Edward Lear’s Diaries

Bright early ― but cold. Cough & cold prevented my going to church. Arranged studio for the remaining days. G.’s lessons ― good progress. ― Wrote to Gibbs ― A. Seymour, & Ann… At 3½ went to St. Peters, Cloudy ― cold: & then to Borghese Gardens ― very cold. ― Dressed, & at 6½ to Miss Cushmans. ― This dinner & evening was most extremely pleasant. Only Miss Stebbins & Miss C. were of the house: besides, ― R. Browning, C. Newton, ― Odo Russell. This last I thought as really good a specimen of modern Diplomat as possible, ― so kindly without shame, & so clear without sharpness. ― Browning was all fun ― pun ― foaming with spirit; ― his anecdote of Carlyle ― (wh. he hesitated ere giving,) ― how he & C. went to Boulogne, C. for the first time abroad: ― when, on seeing the first Crucifix ― C. calmly & feelingly said ― ――― “Ah! poor fellow! ― I thought we had done with him! ˆ[had had enough of him] Great mirth & roaring. Dinner especially good ― oysters & peaches from America. Champagne & all things very excellent, but all in perfect taste. Miss C. with her plain broad kindly heartedness & good strong common sense,  cultivated & refined taste, is assuredly a very [A.] N° 1 woman.

After dinner (“I don’t put down private anecdotes” said ――; ―― as there would be many) we had drawings ― & Φotograφs ― & the Fields came: & altogether the evening was splendidophoropherostiphongious.

But it poured with rain when I, & Newton, came out homeward. ― G. up, writing.

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

X3

Less cold at times ― yet very cold later. Rose late. Cough still bad. ―

Worked ill & restlessly at 2nd Cervara.

To Macbeans ― (for I get no papers now, & go there daily,) & back: & worked till 4. Maj.r Reynolds called. To P. Williams, with him to the Coliseum, & S.J. Laterano, & back. O! beggars! ―― & o! generally what a life is this of Rome! ― Poor George is at times vexed at getting no letters, tho’ he says ― Τὶ θὰ κάμε:¹ He is a truly good simple[-]hearted man, & it will be sad to me to lose him.

Dined alone. Worked at Church’s Damascus. ―

How little progress is made in my pictures! ―

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

1. Lear probably meant τι θα κάνουμε, “what shall we do?” according to Google Translator. [↩]

Dinner from Spillmans.

Slept better, & woke less unwell. ―

Cloudy ― but finer, & with storms, & showers, & some sun, & some sleet, & much cold.

Worked at the 3 Cerbaras all day, except for ½ an hour at Macbeans.

No one came; no letters. Sat.day Review only.

At 5½ called on the Knights ― the 2 Bertie Mathews & Mrs. Caldwell there: ― Mrs. C. says Ancona & the Marches are all to be annexed.

Cold, raw, damp.

Dined alone. No one came: which enabled me to get on with a Jerusalem.

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

Gray cloudy early ― sunny afterwards ― but after 2 P.M. cloud, & then rain & wind & no end of hail, & sleet, & pouring rain.

Cough & cold dreadfully bad.

Worked at M. 3 Cerbara all day, ― save going out to Macbeans, ― & to call on Chomondely [sic], who had brought a letter from F.L. ― & Clark of Trinity.

At 5 it was dark & pouring, so I went to the Forsters, & sate till 6. ―
Dined alone, & read Westminster Review. ―

Afterwards, Reg.d Cholmondeley  came: ― rather wearying as to pictorial discourse.

Letter from Mrs. Scrivens: very nice.

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

Quite clear, but not quite as cold: bright. ―

Worked at 2 Cerbaras ― but very unwell.

At 12 went to Macbeans ― (where I go now for papers ― because I have given up my Galignani.[)]

Everything is in a very imbrogliato¹ state. And, privately & particularly, no letter comes from that dilatory Spiro: ― which is vexing.

Packed frames &c &c. this morning.

― Worked again till 4. ―

Then, walked with P.W. ― to P. Pia ― & back by Avellaria, ― now, to day for the first time ― at 6½.

Dined alone: worked at Musters’s Beyroût. ―

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

1. Messy. [↩]

Interlaken 4

Rose late. High wind, bright, cold.

Cold in head odious.

Worked badly at Interlaken.

To Macbeans ― . ― Yesterday ― Mr. Holland, riding out with C.K. fell, & broke his jaw. ― Williams dined yesterday at a Miss Whites ―: after dinner, some dispute arose between their servant, a Tuscan, & the people of the house, ― who stabbed him badly. ― Last night at 5 P.M. an American was stopped at the end of the Condotti, & his watch stolen. And 3 men have been stabbed by those who won’t have cigars smoked.¹ ― Quite enough “movement” for one day!

I had the remaining boxes downstairs.

Worked a little at the other Cerbaras. Reilly came, & I went with him to his studio.

Later, walked with P.W.

Dined alone, & worked at Musters Lebanon.

Little sleep all night ―

X2

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

1. The prohibition of smoking cigars was a form of protest against foreign occupation during the Italian Risorgimento. [↩]

Sent letters to W.H. Hunt, & Lady Bethell.

Interlaken. 3.

Unwell more or less all day.

Letters from E.T. ― AT does not come. ―

And from Fanny Coombe.

Worked at Interlaken.

Went to Macbeans. ― Mr. Fields called.

Cold wind, & cloudy.

Called on Williams at 5, & on the Knights.

Dined alone. Bed early.

Cold bad.

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

Very fine ― tramontana ― quite clear. Wrote to Lady Bethell.

To church ― wh. was fuller than usual, ―: 8 or 10 F. soldiers, “Προτεζᾶντ.”¹ But Mr. Burgon’s sermon, on Isaac, Jacob, & Rebekah, bored me awfully ― being vastly foolish & colloquial; ― & afterwards he gave a “personal address” ― in what seemed to me at best very questionable taste. ― But, coming out, Macbean greatly differed with me: ― home ― & then called on Miss Cushman ― out. Home again & wrote to A. Seymour. ― Capt. Jameson came, & with him I walked to P. Salara, & over Antennæ, & back by the Tiber, & in the Borghese. A good hearty fellow. ――

Dressed, ― (Giorgio late ― having lost his way.) & to the Knights. Isabella very poorly ― ill: & Helen not much better. ― E.B. Mathew also there. Dinner, silent, se non per me.² Afterwards, livelier. Talk of the Colchester House, ˇ[Mannock?] Hall lived in by the L.K.s ― very queer: secret passages: poison &c. Came away at 10½.

Note from Miss Cushman ― very kind.

Giorgio ― “che volete, ― che abbia da scrivere sempre?”³ & his idleness after a long walk: ― wery like a schoolboy.

XXX1

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

1. Protestant. [↩]
2. Except for me. [↩]
3. Well, and would you want me to be writing all the time? [↩]

Interlaken 2

Throat better, cold somewhat also. Gray ― but finish.

Worked insanely hard at Interlaken, from 9 to 1.

Went to Macbeans. ― Dined at 3. ―

Worked till 5. ― Walked in Borghese.

6½ to 8 wrote to Homan Hunt.

8½ went to Newtons ― a great many people there: ― of all the nicest, were a Mr. & Mrs. Fields ― who had been to Faringford! ― Their talk of A.T. was charming.

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

Interlaken. 1

Gray fine ― very little sun ― but warmer.

Rose at 8 still extremely unwell.

Worked very hard at another outline of the 2nd & 3rd Cervara ― & partly of an Interlaken! ―

Then Major Reynolds & Miss Yates came ― & staid some time. ― She is a curious little woman.

At 5½ I rushed out & got a small περίπατον¹ in the Borghese & Pincian.

Queer life, very.

Dined alone. Worked at Masters’s Baalbek. ―― Nice notes from Mrs. Macbean ― & H. Knight.

Ὧ Γυναίκες, παρασμέναι! ―
ὡσὰν ἄλλαι ἐλωίδες! ―²

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

1. Walk (GT). [↩]
2. Google Translator proposes: “O women, in spite of me! / But as if hope!” [↩]