Friday, 30 September 1859

No sleep from 2 to 5 ― then to 8 but no Greek. Dark gray stormy weather. Eyes & stomach bad. No letters early. Worked a good deal at the large Petra ― it is not worse, & that is something. Dread of its becoming so, often makes me flag flag [in] working. At 3 ― while looking at the really fine sea & knock-down heap of dirt, came the Rev. St. Quentin, uncle of “Arabella” Gage, very agreable [sic] man. ― (Diamantina Bowen has gone onto the Alex.dra on her way to Morton Bay.)

After that came 3 letters, Gush, Husey Hunt; ― & W.G. Clark: a very nice letter ― about the Bassae. Then came V. Crake ― who is always “niente, però buono.” ((“Nothing, but all right.”))

At 5½ then, it was time to walk ― so I did, ― & back by 7½.

Dinner. The new lodgers are not satisfactory ―; the gent. is mad: & the aperient servant is a keeper. ―

Read: [gr.]. ―

Letter also from J. Hutchinson.

XX15

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

Thursday, 29 September 1859

Showery, early. After 12 ― fine.

Letter from Regld. Fowler. D. does not come, which seems to vex poor Regld.

Worked at the large Petra ― but the uncertainty of getting any more money is queer enough. Accounts of Italy in papers ― all bad. But I get no letters.

Walked by the cliff & upper road to Hastings, at 6 ― & returned here by 7¼.

Dinner, & Greek.

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

Wednesday, 28 September 1859

Frightful bad night of indigestion.

XXX14

Worked but little ― at the large Petra.

At 6 went to Ellen & W. Newsom, who go tomorrow. Both good people. Home by 7 dined & Greek. ―

Day fine, all through.

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

Tuesday, 27 September 1859

Wrote to
Gush
Ponsford
J. Hornby &
R. Fowler.

Greek till 8. ― Very wonderfully lovely day all through, & now are beginning those beautiful evening Western skies, which often go on till Xmas.

At 12 W. & E. Newsom came, & I put out my 2 pictures carefully for them; & they really were pleased. ― Then I showed them a few of the Palestine drawings which he entered into more than she: but how difficult must it be to do that! Even I believe that after a few years, if I lived here, I should forget all I have seen, save dimly generally, or brightly by fits. We are as we are. Bother! How little way of improvement one makes! ― “Is it worth the keeping?” ― so hard a trial? ―

Yes. Better strive on.

Concerning painting, I worked at the big Petra to day. At sunset, walked by the sea ― low tide ― & Martello towers ― & to the post. Then dined on everlasting cold beef & novel oysters. ― Read Channing. ((Perhaps the Transcendentalist poet William Ellery Channing (1818-1901), but more probably his omonymous uncle, the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century (1780-1842), whose works had had several editions in the first half of the century.))

Letter from R. Martineau: very nice. Daddy & he return here next week.

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

Monday, 26 September 1859

Fine early.

2 pages of Οἰδίπους Τύραννος before 8.

No letters all day.

Things in Italy unchanged as yet.

Worked from 11½ to 5½ at Petra theatre, at first badly ― but latterly well, ― or better.

Rain at 5. ― Nevertheless walked to 6 Meadow Cottages, & sate some time with the Newsoms ― good kind people. ˇ[hard rain] Home by 7½ to my good dinner of stewed beef ― & thank for the change from mutton.

Stormy, rainy evening.

Greek till 9¾.

X13

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

Sunday, 25 September 1859

No letters.

Wrote to
Drummond F.L.
Macbean &
Spillman.

telling the first that the second could draw 50£ ― & the 3rd to get 90 dollars from the 2nd.

Wrote also to Ellen, & F.L.

A good deal of rain all day.

At 4 walked to the G. Scrivens, who are always glad to see one on Sundays.

Captn. [Bird] there.

Very pleasant evening indeed.

Home by 11.

Finished the Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ to day.

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

Saturday, 24 September 1859

All unstrung: & unwell. Greek ― & working at the Corfu finishing. & packing up some of the drawings. ―

Letters from
F.L.
&
Mr. Potter, who like the pictures.

X12!

Wrote to
Mr. Clark of Cambridge about the Bassae.
& F.L.
& to Ann.

All the Cockerells came at 6. ― & I had no walk: but they liked the Corfu & Petra.

Dinner deluded ― mutton bad, so I had some oysters.

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

Friday, 23 September 1859

LARGE CORFU.

Finer. Greek from 6 to 8. Letter from Ellen N. who has come to Hastings.

Worked pretty hard at goats, figures & foreground of the Corfû till 5½.

All the 3 afternoon letters were very pleasant: kind Mrs. Empson’s delightful.

Letters from
Dr. Henry
W. Langton
&
Mrs. Empson.

The Wagners & Simpkinsons called but I evaded ― writing a note & leaving it later. By 6, was at “6 Meadow Cottages” where the Newsoms are. Harriet has left, most rightly & kindly her money to F. ― N. is to give 200£ for the share & send it to him.

Little was said of the N.Z. party ― though always more than pleasant.

Came home by 7½.

X11

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

Thursday, 22 September 1859

Very windy & stormy, but not rainy.

Waked at 5 ― & did pages of Greek ― till 7. ― After breakfast worked at “endeavours” to complete the Corfu; but although a portion gets finished ― the rest, at 4 P.M. seemed less so than ever. ― Ann’s letter is interesting: she & I both think all the Streets will return together. The Newsoms are to come to Hastings to day.

Letters from
W.N.
Mrs. Scrivens
& Ann.

Eyes, heart, mind, head, body ― all bad ―: so at 4 I walked to Hastings & over the East Hill nearly to Ecclesbourne, ― returning by 7 to dine. It’s a weariness ― doubtless: & for what? & until when?

X10

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

Wednesday, 21 September 1859

Rose late. Very stormy, dark, & rainy. Too dark to work: so wrote letters & Greek: & read papers ― till 12. Letter from Jane Hunt, Mr. Blackmore at last is dying. ― Worked at Petra & Campagna, ― pretty well till 5½.

Wrote to
Col. Leake
J. Hutchinson
R. Martineau

At 6 walked to Hastings, fine ― rough sea, & bright sunset.

Dined at 7. Read Clark, ((Perhaps William George Clark, whose Peloponnesus: Notes of Study and Travel (London: Savill and Edwards, 1858) had just been published.)) & thought I would write to him about the Βάσσαι.

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