Lovely & clear.

Awoke at 3.45 A.M. by a Σεισμὸς:1 ― then followed the bells. G. says there were 3 shocks.

Worked at Philæ, Grenfell’s. ―

Post only brought a letter, & that from a fool at Leeds, enclosing me sheets of rubbish for my “Book of Nonsense”. I was in a gt. rage.

Ld. Kirkwall called. He says the Earthquake last night was the strongest ever known here: that there were 3 shocks, & a noise lasting 10 minutes afterwards.

Worked hardish ― till 4. ― sky &c. of Philæ.

Walked out ˇ[at 4.30 or 5] ― very clear & lovely, met Straham & joined him a bit: ― returned at 6.30 ― &

Called on Miss Goldsmid ― finding they were both much alarmed at the Earthquake, wh. in those small hours is felt vividly. A closet was thrown open, & glasses thown out & broken &c.

All agree there has been no such shock for some 15 or 20 years. ―

At 7 dined. At 8.30 ― penned out, Spezzia. At 9 ――― lo! another Earthquake! ― one short shock only ― but all the bells rang ― & G. came in to ask if I felt it ― wh. indeed I had done ― yet, as the Maudes are very noisy above ― I was not quite sure about.

This day last year! ― alas!

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

  1. Earthquake (NB). [↩]