Showing 128 results

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague. - They have not yet retired to their 'Retraite Edéniencee [ie, at Ede]', as her cousin calls it; does not think they will go before early June. The Grandmonts are still where she left them at Rocca Bella [Taormina, Sicily] at the end of April; they are travelling back with an English friend, stopping only briefly at Florence and Bâle. Was sorry to leave Italy 'like that' but it could not be helped; made her all the more anxious to return another time. Wrote to her cousin [Bramine Hubrecht] and sent her Trevelyan's messages, but does not know whether she will go to England this summer; he does not seem anxious to go and she supposes 'the husband's opinion has great weight in these matters!'. She herself will not be able to; is currently here alone at home with her uncle and aunt [Paul François Hubrecht and his wife Maria] and would not like to leave them when she would have to go 'to fit in with Senior's week at St. Andrews'. Thanks Trevelyan for his letter and the trouble he took with the list of books, though she has not yet got all those he suggested, in part because the library is currently closed. Fortunately the director is a friend of the family and can be persuaded to break the rule forbidding books to be taken or sent into the country, so they sometimes get a good selection sent to Ede; however spring-cleaning is 'a holy business' in this country so she must wait. Asks if Trevelyan could possibly send some of the books he listed: something by Henry James; his father's book; [Robert] Browning's letters; she will get [William?] Morris's "Life" [by J. W. MacKail and his brother's book from the library. Has been reading [Elizabeth Barrett Browning's] "Aurora Leigh" for the first time; asks whether Trevelyan likes it. Will be curious to see Trevelyan's friend [Thomas Sturge Moore]'s poems which he sent to her cousin; wonders whether they will appreciate it; does not think Mrs Grandmont has 'specially classical tastes'. Would be very nice if Trevelyan could come to Ede this summer; unsure still of when exactly would be the best time as she knows nothing of the Grandmonts' plans; thinks probably late August or early September. Is longing to get to fresh air in the country; town seems oppressive after Taormina.

They all feel 'greatly honoured... with all these noble peace delegates' being at the Hague; the Congress was opened yesterday; one of the Dutch members told them 'what a feeble old president Baron de Staal seemed to be' and that 'the first meeting did not promise much'. Is sending some Taormina photographs; the one with Mrs C [Florence Cacciola Trevelyan?] is 'funny but too indistinct'; [Giuseppe] Bruno took the same view which better shows Mrs C. 'like some curious prehistoric Juliet on her balcony'; she has it and will show it to you, or Trevelyan could write to Bruno and ask to see the several pictures he took in her garden of her 'constructions'. Glad Trevelyan has heard some good music in London; she feels out of practice and is looking forward to playing with her sister [Abrahamina Röntgen] again. Knows her aunt is giving her the biography of Joachim by Moser for her birthday. Will also have to 'make special Vondel studies this summer'; feels she knows very little about him.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Asks if Bessie and Bobbie could not come for a night: has 'so much' to tell them and is 'aching to add even a feather's weight to the influences for peace'; she saw Bessie's sister [Abrahamina Röntgen] a few days ago; is also 'stricken with dismay to find Donald [Tovey]' so ill and to 'hear him raving all these utterances of the English press'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Much obliged for the 'Bird book' ["The Bird in Song", edited by Robert Sickert"], which is a 'delightful collection'; has read Robert's poem ["The Lady's Bat"] with 'very great' pleasure, as well as the piece of Courthope's ["The Paradise of Birds"], Logan's "Cuckoo". Feels that 'Keats's unrhymed sonnet' is an omission; agrees that the letter to [John Hamilton] Reynolds is a 'charming effusion"; brief discussion of Keats. They have [E. V. Lucas and C. L. Graves's] "Signs of the Times" and have read it aloud; it is 'capital fun'. Likes to think of Bessie's sister being with her, and that Caroline is coming to visit. His recent work on the last two chapters of his book ["The American Revolution"] has been 'like beginning a new book', but he has 'got into it now'.

Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Expects this is the last letter he will write her from Ravello; will start on the 24th, spend some of that day at Pompeii and take the evening express to Florence, arriving next day. Bessie's last account of her 'patient' [her aunt] was better; hopes she may be recovering by the time he reaches the Hague. Has been unlucky with the weather for the last two years but should not complain, as if the weather had not been bad last January he may not have accompanied his brother [George?] to Sicily and met Bessie. In the same way, if the Grandmonts had had a cook at the start of 1896, they would not have dined at the Timeo so he would never have met them and heard of her; he ought to 'like all cooks for that henceforth'. Bessie's quotation from Dante was 'very charming'; asks if she copied it out at Ede before 2 September or after. Encloses a 'little relic' he found in his waistcoat pocket, which he has kissed; she too should 'put the bits [of the railway ticket] together and kiss them' since they brought her and Bob together and made them kiss each other, though she did not kiss him till November, and he kissed her wrist 'a whole month and more before'. Did not sleep well last night as '"that horrible little dog" Gyp (as Mrs Cacciola [Florence Trevelyan] would say' was barking; Madame [von Wartburg] has the dog safe in her room tonight.

Finishes the letter next day; the weather is lovely, and he almost regrets leaving, but will enjoy a few days in Florence and seeing [Bernard] Berenson; wants to see what he thinks of his last year's poems, and what he has done on this play. He usually likes Bob's work, but not always. Discussion of how no one person can be relied on to say whether something is good or bad. Hopes to see a few pictures at Florence, though does not mean to do much sightseeing. Sorry that Bessie had to miss Ambro [Hubrecht]'s lecture; thinks she is right that she should not come to England before her aunt is nearly well. Glad that her cousin [Louise Hubrecht] and the Röntgens liked his poems; Bessie is indeed a 'fine advertising agent'. Describes his breakfast here and in England.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Went to Halifax on Monday, returning yesterday morning; their meetings went well and she 'gave a party to about 15,000 people!'. Wonder if Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] has left, and whether she has been up for the [Joachim?] concerts. Is expecting Annie [Philips] for a brief call, on her way to Tunbridge Wells.; hopes to take her for a drive. Asks how 'Tweenie' is doing.

With MS inscription on back: 'ELIZABETH GOTSCH 2 1/2 Months Jan. 1936 | To Mrs Röntgen | With much love from Kitty'

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Sends good wishes for Elizabeth's birthday tomorrow, and a present to match the brushes she gave her last year. Very interesting about the houses; hopes to hear what they find at Fernhurst. George left yesterday; hopes he will have a good holiday. Asks if her last letter went astray. Glad Elizabeth enjoyed having her sister Mien Rontgen] to stay; she 'looks such an amiable sensible person'.

Glad to receive Robert's book ["The Bride of Dionysus"]: has been a 'little ill' in bed and so had chance to read it all and get an 'oversight'; thinks it might be nice for Robert to be able to do so and 'forget the labour'. The poems make a 'grand effect'. Has seen several of the songs, as [Julius] Röntgen has been busy composing them and setting them to music; when he read them aloud in a 'compassionate tone' they made a 'great impression' on her. Röntgen has 'very musically translated' one of Robert's "Dirges"; thinks his 'own heart sang [emphasised] it with you, in remembrance of his own escaped bird' [perhaps his first wife and daughter]. She tried yesterday to read the poems while 'mending the stockings of the whole household', but found these tasks 'rather hard to unite'. Has been thinking a great deal about Robert, Bessy, the child [Julian] and the Shiffolds; keeps composing letters in her head but not writing them, and she never seems to finish the 'little presents for Bessie' . They are 'without patients' in the house for the first time, but she has much to 'learn... and do'; was reading a book by Novalis yesterday in which he compared Goethe to [Josiah] Wedgwood, which made her think of Robert's 'friends and neighbours in your solitude' [perhaps the Vaughan Williamses, relations of the Wedgwoods?]. Asks to him to greet them from her and 'Doorty, "Little Dorrit"', who wants to greet them though she 'doesn't even know whom I mean'. Hopes Bessie will translate this letter; does not think it is 'pure English'. Will have to visit the Trevelyans again. Is making a collar for Julian, which perhaps she will send for Bessie's birthday. Their 'house & hands are still full' of the Trevelyans' presents, which serve as constant reminders. It will be beautiful at the Shiffolds and in the woods now, as the spring is 'more beautiful than ever before'. There is no trace of the 'difficulties of the becoming' of Robert's book in it now; switches into Dutch. Discusses the type, says goodbye to her 'beste broeder & sister; mentions the Enticknaps

Originally found in 41/122.

Penmenner House, The Lizard, Cornwall. - Likes the sketch of Bessie's wedding costume; quite Watteau-esque as she says. He is 'no judge of silks' but the piece she sends looks good; encloses samples of cloth for his trousers and for a tweed suit and asks her opinion. Will probably stay in Cornwall till next Wednesday; [George] Moore and MacCarthy are the only others there at the moment; [G.H.?] Hardy left yesterday, and he hopes both 'Llewelyn Davieses' [Crompton and Theodore?] are coming tomorrow. Describes the place; Moore 'played a lot and sang yesterday after tea', then they played cards and talked. Is reading James's "Daisy Miller", which is 'charming'. Discussion of the music box; has written to his mother to suggest having the partitions taken out; it is from both George and Charles. Expects it would be best to invite the consul [Henry Turing, at Rotterdam, to the wedding celebration]; he may not come. Did not mean that Sir Henry [Howard] would arrange all the legal marriage business, but he offered to arrange the ceremony and invitation of the consul; expects he could do this most easily but it would not matter if they or her uncle should arrange it. Will write to Sir Henry or Turing when he hears from her uncle, though is not sure what to say. Would prefer to invite Sir Henry to the wedding, especially as Bob's father and mother are coming, feels he should ask his parents what they think. Sir Henry is a relation, and has 'shown great good-will and readiness'.

Does not see why Bessie should cut herself off completely from her Dutch musical friends; she will 'often be in Holland', and will 'surely stay at Mein's [sic: Mien Rontgen's] in Amsterdam'; in England, she will of course have 'complete freedom to make her own friends' and must keep up and develop her own talents as much as she can; he will enjoy hearing her play, but also going to hear others and getting to know her friends, but that does not mean she should not have independence of interests and friendships. Thinks that women 'have not enough respect for their own intellectual lives' and give it up too easily on marriage, through their husband's fault or their own; she should 'quite seriously consider going to settle in Berlin for 5 or 6 months' for her music. Mrs [Helen] Fry's marriage has made her more of a painter. Her pleurisy is better now; thinks Bessie exaggerates the importance of her cigarette smoking, and that any ill effects it does have are balanced by the help it gives her to create art. Has never 'been in danger of being in love' with Helen Fry, but always found her 'more interesting and amusing than any woman [he] ever met... with a completely original personality', and would not think of criticising such a person's habits but would assume they are 'best suited to their temperament'; in the same way, Moore probably 'drinks more whisky than is good for his health, and smokes too much too', but he would not criticise him. Bessie is also 'an original person' with a 'personal genius of [her] own', but in addition he loves her; has never felt the same about any other woman.

Continues the letter next day. Has finished "Daisy Miller"; and is doing some German, getting on better than he thought he would. Part of the reason for saying he would 'never learn German' was an 'exaggerated idea of the difficulty', but more because he thought, and still thinks, it will be less of a 'literary education' than other languages; is chiefly learning it for Goethe, though being able to read German scholarship will be useful. Has read Coleridge's translation of "Wallenstein", which Schiller himself claimed was as good as the original; thinks English and [Ancient] Greek lyric poetry is better than the German he has read. Very sorry about Lula [Julius Röntgen]; asks if it [his illness] will do more than postpone him going to Berlin. Has heard from Daniel that Sanger is 'getting on quite well'; hopes he will return from Greece 'quite himself again'. Will be nice for Bessie to see the Joneses [Herbert and Alice] again; he has 'become a little parsonic perhaps' but very nice; has seen little of him for the last few years. Bessie should certainly get [Stevenson's] "Suicide Club" for Jan [Hubrecht]; will pay half towards it. Will certainly come before Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] returns. Has grown 'such a beard, finer than Moore's and McCarthy's, though they have grown their's for weeks'. Describes their daily routine. Is encouraged that Moore likes several recent poems he himself was doubtful about; is copying out the play and will show him today or tomorrow. The Davieses are coming this afternoon. Signs off with a doggerel verse.

Originally found in 41/122.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sends belated New Year good wishes. George arrived on Friday from Wales and has been in bed ever since with 'a return of the influenza'; he is now recovering but cannot go abroad this week. Hopes Janet will be able to change the tickets; she is coming this afternoon. Sorry that Julian is troubled with constipation; important not to neglect it, but it will probably go when he can do more 'walking exercise'. Hopes Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] enjoyed her visit; they had the A[rthur] Sidgwicks and Sidney Lee this week. They have just been watching a tree being cut down; the men are very clever.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Hopes Elizabeth is still enjoying herself. Has had 'good accounts of Julian'; Pauline likes 'having him to herself'. Has had an interesting letter from Bob from Pekin [Beijing]; he has certainly seen 'wonderful things'. Thinks they will leave London on 8 February; has to go attend Court on the 7th so cannot go to the concert with Elizabeth, but there is one the week before. Janet and the children [Mary and Humphry] visited yesterday; they leave on Friday and have not yet ben able to let their house. Has had a letter from Mad[emoisel]le [Adila?] Aranyi suggesting what sounds like a 'very attractive' programme; has sent out many invitations. She and Sir George walked in the gardens of Holly Lodge [Campden Hill] this afternoon; the [Edmund] Lambs were not there. Asks if Elizabeth will be back on Monday, and sends regards to her sister [Mien]; asks if she has heard much music. Mary was due to 'be on the sofa today, which is very good progress' [after the birth of her daughter Marjorie]

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad Elizabeth had a good time with the Röntgens; hopes [Julius] was satisfied with his concert. Asks if Robert will be back with her soon; hears George comes tomorrow. The three children [Pauline, George and Kitty?] came yesterday and have gone to John Middleton's birthday party. Would like to hear Julian tell his experiences; Booa [Mary Prestwich] says he told her most about the Ship Canal. Delighted about the Dutch elections and congratulates Elizabeth; hopes things will be much better now. Has had a busy morning with wages, accounts and so on; Grace has not yet left, but Caroline thinks she will soon go to Buxton. Sir George sends his love; he likes having the children, who are behaving well, here. Was interested in [Goldsworthy] L[owes] Dickinson's letter.

c/o Grindlays, 54 Parliament Street, London S.W.(1). - Has not written before: his plans kept changing due to his financial situation and work 'they are nagging' him for from India. Now realises he will not be able to join Trevelyan in Italy, as he needs to work at the British Museum; hopes he might learn more from Mr [Bernard] Berenson later. Arrived in London about nine days ago, though he knew 'the Round Table fellows' had left, to look up books; has been ill since with flu and malaria. Bessie kindly proposed a visit to the Shiffolds, but he was not well enough; hopes he will soon go and meet her sister. Saw Julian several times before leaving [Paris]; his party was very enjoyable and Andriusha [Kalitinsky] and 'Mme G[ermanova]'s fair-haired pupil' were in 'raptures' about it. Hears his friends are well, except that Rex [the dog] has been fighting and the Professor [Kalitinsky] has had flu. Is very lonely, and 'at the mercy of the little socialist journalist (Indian)' Trevelyan met with him. Currently staying at 9, Oxford Terrace but tells Trevelyan to write care of his bankers. Asks to be remembered kindly to Berenson, Miss [Nicky] Mariano, and 'Zoë M.' if he meets her.

Rocca Bella. -Thinks Bessie 'will be quite safe in [Bob's] hands'; congratulates him again, and thanks him for her letter. When she wrote hers [17/142?] she was upset; though she still feels 'just as wretched and indignant at the [Second Boer] war and the Jingos', she regrets giving her 'feelings the full sway so'. Bob's letter was 'most good and kind', giving her the 'best proof that any fears for Bessie were vain'. Hopes they will both be very happy; has no fears he will 'pull B. away from her people' and hopes he will 'continue to feel ever more at home with us' and that Bessie will be 'a loving daughter' to his parents. She never knew her father, and knew her mother only a little, so it will be 'sweet to her to get another father and mother' through Bob. Wishes she were in the Hague to do a portrait of Bessie now; expects her expression is just what she would like to paint. Hopes she did not 'make mischief' by writing to Mien [Bessie's sister]: could not make out from Bob's telegram that the engagement should be kept quiet for a few days. Only told Miss [Emma?] Dahlerup here.

Elton Hall, Peterborough. Addressed to Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Wonders if the Rs [Röntgens] in Denmark could suggest a safer way out for Miss Weisse than through Holland; doesn't want to cause trouble or risk to anyone, and knows the Noordewiers have already invited her to come to them, but Holland seems to be in much more danger than Denmark at the moment.

c/o Mrs Röntgen, 77 van Eeghenstraat, Amsterdam. - He and Bessie are having a 'very pleasant time in Holland', mainly staying in Amsterdam so far, but next Thursday going to the family country house at Doorn. Bessie is 'very well', and enjoying her return to Holland after three years. Last Thursday they visited Bessie's half-sister Mrs Versteg in the country at Heerde; this is near the Yssel, the river which, according to Ferrero, the fleet of [Nero Claudius] Drusus must have sailed along to reach the Zuider Zee. Bessie went this morning to visit her cousin Louisa Hubrecht at Leiden, but will return this afternoon.

Has just returned from a visit to the Rijksmuseum with Mrs Röntgen's eldest son Johannes; the arrangement of the pictures there has much changed. The Museum has also bought and now displays several paintings from the Six collection, such as Vermeer's 'Cook'; the Rembrandts remain in the house of the Six family, but cannot now be seen without 'an order from the consul or a friend of the family'. It is a shame for the collection to be broken up, but 'it seems that the tourists sometimes were offensive, and the Sixes, who are really quite nice people, hardly felt as if the house belonged to themselves.

Their friend [Donald] Tovey comes here on Monday night, and will go with them to Doorn on Thursday. Hopes his parents have had as good weather at Welcombe as they have had here, and that his father is 'quite well again'. Hears they are going to have an election at Stratford; fears there will be little chance of 'getting a Liberal in at present'. Here they are awaiting 'the birth of an heir to the house of Orange'; if this happens while Robert and Elizabeth are in Amsterdam, they will 'the cannons announce it in the Vondel Park opposite'. His mother's letter to Bessie arrived today; sure she will reply soon. Is finishing the fifth volume of Fererro's history of Rome: thinks he is 'very good about the most important things, such as the relations of Augustus and Tiberius, and the decadence of the aristocracy, but that in details Ferrero 'often seems to form theories with too much assurance upon insufficient evidence'. Perhaps, however, classical historians are 'almost bound to do that, where the evidence is so scanty'.

As from West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Condolences on the death of Elizabeth's brother-in-law [Julius Röntgen, wife of her sister Abrahamina]. Is sure it is 'an indifferent universe, not a hostile one', but he does 'find it difficult to keep brave'. Bravery of Goldie [Dickinson].

Agglestone House, Studland, Wareham, Dorset.- Is here for a few days with [Bertrand] Russell, [Charles] Sanger, [Ralph] Hawtrey 'and another [Gerald Shove: see 23/85]'; will return home on Wednesday or Thursday. Bessie was very well when he left, and writes that 'she and baby [Julian]' remain so. She has much enjoyed the Röntgens' visit to the Shiffolds; Robert spent the day with them in London on Wednesday.

This is 'quite a nice place, with an interesting coast'; has never been to Dorset, so is '"enlarging my geognosis", as Bertie says'. Hopes his father is well and that his parents are having good weather 'at last'.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Apologises for not thanking Bessie sooner for her invitation to come and work on Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] at 'the House of the Peeled Birches' [the Shiffolds?] but concerts and travels have prevented him. Bessie's sister [Bramine Röntgen?]'s letter is 'beautiful' and though it may not succeed in 'making silk purses out of sow's ears' it has, more importantly, made him feel at ease 'that the thing that had to be said, & could not be said by [him], has been most accurately and clearly said for [him]'. No longer very keen on his 'theories on G.C. [Guilhermina Casals]'s behalf': her letter to him is 'full of lies that can only have been inspired by him [Pablo Casals]', but he has just received from Casals a letter 'full of lies that can only have been inspired by her'. Is scathing about both of them. It 'sickens' Tovey to think of Casals' friendship: he is 'immensely susceptible to friendship', and responds to 'such frank and simple admiration as Casals showed' by becoming 'absolutely uncritical' and returning it 'with the most intimate confidence'. Not the first time he has wasted 'affection on a cad', but the first and he hopes last time he has done so on a 'scoundrel'; now knows 'what touching qualities of simplicity and self-deception they can have'.

Wallington; addressed to Elizabeth Trevelyan c/o Mrs Röntgen, 77 Van Eeghenstraat, Amsterdam, but forwarded to c/o Mrs Hubrecht, Dijkenburg, Noordwijkerhout. - Julian had a tea-party yesterday and 'talked more than all of them'; seemed a little tired afterwards but was bright again this morning, saying Sir George's white hair must mean he washed it. Very warm here. There is a shoot tomorrow; Mary has had a cold, and Sir George a slight one.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Elizabeth is having a good time [in the Netherlands]; will send this letter to Amsterdam, and the nurse will write tomorrow to the Witte Huis. News of Julian; he is very interested in a 'motor extra of "Country Life"' which Sir George has given him, and wants to know the names of all the cars. About a hundred and seventy or eighty pheasants were killed at the shoot yesterday, and nineteen hares; Sir George was too tired and says he will not go out again. Caroline and Mary drove, taking Geordie; Mary is well again, and Caroline thinks there is now no cause for anxiety [about her pregnancy]. Interested to hear about Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] and her life; it must be 'a very good atmosphere for the boys'. Glad Elizabeth will be back on 25-26 [Nov] but she should not worry about staying a few days longer if she likes as Julian is quite well. Hopes her friends [the Bottomleys] at the Shiffolds are well. Has had a letter from Robert on his arrival at Bombay, in which he sounds cheerful and glad to have finished the voyage. Julian has 'a box of large dominoes with which he builds pens for his sheep'; he is 'so nice with his fingers'. A postscript on a separate sheet describes Julian going around with his train upstairs 'talking at the top of his voice' to everyone he meets; she likes to hear him around the house.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, preso d'Amalfi, Italia. - Has had the happy news that the Röntgens have had a little girl and all is well; charming that 'a little maiden is added to the family of boys' and her sister will be very happy; the girl will be called after Rontgen's first wife, Amanda [Maier]; hopes to go and see them in a few days. Wonders what she will be like; she is bound to grow up musical. Writes in the evening that she has had had Bob's letter from Cava; teases him for the 'biting jealousy with which [he] looked upon... two innocent German spooners in the train'. Had a pleasant walk with her aunt [Maria Pruys de Hoeven], who bought her some handkerchiefs as a present; went to the dentist but felt faint so has to go again on Tuesday; her mother was equally sensitive to such pain but 'was the bravest woman & had such splendid self control in all her sufferings". Encloses a letter from Bob's brother Charles which she received this morning, and thanks Bob for sending [Jack] McTaggart's letter; hopes and trusts their experience will be the same as his.

Writes the next day that she looked up Cava, Corpo di Cava, and Ravello recently, finding plenty of 'useful and dry Baedeker information'; can now imagine what it must be like and hopes Bob has a very happy time. There are wonderful things in [Plato's] Symposium; would like to ask Bob many things about it; asks what she should read now. The following day, she writes she is going to the library to see what of Bob's 'family literature' she can get to 'study hard' before going over to England; remarks that they will not see each other again 'till next century'. Had a good practice on her violin yesterday; must be prepared to have some lessons with Mr [Bram] Eldering at Amsterdam. Her aunt wrote to Bob yesterday; was very pleased with his letter.

A small photograph of Bessie is attached to the letter.

Miss Weisse is in good spirits and health, and 'jingo German in cork-shooting effervescence', shedding some important, if partisan, light. Was under military as well as diplomatic protection during her travels, since the 'little governess' whom she was escorting to Berlin is a general's daughter. She will probably ask Bessie to come and see her; even if not, Tovey encourages her to do so and take Bob. Not necessary to believe that 'all that is in English newspapers is false & all that is in German true', but it is interesting that there are '7 million German soldiers who have not yet begun to move', and that the [Dowager] Duchess of Sutherland, whom Tovey saw return yesterday on the same boat as Miss Weisse, 'indignantly denies the "German atrocities" stories'. Fritz Busch conducted a 'patriotic concert' on the 12th, and the Burgomaster of Aachen may 'much against Fritz's will' insist on him being employed thus 'instead of as Kanonenfutter'. De Wed-Tjeenk turns out to have been 'the Rontgens' housekeeper'. A postscript on the back of the envelope notes that Tovey's brother [Duncan] is going to the front.

University of Edinburgh. - Thanks Bessie, and asks her to thank [her sister] Mrs Röntgen for taking that trouble. Thinks everything is clear, except for 'two little places' which will wait until he gets back to Holland. The Röntgens seemed very well; Franz [Frants] was ill when he arrived, but was soon recovered. The Trio [Julius Sr, Julius Jn and Englebert Röntgen] has been having real success, received enthusiastically by 'audiences of 1500'. Englebert has developed 'most strikingly' in style and tone; Tovey felt 'as if something like the Joachim Quartet was still alive & young'. 'Der Papaselbst' [Julius Englebert Röntgen] is well, although sad about the state of the world, and has been writing some 'most beautiful unaccompanied choral music: Psalms against war'. He took Tovey to a beautiful neighbouring swimming bath and proved himself a good swimmer.

Will send Bessie a letter for G.B. [Grete Busch?] soon, though would be 'ashamed' to make much of his news since she 'so thoroughly sees how unenviable is the [position of a man who is out of it all'. Dreads Miss Weisse breaking bad news to him so is very glad he knows from Grete that she wants to get bad news before it reaches Tovey. Miss Weisse is in 'a very nasty state of mind... peculiarly inhuman pro-Germanism' which he would mind less if she were still in Germany or 'didn't do her duty to England with the savage energy of a District Visitor of the most ruthless kind'. He himself cannot hate anything as she does everything English. However, he is with his 'saintly & dear old aunt', who has much of his mother's wit, and returns to Edinburgh on the 2nd. Is concerned that Miss Weisse may accede to Lady Lewis [Elizabeth, Lady Lewis?]'s request to give Guil[hermina] Suggia an engagement at Northlands. Also, in a letter she sent enclosing Bessie's 'which she thinks contains Dutch criticisms', Miss Weisse urges Tovey 'to join some military organisation' which will benefit him 'both morally & physically'. Will not do so until he has finished his work in Edinburgh, in March, when he will probably join something in Surrey or Berkshire. Thinks Miss Weisse wishes to make his position in Edinburgh 'untenable', as she wants him to do more concerts in Holland as soon as Augustin offers, and knows he could not manage all three. Says in a postscript that he saw the Hubrechts at Utrecht: Mrs Hubrecht [Maria? or Johanna Maria?] took him to tea and he met Paul, and saw photographs of Jan dressed as a yound lady 'so exquisite' that he had to 'strike a Tamino attitude'. Professor [Ambrosius] Hubrecht was better than he expected, and joined fully in the conversation.

28 Rutland Street, Edinburgh. - Is sorry for 'unloading' things on Bessie and the R's [Röntgens], but G.B [Grete Busch]'s letter needs answering. Bessie's last letter was a 'great relief': makes 'all the difference in the situation' that Miss Weisse wrote to her about it at all; Miss Weisse showing 'the dangerous side of her mind' mainly to Tovey. Discusses his reluctance to sign up for military drilling, and the possible effect on his composition to be 'hanging about Northlands'. His work in Edinburgh may not be the height of his ambitions, but it has done much to dissuade him from maintaining the 'fiction' that what he is 'allowed to do at Northlands is useful to anyone concerned'. Assures Bessie that he sees the 'pathos' of Miss Weisse's situation, and realises that it is as much his fault as hers, and he ought to have 'cut [himself] adrift' on leaving Oxford - but everything then would have been so different that he might as well speculate on what 'Fritz Busch, General Joffre or the Alake of Abeokuta' would have done in his place.

Describes one of the 'jolliest incidents at Amsterdam', Johannes Rontgen's first public appearance - also Edward [sic: Edvard]'s, but Johannes was the 'clou' or showpiece. Encloses the programme (which bears joking annotations in Tovey's hand), praising Johannes's song. Madame Bakels is 'a voluminous veteran artist of excellent musicianship and powerful lungs', and Johannes's 'evident adoration of her' was 'delightful'. When he first arrived, a rehearsal of [Beethoven's?] "Ah perfido" was in progress, at full volume. Asks Bessie to tell Röntgen that [Catharina?] van Rennes meant two volumes in the parcel she sent Tovey for him. Quotes the inscriptions. Will take them when he goes to Holland again; asks Röntgen to thank Mrs van Rennes for the 'delicious songs'.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, preso d'Amalfi, Italia. - Bob's first letter from Ravello arrived yesterday; it arrived just as she was going to the dentist and gave her strength to stand all the treatment; at the end she 'nearly hugged the doctor'. Bob's quotation from Chaucer is 'charming'; hopes he will never need complain of his 'wyve's cussedness'. She got the proofs for her photos yesterday and is quite pleased with them: 'the one without the eye glasses is almost pretty'; will send them to Bob's mother and Bob himself. Writes on the 14th to say that she went to hear a rehearsal the day before 'more worth than last time'; heard an ouverture by Chabrier, 'an empty French piece of music', then Beethoven's second symphony to her 'great delight'. Then she heard Bob's 'friend [Frederic?] Lamond' play the Tchaikowsky piano concerto, and admired his playing but did not care much for the piece. Was sitting with a Russian lady, Madame de Rhemen, who is married to a Dutch Baron and 'a great swell... and a would-be patroniser and enthusiast for musical life at the Hague', 'very clever & intellectual.... though narrow-minded and hard in her opinions'. She 'fascinated Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] at one time' until 'the tables were turned' and Tuttie became rather tired of her, and 'taken up with her American friend [Maud Howard]', it was 'such a comedy'; now Bessie thinks the feelings on both sides have 'fallen rather flat'. Her husband is 'a dry stolid old Dutchman', and the marriage not happy. Had not seen her since the summer; she wanted to hear all about Bob; is going to dine with her on Saturday then go to a music recital. Another old Russian lady, the Comtesse de Bylandt, came to sit with them; told Bessie she had lived twenty years in England, knows Bob's parents, and knew his grandfather very well. Returned home and took down some 'dull' dictation for her uncle [Paul François Hubrecht]. [Her brother-in-law Julius Engelbert] Röntgen writes that the family are all pleased with their new sister, except Johannes 'who began to howl when the baby was shown to him'. Is very cross that a letter from her sister [Abrahamina] inviting her to come to hear a chamber concert on Saturday only reached her yesterday; she could have played to [Bram] Eldering and got some preliminary advice, as he is too busy to start her lessons before January.

Gredel Guye is coming again on Friday, as her oral examination is on Saturday; remembers the day of her last visit, which was when Bob had his interview with her uncle. Had a strange dream last night in which 'some curious law' forced her to marry someone else, she thinks Mr Eldering, and woke with great relief. Got Bob's father's "Life of Macauley" from the library recently (they only have that, his "American Revolution", and Bob's brother George's book ["England in the Age of Wycliffe, 1368–1520"]. Macauley's life looks 'very interesting'; has glanced through and seen a letter of his to his sister Margaret about his other sister [Hannah]'s marriage to Bob's grandfather, speaking very highly of him. Agrees that she must read [Theodor] Mommsen, as Bob said at Taormina, to see whether he can inspire with 'the true love of history' she has never possessed. Happy thoughts about her feelings for Bob and their marriage. Now going to stay with her cousin Louise Hubrecht again at Leiden; is taking her [Bob's] "Mallow and Asphodel" as she asked to see it.