Rose at 8.30, & did Greek till 10.30. Fretted till 11, ― no C.F. ― no Cholmondeley ― but R.C. came at 11.5 & we breakfasted, “pleasantly enough.[”] Note from C.F. that he was not well.

At 1 walked out. Call on Col. Hornby ― out. Met F.W. Gibbs, & went to his rooms ―: the Cervara is one of my best=coloured works.

Called on the A. de V. Beauclerks1 ― nice good-natured folks. ― on C.F. ― on R. & Mrs. Curzon. ― then to G. Clives: ― across the park, (where was queer preaching ―) to the Manby’s ― & lastly to Mrs. Leake. Hard work this walking by the Pilot stars. ―

Apropos of the Essays & Reviews2 ― “What is to become of us if you do away with miracles?” ― said Lord S. of A[y].3 to C.F. ― there is no faith ― no nothing. “And how rash of Jowett! He might have been Bp.!” ―― Poor fool Lords of A[y]! How little you can understand the love of truth, which don’t dwell in such meagre buzzins as your’n.

So I went to Dr. Lushington’s at 7 but Miss Carr was away, & the Doctor unwell; & Vernon away, & Godfrey lame, & as G. said it was an anarchical dinner. Remained, Miss L., & Miss Alice, William & Godfrey ― Frank L. ― Mrs. A. Court, & Barwell a doctor ˇ[& Vaughan Johnson]. ― The evening was really very pleasant.

Later I sang a good deal ― & they were good & quiet enough. ―

V. Johnson, F.L. & I walked away at 10.30. V.J. left at Park Lane. I went on with F.L. ― but found I bored him & cut away. How different is the social character of the Doctor’s family to that of the Park House lot: ― ―

However, it is best as it is. For a fanatical=frantic caring overmuch for those who care little for us, is a miserable folly. And after all ordinary natural pride revolts at selfish coldness . ―

X

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

  1. Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk; see Letter to C. Fortescue of 24 January 1859: “All my smaller painting’s here have been bought ― 3 by a dear delightful chap ― one Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, who lives somewhere near Belfast.” [↩]
  2. The 1860 volume of Essays and Reviews (reprinted London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861) contained studies on the interpretation of the Scriptures; a notice at the beginning states: “The Volume, it is hoped, will be received as an attempt to illustrate the advantage derivable to the cause of religious and moral truth, from a free handling, in a becoming spirit, of subjects peculiarly liable to suffer by the repetition of conventional language, and from traditional methods of treatment.” The seven essays in the volume discussed points in which the traditional theological positions had been rendered untenable by modern research, for example Baden-Powell’s paper attacked the belief in miracles. [↩]
  3. Lord Stanley of Alderley, perhaps. [↩]