to think ― hardly to realize ――― that Ann was going to leave me. ―

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

1. Tennyson’s “The Grandmother’s Apology” was published in Once a Week on 16 July 1859, pp. 41-43, with an illustration by John Millais; see Kathryn Ledbetter’s Tennyson and Victorian Periodicals: Commodities in Context. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007. 53-55. [↩]
2. So so. [↩]

Cloudy early ― but at 11 ― N. Wind began, & blew violently all dry. At 6 P.M. it is a gale.

Painted at 2 Philæs ― off & on.

Lawson came ― & said Mr. Blanchard had wished to buy the large Corfu ― but as the Blanchards are going away today ― it don’t much matter. Only ― if one could believe so disagreable a vulgarity ― it almost looks as if these stories of the Forts, Blanchards ― & Lawson* himself all wishing to buy, but never buying ― were meant as hoaxes.

Later, Hutton came: all were to sail today ― but I suppose it is too rough.

Worked till 6. But did not go out at all.

Dined at 6.45.

Penned out the last of all the Albanian 1857 tour ― viz ― that of S.ta Quaranta, April 22. 1857.

Maudes out all, ἅς ἐυκαριζοῦμεν τον Θεον!¹ & silence, barring the sea & wind.

G.K. has gone to Kastrades, Χριστὸς being ill again.

X2

*Certainly not Lawson. ―
Oct. 13. 1863.

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

1. Thank God (NB). [↩]

Fine all day ― warm ― gray scirocco ― mist: sun after 2.

Painted small Philæ approach. ―

Lady Sargent & Miss Reeve came.

Did not go out till 6.30 ― when I went to Miss Goldsmid’s ―.

Mrs. N. []¹ rather tiresome. I tired.

Home by 11.

Mr. Charteris & his sister also called.

The Maude’s have a party ― so I was well away.

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

1. Blotted letter. [↩]