I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Has spent most of his time at I Tatti with flu and unable to enjoy the company. Was pleased to see Aubrey and Lina [Waterfield] last night. Mary [Berenson] is suffering from rheumatism and feeble, but getting on fairly well; B.B. is well on the whole. Has written to Trevelyan's brother George again with his publisher Einaudi's decision about the title of the translation [by Morra of G.M. Trevelyan's "British History in the Nineteenth Century, 1782-1901"]. Einaudi is grateful for Trevelyan's suggestion of Buchan's "[Oliver] Cromwell" as another translation project. [H.A.L.] Fisher's "History [of Europe]", however, has been translated, and the edition confiscated some months after publication; efforts to get it released even in bowdlerised form have been unsuccessful.
New College, Oxford [on 'The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W.1 headed notepaper]. - Logan Pearsall Smith has just given him a copy of Trevelyan's 'elegiac tribute' to [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson'; greatly admires it. English poetry is 'rich in noble elegiacs', but unless his judgement is 'seriously at fault' Trevelyan's poem will 'rank with the best'.
Thursley, Godalming, Surrey - Congratulates Frazer
Accompanied by a photoreproduction of a letter in the University Library, Cambridge dated 4 Aug. 1909.
The Warden's Lodgings, New College, Oxford - Thanks Frazer for his congratulations on his Order of Merit, is glad Frazer liked his life of Bryce, whom he admires.
Summarises the contents of A3/22/2. He does not know why A3/21/2 did not reach Reading before he made his speech, as it was despatched with every arrangement for priority.
(Typed. Headed in error ‘Telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy’.)
New College, Oxford - Announces that the College has elected Hardy to an Honorary Fellowship.
Originally enclosing a copy of the petition for [Thomas] Sturge Moore. They have got [Gilbert] Murray to sign, and he thinks also [H.A.L.?] Fisher; they are trying to get [Arthur?] Balfour. Bob would like to get [Robert] Bridges, [Edmund] Gosse and [Thomas] Hardy; this copy would do for Gosse too if there is a chance of him signing. Thinks [Laurence] Binyon or [Henry] Newbolt is approaching Bridges. Thinks Eddie said [Siegfried] Sassoon knew Hardy well; has another copy of the petition if he thinks it is worthwhile asking Sassoon to try. They now have letters from [John] Masefield, [George Bernard] Shaw, Lascelles [Abercrombie], [John] Drinkwater and Gordon [Bottomley], and [William Butler] Yeats is sure to send one too. Sorry that he could not come to Eddie's prize-giving; it seems 'a very good choice'. Has told the Shoves to send Eddie Fredegond's latest poems. Sees that a number of Civil List Pensions have just been announce, and fears this may make it more difficult to get one for Sturge Moore.
[Letterhead of 54 Cours Napoléon, Ajaccio, Corse], Olim Hotel Bedford, 17 rue de l'Arcade - Says that it is there [at the Olim Hotel Bedford] that he met her and his life was enriched; is happy that things are going well; refers to [Herbert] Fisher's horrible accident.
More about the proposal to write a volume on English history 1915-1918.
54 Cours Napoléon, Ajaccio, Corse - In the letter of 21 Apr., reacts to the death of Herbert Fisher; his cousin Thadée Gabrielli had just died when he had the news of the death of another cousin, Laure Arène. In the letter of 1 May, he thanks her for the cutting about Herbert Fisher, and muses that his letter with his good wishes and hers would have been one of the last he read.
54 Cours Napoléon, Ajaccio, Corse - Has received devastating news in her letter, and is worried that the accident is actually worse than she has described; thanks her for the letter with the lines dictated by Sir James; has passed on to Herbert Fisher her affectionate thoughts; doesn’t know if his work will sell; is pleased with the appreciation of [Jérôme] Carcopino, and of Dr [Frederik] Wieder of Leyde. Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Lady Frazer, 7 Causewayside, Cambridge.
Cuttings which include a special issue of 'Science' entitled 'La Science pure à l'Exposition de 1937' from 15-30 Avril 1937; an appreciation of Mary L. Jobe Akeley in the 'Illustrated London News' of 1 May 1937; an article headed 'How is Civilization Born? Lord Raglan Challenges Sir James Frazer' by Malcolm Elwen in 'John O' London's Weekly' dated 5 Jan. 1940; and obituaries of William Ramsay and H. A. L. Fisher.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Has had a 'very nice letter' from [Umberto] Morra [with thanks for help over his translation of George's "British History in the Nineteenth Century, 1782-1901"]. Thinks Bob's suggestion of Buchan's biography of Cromwell as a future translation project for Morra 'very good'; [H.A.L.] Fisher's "History" is a 'great work', but it may be too long, and the Italian authorities may object to 'an English liberal history of modern Europe down to 1935'.
c/o J.H. Stone, Warden's Lodge, Chepauk, Madras. - Have been here since 10 January, staying with Dickinson's old Cambridge friend [Joseph Henry Stone] in the educational department. They have lunched with the Pentlands, and he called again on Lady Pentland this morning; they seem to like it here, and have been 'very busy entertaining and seeing people'; their children also seemed well. Lady Pentland sent 'many kind messages' to Robert's parents, and to Molly, Charles and their children. She showed Robert the banquet hall where there was a picture of his grandfather [Sir Charles Trevelyan], though he did not think it very good; there are some 'quite good earlier portraits of Governors', and a 'rather dull Watts'; also an 'ugly one of Grant Duff', and a good one by Dickinson's father of Lord Napier. Robert and Dickinson have been to hear the commission [the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India] and may go again today; it is 'almost impossible to hear anything' due to bad acoustics, but they have met several of the commissioners. Likes R[amsay] Macdonald 'very much'; he and [Gopal Krishna] Gokhale seem the 'ablest men on the commission'. Have also met Sir T[heodore] Morison and Sir V[alentine] Chirol, both seem 'sensible men'. H[erbert] Fisher has not yet arrived; fortunate for him, as 'the commission must be a great bore'. Wishes they did not have to see so much 'second rate Anglo Indian society here'; their host is 'amiable, but rather dull'. Going to see the Seven Pagodas [at Mahabalipuram] tomorrow, before joining 'a Mr Bedford, a civilian, in his camp near Salem'; will stay several days before going on to Trichinopoly and Madura[i?], then to Trivandrum in Travancore and on to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. They will probably leave Colombo for Java on 14 February, a week later than he had hoped. The post and where to write next. Will finish packing now and go for a 'last look at the sea'; as it is a holiday, 'everyone is strolling about in their most brilliant shawls and dresses; the Madras crowd is 'the most picturesque' he has yet seen. Finishes the letter on the evening of 15 January. Is quite looking forward to a week in camp. Has been to dinner with the Pentlands, who are 'admirable hosts'.
Asks if he will contribute a volume to the Home University Library series.