Saturday, 31 October 1863

Awful cold: awful storms: ― awful wind & rain.

Rose at 7. cold. Sun gleams & violent rain, & most lovely effects of light & shade on bright yellow & green elms & dark glade ― with flecky starlike deer. Arranged subscribers’ names till 9.45. Examined house ― full of objects ― an ancient R.C. place. Queen Mary’s (Scot) chemise, Cardl. York’s hair &c. &c. Breakfast very sociable  & nice. Afterwards, walk with Sir F. about the grounds ― laid out by Capability Brown ― wonderfully well. Much reminds me of Nuneham on a smaller scale. ― Rain, ― vastly cold I ― & return. ― Settled for the day: wrote preface in Drawing room ― greatly helped by Julian Goldsmid.

Towards 4 or 5 ― played a good deal ― & we made efforts to sing “rounds.” ― Talk till 6.30. Dinner

Evening ― all talk ― till 11. As I said from the first, a more home-like & intellectual lot can’t be found. ―

---

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

Friday, 30 October 1863

Gray ― dull. pouring rain from 2 to 4. ― then very cold.

Went early to Jones’s & to Dickenson. ―

Many letters ― & 10 new subscribers ― Lord & Lady Derby among them. Home by 11 ― when Florence Bethell, & a Mrs. Edwards came ― & staid till 12.30. looking at drawings. Merry nice women ― and intelligent. Remainder packing & writing ― & then just as I was going ― came good Lady Anna & Lady Mary Legge. What kind hearted women are those!!!

At 2.5 ― set off to Rail. 2.45 ― Rail ― at Reading came in Col. Blandy (?― who used to be Major of the [Bax] Militia. pleasant fellow. Alone from Pangbourne to [Farringfd Road] ― there by 5.25. Found a Fly sent for me ― long & cold 6 mile drive: numbed & chilled. At Buckland House, a [flask] of the [illegible] ― by 6.15. Found all very friendly. But wish Julia G. were here. Dinner

Pleasant & chatty. Evening also. Sang ― &c. &c. But the place is cold, & I am the same.

---

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

Thursday, 29 October 1863

Fine ― but with showers.

Polished off the remaining letters: packed, secreted & simplified rooms. Young Underhill came ― he is an attentive & careful youth, & worth the trouble of teaching.

At 2.30. went to Drummon’s, where I drew out 10£ ― & to Mcleans: the ancient McLean ― jocose & hearty: & pleased at publishing my one print. ― Then ― (rain, & cab,) to Days ― where were arrangements for publishing ― & overseeing of title writing. Walked ― at 4.30 to Piccadilly ― changing cold ― very. Hair cut. ― Home.

Letter from Miss Dennett ― very nice.

7.30 ― to Portland Place.

Which had been pleasant, had not the fire gone out, whereby I grew cold ― & was only partially restored by a smoking room.

Poor A. Peel!

Walked home by 11.30.

Found letters from C. Fortescue: ― & Craven (from Corfû) the latter very sad & weary.

13 subscribers today ― which are at 159.

---

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

Wednesday, 28 October 1863

Dark early ― fine later.

Wrote till 1: ― then having completed 326 letters ― began to pack ― fold ― & penny post them. Dreary work.

A. Peel came.

At 6.30 to T. Wyatt’s ― Constance’s state evidently gives them gt. anxiety. Perhaps this ― perhaps that I was uncomfortable ― stupefied & vexed ― somehow the evening was not as pleasant as usual.

Home by 10.30 ― & sate up till 2.30 folding these awful letters. ―

When was Ruth uncivil to Boaz?

When she she trod on his Corn & pulled his ears.

---

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

Tuesday, 27 October 1863

Foggy ― dark ― day.

Wrote all day.

E. Wolstenholme came.

Have finished 270 letters ― but there are 55 yet to write.

Ἐγευμάτισα μοναχῶς ἰς τας ἐπτὰ. Ὦ! τί Ζωή![1]

XX

 

---

[1] Dined alone at 7. Oh, what a life! (NB).

---

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

Monday, 26 October 1863

Very lovely ― bright & clear.

No fresh subscribers.

Wrote [during] the day ― 85 letters ― many of them close ˇ[on] 2 pages of writing.

Wade Browne came & interrupted me somewhat.

Dined alone.

Bed at 11.

Did anny boddy ever see sich a life?

---

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

Sunday, 25 October 1863

Wonderfully fine all day ― but I never stirred out of the door.

For ― ‘right or wrong[’] ― having gone in for this Subscription ― the matter can’t be [blinked]: ― & as the 350 letters must be various & polite ― & friendly ― & respectful, & what not, it is necessary pour y mettre la tête. Of course one isn’t to set to work at writing as good letters as one can, but they must be concise & decent.

So I worked hard all day: stopped at 5 ― & walked about the room: & at 5.45 ― dined: ― writing again till 10 ― by which time I had finished 100 ― & huming nature could no more. ―

But this is my last subscription work ― come what will.

As I wrote the letters alphabetically, the confusion of circumstance is odd enough.

[Was it! Then what was (“Corsica)” ― 1868][1]

 

---

[1] Clearly added later in a different pen.

---

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

Saturday, 24 October 1863

Work is over now.

A foggy but not unpleasant day. Clowes & [his] Miss Cavendish came. she is far prettier than the Photograph ― & has the sweetest voice: & is altogether of a high-bred manner ˇ[mixed] with perfect simpleness: in fact ― a real duck.

Lawson also came.

I arranged drawings ― & wrote lots of Envelopes.

Walked to Baring’s & called there.

Dined at 6.30.

Wrote envelopes ― to the tune of 330! ― What labour! ― & even yet the subscribers are only up to 138.

I began fires to day.

---

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

Friday, 23 October 1863

Very fine ― & regular moonlight at night.

Finished the “Citadel” Lithograph. ―

S. Vincent called ― a good fellow & pleasant, & clever. ――

At 5 ― walked to T. Wyatt’s: Constance Wyatt’s health makes all anxious.

At 7.30 to Portland Place.

Very conversational & good, in all ways. Smoking afterwards ― & came home by 12.30 ― or 12.45.

Poor A. Peel ― & Palmer!

---

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

Thursday, 22 October 1863

Very fine.

4 subscribers ― 129.

Worked tolerably all day ― at the odd long Citadel Lithograph.

Vernon Lushington called & brought the small £10.10.0 Janina.

S.W. Clowes called later.

Did not go out.

At 7. To Digby Wyatts ―

Evening & dinner all delightful. But the little green bird is dead. ― J. Fergusson walked to Regent St. μαζὺ μου.[1] Home by 11.30[.]

Found Ansted’s book on the 7. Islands.[2]

6X

 

---

[1] With me (ΝΒ).

[2] Ansted, David Thomas. The Ionian Islands in the Year 1863. London: Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1863. The book mentions Lear on pp. 47-8: “… This course was suggested to me by Mr. Lear, an artist, whose accurate and conscientious pictures of Corfu are well known, and who, fortunately for me, very kindly undertook to accompany me in my first drive.”

---

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