[39]Referring to Leighton's painting of "Helen of Troy," exhibited in 1865, Mr. Martin Tupper wrote:—Albury House, Nr. Guilford,May 23, 1865.Dear Sir,—It is just possible that the following few words of comment upon your wonderfully spiritualised "Helen of Troy" may be acceptable to you from the undersigned.The "Helen" of Euripides is very little read amongst us, and yet it is as strangely sensational as "The Woman in White": there being two Helens in the play, the real substantial wife remaining faithful to Menelaus in the island of Pharos, while Juno gives to Paris—out of jealous rage at him for his "judgment" in favour of Venus—"an image composed of ether" in the likeness of Helen.This Ethereal Presence you have so exquisitely portrayed that it is probable you know the play! only that I think you would then have quoted from it in the R.A. catalogue, in explanation of what confuses some of your ignorant reviewers as to this embodied spirit.The counterfeit Helen was of "unsubstantial air," a figure marvellously rendered in your picture, and which I can fully appreciate: and you quote a very apposite passage from Lord Derby's "Homer," as that which you illustrate; but if there are reprints of the catalogue, I would suggest the addition of a line from Euripides, as thus:—"Juno to Paris gave me—yet not me,But in my semblance formed a living imageComposed of ether."Wodhall'sEur. Hel.If haply you do not know the book, inquire at Longman's for the fifth volume of the Greek Tragic Theatre (in English); or, should you prefer it, of course it is extant in the Greek. If not easily attainable in London, I shall be happy to lend you the volume by post. Congratulating you on your difficult and exquisite achievement—I am, dear sir, truly yours,Martin F. Tupper.F. Leighton, Esq.
[39]Referring to Leighton's painting of "Helen of Troy," exhibited in 1865, Mr. Martin Tupper wrote:—
Albury House, Nr. Guilford,May 23, 1865.Dear Sir,—It is just possible that the following few words of comment upon your wonderfully spiritualised "Helen of Troy" may be acceptable to you from the undersigned.The "Helen" of Euripides is very little read amongst us, and yet it is as strangely sensational as "The Woman in White": there being two Helens in the play, the real substantial wife remaining faithful to Menelaus in the island of Pharos, while Juno gives to Paris—out of jealous rage at him for his "judgment" in favour of Venus—"an image composed of ether" in the likeness of Helen.This Ethereal Presence you have so exquisitely portrayed that it is probable you know the play! only that I think you would then have quoted from it in the R.A. catalogue, in explanation of what confuses some of your ignorant reviewers as to this embodied spirit.The counterfeit Helen was of "unsubstantial air," a figure marvellously rendered in your picture, and which I can fully appreciate: and you quote a very apposite passage from Lord Derby's "Homer," as that which you illustrate; but if there are reprints of the catalogue, I would suggest the addition of a line from Euripides, as thus:—"Juno to Paris gave me—yet not me,But in my semblance formed a living imageComposed of ether."Wodhall'sEur. Hel.If haply you do not know the book, inquire at Longman's for the fifth volume of the Greek Tragic Theatre (in English); or, should you prefer it, of course it is extant in the Greek. If not easily attainable in London, I shall be happy to lend you the volume by post. Congratulating you on your difficult and exquisite achievement—I am, dear sir, truly yours,Martin F. Tupper.F. Leighton, Esq.
Albury House, Nr. Guilford,May 23, 1865.
Dear Sir,—It is just possible that the following few words of comment upon your wonderfully spiritualised "Helen of Troy" may be acceptable to you from the undersigned.
The "Helen" of Euripides is very little read amongst us, and yet it is as strangely sensational as "The Woman in White": there being two Helens in the play, the real substantial wife remaining faithful to Menelaus in the island of Pharos, while Juno gives to Paris—out of jealous rage at him for his "judgment" in favour of Venus—"an image composed of ether" in the likeness of Helen.
This Ethereal Presence you have so exquisitely portrayed that it is probable you know the play! only that I think you would then have quoted from it in the R.A. catalogue, in explanation of what confuses some of your ignorant reviewers as to this embodied spirit.
The counterfeit Helen was of "unsubstantial air," a figure marvellously rendered in your picture, and which I can fully appreciate: and you quote a very apposite passage from Lord Derby's "Homer," as that which you illustrate; but if there are reprints of the catalogue, I would suggest the addition of a line from Euripides, as thus:—
"Juno to Paris gave me—yet not me,But in my semblance formed a living imageComposed of ether."Wodhall'sEur. Hel.
"Juno to Paris gave me—yet not me,But in my semblance formed a living imageComposed of ether."Wodhall'sEur. Hel.
If haply you do not know the book, inquire at Longman's for the fifth volume of the Greek Tragic Theatre (in English); or, should you prefer it, of course it is extant in the Greek. If not easily attainable in London, I shall be happy to lend you the volume by post. Congratulating you on your difficult and exquisite achievement—I am, dear sir, truly yours,
Martin F. Tupper.
F. Leighton, Esq.
[40]Warnford Cottage,Bishop's Waltham.My dear Mr. Leighton,—I was very sorry indeed when I returned to Park Place on Sunday evening and found that you had been so kind as to call upon me.I have not ventured to intrude upon you in your late affliction with the expression of a sympathy which cannot have much value for you, but had I seen you when you called I should hardly have refrained from telling you how sincerely I feel for your sorrow.—Pray believe me, yours always most truly,Fanny Kemble.Warnford,Thursday, 2nd.Forest Bank,Lyndhurst.My dear Leighton,—I cannot let the post go out without offering you my sincere sympathy on your loss. I know how deeply attached you were to your mother, and am very sure the bereavement is a heavy grief to you. You are right in saying that to me your sorrow comes especially home. My mother sends you her affectionate love, and we both beg you to remember that, whenever you have a few spare days and want quiet, you must consider this home as a temporary home.—Believe me always, in all affection, yours,Hamilton Aïdé.My dear Leighton,—I must write to you to express the grief both myself and my wife felt on hearing of the loss which has befallen you. I am well aware that no words can afford consolation against such afflictions, but I should be sorry if you had construed silence into want of sympathy. If you have time I should be glad to hear from you, and to know how may be your father, from whom I have received on every occasion so much kindness. You have much distress to go through, for death has recently touched you in many ways by striking your own family, your friends, and imperilling others to a degree that must have inspired every pain it can produce.Good-bye, my dear Leighton; remember me to your father, and express to him my deep sympathy with him in his misfortune.—Yours ever affectionately,W.C. Cartwright.Palazzi Giorgi, Rome,January 31.13 Eaton Place (West),Tuesday, January 17, 1865.My dear Leighton,—I heard at the Marqs', on Sunday, of your late bereavement; and, as perhaps the one of all your many friends whose mind the most habitually dwells among thoughts of loss and deprivation, I can assure you of thought of it with sincere concern and sympathy, and just write a line to say so. There is nothing to be said, I well know, which is of any immediate good or alleviation, and time only strengthens affectionate recollection: but after a time, among gentler thoughts which will come, I hope you will, as you may justly, find comfort in thinking that your mother's life was spared so as to permit her to be cheered by the certainty of your success. This is much—especially to a woman's heart.—Faithfully and sincerely yours,Henry J. Chorley.
[40]
Warnford Cottage,Bishop's Waltham.My dear Mr. Leighton,—I was very sorry indeed when I returned to Park Place on Sunday evening and found that you had been so kind as to call upon me.I have not ventured to intrude upon you in your late affliction with the expression of a sympathy which cannot have much value for you, but had I seen you when you called I should hardly have refrained from telling you how sincerely I feel for your sorrow.—Pray believe me, yours always most truly,Fanny Kemble.Warnford,Thursday, 2nd.
Warnford Cottage,Bishop's Waltham.
My dear Mr. Leighton,—I was very sorry indeed when I returned to Park Place on Sunday evening and found that you had been so kind as to call upon me.
I have not ventured to intrude upon you in your late affliction with the expression of a sympathy which cannot have much value for you, but had I seen you when you called I should hardly have refrained from telling you how sincerely I feel for your sorrow.—Pray believe me, yours always most truly,
Fanny Kemble.
Warnford,Thursday, 2nd.
Forest Bank,Lyndhurst.My dear Leighton,—I cannot let the post go out without offering you my sincere sympathy on your loss. I know how deeply attached you were to your mother, and am very sure the bereavement is a heavy grief to you. You are right in saying that to me your sorrow comes especially home. My mother sends you her affectionate love, and we both beg you to remember that, whenever you have a few spare days and want quiet, you must consider this home as a temporary home.—Believe me always, in all affection, yours,Hamilton Aïdé.
Forest Bank,Lyndhurst.
My dear Leighton,—I cannot let the post go out without offering you my sincere sympathy on your loss. I know how deeply attached you were to your mother, and am very sure the bereavement is a heavy grief to you. You are right in saying that to me your sorrow comes especially home. My mother sends you her affectionate love, and we both beg you to remember that, whenever you have a few spare days and want quiet, you must consider this home as a temporary home.—Believe me always, in all affection, yours,
Hamilton Aïdé.
My dear Leighton,—I must write to you to express the grief both myself and my wife felt on hearing of the loss which has befallen you. I am well aware that no words can afford consolation against such afflictions, but I should be sorry if you had construed silence into want of sympathy. If you have time I should be glad to hear from you, and to know how may be your father, from whom I have received on every occasion so much kindness. You have much distress to go through, for death has recently touched you in many ways by striking your own family, your friends, and imperilling others to a degree that must have inspired every pain it can produce.Good-bye, my dear Leighton; remember me to your father, and express to him my deep sympathy with him in his misfortune.—Yours ever affectionately,W.C. Cartwright.Palazzi Giorgi, Rome,January 31.
My dear Leighton,—I must write to you to express the grief both myself and my wife felt on hearing of the loss which has befallen you. I am well aware that no words can afford consolation against such afflictions, but I should be sorry if you had construed silence into want of sympathy. If you have time I should be glad to hear from you, and to know how may be your father, from whom I have received on every occasion so much kindness. You have much distress to go through, for death has recently touched you in many ways by striking your own family, your friends, and imperilling others to a degree that must have inspired every pain it can produce.
Good-bye, my dear Leighton; remember me to your father, and express to him my deep sympathy with him in his misfortune.—Yours ever affectionately,
W.C. Cartwright.
Palazzi Giorgi, Rome,January 31.
13 Eaton Place (West),Tuesday, January 17, 1865.My dear Leighton,—I heard at the Marqs', on Sunday, of your late bereavement; and, as perhaps the one of all your many friends whose mind the most habitually dwells among thoughts of loss and deprivation, I can assure you of thought of it with sincere concern and sympathy, and just write a line to say so. There is nothing to be said, I well know, which is of any immediate good or alleviation, and time only strengthens affectionate recollection: but after a time, among gentler thoughts which will come, I hope you will, as you may justly, find comfort in thinking that your mother's life was spared so as to permit her to be cheered by the certainty of your success. This is much—especially to a woman's heart.—Faithfully and sincerely yours,Henry J. Chorley.
13 Eaton Place (West),Tuesday, January 17, 1865.
My dear Leighton,—I heard at the Marqs', on Sunday, of your late bereavement; and, as perhaps the one of all your many friends whose mind the most habitually dwells among thoughts of loss and deprivation, I can assure you of thought of it with sincere concern and sympathy, and just write a line to say so. There is nothing to be said, I well know, which is of any immediate good or alleviation, and time only strengthens affectionate recollection: but after a time, among gentler thoughts which will come, I hope you will, as you may justly, find comfort in thinking that your mother's life was spared so as to permit her to be cheered by the certainty of your success. This is much—especially to a woman's heart.—Faithfully and sincerely yours,
Henry J. Chorley.
Leighton visited Spain in 1866. There exists apparently no letters or written record of this journey, but he made many sketches remarkable for strong and characteristic colouring.
The letter written to Mrs. Mark Pattison in 1879, already quoted, contains an amusing endeavour on Leighton's part to date the various journeys he had made in answer to questions she had asked.
"I am sorely perplexed to answer this; I can only approach an answer by a sort ofmemoria technica. I made studies in Algiers for 'Samson Agonistes'; that will give you roughly the period. This visit made a deep impression on me; I have loved 'the East,' as it is called, ever since. By-the-bye, I drew here my (almost) only large water-colour drawing, 'A Negro Festival' [the picture Leighton alluded to as 'The Niggers'], which was thought very well of by my friends. To Spain (into which I had made a raid of a few days on a previous occasion when visiting the South of France for architecture, to which I am much devoted) I went the year of the cholera. I remember this because I was going to Constantinople, but was dissuaded by a friend there because of the ravages of that epidemic. The following year Ididgo: Vienna, Danube, Varna, Constantinople, Broussa, Smyrna, Rhodes, Athens (the greatest architectural emotion of my life, by far), &c. This was the yearbeforethose poor young Englishmen were murdered on Pentelicus, up whichI had been withthe sameguide. My visit to Egypt, and up the Nile on a steamer, given me by the Khedive, was a year before the opening of the Suez Canal; I rode over the Salt Lakes with Mons. de Lesseps and a party of his friends. Damascus a year before I exhibited the 'Jew's House,' Ithink. Spain, revisited, and Morocco, the year before last. This is a roundabout way of getting about dates, but, contrary to my expectation, I think I have contrived to fix all the chief journeys approximately."
"I am sorely perplexed to answer this; I can only approach an answer by a sort ofmemoria technica. I made studies in Algiers for 'Samson Agonistes'; that will give you roughly the period. This visit made a deep impression on me; I have loved 'the East,' as it is called, ever since. By-the-bye, I drew here my (almost) only large water-colour drawing, 'A Negro Festival' [the picture Leighton alluded to as 'The Niggers'], which was thought very well of by my friends. To Spain (into which I had made a raid of a few days on a previous occasion when visiting the South of France for architecture, to which I am much devoted) I went the year of the cholera. I remember this because I was going to Constantinople, but was dissuaded by a friend there because of the ravages of that epidemic. The following year Ididgo: Vienna, Danube, Varna, Constantinople, Broussa, Smyrna, Rhodes, Athens (the greatest architectural emotion of my life, by far), &c. This was the yearbeforethose poor young Englishmen were murdered on Pentelicus, up whichI had been withthe sameguide. My visit to Egypt, and up the Nile on a steamer, given me by the Khedive, was a year before the opening of the Suez Canal; I rode over the Salt Lakes with Mons. de Lesseps and a party of his friends. Damascus a year before I exhibited the 'Jew's House,' Ithink. Spain, revisited, and Morocco, the year before last. This is a roundabout way of getting about dates, but, contrary to my expectation, I think I have contrived to fix all the chief journeys approximately."
In 1867 Leighton wrote to his father:—
Lloyd Steamer "Adriatic,"November 28, 1867.My dear Papa,—As I am likely to be busy during my very short stay in Venice, where I hope to find a letter from you, I take advantage of the leisure which I find in excess on board this steamer to begin an epistle which, however, I shall not close till I have seen yours, in case anything in the latter should require an answer. Of course my getting to the end of even this first page depends upon the state of my feelings—physical, not moral, for I am a poor sailor at best. I told you, I believe, in my last how much I had enjoyed and, as I hope, profited by my stay in Rhodes and Lindos. I am uncertain whether I added that I had received great kindness and attention from our consul and his brothers, and also from one or two other gentlemen with whom I became acquainted. Through the assistance of Mr. Biliotti (our consul) I had an opportunity, which could never present itself again, of buying a number of beautiful specimens of old Persianfaience(Lindos ware), chiefly plates, which will make a delightful addition to my collection of Eastern china and pottery. I know that you, personally, care little for such things, and have small sympathy with purchases of that nature; you will, therefore, be glad to hear that though I spent a considerable sum, knowing that such a chance would never again be given me, I could,any day, part with the whole lot for at least double—probably treble—what I gave.The weather, which was very beautiful at thebeginning—indeed during the greater part of my stay in the Island—was not faithful to me to the end; it broke up a few days before my departure, and, to my very great regret, prevented my painting certain studies which I was very anxious to take home: on the other hand, I had opportunities of studying effects of a different nature, so that I can hardly call myself much the loser as far as my work in Rhodes was concerned. In Athens, however, the effect of the absolute instability of the weather (an instability of which I have never seen the like anywhere) was that I left that place almost empty-handed, although I stayed there a week longer than I had originally intended. If, however, I got through little or no work, I had infinite enjoyment in the frequent and unvaried study and contemplation of the ruins on the Acropolis. Familiar as I was, from casts and photographs, with the sculptures and some part of the architecture which I found there, my expectations were very highly wrought, but it is impossible to anticipate, nor shall I attempt to describe, the impression which these magnificent works produce when seen together and under their own sky. Indeed, it is quite strange how one seems to read with new eyes things which one conceived oneself to have understood thoroughly before. The scenery about Athens, depending a good deal on effects of light, only rarely displayed its full beauty during my stay; sufficiently often, however, for me to see that it is of exquisite beauty, and that that part of it described by Byron in certain favourite lines of yours does not receive full justice at his hands. I had letters, as you probably knew, to Mr. Erskine, our Minister, and to Mr. Finlay, the historian; both of them received me with the greatest cordiality and kindness, as did also two or three other persons with whom I became acquainted, so that my stay was socially agreeable as well as artistically delightful; but herewith ends my journey, for heavy weather, rain, sleet, fog and the rest prevented my seeing any of the scenery of the Gulf of Lepanto, which I might as well not have visited, and although I passed Zante, Cephalonia, and Corfu under rather more favourable skies, I did not see them to advantage—ce sera pour une autrefois. Your letter, which I have found on my arrival, and for which thanks, does not call for any particular reply beyond that I have paintednofigures, though I might have been tempted by several fine heads I saw, but time only sufficed for my landscape studies, which in this journey were my chief care. The extract from theSaturday Review, which is highly flattering, was shown me by Mr. Finlay in Athens.Of Venice I have nothing to say, except that my first impression of the Gallery, coming as I did straight from the Parthenon, was that everything but the veryfinestpictures was wanting in dignity and beauty, and wasartificial. I was much surprised myself, as the Venetian school always exercises a great fascination over me. You may infer from that what an impression of beauty Athenian Art has left on me. I was incessantly reminded, in looking both at the sculpture and architecture of the Acropolis, of the admirable words which Thucydides puts into the mouth of Pericles: those are the beginning and the end of the Greek artistic nature.I shall be in London by the 10th, and right glad to get home again—meanwhile, with best love to Taily.—I remain, your affectionate son,Fred.Venice, Hotel De L'Europe.
Lloyd Steamer "Adriatic,"November 28, 1867.
My dear Papa,—As I am likely to be busy during my very short stay in Venice, where I hope to find a letter from you, I take advantage of the leisure which I find in excess on board this steamer to begin an epistle which, however, I shall not close till I have seen yours, in case anything in the latter should require an answer. Of course my getting to the end of even this first page depends upon the state of my feelings—physical, not moral, for I am a poor sailor at best. I told you, I believe, in my last how much I had enjoyed and, as I hope, profited by my stay in Rhodes and Lindos. I am uncertain whether I added that I had received great kindness and attention from our consul and his brothers, and also from one or two other gentlemen with whom I became acquainted. Through the assistance of Mr. Biliotti (our consul) I had an opportunity, which could never present itself again, of buying a number of beautiful specimens of old Persianfaience(Lindos ware), chiefly plates, which will make a delightful addition to my collection of Eastern china and pottery. I know that you, personally, care little for such things, and have small sympathy with purchases of that nature; you will, therefore, be glad to hear that though I spent a considerable sum, knowing that such a chance would never again be given me, I could,any day, part with the whole lot for at least double—probably treble—what I gave.
The weather, which was very beautiful at thebeginning—indeed during the greater part of my stay in the Island—was not faithful to me to the end; it broke up a few days before my departure, and, to my very great regret, prevented my painting certain studies which I was very anxious to take home: on the other hand, I had opportunities of studying effects of a different nature, so that I can hardly call myself much the loser as far as my work in Rhodes was concerned. In Athens, however, the effect of the absolute instability of the weather (an instability of which I have never seen the like anywhere) was that I left that place almost empty-handed, although I stayed there a week longer than I had originally intended. If, however, I got through little or no work, I had infinite enjoyment in the frequent and unvaried study and contemplation of the ruins on the Acropolis. Familiar as I was, from casts and photographs, with the sculptures and some part of the architecture which I found there, my expectations were very highly wrought, but it is impossible to anticipate, nor shall I attempt to describe, the impression which these magnificent works produce when seen together and under their own sky. Indeed, it is quite strange how one seems to read with new eyes things which one conceived oneself to have understood thoroughly before. The scenery about Athens, depending a good deal on effects of light, only rarely displayed its full beauty during my stay; sufficiently often, however, for me to see that it is of exquisite beauty, and that that part of it described by Byron in certain favourite lines of yours does not receive full justice at his hands. I had letters, as you probably knew, to Mr. Erskine, our Minister, and to Mr. Finlay, the historian; both of them received me with the greatest cordiality and kindness, as did also two or three other persons with whom I became acquainted, so that my stay was socially agreeable as well as artistically delightful; but herewith ends my journey, for heavy weather, rain, sleet, fog and the rest prevented my seeing any of the scenery of the Gulf of Lepanto, which I might as well not have visited, and although I passed Zante, Cephalonia, and Corfu under rather more favourable skies, I did not see them to advantage—ce sera pour une autrefois. Your letter, which I have found on my arrival, and for which thanks, does not call for any particular reply beyond that I have paintednofigures, though I might have been tempted by several fine heads I saw, but time only sufficed for my landscape studies, which in this journey were my chief care. The extract from theSaturday Review, which is highly flattering, was shown me by Mr. Finlay in Athens.
Of Venice I have nothing to say, except that my first impression of the Gallery, coming as I did straight from the Parthenon, was that everything but the veryfinestpictures was wanting in dignity and beauty, and wasartificial. I was much surprised myself, as the Venetian school always exercises a great fascination over me. You may infer from that what an impression of beauty Athenian Art has left on me. I was incessantly reminded, in looking both at the sculpture and architecture of the Acropolis, of the admirable words which Thucydides puts into the mouth of Pericles: those are the beginning and the end of the Greek artistic nature.
I shall be in London by the 10th, and right glad to get home again—meanwhile, with best love to Taily.—I remain, your affectionate son,
Fred.
Venice, Hotel De L'Europe.
Sketch with DonkeySKETCH WITH DONKEY. EGYPT. 1868ToList
SKETCH WITH DONKEY. EGYPT. 1868ToList
Respecting the knowledge Leighton possessed of the Greek language, he wrote in a letter to a friend, "In Greek I never got beyond Homer and Anacreon. I have just retained this, that, having read a passage in a translation (I generally read Homer inGermanorLatin), I am able to feel, on referring to the original, its superiority to the foreign rendering."
In 1868 the great desire which Leighton for many years had felt to see Egypt was gratified. In October of that year he wrote to his father from Cairo:—
Beginning of letter missing.]I find that the Prince (the Prince of Wales) asked him in the said letter to introduce me as a personal friend of his to the Viceroy, adding that he would be obliged by anything he (Col. Stanton) could do for me. This was more than I had expectedfrom what Col. Tait also had written me. Well, to make a long story short, I communicated to Col. S. the ambitious desires that Smart had stirred up in me, assuring him, however, that I should never have dreamt of entertaining them of my own accord. He took my case in hand at once, by asking for an audience, which the Viceroy granted as soon as he should have returned to Cairo; he was too busy to see me at Alexandria. Meanwhile Col. Stanton hinted to the secretary of H.H. what my wish was, but nothing was said to the Viceroy himself. Wednesday being fixed for my reception, I went to his palace of Abbassia with Col. S., and was there received in a pavilion in the open air, which overlooked a tract of country covered with tents in which some 5000 men were quartered. Round His Highness' pavilion were the tents of his chief ministers in attendance. It was rather a picturesque sight. The Viceroy was alone, and, having received us very courteously, and asked after the health of the P. and Pcess. of Wales, made us sit down. He then clapped his hands, and on a word from him longtchibouqueswere brought, of which the amber mouthpieces were enriched with enormous diamonds and emeralds. A little conversation on general matters then followed between him and Col. S., after which he questioned me about my projects; and after asking whether he could assist me, and Col. S. throwing out a little hint about a steam tug to get me on quicker, he said, "Would you not rather have a steamer to go in? it is the same to me, and you will be more comfortable." Here Col. Stanton, very judiciously and promptly, said he was sure the P. of Wales would be much gratified by this mark of favour to me; so that I have only to name the day, and the vessel will be at my orders, and I shall do all I wish inhalf the time, or less, it would otherwise have taken me. I bowed myself out with my best thanks, and went home much pleased at my good fortune and at everybody's kindness. I should not forget to say also that Mr. Ross (Lady Duff Gordon's son-in-law, you know) was full ofempressementand kindness to me, and Lady D.G. lent me a gun for the Nile. I start in ten days or thereabouts, and hope before that to hear from you, for no letters will follow me and I shall lose sight of everybody for nearly two months.I will write again before I start; meanwhile, when you write which it will be no use your doing tillNovember, address, please New Hotel, Cairo, Egypt.And believe me, meanwhile, with best love to Taily, your affte. son,Fred.
Beginning of letter missing.]
I find that the Prince (the Prince of Wales) asked him in the said letter to introduce me as a personal friend of his to the Viceroy, adding that he would be obliged by anything he (Col. Stanton) could do for me. This was more than I had expectedfrom what Col. Tait also had written me. Well, to make a long story short, I communicated to Col. S. the ambitious desires that Smart had stirred up in me, assuring him, however, that I should never have dreamt of entertaining them of my own accord. He took my case in hand at once, by asking for an audience, which the Viceroy granted as soon as he should have returned to Cairo; he was too busy to see me at Alexandria. Meanwhile Col. Stanton hinted to the secretary of H.H. what my wish was, but nothing was said to the Viceroy himself. Wednesday being fixed for my reception, I went to his palace of Abbassia with Col. S., and was there received in a pavilion in the open air, which overlooked a tract of country covered with tents in which some 5000 men were quartered. Round His Highness' pavilion were the tents of his chief ministers in attendance. It was rather a picturesque sight. The Viceroy was alone, and, having received us very courteously, and asked after the health of the P. and Pcess. of Wales, made us sit down. He then clapped his hands, and on a word from him longtchibouqueswere brought, of which the amber mouthpieces were enriched with enormous diamonds and emeralds. A little conversation on general matters then followed between him and Col. S., after which he questioned me about my projects; and after asking whether he could assist me, and Col. S. throwing out a little hint about a steam tug to get me on quicker, he said, "Would you not rather have a steamer to go in? it is the same to me, and you will be more comfortable." Here Col. Stanton, very judiciously and promptly, said he was sure the P. of Wales would be much gratified by this mark of favour to me; so that I have only to name the day, and the vessel will be at my orders, and I shall do all I wish inhalf the time, or less, it would otherwise have taken me. I bowed myself out with my best thanks, and went home much pleased at my good fortune and at everybody's kindness. I should not forget to say also that Mr. Ross (Lady Duff Gordon's son-in-law, you know) was full ofempressementand kindness to me, and Lady D.G. lent me a gun for the Nile. I start in ten days or thereabouts, and hope before that to hear from you, for no letters will follow me and I shall lose sight of everybody for nearly two months.I will write again before I start; meanwhile, when you write which it will be no use your doing tillNovember, address, please New Hotel, Cairo, Egypt.
And believe me, meanwhile, with best love to Taily, your affte. son,
Fred.
Happily, while Leighton lost sight "of everybody for nearly two months," he kept the following diary:—