Friday, 31 May – Saturday, 1 June 1861
Macon, about 4½ A.M. buffet & wash.
On to Culoz ― 7. ― St. Jean Maurienne 12¼.
Long packing of Diligence. Day cloudy. ― Got 2 places in Coupe, joining W. Bower Forwood, me. ― drive by the great angry river up the valley to S. Michel ― & by the vast Fortress to Modane, & at 8.30 to Lanslebourg where buffet. Colder, 13 miles & 2 horses drag us up. At the top 4 horses.
[A line separates what follows indicating that it is referred to the following day, the entry continuing without interruption on the next page.]
To descend, two only ― nervous work. Got no sleep ― bandage troublesome. At Susa by 2. ― Trunx not opened, as I showed Cavour’s letter. ― Café. ― Rail ― asleep ― to Turin by 4.30. Drove
[1 June]
to 6 Hotels all full, & was about to give it up ― when the Tre Corone took us in: & later we got a large double bedded room. At 6.30 ― after washing ― ˇ[we] took a carriage to La Superga ―― vastly magnificent view & returned ― going also to the Cappuccini, at 12. Then I, solo, called on Lt. James Hudson, who is very prepossessing, & agreeable, & gave 2 letters, Spence, & Lever, ― very kindly. Came home & had a Lemonade, & then slept till 4 or 5. Gt. thunder storm, & pouring rain. Dinner at 5. Later, I & Forwood walked about, & after sunset, to the Cappuccini once more. Ices at 9 ― & bed. ――― Both I & Forwood have resolved to stay here ― as neither he nor I can hope to be better off at Milan or Genoa; & the fête is not a common one: & we two agree thoroughly together: all good reasons for staying. ―
This lad is engaged to Miss Moss ― whose portrait he has shown me: it is very nice, & not unlike Gussie Bethell. Also he says his prayers, & is altogether a good specimen of Marchant Prince.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]