Monday, 30 June 1862

Rainy early ― & very cold. Finer gray after.

Breakfast ― ¼ after 7 ― dear old Dr. L. ― & all the family, who are certainly bee=like for industry & cheesiness. Pleasant drive with Godfrey L. to [Longhedge]: ― at Stratford Place by 10.

At 1 ― lunch ― unwell ― stupid sleepy. X8

Slept: ― but at 4.30, worked at Miss Goldsmid’s Corfu till 6.30: & did Homer till 7. Then, at 7.20 ― to C. Manbys. An orfil big dinner.

I got on ˇ[pretty] well with my neighbors ― a nice looking & clever woman, & a cousin of Mr. C. Lushington’s first wife: ― but the dinner was long & oppressive. After it I talked with C. Manby ― whose robust jocosity at 58 is pleasant to see. ―

The evening was short. ― Home by 11.30.

X

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

Sunday, 29 June 1862

A sort of fine semi sunshine gray.

Rose at 7. Breakfast 9. ―――― Breakfasts don’t please me, never. ― Afterwards ― talk with G. & V.L.: &c. ― Did not go to church. Talk about the Essays & Reviews Judgment &c. &c. &c. At 12 ― 30. Dr. Lushington came ([having] dined at the Fox Club overnight,) ― the same cheerful kindly old gentleman ― like a man of 25 as to spirits, & modest demeanour  ― & yet he is 80. At 1.30. Lunch: a large & cheerful party. (Very pretty little girl, Ellen, from India.)

At 2. William & I set out to walk ― but the day had changed to dull gray ― & the long lanes & deadly narrow paths between  corn, tired me horribly. ― No light ― no shade. ― At East (Chaldon?) we went out Lord []’s park ― & were nearly kept there.

Later, I declined going up to the “down” (― for it rained) so we came home by Mr. Currie’s ― (West Horsly.) ― & were at Ockham by 6.50. ― Part of the way I was cross & weary.

Evening merry & pleasant ―: afterwards ― letters ― singing. Bed at 11[.]

The Doctor [late at]
Farnley ― &c. &c.

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

Saturday, 28 June 1862

Quite fine early ― & up to 2 P.M. ― afterwards ― gray[.]

Rose ― absurd to relate ― at 4.30. was at work by 5 upstairs ― at the Gastouri painting. Worked till 8 ――

Letters from E. Tennyson, Mrs. Beadon, Simeon & others.

General [Bruce][1] is dead ― a fresh national sorrow.

―― at 9.45 ― came C. Fortescue ― to breakfast ― & I read a very long letter in reply to Lord C.’s. The whole tone of this was excellent ― & I cannot but hope will do good: if Lord C. is not too resolved to see a dark side of this question. No one came after 12 ― & I finished Major Reynolds’ picture ― so I think, at least.

At 3. went to Waterloo Station, & at 4.10 ― left with Godfrey L. ― Mrs. & Miss Russell & others. From Weybridge ― William L. Godfrey, & I & one Cumming L. walked ― arriving at dressing time.

I was too cold to be at all comfortable at first, but grew warmer, & sang after dinner.

frightful cold!

 

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[1] Blotted.

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

Friday, 27 June 1862

Fine.

Rose at 7.30. ―――― Remaining frames came, & hanging of paintings.

G. Scrivens came. After that ― at 11 ― a note from C.F. begging me to go there at once ― & so I did. Lady C. τὸν εἲχε γράψει ἓν ἂσχημον γρᾶμμα[1] & sad talk was there thereon. The letter ― tho’ well meant, was violent & ill-judged. No good could by any possibility have come of it. ― C.F. will write ― & I wish he may do so calmly.

After all this I could do nothing.

At 3.30 Fairbairn called, ― & I think will have the Turin.

At 4.30. I cabbed to W. Evans’s & left a sketch for Mrs. Evans, ― for I broke one of their plates last night. Then I left notes for Mrs. Moon & Mr. Pinder ―

― Pouring rain. Met [Brandling].

Home by 5.30 ―: Bob Martineau then called.

At 6.30 to dine at W.N.’s ― but they didn’t till 7.30.

And ― the dinner went off very tolerably.

Then talk with the Misses Levick from Cairo on “Egypt” was wholly absurd: of the [Lieders] &c. &c. ― very “Levantine” & smashed English. ― Inconceivably ridiculous: ― speaking of a Nubian nurse ― “She was all gracious, & grand of her heart: & diverted her salary to her children.” After dinner, Miss L. played & sang very Levantinely: & shouted with delight at, “we fell out my wife & I.” ― Home by 12. Letters from

J. Simeon.
C. Fortescue.
& dear little Arthur[.]

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[1] Had written him a bad letter (NB).

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

Thursday, 26 June 1862

Fine!!!!!!!

C. Cockburn called & I got the Thermopylæ.

Finished colouring all the 1860 sketches.

Mr. Edward & James, & Mr. Maclean called.

At 2, went out to the City, & left a note on Κ. Νάροκπος Μορφίνος: ― also saw James Salter. Returned ― & called on Mrs. Moon ― out ― & at 5.30 on Lady G. Grey, with whom talked & had tea. Lady Mary & Hon. Eleanor Stanley came in : ― in former days we used to call her “the white maggot” ― at Knowsley, & were snubbed for so doing.

Wrote to Mrs. W.F.B. that I had bought the Thermopylæ.

At 7 ― to the Evans’s: ― a mitigated party: for of the 12 or 15 invited few came. The Gisborne brothers went somewhere else ― “the Gladstones” (?) had not replied, ― & we waited till 8.15 & then sate down without Tom Taylor & Mrs. T.T. who however came with the fish. I thought him a bore ―: & her, far better in act than looks: she sang well, & scientifically ― I, against the grain & ill.

Walked back: aweary. ― Julia Goldsmid is returned ― & writes.

X7

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

Wednesday, 25 June 1862

Gray ― but finer after 2. & warmer.

No-one called. Worked at coloring sketches till 4. Then called on Lady James, Gambier Parry, Cocks, ― Duckworths. ―

Vastly crowded is London now.

At 7.45 ― to Lady Farquhar’s ― one of her large parties

Considering all things ― the dinner was not disagreable. Afterwards there were, Lady F. Grey ― Mrs. Mildmay ― the Granville Vernons &c. &c. &c. &c. &c..

Back by 11.30.

X7

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

Tuesday, 24 June 1862

X6

Dull gray ― but vastly warmer, & afternoon fine ― comparatively.

Col. Cockburn ― came & told me much of poor dear W.F. Beadon’s death. He was quite clear & full of good sense & feeling to the rest. ― I bought back the Thermopylæ for 60£. No “commission” for a painting ― in all my life was so kindly & judiciously given as that. ―

Mr. Whitmore.
F.L.
Col. Hornby.

I coloured the remainder  of the 1860 sketches by degrees, off & on.

And at 4 ― walked across the park to Daddy Hunt’s. Gracious goodness ― those pigeons!

He walked with me ― (he never seems less kindly or more spoiled ―) to Marble Arch ― at nearly 7.

At 7.45 ― went to dine at Sir T. Simeon’s ― & a very pleasant dinner.

I sang a little afterwards.

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

Monday, 23 June 1862

X5

Rose at 6. Very cold: gray. Breakfast 7.30. & with Lawrence, & Wolstenholme ― & Riley went to Station at 8.13 ―. Cab with Lawrence, & home by 9. Coloured Spezzia drawings. ― Hanging frames. Lawson called. & at 2 or 3 ― W.G. Clark, who looke over Mt. Athos views. ― Letter from Dalziell ― who says 4000 of the Bk. of Nonsense are sold, 2000 more printed. ―― At 5 ― walked to the Regent’s Park, ― & the sun shone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christ! What people is this that does not make all the bells to ring when the sun is seen! ――

Called on Mrs. Martineau ― who was out ― but Miss M. was in; & I talked to her awhile, & walked back. ― Coloured sketches again till 7. At 8. ― to Fairbairn’s.

A “mixed party.”

Dinner excellent: company not so. ― A bore. ―

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

Sunday, 22 June 1862

Gray ― & Extremely cold all day: ――

Rose at 6.30 & made an Alphabet for the Decie Baby till 9.

Breakfast ― but I shivered with cold ― horrid! ― & my boles became miserable. ― The Decie baby is a delight of a child. After 11 ― I, Reilly (?) & Laurence walked by the river to Kew ― Vincent & Wolstenholme boating. ― Crossing the Green at Kew was dreadful to me ―: I seemed to see dear Ann at every step! How many sad faults of mine recur to me! yet ― happily ― none she felt as such. ― It is too ridiculous to suppose such a good angel was here for nothing! ― I shall see her again. ―

Returned thro’ Mortlake. The lunch ― at 1.30. ―very jovial hospitable folk! ―― After this ― I finished the baby Alphabet ― till 3.30: ― & then, sate on the lawn with this merry & pleasant family: & had tea in the Conservatory. And, later, a walk with Decies: & talk of the Sargents &c. ― &c. ―

Very pleasant & good dinner. & afterwards, I sang some AT. ―

The day has gone by pleasantly.

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

Saturday, 21 June 1862

Dull gray ― no sun is ever seen.

Foord’s people came to cover doors &c. &c. ―

Lady Clermont & another lady came  at 11. & just then C.F. also by chance ― who says the D. says he can’t speak of the Cedars to H.R.H. as he don’t care for pictures at all. Afterwards, Sir F. Goldsmid called. Then ― Hon. Charles Harris ― a nice fellow ― & bringing back memories of Corfû. ―― After the room was put in order, I called (at 4) on Mrs. Charles Harris, ― a pleasant nice woman. ― And at 5 ― I went to Waterloo Station ― waiting till ˇ[the]6.15 train, wh. brought me to Barnes ― where were Spencer Vincent & Mrs. Prescott’s brother ― Wolstenholme.

We walke to “Clarence.” Mr. P. a hearty gentlemanly man; ― & Decie. ―― Luggage only came at 7.15 ― so dressing was a hurry, & dinner was begun. ―

Dinner good ― but I was shy & stupid. ――

Mrs. P. ― & at 11 ― ᾽ς  τὸ κρεββάτι.[1]

 

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[1] To bed.

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