X13

Miserable work.

A most frightful day of tempest & torrents ― never ceasing till 5 ― when I went to the post with letters ― hardly able to stand for wind.

Wrote to Mrs. H. Hunt
Mr. Edwards
Mr. Langton
A. Heywood

H. Holland, Mr. & Mrs. W. Scrivens called ― & Mr. Acramen.

But the rooms were sadly cold & windy. Packed a good deal. Accounts from Italy bad. ―

Letters from Mrs. Hunt, Mr. Edwards, & Mrs. G. Clive.

At 6¼ in a phly to V. Crake’s ― but the storm was now so tremendously high that I cannot remember a worse sight anywhere. At V.C.’s were G. Scrivens, Rev. Berriton, a Mr. Knox ― a Mr. Gipps ― & a Mr. Richards. ― Dinner not unpleasant. ― Mrs. V.C. is very childlike senseless somehow; I liked N°. 1 better. ―

Barriton is thinking & “clever” & agreable. ― Knox next to me was also prepossessing. Afterwards Mrs. V.C. played ― fluffily, yet evidently from much education ― & might play well. ― I ― after a time sang ― &, as this piano was good & room empty ― very well, ― tho’ I had little voice. (già ― si capisce.)1 “Too late” ― “Sweet is true love” ― seem to take the attention of people more than any songs I ever made. ― Came home at 10½. Rain ceased ― wind violent: But the sea tremendous. Waves dashing up the steps of the houses & in torrents to the areas. Wet through to the knees. Never saw such a sea here. How I recall Corfû & the sea [gr.] [walls].

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

  1. “Yes, of course!” [↩]