Saturday, 30 November 1861

Florence & Turin Day 2

Perfectly clear & bright again ― all Amethysts & gold.

Worked at the Florence & Turin Outlines all day long, & nearly completed both in pencil. Grew horribly weary & tired.

At 4.20 ― walked out by the Alipu=Potamo ― upper Mandruchio giro. Clouded ― & S. Wind ― depressing & gloomy.

Against my will went & dined at Woolff’s ― Count Henckel & one of the Miss Curcumelly’s only. Horridly bored at dinner, ― the good-natured Counts incessant talk ― & Mrs. W.’s namby=pamby smallness ― & also W.’s fluffy zigzag talk.

After dinner came in Strahan ― & Mrs. W. played most tiresomely. Came away at 10.20 ― as they were setting down the Cards.

Really, were it not solely for the winter ― & the voyage, & the dread of London Darkness &c.  ― I would send the fact of expense gone to to the right about, & leave Corfu at once ―: however I suppose it is better to be patient for 3 months.

So ends November 1861

I hear Aubrey De Vere has come to day.

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

Friday, 29 November 1861

Florence, Turin ― Day 1

Perfectly fine ― but cloudier towards sunset ― so much so that “I had thought that it would have rained.” ―

Breakfast at 9. Placed the tracings of Florence & Turin partly on the Canvasses: a long & tiresome task.

At 4.30 walked out to One gun ― meeting Sir H.J. Storks ― also Woollff who walked back with me, & asked me to dine tomorrow ― wh., I said ‘yes’ to ― having refused twice before. Dressed & at 7 to 4^th in Citadel ― & dined with young Oswald Middleton: ― a pleasant & gentlemanlike lot of Officers. Home by 10½.

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

Thursday, 28 November 1861

The same glorious weather ― & not quite so cold.

Rose at 7. Breakfast at home. Arranged & unpacked all the morning. Count Henckel came ― but I could not have him here much, seeing he walks & whistles. At 2 called on Lady & Sir C. Sargent, they seem nice people, & have a jolly little boy ― & a pleasant niece. At 3 walked with Sir Charles, & with Boyd to Alipu ― crossed to the Potamo bridge ― a very pleasant walk.

At 6 ― dined at Carters ― Count Henckel  , the 3 men of yesterday, & a surgeon of the 4^th. ―

Ate too little & drank too much.

X8

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

Wednesday, 27 November 1861

As brilliant & clear as Earth can show. ― Rose at 7. Paid Turlock ― (Royal Hotel ―) Bill ―― a very well conducted  & quiet Hotel. ― A walk on the Parade with Boyd. /Introduced by Peel to young Storks. ――?) To Casa Παραμυθίοτι, George also. Bolland there, but they are going. While they went out on one side, we spread gradually on the other ―― & so on, all day.

Taylor sent chairs &c. ― & before 5 we really got the whole House into something like order.

At 7 dined at Carter’s. Count Henckel & 3 English there: & a really pleasant park.

Home by 8.30. George tells me Spiro is vy. unwell[.]

Evidently ― one has lived in Corfu 5000000000 years ― if not more.

Slept at Casa Παραμυθίοτι ― for the first time.

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

Tuesday, 26 November 1861

Cold, perfectly bright. & how beautiful!

Breakfast. ―― After wh. ― went to Παραμυθίοτι ― & by degrees unpacked a lot with George: ― only the glass of the long Corfu picture, & one of the Lamp Glasses ― were broken. ― Count Henckel called ― but I suppose I shall not see him much more ― vû, my application. ― At 1.30 walked out ― all by Alipù ― τὰ σκηλιὰ μ’εμποδίζοντας, ((“The dogs obstructing me.” Nina writes: “He says that something was obstructing him, but I am not quite sure what. The steps (σκαλιά)? The dogs (σκυλιά)? His legs (σκέλια)?”)) ― & so by the happy valley  to the Bridge ― (near which I met ―― I suppose M.me Curcumelli & her daughters, very pretty girls anyhow,) & so on by those most amazing Olives to Afra & Curcumelli ― close to which I came on Curcumelli himself. He was not cordial, & barely civil ― & not to be wondered at is that. ‘Gave 3 fingers ― & said only, when I observed I had seen some Ladies & thought them his but could not see ―― “con tanti grand’occhiali?” ((With such big spectacles?)) ―― After which I walked [immer], ((German for “always:” all the time (?). Lear uses his German writing style.)) & quickly: O! those olive groves! ― By Govino ― & so to the upper Potamò road, & to Ποταμὸ ― where I always find the peasants so pleasant. & then by 5.30 to the Hotel. ― Letters from Lord Clermont, 2 from the dear little Fairbairns ― & from dear Daddy Hunt. ― & Ellen. ― dined at the Hotel. The Violent Graham Tory: ― & 3 or 4 juvenile officers: one a nice fellow.

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

Monday, 25 November 1861

Rose before 7.

Sent letters to
W.N.
W.J.N.
& F.L.
J. Edwards
Miss Goldsmid
T. Cooper
& P

From 9 to 11 ― at Dogana, where there was no difficulty about boxes, [Genettà] ― very civil: ― (the other Genentà is in “Queensland.” ― So anything was brought to Casa Παραμυθίοτι), ― & George had to work to it. ― ――― At 12½ called on Barrs, ― & Mrs. Le Mesurier ― most pretty woman. ――

At 1.30 with Count Henckel &c., & I went in old Carter’s carriage to Gastouri, ― & there we from the carriage descended down. ― All the walk by the cliff & gardens! ― Wind too high at the Lake for one to pass over, so I walked round, meeting Sir C. Sargent & Woolff & walking back to Corfu with them. Their stories of the Greeks ― dirt &c. ―

Saw Herbert at the Taylors. ― Dined at the Hotel. A ― Graham, with 2 white dogs. Wonderful asinine Tory! ― spoke of the downfall of Austria ― & their reward & consolation being the fact of never having admitted Jews in their society. Railed at Gladstone, Lord Derby, “Colonel” Storx, & everybody. A young [en]gineer at table ― turned out to be the son of Col. Luard who married Mrs. Briggs: a nice young fellow.

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

Sunday, 24 November 1861

Very dull Scirroco. ― Wrote till Church time. Service shorter ― so best. C.’s sermon a bore. ― Afterwards ― to Oswald Middleton’s ― & lunched too heavily. Hard pouring rain. ― Called at 3.30 ― on Count Henckel ― who expires of dullness. ― At 4 walked to One Gun battery solo. ― Dark ― warm ― damp ―: depressed in spirits.

Dined alone ―― & wrote till 9 or 10.

X7

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

Saturday, 23 November 1861

Fine, but at times cloudy. Rose before 7 ― & wrote out that immense Letter to W.J.N. Breakfast & afterwards to Taylor’s, & Bollands: then to Παραμυθιδε, where I concluded my patto ((Contract.)) ― 5£ a month. Arranged with Giorgio that Χριζὸς is to make various things. ― Went to Citadel with Count Henckel, & with O. Middleton & Capt. Carr to top of Citadel. …… Wrote.

At 3 ― with Count H. to Wolff’s ― & so with them, potius aper, to One gun, whence H.W. & I walked by the olives & the hills by the Race Course home. ― “Walked & talked” with Woolff afterwards ― whereby it seems the aged W. is on bad terms with the young W. ――― Dressing for dinner, Bolland came in; ― in a fuss: ― he is not to get in to his new home till Wednesday, so offers to go with Miss B. in a yacht if I can’t stay till then ― wh. of course I do, as the poor lady has no fault or option. ― So I go at 6.30 to Longhmans ― only the family, save a nephew of Prevesa Saunders. ― friendly & pleasant all, ― but Mrs. L. is dreamier, & the 2 young ladies are not so nice as their sister. Afterwards ― sang ― but what could I do?

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

Friday, 22 November 1861

Rose at 7. What a sunrise! ―― Wrote till 8.30 ― & after breakfast ― A long advice letter to Willie Nevill ― rough copy. ― Count Henckel called: ― I on Col. Bruce. ― umph. ― (saw “Kirkwall.” ―) on Mrs. Herbert, Mrs. Ragnanean, & poor old Countess Valsimachi. ― Then to  the Hotel by 1. ― A great row in the Hotel between runaway drunken Sailors, & Marines sent to fetch them; ― a regular fight ― swords &c. ― & altogether a scandal. ―

At 1.30 with Count George Henckel ― by Manducchio, to Potamò ― & then little Ἀγίου Πανταλαίμονα ((Probably a small church in the area.)) above.

Graf Henckel is a delightful fellow. He has been twice married ― the 2^nd time to his “deceased wife’s sister.” Home by 5. Dressed: a bore. At 7 ― Palace.

How strange all this Palace life! ― And how awfully a bore! ―――― Where after was some piano cum whistling. ―

Away by 9.30. ――― ――――

Δὲν λέγωμεν τίποτες. ((We did not say anything (NB).))

X6

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

 

Thursday, 21 November 1861

If possible, clearer & lovelier all day, than ever before. It certainly is a wonderfully beautiful place.

Rose at 6. At 7½ went to Bollands ― & fixed to take those Line Wall rooms, the expense of the Kastrades house is less ― but it would involve keeping another servant ― as being so far off. ―

Various calls ― Longhmans, Count Henckel, Paramythide, ― & Lady Buller, who looks very ill I think. ― After 2 ― I walked to Mandruchio, ― & back by Casa Landoni, crossing over to the S. Decca Road. The glory of colour! ― the grass-goats, & everything else!

At 6.30 ― dined at the kindly Boyds ―― only Col. Bruce ― H.A. Bruce’s brother there. Col. B. is absurdly like H.J.B. in voice & look ― but not the same otherwise.

Dinner nice & pleasant; after, singing. ―

Charley Boyd: ― a nice clear little chap, ― & much improved.

Talk with Fielding Boyd & Mrs. B. ―

Gorilla to wit. ―

X

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