Edward Lear's Diaries

(XX2)

Sent letter to F.L.

Rose late. fine. unsettled utterly.

Screwing in the 12 pictures.

To Macbeans ― little news.

Returned, & packed again. ― Later, called on the Godleys ― at the Minerva. John G. looking very ill. Mrs. G. always the [same] delightful. Agnes Wynne, timid & uneasy. “The whole” as one says in Charades ― unsatisfactory. ―

Returned, & found poor dear George crying ―― his grief is very real, as all his character, ― & one is obliged to respect it, & to consider it actual as a wall or a house. ―― Walked ― 5½ to 7½ ― with P. Williams, to P. Pia. ―
Dined alone.

Barker & Lord Rendlesham came ― pleasant enough. ―

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

Sent letters to Mrs. Bell & Mrs. Hunt.

Mizzle[-]drizzle ― & mugzy heat.

called at Macbeans. bought more goat goatographs. ― REILLY CALLED; a very gentlemanly & pleasant youth. ―― I could not work much: ― utter unsettling in the order of the day.

Later, came a letter from Corfû ― & grief it was to me to have to read poor Spiro’s letter ―: Elisabetta, poor Giorgio’s only girl ― is dead. I had to read this to G. ― who, after a twitching of his whole face ― said ― “lo sapeva.”¹ “E volontà di Dio.”² ― This grieves me extremely. ― Perhaps it was the best thing that the Lockwoods & Watts came just then. The W.s I half hope may take these rooms. ― Anyhow they are become intolerable. Then came letters from F.L. ― Mrs. Walpole, & Gush. ――

Ἔπειτα, επεριπάτισα³ to the Knights ― & saw them ― having called on P. Williams first.

O dreary Rome life!

Returned to dine alone: ― made George [sit] & smoke a cigar, ― hoping that his talking of Elisabeta ― would do him good, poor fellow. ― “Mi pare bugia, dire che è morta quella pupetta!”⁴ says the poor good man.

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

1. I knew. [↩]
2. It is God’s will. [↩]
3. Lear clearly meant “then, I walked,” i.e. έπειτα Περπάτησα. [↩]
4. It sounds like a lie, saying that that little girl is dead. [↩]

X1

Beyrout.

Could not work: unsettled to a degree.

Wrote to ask Coleman to dine, but he could not.

Called on Williams, & on poor Coleman, & on Newbolt.

Worked a little at Beyrout.

Walked in the Borghese with Cholmondeley.

P. Williams dined with me ― & Wilson came.

POURING RAIN.

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

Spillmann ― 90. [Lelf] 25. drew from Macbean.

Rain at night: but the cold seems to have gone. ― George’s accounts & lessons: ― & paid wages &c. ―

Did not work much ―but screwed in a lot of the small pictures ― & changed all into the front room.

At 6¾ Jameson came, & dined: excellent dinner of Giorgis. ― Cholmondeley also came. ―

Letters from
C. Church.
E. Parkyns
B. & J. H. Hunt.
& Mrs. Bell.

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

Warm, dull, scirocco: very disagreable. ―

G.’s lessons & to church: very few there.

Sermon of 42 minutes from that tiresome Mr. Burgon ― “the house of darkness” ― all about the Debble ―― this enthusiast warping always on positive spiritualities. Eve & what not, & the serpent ― & much artistic phrase ― sketch, draw, paint, picture ― outline ― & “that accursed Artist, Satan!” ― One gets too disgusted: walking over the Pincian with Col. Caldwell ― we had a jaw, agreeing thereon. At 2 Newton came ― very nice: I like him much, poor fellow: ― his opinions, good, & otherwise, of my pictures, were very welcome. Then came Jameson, with whom I walked to C. Cestius,¹ & the burying ground, Wyatt’s grave, &c. &c. & M. Testaccio ― & through the Trastevere: called on Williams ― out. ― Corso full of guards & patrols: dull hot afternoon.

I went to the trattoria of the Belli Arti; ― hoping P.W. would be there ― but he was not: & such was the wine, & bad eating, & beggars ― that I came away “in a rage.” ― Rain. ― Edward Wilson, having “done Naples & Florence” ― came in & staid till near 11: he has an irritating mode of talk, ―quite unnecessary with my Bethell=denounced spirituality. ――

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

1. The Pyramid of Caius Cestius, in Rome near the Porta San Paolo and the Protestant Cemetery. [↩]

X14

Very fine & warm. ―

Went out & bought Photograffs: & to Macbeans. ― … Maj.r Reynolds came.

Worked at all 3 Parnassi ― wearily though, ― & packed up various matters. ―

Long schools of μικρὰ παιδιὰ που πηγαινον¹ to a confirmation. At 6, went out, to M. Citorio to enquire of railroads, thinking to go to Frascati tomorrow with G.: ― but one must be there at 6. The Corso is very full of Χωραφόλακοι, ― & French also ― & everything is in a most effervescent state. To the Knights, where was the Duchess, Isabella & Helen ― altogether: ― the Gaetani family are sadly placed now ― so opposed to all the Govt. …

Reports of all sorts are current. Lamoricière,² it really seems is at Ancôna. A few weeks must bring various changes. ―

Staid till 7, [και [] να γευματισει μονος].³

To bed early.

Piano went to day. ― Room nearly empty, but it is no longer cold now.

Crosses X
14

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

1. Young children attending (GT). [↩]
2. The French general who took command of the papal army, which he led in the Italian  campaign against Sardinia in 1860.  On 18 September that year he was severely defeated by the Italian army at Castelfidardo. [↩]
3. And [] have lunch alone (GT). [↩]

Rose latish ― one sleep & sleep forever.

(All day long, which is & was quite warm & utterly gray, & scirocco ―― worked at the 3 Parnasses ― not ill.)

Went to Macbeans’ ― no news: ― the Piedmont troops 4500 have landed at Leghorn. ― ―――

I wish M. did not ―――― hadn’t a [ζραβισμος , δεν εμπορω ποτε να φαλω πιζιαν εις ενα ανθρωπον που εχη ζραφισμος, ισως εχω αδικον, αλλα δεν εμπωρωνα καμω αλλα ως ιδομεν]!  ―¹

Worked by fitz ― & pretty hard: but what a change to hot weather! ―
2 Miss Monks came. ― δια των οποιων, δεν εινας να γραψω.((Of which, there is [reason] to write (GT).))

At 6 walked round half the sad dull Borghese. ―Oh! I hope never to pass a whole winter here more!

γευμα ― μονος: και παραπολυ κρασι ― ως always.((Dined alone: and had too much wine, as always (GT).))

Terry & Mrs. Crawford came.

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

1. I suspect Lear is trying to pun on “strabismus” and “sgrafismus,” but actually I can’t make out his meaning. [↩]

Wrote to F.L.

No particular news, but everything more & more unsettled. Went to Macbeans, ― & with him to see the Pope’s Bull of Scomunica, posted on the M. Citorio. Called on P.W. ― & on Martin. ―

At 1 Miss Cushman, Miss Stebbins, & the nice Mr. & Mrs. Fields, came: ἔπειτα¹ ― Ferry, ― later, Clarke ― who, tho’ a nice cheery good fellow, is very “watering=placy.”

Worked on, but not very constantly ― till 5 & then came Col. Gordon & Mrs. Gordon, & Mrs. Macbean, ― a very “sincere party” ― & one I extremely like.

All seem to like the Clive Dead Sea: & indeed all the others. But, I begin to think, I shall pack up the small pictures, & dispose myself to go. ―――
Giorgio, ― unwell yesterday, is better to day.

At 6 walked a small way with [sic] the dreary Borghese ― & back.
Dined alone ― pigeons & Artichõχ. ―

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

1. Then. [↩]

X13

Always fine now, & fires only morning & evening.

Worked, but only off & on ― at one of the 3 Parnassi.

To Macbeans. Times stopped. Everything ugly. ―

Benouville came ― sad & worried: but a nice fellow

Macan ― (I regret saying looking very unwell,) Lord Dunglass & his brother ― came. ― (& I found F. Stanley had been, & wrote to him thereby.) ― Afterwards came “Freddy” ― not grown very tall ― but “giusto”¹ as Giorgio says. ― Too like his mother ― but yet with much ― to me, very interesting in his face. In manner he had some of the stiffness of Stanley=Skelmersdale, but was evidently kindly, & wishing to do well. ― He sate nearly an hour, ― after I went on working, & my general impression was that the Hornby=Stanley predominated, over the Skel., altogether now & then that obtrudes itself ― only however by a fancied link of look. ― His account of Pæstum &c. ― were all lively & boyish enough, & I do not perceive anything of the talent of his brother, unless he be of a concealing turn of mind ― though he said nothing but what was sensible. Altogether I am extremely pleased with his visit ― grandson of dear kind Lord Derby as he was.

Eh ―― days of Knowsley!

So, then came 3 Martins & a friend, ―― & then 3 Storys, & then Mr. Watts the Curate chaplain, & lastly Bessie & A. Bertie Mathews: ― all seem to like the paintings extremely, but it is hard to say, if better on account of their qualities, or that they care for the Painter, or that, caring for neither painter nor paintings, they cannot help liking that wh. is not usually to be seen. ――― At 6 walked to the Pincian ― & home to dine.

[They] say, George is recalled: ―――

X X

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

1. Just right. [↩]

Sent letter to Ann.

Letter from Ann. S. will surely go out again. Wrote to her, advising as far as I could. ―

There is no hope or chance of her being able to live with either of her sisters, though she has assuredly done her utmost to do so. Ellen does not wish it, & S. could only live in the I. of W. which would be impossible for Ann.

Day fine. Macbeans.

Worked at Farquhar’s Parnassus, & the others.

To Macbeans, ― but I did not hear any news. ―

Returned & the Fosters, with Miss Dowdeswell came ― “an affected piece” as the old birds wrote. The Fosters are not so. ― Then came Jameson, & the 2 Miss J.s ― both really nice girls: ― J. bought the little Campagna picture. 35£ ― which fact is very expressive of his real admiration of scenery. ― (Earlier, I forgot to relate, I “bedemeaned” myself, by leaving a card on “Freddy” Stanley,¹ yet, remembering Knowsely in 1830 I could not but do so.) After the Jamesons came poor Miss Tullok, who is very sadly an instance of the life away from love. ― Yet she herself is a good kind creature. Her perceptious indagini² of my “wealth” were diverting. Afterwards came 2 people I didn’t even know the names of, but friends of the Reynolds’, or I shouldn’t have seen ’em: ― & then, I worked till 5½. A short walk in the Borghese conscrewded the day. ― Returned to dine solo ― ―

Spillman dinner.

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

1. whom, lachrymosely Mrs. Caldwell told me yesterday had come here, ― [↩]
2. Investigations. [↩]