Sunday 27th.--... In the evening accompanied Woolner to Patmore’s. Found that Woolner had just had a cast taken of his medallion-head of Mrs. Patmore.... Patmore, when we arrived, was reading a translation by Charles Bagot Cayley, with whom I have lately become acquainted,[236] of some cantos of the _Inferno_, left by me with Patmore, who promised to see whether _The Palladium_ would be willing to publish it. He thinks very highly of the translation, and will write fully to the Editor on the subject. He had also just read Browning’s _Christmas Eve and Easter Day_, and is evidently deeply impressed with it--more than with any other of the great man’s works--though he does not exactly know “what to make of it.” He says that Mrs. Browning published in _Blackwood_, very soon after the onslaught there on his own book, an imitation (in incident and termination) of _The Woodman’s Daughter_, calling it _Maud at her Spinning-wheel_.... Tuesday 29th.--Woolner and I, with Hannay, spent the night at Bernhard Smith’s.... Hannay ... saw Bon Gaultier[237] lately, and found him a wild admirer of Gabriel’s sonnet to his _Mary Virgin_ picture, published in the Free Exhibition catalogue; saying that it is one of the finest sonnets in the language, and having even gone so far as to distribute copies of it among his friends.... Friday, 1st November.--Brown, I was informed, called last night, having something particular to say. On seeing him in the evening, I learn that on Wednesday he met at Dickinson’s Mr. Williams (the brother-in-law of Wells, author of _Joseph and his Brethren_) who is desirous of finding a substitute for writing the art-criticisms in one of the weekly papers--either _The Examiner_ or _The Spectator_. The remuneration would amount to about £40 or £50 a year. Brown kindly mentioned me; and I should certainly be glad to do for something, and with better prospects, what I am now doing for nothing. The critic, I understand, would not be pledged to any party, nor under any vexatious control. I wrote to Mr. Williams at Brown’s suggestion, stating my views, and with the object of calling on him. Brown’s picture[238] is sold to the Dickinsons--for what sum I did not ask.... Sunday 3rd.--... Spent the evening at Patmore’s, with whom I left my notice of Allingham:[239] his in _The Palladium_ is out.... Patmore does not believe we have any really great men living in the region of pure intellect; not even Tennyson, though he might have thought him such, had he not written. He spoke of Gabriel’s poem _Dante in Exile_, which he considers full of fine things; the stanzas on Republics he admires particularly. He talks of keeping open house on every alternate Saturday, and has given me and all the P.R.B. a general invitation....