Thursday 21st.--... I called on Millais, and asked him whether he was able to do the etching for next month--in which case the No. would at all events have, of course, to come out later than usual in the month: but he says he is now so fully engaged with his picture, having just set a white drapery, that he cannot undertake it: and this is perhaps best. We shall now miss a month altogether, and come out in April properly prepared. Millais has done (or begun) the heads of the Virgin and of Christ. Gabriel received from Orchard the first part of a _Dialogue on Art_, being one of a series he will write, if found suitable. Gabriel read it to Stephens and John Tupper, by whom, as well as himself, it was highly admired.... W. B. Scott’s book about his brother David arrived; this we mean to review as soon as may be for _The Germ_.... Friday 22nd.--We settled that it is impossible to bring out a No. for March.... Woolner, Stephens, and Bernhard Smith, were at Gabriel’s study in the evening; and Ford Brown also came in later. He read us the second of his papers on _The Mechanism of a Historical Picture_,[216] and has thoughts of writing something on the choice of subject. He warned me against being too downright and sarcastic in the art-notices I write for _The Critic_. Gabriel having asked him to do us an etching for the next or some early No., he proposed one of his designs from _King Lear_[217] which he would execute double the size of the other etchings, requiring a fold down the middle. The subject we last stopped at was _The Leave-taking of Cordelia and her Sisters_. Gabriel proposes to write an illustrative poem for it. This etching of Brown’s would do capitally for show in Dickinson’s window. Gabriel has painted the chasuble of the Angel, and the Virgin’s arms: he and Brown discussed the background, the bed, and other of the accessories.... Saturday 23rd.--Gabriel spent the evening at Dickinson’s, where Brown, Woolner, Thomas, and Hunt, were also present. Hunt brought a Hastings paper, in which there is a very cleverly-written review of _The Germ_, not altogether laudatory. On leaving Dickinson’s, Gabriel went home with Hunt to see the picture. There is some thought of changing our magazine’s name to _The Artist_ or something of the kind; Gabriel is the chief advocate for this; and, if it is to be done, now is the time certainly, when we are about to begin with a new publisher, etc.... Monday 25th.--I got home, from Tupper’s, Orchard’s _Dialogue on Art_, which Gabriel and I read over, making a few alterations in style &c. as authorized by a letter from himself that Gabriel has received. Gabriel continued touching up and adding to his _Dante in Exile_.