Tuesday, 31 January 1860

Rain, & clear, ― ditto ― ditto. ―: most perplexing weather.

Worked at Stansfeld’s P. Molle, & not badly ― but irritated & unwell.

X11

Worked on: but rain & darkness ensued.

So I went to Macbeans’ & sate a bit. ――

Then walked on the Pincian (unluckily,) meeting Mr. Young ― so I couldn’t get off that odious  ring circle.

Dined alone.

BUT ― 3 LETTERS ― FROM

EMILY T. ――
MR. EDWARDS,
& J.H. HUNT.

Any one of ’em a blessing.

Penned out Lebanon drawing.

Mr. More came ― ὁ Μώρε!
[και εβαιως, ειναι Μωρος] ((O More! / And [], is a baby (GT).))

Dr. Kennedy & he go tomorrow.

At 10 shut up. ― discoursing [με τον Σουλιοτον, ω ρωτον, δια μερικα πραγματα] ((With the Suliot, as first, a few things (GT).))

X11

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

Monday, 30 January 1860

Of course, ― rain again. ―

After weekly accounts & G.’s lesson ― worked a bit at the P. Molle painting.

At 12 ordered another passo di legna, ((A passo of wood. The passo is about 5,250 m³.)) & called on Newton, & at Macbean’s, where I read papers. ―

Back, & worked again, rather well: letter from S.W. Clowes, answered it. ― Col. Bowen came ― 3 to 4.

4½ to P. Williams, & walked with him to S.M. Maggiore &c. ― we agree as to coming events. The Carnival Loggia was all written over with “Legni per gli Barricadi” ((Wood for the barricades.)) &c. &c. this morning, & it is said there is to be none. Alone on Pincian: gray & gloomy. 8 to Knights, Charles, & Helen, ― Monsignor Pentini, ― D.F. Chigi, the 2 Bertie Mathews, & Karristy. All there had never met all together since 1843, & 1844 ― 16 years ago. Pentini was as ever, kindly & good, ― but did not recognize me all thro’ dinner, tho’ very much interested about Terra Santa ―: afterwards, being shown the “Book of Nonsense,” he suddenly became enlightened, ― but partially confounded me with Abeken, ((Probably Wilhelm Ludwig Abeken, an archeologist who was also in Italy in the years around 1837.)) & asked after my “Leone & Scimia.” ―

He is scarcely aged. ―― Karristy is the most so appearing 60. T. Chigi I never cared for nor liked ― & is or may be 260 years old. ― Altogether the dinner & evening were extremely pleasant. ― Later, played & sang to Isabella.

Mrs. Caldwell also came in.

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

Sunday, 29 January 1860

Rose late. A very nice note from poor Helen K. asking me to dine tomorrow to meet “days of V. Taverna party” ―― wh. I could not resist, & wrote “yes” to.

Wrote to Mrs. G. Scrivens, & Mrs. Empson.

Did not go out till 4½ ― & then walked round Borghese with Cheales & Captain (Trehorm? ― or Jamieson?)

Day very bright & fine.

Dined at the Story’s ― a bore: rooms horribly cold: ― a pretty Miss Greenough there ― & Browning ― & other people afterwards.

The account of Pio IX’s rage & his speech this morning at the American College was wondrous. ―

O dear Emily T.! & various people! ―

Now I live a living death here!

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

Saturday, 28 January 1860

Sent letter to Ann.

Very fine all day: no visitors: no nothing.

Worked at a 2nd P. Molle view ― (giving up the former ―) pretty successfully but impatiently, till 5.

Then a walk to part of the Borghese.

Dined alone: penned out a Lebanon sketch.

XX10

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

Friday, 27 January 1860

No letters. Spillman came early to see about the repair of the kitchen roof. I took Vandevelde’s map to be made up ― & went to Macbean’s, who, later, sent for my 2 boxes of boox & carpets. I worked a bit at the P. Molle painting, but at 1½ ― as it was clear & fine, I took a caratella with G. & went to the bridge, where I drew till I returned.

έπειτα ((Then.)) called on Williams ― & walked on the Pincian.

& dined solo; penned out a Lebanon Drawing.

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

Thursday, 26 January 1860

Letter from Ann.

It poured all night, but is clear this morning. Nevertheless, the kitchen is not habitable, & I go down & see Spillman, who comes up, & swears this is the first he has heard of the wet ― & that a Muratore ((Bricklayer.)) shall forthwith come. So, for the present, I am content, per forza. ((Necessarily.)) ― Wrote to Macbean, to take away boox & carpets: & also put up a drawing for Mrs. M.: ― & went there. Saw M. & Mrs. M. & came away into Coleridge; which seems me a dreamy & rather overdemonstrative youth. ― When he had left me, I set to work violently on Stansfeld’s P. Molle view, & worked till 4. ―

Then I called on Williams, but found the Martins & others there: bye & bye however I walked to P. Pia with him: very grand clear evening.

Dined alone. Penned out a Lebanon Drawing. Cheales, (whom I like,) & Coleridge came for an hour.

Many reports are about as to probable disturbances.

Very nice letter from Ann.

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

Wednesday, 25 January 1860

Somewhat better, take all the day through.

Abominably dark & wet morning, & I fret & worry at the damp miserable kitchen for my poor servant.

But at 11 it cleared, & I was able to commence skies in the 2 Palermos, & the Dead Sea: ― after which I worked at the Dead Sea considerably & well: ― & then outlined in color the 3 Parnassi ― & after that made tracings for Stansfeld’s Campagnas.

Whereon a Mr. Jouny came: ― e poi, P. Williams, with whom I walked towards St. Agnese. ――

The gloom & deadliness of Rome!

Returned to dine alone: yet the comfort of the rooms is great, were only the kitchen tolerable. Ou! broots!

So I penned out the last Cedar drawing ― & now to bed.

X9

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

Tuesday, 24 January 1860

What a horrible day was yesterday! ―

This morning was clear: ― & Giorgio, happily, was lively, & considering his misery for some 2 days that  is a wonder.

I worked at the Clive Dead Sea, & better than usual, though sleeping by fits. (Mr. & Mrs. Forster called.)

At Sunset, walked on the Pincian: cloudy & dark & horrid.

Dined alone. [Ηλθε κανενω]. ((I suspect Lear meant κανείς δεν ήρθε, which Google Translator renders as “nobody came.”)) ―

Penned out another Lebanon drawing.

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

Monday, 23 January 1860

Sent letters to F.L. ― Col. Hornby ― & T.G. Baring.

Letters from Col. Hornby & F.L.

A very “degrading” day: most beezly! ― violent pouring rain & wind all day long.

Kitchen, full of water. Day so dark no work was possible.

A short note from F.L. ― & a letter from Col. Hornby enclosed, ― & a bill from B. & Bush.

Worried & raved all day at these shit-begotten Roman filths, who make me pay 90 dollars a quarter & will do nothing for my comfort.

Dined alone.

Penned out a Lebanon drawing. ―

XXX8

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

Sunday, 22 January 1860

Very cloudy & dark.

Went to church: not above 150 there.

Walked back by the Babuino, ― reminding me by its dampness & muddiness of 1837-8. Called on P. Williams, who would not walk. Returned & wrote a bit. ― But this gloom & disgust of Rome is absolutely more than I can bear. So, as it became fine, I could not remain in, but called on the Storey’s ― & sate some time with Mrs. S.: whose conversation is very pleasant. They asked me to dine next Sunday. ―――― Then I called on Story ― who is intelligent but very violent. Talk of American politics: little of this place.

Thence I went to the Borghese, & walked round it, wondering how I could ever have thought it pleasant or beautiful.

Dressed, & dined at the Macbeans, where, I must say, the whole evening was pleasant. The 2 M.s Col. & Mrs. G. Mr. Bilton Coleridge, O’Brien & myself. Dinner & wine good.

Afterwards, Mr. Coleridge sang, well: ― but it was “science.” Not to be a churl, I sang ― “too late.” ― but it was a bore to me to do so. ― Some demonstration took place, while we dined, of “popolo” to the French.

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