Monday, 31 March 1862

Very fine all day.

Endeavored vainly to get my things upstairs early ― but the Cravens began to move at 10, & did not get out till 3 ――― a great bore. ― Then, I, & George, & the Muto, & 2 Ἑβραίοι rushed up & down violently & got every thing in by 5 ― & by 6 I had dressed, & was walking with Decie to the De Veres.

(It was not very bright when we met the Herberts & another lady, whom I, thinking her to be Miss Bolland ― shook warmly by the hand, & lo! it was Lady Inglis, whom I had never seen!)

Dinner & evening pleasant. Mrs. [Dollen] returned from Malta: the Decies & Luard only. We all drove back together ―: the Decies go tomorrow.

Letter from C.F. ― by the Ancona boat, containing one from Lord Clarendon, saying that Woolner should not be overlooked.

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

Sunday, 30 March 1862

Clearer. ― but a painful scirocco all day[.]

Neither the Ancona boat due yesterday ― nor the Alexandrian are in yet ― 11 A.M. ―

Wrote to F.L. but was upset by noise & bother. ―

At 3 went to Miss Goldsmids, & with her & Mrs. N. to Ἀνάλειψις & Πταμῶ.

I walked back thence.

Dined at Sir C. Sargents ― only Major Peel there. Evening not very unpleasant. ―

Delightful letters from

W. Nevill &
Mrs. Geoff Hornby.

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

Saturday, 29 March 1862

Scirocco ― & misty ― but finer.

X.  What an incessant nuisance.

Did not go out all day, but penned out the Ἀνάλειψις drawings.

Captn. Balfour, ― & Majr. Buchanan called.

At 4.30 ― a small σεισμὸς ― all the bells rang.

At 7 to Miss Goldsmid’s ― pleasant dinner & evening. She wants pictures of

Corfu
Jerusalem
Amalfi
& Constantinople.

Home by 10.30.

Another Earthquake at [at 2, & again at] 2.30 A.M.: ――― small also. ―

Very depressing oppression day all through [sic].

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

Friday, 28 March 1862

Very warm ― & cloudy ― scirocco.

Packed. At 10.30, came Sir H.J. Storks & Straham & derniered the pixurs. Afterwards, Miss Julia G. & her maid.

At 2.30 ― to 3.30. 2 Ἑβραίοι[1] came & moved 25 objects ― tables, boxes, &c., upstairs. At 3.40 ― went out.

Walked the long round ― slowly: a dreary [stark] scirocco, & wind, & some rain.

Called to know how the Kokalini were ― all going on well.

At 7 to the Decies; they are packing up ― & we dined roughly in the small room of the Bolland’s, ― but the evening was very pleasant.

As the painters are in all the rooms but the west one, G.’s, & the kitchen, ― I am not over comfortable ― but on Monday hope to be straight.

 

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[1] Jews.

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

Thursday, 27 March 1862

Fine ― but gray ― An Earthquake at 4.45 A.M. ― not that I felt it ― but then as did, did.

Penned out a very little: notes to Sir H.J. Storks, Decies, & Miss G. ― G. Paramythiotti came: Greece he says, [wuss]; ― Cravens, he wishes to go ― having engaged the rooms to Italian Consul by the 1^st ― I go to Mrs. Craven ― & am to get their Landlord’s to let them stay till Monday. Meanwhile I move everything into my bedroom & the passages ― & clear all the rest, barring the picture room. And, at 4 ― go out to Casa Candoni.

There were Mrs. W. ― & her little boy ― Fizzy ――: & Miss Ευφροσύνη Κυρκυμέλλο ― & A.D.C. Straham.

Walked back by 6.30.

Dined at the Palace.

These 3 were young men ― unbeknown to me. ― I vow, dining with Gov[rs]. is not easy: if one is silent ― one is dummy: if talking ― trenching on disastrous freedom. However, the dinner was pleasantish. ―

Talk of the Lushingtons with Sir H.J. who was at school at Hanwell ― with Dr. Morgan ― father of Mrs. F.L. & lo! Mrs. M. was supposed to be Frank’s father’s daughter ― whereby Kate M. is his niece!!!!!!!!!! ―――― I remained

X9[1]

as stolid as possible under this ― yet must have shown interest. Returning ― could not get in ― G. out, but he soon returned. ― Met Bruce today ― a bore.

 

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[1] The rest of the passage is written on the previous page, for 26 March.

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

Wednesday, 26 March 1862

Fine ― al solito.

X8

Rose at 6.30 ― & resolved to begin a new system ― café at 7. Painted a little at Joánnina, but Gio. Παραμυθιόττι coming, & telling me that he hoped to get this floor ready by the 1^st ― induced me to leave off work ― & pack up all my drawings &c.

Dined at 12.30.

At 3 went up & saw Mrs. Maude ― poor good little woman. ―

A curiously weary day, this ―

I walked to Ascension at 3 ― drawing at 2 or 3 places till 6.15 ― then returning slowly & by a round, ― & home by near 8 ― when I had an ommellette ommelette ― & a bottle of beer. But this 12 o’clock dinner arrangement didn’t do.

A wonderful beauty in Ἀνάλειψις.

X

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

Tuesday, 25 March 1862

Perfect calm & brightness all day.

Slept. (wh. is something.)

Painted ― at Jánina, ― till 12 ― when ― Mrs. & Miss Ragnanean, good Mrs. Boyd, & their friends came, & later Boyd: they are persons it is a pleasure to shew pictures to.

Not well all day.

At 3.30 ― went to Ascension, & drew till 5.50, or 6. Then, with Capt. Balfour, walked back ― by 6.45.

Ah! The surprising=endless beauty of Ἀνάλειψις!

Upstairs to Cravens. ― Mrs. C. ― & he ― & I. Along of Nurses ― well & good ― & babies, καλὰ.[1] ― But later, when it came to personal scandal, Lady S―― to wit. I blazed up, & said I would not hear it. But we “ended friendly.” ― But what a life of matrimony! ―

O criki! ―

“Let us alone.”

(Col. B.’s opinion of AT. ―

“No poet & a drunkard ―”

Why ― this is worse than Lord Westbury’s! ―)

 

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[1] Good (NB).

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

Monday, 24 March 1862

Perfect calmness & brightness all day.

Slept ― for a wonder ― the first for many a night: in the room next to study.[1]

Worked at Jánina ― till 1. when the Maude noises began, & drove me away. ―

Sent 3 green frogs & 2 Trap Spiders to Mrs. Naylor. It grieves me to see so little of Miss Goldsmid ― but what else can I do?

At 2.30 ― Letters from F.L. ― & William Lushington ― both delightful: the latter particularly, ― & unexpected ― also from Dickenson, ― the 2 pictures were in the Exhibition International.

“Sta a veder”[2] ― as Giovannino the good used to say.

Went to Ascension at 3, & drew in those wondrous olive-groves till 6.15. ― Golden sunset. ―

Home by 7.15. Dined at 7.35.

Penned out till 10.30.

Letter writing out of the question ― yet if one had but a days ― a whole day’s quiet!! ―

Karalambi is better.

 

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[1] This paragraph appears after the next one, circled and connected to this position by an arrow.

[2] Wait and see.

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

Sunday, 23 March 1862

Lovely fine again.

No sleep last night: that disgusting little ass walking about, & his dogs fleacing themselves all night. So I had my bed moved once more: ― the length & strength of suffering of this winter through this noisy house! ― Post brought a letter from Lady Waldegrave! ― & the Sat. Review.

Bad headache from upstairs noise ― so could not write. But I penned out somewhat.

At 2 called on the Decies, where were Luards & De Vere ― & we are all to dine at the Casino ― for the last time all together. Staid with them till 3 ― then to church. ― The New Genl. Always goes to church. Clarke said of him ―― “this General keels! ― I never knew that Generals knelt!” ―――

Craven preached ― & well. ――

Came home, & penned till 6. Then to Luard, & with him to the Casino. Extremely pleasant dinner ― the 2 Decies, ― Majr. Buchanan ― Luard, I, & De Vere padrone[1] ― very merry by [rise].  Discourse of “Beef” & “Mutton,” ― which was best. ― Afterwards sang a good deal. The D.s & B. went at 10.20 ― Luard & I staid till 11.20. Home by 12. ―

Beef ―	Roast	Mutton ―	roast
	Boiled		Boiled
	Steamed hashed		Hashed
	Salt		Irish stew ―
	Steaks		Haricot
	Tea		Broth.
	Ox tail soup		Pie.
	Marrow bones ―		Chops
	minced veal.		cutlets ―
	Pie		brains ― head
	Calves foot ―
	Jolly

 

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[1] Landlord, or master.

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

Saturday, 22 March 1862

Violent storms ― thunder & lightning & rain till 2 or 3 ― afterwards ― calmer ― with rain at times: fine at sunset.

Little or no sleep last night. The noise of the people below & above, ― & at 2 or 3 A.M. a storm of wind, & corresponding fuss of doors & sportelli.[1]

G. came in at 6 or 7. Καραλάμβι is doing well.

Worked very hard all day at Olympus & not badly ― apparently ―― going up only to see the Cravens, at 2. ―

Did not go out at all: worked till 6.15.

Dined at 7.30[.]

Penned out till 10.30.

(Lerici & S. Erenzo drawings.)

Neither the Alexandria nor the Ancona boat in. ― no nothing.

X7

 

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[1] Window shutters.

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