Wednesday, 31 August 1864

Rain & cloud till 2 or 3 ― then sun & clear.

Very pleasant letter from Lucy Francillon. ― one from Ellen also ― Henry is ill & breaking.

from Gussie Bethell also & others.

Worked all day ― at Sir W.J.’s Campagna, 3^rd day ― & rather better.

Sir H.J. Storks came: he goes to Malta, & on the 14^th Oct. if not earlier. Strahan & Baring go as A.D.C.’s & John Peel as Mil^ry Sec^ry.

Dined at home ― not going out at all. ―

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

Tuesday, 30 August 1864

X12. ―

Very fine day.

Ill & sad all day.

Worked at the new Villa Gordianorum[1] ― placing it on canvass. 1^st day.

F.L. came at & staid to 6.30.

Did not go out.

Penned out[.]

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[1] Villa Gordiani, in Rome, takes its name from the imperial family of the III century AD, whose residence was supposed to have been there.

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

Monday, 29 August 1864

Rose at 6.45 ― arranged for painting &c. ― till 8.

Nice letter from Taylor ― very. He encloses Beale’s bill ― & his own ― & a cheque for 6£ over & above his own account paid. The 7 cases were shipped by the “Crimœan” ― 18th or 20th. ― Would I had left all my things there! ―― Letter also from Gussie Bethell, asking me there on Saturday; & from F.L. ― whose wife is not so well.

Worked ― mainly ― all day ― tho’ not always successfully ― at the Campagna of Sir S. James (2nd day.)

At 5. went out, to various places ― Robersons, Lee’s ― &c. &c.

Dined μοναχῶς at 8 ― penned out old Campagna drawings afterwards ― & now bed at 11.

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

Sunday, 28 August 1864

Cloudy ― cold ― dry ― gleamy. Medicine.

Wrote lots all the morning ― to G. Cocali, Mrs. Francillon, Clark (W.G.) & others. Then I drew in & ruled all the Acqueducts & the Tower in Sir W. James’s Campagna ― after which I suddenly commenced 6 of the 3rd size next year Watercolored drawings ― & actually outlined all 6. ― At 5 then, I went to call on Sir H.J. Storks ― but he was not in. Yet Cecil Lane was ― by a lucky chance, calling there also. (Giorgio ― Constantino’s brother opened the door ― for Sir H.J. has brought the Palace servants here: “being a kind-hearted man.”) So, C. Lane walked with me all to Brompton, & kindly waited for me which I went in at 1, Trafalgar Square. Poor Fanny Coomber really did break the knee tendon yesterday, & is in bed for 4 or 6 weeks ― if ˇ[even] the lameness is not for always. I saw Fanny Catt (Willett, ― & Marion Morse: how odd![)] C. Lane walked back with me to Assley House, & then I cabbed home. At 7.30 ― taking “Parrots” & “Knowsley Menagerie” I went to 61. Eaton Square where also I dined this day last year. ―

Always delightful[.]

Cabman, who went wrong, said, “Please Sir excuse me, I am a beginner.” Home by 11.30.

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

Saturday, 27 August 1864

Rose at 5.30. ― Arranged for painting, & various matters ― (sticking pins into canvass &c. &c. &c. &c. ―) which took me to 8. ―― No letters.

Began Sir W. James’s Campagna outline. At 1. came Mrs. Coombe. (I had asked her & her ) 3 daughter & Walter to lunch ― because I could not go there by day ― & she had written, “Yes.” ― But, in coming here, she had hurt her knee very badly ― & could hardly walk at all. Laura Coombe came later, ― & later Walter Coombe, who seems to be by far the best son poor Fanny has. ―

She was calm & quiet ― when still: ― & we 4 had Lunch very pleasantly ― Fanny Catt=Willett & Marion Morse not being able to come; & then we got Mrs. C. down stairs & into a cab.

I worked on till 5, when Cecil Lane came, & at 6, when I was ready to go out, F.L. So we 3, the Giudice,[1] A.D.C. & Artist of 1856 ― walked merrily moonily back to F.L.’s house: & C. Lane & I back to Stratford Place, ― where we parted.

Dined μοναχῶς.

Eh but I think I shall return gradually to Greece.

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[1] Judge.

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

Friday, 26 August 1864

Fine, but cold. Sad, & depressed. ―

Rose at 6. They are new=fronting the house (No. 10) opposite so the noise wakes me. There was “also” sunbeams. (One has not been badly off for sun this year.)

Painted all day at the Janina ― not very well ―but not very badly. At 6 ― came Mrs. Douglas Galton & Mrs. Cameron Galton.

Hem.

Dined alone at 7.30.

& wrote a bit afterwards.

But it is now, 10.30, ― ὰς εἶναι καιρός νὰ πηγαίνω εἰς τὸ κρεββάτι μου.[1]

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[1] It’s time for me to go to bed (NB).

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

Thursday, 25 August 1864

Fine ― but cloudy. Rose before 6 ― & wrote till breakfast. Afterwards, from 9.30, to 5.30, worked pretty constantly at the Jánina ― improving it very much; at 3.30 ― Cecil Lane having come in, he sate with me till 5.30 ― when we walked as far as the Z. Gardens & back.

To 61. Eaton Place to dine.

Very pleasant, but it is too early for fires ― albeit it is really colder then I like. The R.s are kindly thorough-good people. Home by 11.

(X11)

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

Wednesday, 24 August 1864

Rose at 6 ― & wrote to Mrs. G. Clive.

The Cretan labour is done.

Si I set to work on the Janina ― at the Jumerka Mountain.

When I woke ― one of those absurd ideas which are the nearest approach I ever have to dreams, & which come as I wake in fits of laughter, ― presented itself. What, thought I, if Lady W., Sir F.G. ― Mr. Morrison & Mr. Tipping all come at once & each buying one or two pictures ―clear off all my study? ― At 2 ― absurdly enough Sir G. Goldsmid actually did come: & just after, Lady W. & C.F. But neither bought anything ― so the prophetic bosh was not all foolfilled. Lady W. absolutely looked younger than C.F. who seemed very harassed & nervous. Worked on at the Janina till nearly 7. Then dined alone ― reading ― & now, 9.30 ― Ἔτοιμος εἷμαι νὰ κοιμιοι δῶι.[1] ― But, while writing to F.L. ― came Holman Hunt: ― from Cambridge [last]. Much talk of the Fairbairns ― & the portrait. Poor Daddy is very much altered in many ways ― but no wonder. I wish he would go abroad. He left at 10.30.

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[1] I am ready to sleep.

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

Tuesday, 23 August 1864

Wet ― all day pretty well ―at least till 5.

Rose at 5 ― & instantly began colouring the last 2 Dozen of Cretan drawings ― which I worked at terrifically all day ― & actually finished the last at 6. P.M. ― 75 in one Dozen ― & 42 in the other!! ― I can hardly believe all are done! ― Just as I was completing the very last, Cecil Lane! Came ― & staid till 7.15. Good fellow. ―

Eh! the days that are no more!

Dined alone. Mrs. Cooper & the little Girl have gone to the Country, but T.C. works very well.

Afterwards, arranged & packed all the rest of the drawings, & now 4 Dozen are ready for mounting.

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

Monday, 22 August 1864

Awake from 2 to 4 ― but slept, & rose feeling better at 8.

A letter from the Suliot ― very long, & very nice: the furniture is sold, & the cases are to come. Spiro, who is at Athens, is to see to the roba left at Pirœus.

As yet they have decided nothing as to going from Corfu, or staying. G. says, all is very quiet. It is a comfort to hear from that good man. He says ― “let us go again to Crete ― Gitzo, zitzo.” ― There was a note also from Mrs. Tipping ― very kind & pleasant.

No news yet of the upper room, & M.D. Santos. I worked very hard all day ― no one calling ― at coloring the penned-out Cretans, & actually completed 2 of the 4 Dozen: 39 in one, & 40 in the other! At 7. went to the Blue Posts & dined. The day has been gray & cloudy. Wade-Browne, with whom I was to dine, sent to say don’t come, along of his cook being away. I could find in my heart to go back to Corfû.

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