Saturday, 31 August 1861

Villa Petraja. 7.

One of those perfect cloudless calm days ― only known in Autumn here. A wonderful loveliness if one could but enjoy it, from sunrise to starlit night. Rose at 6 & painted till 8. Kind note from Janet Hunt. ― Newspaper ― & then pretty regular work all over the Petraja till 4. ― But it is not, & cannot be a very satisfactory picture. ― Letter from J.B. Edwards ― vague. & Ellen, enclosing one from poor R. Boswell, in a wretched state. 10£ must be sent to him at once.

Dined on 4 small Vitins, & 2 smaller taters. Immediately after, began to work on Dead Sea, & did a good deal of the tree. At 7.15 ― walked al solito on the parade: a crowd near Hastings, so turned back. ―

A very queer weary week. Of letters written, & answered

Lady Bethell Westbury answered  9^th. 25^th ――        9^th Sept.
Gussie Bethell answered                 3^rd. 25^th ――       3^rd
John Cross ――――――                9^th. 25^th ―――    9^th
James Hornby ―――――              25^th ――――      ――
S. Clowes answered ―― 6^th ―        25^th ――              6^th
S. Street answered 2^nd ――            27^th ――              2^nd
Mrs. Bergmann answered 6 ―       28^th ―――          6^th
C. Church ――――――                25^th                      ――
Mrs. Clive answered 2^nd ―            25^th ―――          2^nd
Mrs. Empson ―― 5^th ―                 25^th ―――          5
Holman Hunt answered 6 ―         25^th ―                  10, 6 all are yet unanswered
J. Lacaïta ― 10 ――                        25 ―――            10

M.A. Crake sent an invitation to a pic nic to day! ― I think I see myself there!!!!

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

Friday, 30 August 1861

V. Petraija. 6.

Work all day ― barring newspaper, & a long letter to C.F. & one to his Aunt. That dear good old Lady is not very well it seems, ― by a nice letter from him to day. One also from Mr. Morier later in the day. Weather fine ― sunny but windy.

Worked at the hills & city, in the Petraja: anyhow, much work is done, come it to what it may, & every day, wearily as it goes by, knocks off one more of this phase of destiny.

Read Miss E. Beaufort ((Beaufort, Emily A. Egyptian Sepulchres and Syrian Shrines. 2 vols. London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861.)) at times: too “religious” & flashy. ― Dined at 4 ― on one sole, & 2 potatoes & some few small beers.

At 7.25 walked in the dim dying light. Bed at 9.15.

A week gone here!

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

Thursday, 29 August 1861

Villa Petraija ― 5

X

Windier & cloudier, & heavy sea.

Roe by 6.30. I do not sleep well. ― Painted till breakfast. Letter from Ellen ― F.’s son has gone into the southern army. Wrote to Ellen & Sarah: & worked, ― barring newspaper reading ― till 4.

Dinner ― 2 small fishes.

Worked again till dusk ― then walked out till 9. It is better to go slapdash at this horrid phase of life & get through it.

I am by no means well.

Slept very little.

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

Wednesday, 28 August 1861

V. Petraja ― 4

There was fog early ― (rose at 6.30.) but it cleared, & the day was the loveliest conceivable. I wish I had my journal here of 1859, there is such an absurd sameness just now! The fine calm weather, the distasteful hard work all day ― … the disinclination to go out ― [even] the receipt of a letter from Mr. Edwards! ― [Colours] of Athos come back ― & Patmos, & Eubœa, ― but there seems no use in memory.

Wrote to Mr. Morier.
Lacaita
B.D. Morier
Mrs. Bergmann

Dined at 4 ― sole & cold fowl. ―

Worked again till dusk: really I don’t know if well or ill. Then took my solitary walk, farther than usual, but beyond the Library are annoyances of crowds & bore. ―

O dear! what a life!

Bed at 9. ― No Greek: no penning out. Yet considering all that has past there has been no little energy by fits, tho’ I haven’t much just now.

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

Tuesday, 27 August 1861

Villa Petraja. 3

One of the perfect days of weather, bright, calm, not hot. But at sunset there came a great “sea=fog” ― & I suppose there will be rain tomorrow.

Morally also, & physiologically διὰ ἐμὲ, ˇ[(τὸν εαυτόνμου,)] ((For me (myself) (NB).)) the day was somewhat better. Worked before breakfast ― & afterwards off & on. Paper came late, & took long to read. ― dined at 4 ― boiled fowl. Worked again till 7 ― dusk ― then prowled ― from 7.30 ― to 8.30. ―

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

Monday, 26 August 1861

Lovely day all through. La Petraja. 2

Physic ― & unwell.

Worked pretty hard off & on ― but XX & horribly out of spirits ― & miserable.

Dined at 4 on a sole & beer & potatoes.

Worked again ― & walked a little.

After all what good are the trees & beautiful woods of England to me? I got no sight of them. ― Nor is it well that I should care much now for anything more. ―

I think, at the outside, I shall finish 4 or 5 of these paintings only ― & then leave St. Leonard’s. ―

“We come no more to the golden shores ((Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor. I.iv. Falstaff to Robin: “Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly; | Sail like my pinnace to the golden shores.”))
“Which we loved in days of old.” ((Owen Meredith (Robert, Lord Lytton). Clytemnestra. II: “Troy being captive, we shall see once more | Those whom we loved in days of old.” Bulwel-Lytton, Robert. The Poetical Works of Owen Meredith. Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1875. 302.)) ―

O weary life.

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

Sunday, 25 August 1861

Rose at 8 ― shameful! ― Bright morning & day throughout, but windy, & noisy sea.

Wrote all the day ― 14 letters.

1 Lady Bethell ― Westbury
2. Gussie Bethell.
3 Mrs. Clive
4 C.M. Church.
5 S.W. Clowes.
6 J. Edwards.
7 Mr. Edwards
8 Holman Hunts
9 Edgar Drummond
10 John Cross.
11 James Hornby.
12
13
14 Mrs. G. Scrivens

& posted all at 6. ― Then went up to Mr. Crakes. Good old Mr. C. wanes fast. ― Mrs. Hamilton is there ― & M.A.C. ― & Mrs. C. ― I went to look over Van’s house, but returned to dine. Mary Ann C.’s behavior to her mother is certainly at times horrid. ― The children are nice enough. ― After dinner, Mr. C. talked of Sicily “Girgenti &c.” ― as clearly as if it were last year he had gone there ― not 1841. ― Later, V.C. came in ―: & poor Mr. C. slept. Sad universal sadness of decay! Alike for all! ――

A sudden death I think is best. ―

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

Saturday, 24 August 1861

La Petraya 1.

Worked very hard all day ― sorting & destroying letters &c. Then, making the Petraia tracing & outline.

At 4 walked to Hastings: the elder Mr. & Mrs. W. Scrivens. Bought various matters: & home by 7. Dined.

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

Friday, 23 August 1861

Breakfast with 40scue at 10 ― pleasant.

At 1.30 to rail with 10 packages ― & at St. Leonards before 5.

Dined at Sussex Hotel.

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

Thursday, 22 August 1861

All day busy. Packed. Drummonds &c.

To city at 5 ― & with W.N. to Woodberry, lonely home now!

He sent me home in Brougham at 10.

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