Monday, 28 February 1859

Not a very happy day to end the month with. ―

After breakfast ― lessons ― & paying Lascaratos ― I went out to get some paper ― & then worked by fits all day. No one came ― but letters from V. Crake, C. Fortescue, & A. Seymour ―. A Dunn Gardner’s pamphlet from F.L. which I read. ― I did not go out again. Poor Giorgio is very cross ― & I don’t think he’ll stop here. ― As for me ― I dined, & worked at Greek. ― 3 pages of Modern, & 5 lines of Homer ― till 10. ― I see no way before me. ―

X15

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

Sunday, 27 February 1859

XXX14

Very unwell ― owing to ―

Wrote all day.

S.W.C. ― & Bright called. { NEARLY RESOLVED NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM THIS YEAR

Did not go out.

Dined at Brights ― potius aper. ((See 16.x.58.)) ― [Sir J. D ] Sir A. Bullen, & S.W.C. there. ―

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

Saturday, 26 February 1859

Mr. W. Sandbach
Mrs. ditto
Captain Bertram
Mrs. Bertram
―― Finney
―― Philpot
――――
――――
―― Grant
――――
――――
Miss [Rainerch]
Miss Jones. 13

Working ― but only half & half. Fine always.

Wrote & sent letter to F.L. New party of Sandbachs & others. Old gent who said, “No one passes through Petra ― otherwise a Prophecy ― which Dr.  Keith explains is nothing ― “henceforth no one shall pass thro’ Petra.” ― Then said I, ― either Dr. K. or the prophecy is wrong, if I did pass thro’ it. ― After all these people went, I worked, but not well ― at Lord Clermont’s Jerusalem. ― I cannot yet see my way as to going hence or not. At 4½ I went to P.W. who is always very kindly ― vû his years & his many natural drawbax. We walked up to S. John Lateran & back. ― Gibson is oltre che  foolish in his taking the P. of W. to Strutt’s & other places. From how small a seed “tyranny” arises.

So I came home ― & dined alone: good Giorgio always a solid straighforward [sic] fellow, in all kind of attentiveness. ―

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

Friday, 25 February 1859

Rose earlier, & worked from 7 to 8 ― at Lady Reid’s Jerusalem. ― Breakfast ― G.’s lesson, ― Greek lesson; ― worked from 10 to 5 ― only stopping to write a page or two to F.L. At 6 ― dined with the Macbeans ― where all is not quite as it should be ― temper ― I suppose. In the evening came 2 cousins (Miss Ogles? ―) who knew Mrs. Ruxton & all Louth, ― Miss Webb ― & some others. ― Rumours of war.

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

Thursday, 24 February 1859

XXXX13

A very wretched night & morning.

Always beautiful weather but cold.

Greek lesson. ― then worked, but badly at Lady R.’s Jerusalem. S.W.C. drawing in the room, but I could not speak to him much.

Worked again, on & off.

Letters from F.L. ― & Daddy Hunt. ――

Later ― Gibbs came ― & at 5 I walked with him. The Palestine plans revive ―  but I hardly know what to do.

Dined at home ― & wrote Greek.

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

Wednesday, 23 February 1859

1 Page
2 Philpot
3 S.W.C.
4} Gordons
5
6
7
8} Eatons
9
10
11
12
13
14} Robertsons
15
16
17} anonymous
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 Stockdale

Rose earlier than usual. ― walked ― (coldish!) to Coleman’s & asked him to dine. Returned ― & breakfast, & G.’s lesson. & worked at Lady R.’s Jerusalem ― till Page came, & so on, the going through the sketches &c. ― till 2. ― It was after that that Stockdale came. S.W.C. went away ― his frittered life seems sad, & prejudicial. ― As for me, I too am unhappy with all this fuss & bother. ― Worked again & better ― till 4½, & was going out, when Lady Stratford sent a note asking me ― forsooth, ― to lend her a Persian Rug ― & one to meet [Count] Antonelli! ― what puerile imbecility. ―

So I packed up the rug in a rugged mood, & wrote a rugged note ― & sent it. Then called on P.W. ― & on Terry ― & “the little Girl” ― all out: ― then on the Marshalls ― oh! so dreamy & queer! what must be Charmside’s life there? Home, ― & at 6½ came Coleman ― poor fellow ― (with some beautiful φοτογραφς ―) & dined ―. He is very good & amiable ― poor Coleman: ― after all, why does one say “poor” ― when in fact he is richer & better than you any way? ―
So the fathers fell asleep ― & I am to write some Gk.

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

Tuesday, 22 February 1859

Cold & bright ― much too cold to be pleasant. ― After Gk. lesson, worked at Lady Reid’s Jerusalem all day ― S.W.C. only coming in. Perhaps this picture is better than the others ― but it is all sadly slow. At 5 ― went to the furniture shop ― (the bookcase came today ―) & then called on the Stansfelds, & on Coleman, ― & on the Woodwards, who asked me to dine ― but I was engaged to S.W.C. ― with whom at 7 I dined at Nazzari’s, returning home to write afterwards. I wish I could make G.’s kitchen more comfortable: he seems either comfortless ― or awful sulky sometimes: ― yet never fails in any duty.

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

Monday, 21 February 1859

Windy ― & cold. But one does not feel it indoors as in the early season. Gk lesson. ― Painted at Lord Clermont’s Jerusalem ― one of the 6.

(G. told me he had seen “all Corfu ― Capt. Turville, Sir P. Hunter &c. ―). S.W.C. came in for a minute, ― alas! all his life is minute work ―) but always kindly, with buns, ― & I worked on till 4.

Good natured letter from Edward Penrhyn ― one of the good men one has known. ― At 4½  ― went out, & meeting S.W.C. he went with me a shopping. ― Afterwards I called on the Macbeans ― who had me to dine on Friday. ― Then to the Reading room, where was Paul Hunter {a good fellow I should think, but oppressed.

Came home to dine. Afterwards ― wrote Greek. Mr Hay sent to ˇ[ask me to] dine ― but I was engaged on Friday. Then came a note from Mrs. Bright ― asking to a party to morrow: but this is a bore. ― Meanwhile I suppose it is poor Beresford who is bursting forth so howlingful below stairs ― “anché a mé fà una rabbia. ―” ((“He makes me so angry, too.”)) even saith Giorgio. ―

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

Sunday, 20 February 1859

XX12

Rose late ―: weary backward life!

Wrote a good deal ― it was too cold to go out. ―

S.W.C. came ― bun=bringing ― at 1. He is always kind, & seems to have been what he is  by destiny only. At 2 ― hearing Giorgio pace up & down, I resolved to take him out ― poor man. So, out I went, with him, & straight off to St Pauls. Very cold & windy & gt. dust. St P. is wonderfully beautiful, & those marble columns are most beautiful. We returned & (what dust!) went up Mt Testaccio.

Poor Giorgio became lively once more. ― At 6 I went to the Belli Arti, & dined, ― P. Williams coming in ― but these places are horrible & filthy to me. So I came home ― wrote a bit ― & bed. ―

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

Saturday, 19 February 1859

1 Sir R. Day
2 Lady Day
3 S.W.C.
4 Ogles
5
6
7 2
8
9 Halls
10
11 Bellews
12
13 Macalmont
14 Sir W. Davison
15
16
17
18 Lecky (!)
19
20 anonymous
21
22
23
24
25
26

Worked at Lady Reid’s picture ― No. 6 of those I so anxiously desire to finish. (Ever the same lovely weather ― but not shining for me.) ― Worked again till 3 ― when one Philpot came ― brother in law of Bradley ― & vû his introducers Tennyson & F.L. I gladly received him. But the friends of these people are usually infinite miseries. This man said 1st F.L. was dying ― (meaning his sister) 2nd Ruskin was staying at Millais ― & 2 or 3 other things equally untrue. Moreover he touched my brushes, ― I having let him in to my studio ― & so I gladly let him out. ― At 4½ walked with P.W. ― the P. of W. had been to him today with Gibson ― (of all persons.) ― Returned & called on Miss Cushman, who is I suppose one of the really fine women here ― & then on R. Hay, who is sad & old ― poor good man:  & must be more so. ― This Roman permanent life methinx is not good. And, if I make it a winter home ― I would  that the winter be short! ―

Came home & dined alone ― G. cooking always pleasantly. ― & wrote to Ann

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