Sunday, 20 November 1859
MUSTERS ―
Particularly bright & clear, but much colder. Walked on the delightful Terrace till breakfast.
Letters from
Ann
Macbean
F.L.
Lady E. [Hopwood]
Langton
Mrs. Sayer.
Emily Tennyson.
F.L. thinks the Bassae can be given to the museum.
We went to church at 10½ (a fire in the pew ―) but very cold.
Then looked at dogs ― stables ― & squirious matters. Humble clergyman. ―
Then showed drawings & lunch. ―
Afterwards walked with M. to the Diadem Hill & the Deer Park ― all very beautiful ―. Came home at 4. Read paper ― & sate with M. till 6. ― M. Chaworth had children.
Dinner, quiet & pleasant. Singing afterwards, & arranged to do
1 ― Jerusalem
2 ― Mar Sabbas
3 ― Beirût
4 ― Lebanon
5 ― Balbek.
6 ― Interlaken
7 ― Philae. ―
at 21 Guineas each ― for this front room.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]
[…] During his first visit to Annesley in November 1859, the young Mrs. Chaworth Musters told him everything about the family’s tragic history from the time of Mary, and showed him around the house; Lear was amazed to see that “the door, with pistol shots of Lord B. still stands” (19 November 1859). So interested was he in Mary Chaworth’s family that the following day he drew a family tree of her descendants (20 November 1859). […]