At 6 up: all bright starlight ― but fading. At 7½ we were in the old C.V. Harbour. ― What fuss & hurry to get to the Inn & Douane! The Douaniers were very decent in themselves; ― but then the misery of those “bolle” & “carte”! ― So, at 10 we were off by the “Buss.” ‘we,’ being Mr. & Mrs. Forster, formerly Miss Earle. ― Then was fresh fuss at the Station ― Passports, luggage &c. At length, 10¾, off: ― very lonely day: stations: Tiber, all overflown, & mountains lovely. At “Rome” by 1. ― Is it possible to believe that not a bit of my luggage had come? ― So it was. ― Great rage: ― fuss: ― bother. Capo stazione, & telegrafo to C. Vecchia. Then, carratelle to Via Condotti.

――― NO GEORGE! ――― alas!

How queer these rooms! ―

Left them, & called on P. Williams: ― al solito. & his picture. ― Poi, on Macbean. ―― saw Bessie B. Mathew: tried to buy a hat, but couldn’t ―:― then took my Railway bag & to Hotel d’Angleterre, & walked on the queer Pincian, childish fussy burlesque ――: & saw the Forsters: & Pantaleone. ― [gr.] very quacky, but I may be wrong. ― Came home to the Inn: dressed & washed, but had no other dress. Dined at the Table d’Hôte: ― a pleasantish American woman next me: ― Opposite was one “Col. Bowen” long ago known in Roman days ― con chi I spoke afterwards. Later, took coffee in another room, where were some other folk: & meanwhile “gli effetti suoi sono venuti.” & I found my lost things in my room.

Yet how I wish poor Giorgio were here! I hear that the Ancôna diligences are delayed, ― 2 being wanting: so he may possibly turn up.

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