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(London Hospital, Whitechapel?).—Discusses Montagu’s appointment (as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster). Hopes he will enjoy himself in Paris. Wants to see him when he returns.

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Transcript

Sunday Jan 31st 1915

You were right as far as dates go. I looked through my letters & I see that the first time it was mentioned was on Sunday 24th from Walmer {1}. Still I dont think that proves that it was entirely a plot of Lloyd Georges. I know the P.M has wanted to have you in for sometime. He’s very fond of you. He says in one letter “It is one of the few real pleasures one has to feel one can open the door, without any misgiving as to capacity or merit, to a really great friend”. I find I also did the old boy an injustice; {2} he never said he’d seen Mcnamara {3}. I do hope you’ll find there are some compensations for leaving the Treasury, tho’ of course neither I, nor anyone else wd think it strange for you to mind going. I am glad all the same because I am certain that you wont stick in the Duchy for long, & as I’m very ambitious for you(!) I welcome this step very greatly. But you mustnt let the P.M. put Addison in. It wd be too great an anti-climax.

I hope you’ll have a delicious time in Paris. I must see you when you come back & hear all about it. Perhaps Monday. Next time I have my day off I’m determined, if you can, to dine with you, get a “late pass” & try & win or lose a little money. Will you arrange that?

Yrs ever
Venetia

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Written in pencil, except for ‘real pleasures … door, with’, which is in ink. Probably written at the London Hospital, Whitechapel.

{1} The reference is to a letter from Asquith, dated 24 January. See H. H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley, No. 274.

{2} Semi-colon supplied.

{3} T. J. Macnamara, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty.

In the train to Brighton.—(20th.) Her good habit of writing daily has broken down. Has received his telegram, and discusses the carpet offered to him. She dined on the day after she last wrote [11th] with Frances and Haldane, who is surprisingly ‘anti-Rufus [Lord Reading]’, cares little for Addison, and thinks Bongie ‘worse than useless’. On the Saturday [12th] she dined at Clemmie and Winston’s. Winston is eager for Montagu to return home, as he thinks he would be an ally in the Government. At the time he was worried about the threatened strike by the ASE [Amalgamated Society of Engineers]. On Sunday [13th] she played bridge at Adèle’s and dined with Duff, who had been staying with Diana Wyndham and Rosemary, with whom he is a little in love. Duff is angry with Bettine for making Eddie Grant [her husband] wait in vain for her in Paris for over two weeks. On Monday [14th] she dined at home with guests, then they went to a party at Adèle’s. Duff is no longer in love with Goonie. On Tuesday [15th] she dined with Arkers, then went to a party at Frankie de Tuyll’s. Diana has tonsillitis and has gone to Brighton. On Wednesday [16th] she dined at Cardie’s and lunched with Viola. On Thursday [17th] she dined at Lionel Earle’s, and Earle talked about his work at Windsor and in the Parks. On Friday [19th] she went to a party for Puffin at 20 Cavendish Square, and sat next to the ‘old boy’ [Asquith], who inquired kindly after Montagu. Yesterday [19th] she dined with K[atharine], and today [20th] she is going to Brighton to join Diana, Michael, Duff, Rosemary, and Diana Wyndham. She is worried the Duchess will spoil things. Olga is also on the train.

24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.—(23rd.) At Brighton they all lunched at Sweetings and then went, without the Duchess, to the Aquarium. On Monday [21st] she lunched with Montagu’s mother, and ‘that foul woman’ Miss Lewis (Lily’s friend) was there. She dined at Cardie's, where it was suggested that William should go to Ireland as Ivor’s military secretary. Afterwards they went to a party at Olga’s, where Miss Barnes and Miss James sang, Hugo did stunts, and Duff ‘got off with an American pol & left the house very obviously bound for a crack’. Last night [2nd] she had a dinner-party at home, followed by stunts. Winston, who was there, seemed to enjoy himself. ‘I’m sure he yearns for fun, and Clemmie gives him none.’ Today [23rd] she went again to the VAD. Has received his telegram and replied with the measurements. Has ordered some plain carpets for the bedrooms. Is planning to furnish the hall before anything else. Oc’s leg has been amputated, and the PM has gone over to see him. This is probably the last leter she will write to India.—(24th.) Last night she dined at the de Forests', and she spent today at Taplow. Ettie is very unhappy about Patrick. Bluey has come back from America but is very ill with blood-poisoning. K has gone to visit him at Liverpool. Has bought a chest of drawers and given the housemaid notice.—(27th.) Has received his letter; he seems to have got off well with Lady Ronaldshay. Bluey has recovered slightly. Yesterday she bought some furniture, and Duffy and Diana came to dinner.