6 March 1876 – 12 March 1876

Walk with Carlyle and Froude, meet Longman and Spedding. We speak of Ruskin's Fors (' my pets,' money accounts, etc.). St. George's Society, which C. thinks an absurdity, and gives nothing to. Froude says Ruskin lamented to him the way he was brought up — not like other boys, no out-door games, etc. ' I might have had a son of my own and been happy.' I alone into St. James' Park, at liberty to greet the new spring. Cool west wind, leaves budding, almond bushes in bloom ; pleasant (though C. would never admit it !) I to Water Colour Gallery and find Helen. ' Ruskin just gone — introduced himself, thanked me for Carlyle portrait, asked me to do another showing the stronger aspect.'

At Hyde Park Corner meet Browning. ' How odd ! made sure I had just seen you in another part of town and differently dressed. I don't quite believe in dopfelgangers^ Browning asks me about Byron article in Fraser^ and praises it most warmly. ' Shouldn't mind if my name were at iihe bottom of it. Only you did not say half a hundredth part as much as might be said of Byron's baseness and brutality. ' I might have rated Byron higher intellectually than you have done, in some respects, but what you have said of him morally is mild to what he deserves.' He then spoke of Disraeli. ' What a humbug he is ! Won't I give it him one of these days ! ' Royal Academy dinner, Dizzy's speech. ' What struclc him most was " the imagination of the British School of Art, amid ugly streets and dull skies, etc. etc." ' Afterwards Disraeli came up to Browning and said, ' What do you think of this Exhibition } ' Browning wished to hear Disraeli's opinion. Disraeli said — ' What strikes me is the utter and hopeless want of imagination ' (as much as to say, you didn't think me such a fool as I seemed in my speech !) Browning told this to Gladstone, who said pungently, ' It's hellish ! He is like that in the House too — it's hellish!' ' And so it is,' added Browning.