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Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.

Bankes' Arms Hotel, Studland, Wareham. - Has taken rooms for a week at Agglestone House, Studland [Dorset], which is 'rather a beastly sort of "lodging-house"' but it is very hard to get accommodation in this area. Since the station, at Swanage, is around four miles away and transport has to be sent specially it would be 'more convenient and cheaper' if as many people as possible could arrive together. [C.P] Sanger and [Ralph?] Hawtrey come on Thursday; has not yet had any answer from Bertie [Russell] or Crompton [Llewelyn Davies]; [Saxon] Sydney-Turner cannot come. Asks Trevelyan which train he will arrive by, and how much luggage he will bring; would be possible to leave luggage at the station to be collected and walk to Studland.

13A Hanover Terrace Ladbroke Grove. - Is sceptical about the translation of his books into German. Sorry to hear that Trevelyan has had mumps; hopes he has now recovered. At heart is miserable about the state of Europe; distractions include dinner with Clive [Bell?] and [Ralph?] Hawtrey, and the new letters of Byron, which he discusses at length with comments on morality. Has also been reading the 'absurd' book [Home Life with Herbert Spencer]. Morgan [Forster] has returned, unhappy because he cannot write (with which Trevelyan will sympathise). Met Bertie [Russell] and his wife at the Sangers'; does not think he will like 'Mrs Bertie'. Mrs [Beatrice] Mayor's two plays [The Girl and the City and Thirty Minutes in a Street] were acted on Sunday [2 Apr 1922, at the Kingsway Theatre]; supposes they were not much of a success but he was interested by them, particularly that acted by her sister [Betty Potter]. Has had long walk with [Nathaniel] Wedd who is 'gallant' but not well; Dickinson sceptical about the psychoanalysis he is receiving. Sends best regards to Trevelyan and his hosts [the Berensons].

2, Cheyne Gardens. - Has signed the transfer and sent it on to Maurice Bell. Has seen [Ralph] Hawtrey 'about the B.M. [British Museum] salaries question' [see also 14/65]; seems that the pay scale is the same as 'for the majority of the Civil Servants', though 'the Treasury, Home Office, Education, and India' and perhaps another earn more. George thinks the British Museum employees should be on this higher scale, but fears 'the Treasury would be stiff'. Charles is going to enquire how the pay of the 'higher posts' at the Museum compare with that of those 'the ordinary Civil Servant rises to', so Bob should 'prod him about it' when he sees him; he is 'quite sympathetic'. Waiting for news about Bessie [due to give birth]; sends love to her and Caroline; leaves England on Friday morning.

Grantley Arms Hotel, Wonersh, near Guildford. - Thanks from [his sister] Freda and himself for Bob's 'Christmas selection "From the Shiffolds", so varied and so moving'. Asks whether it is 'Churchill who "Rejoicing in his freedom from the plough, wanders lowing through some deep-grassed mead"'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very sorry to tell Elizabeth that 'the poor little twin [Hugh] cannot live'; his illness is meningitis; Dr Still [?] came from London but could do nothing. The one comfort is that he 'sleeps & has no pain'. Mary has little time to write; she and Charles will be deeply grieved as 'they are so wrapped up in the children'. Glad Julian is well; sure he will be 'more free & active' [after his operation] which will 'keep his liver in order; nice that he gardens. Hopes the 'Scotch governess' is suitable; thinks they are 'generally more ready for country life'. She and Sir George are both very busy; Dr [Cyril?] Burt has called on Sir George and thinks him 'wonderfully strong'. The 'Hawtry's' [sic: Ralph Hawtrey and his wife?] must be 'an amusing pair'; glad they are happy. Janet and the children are visiting next week; does not know if she has let her house.

18 Elm Park Gardens, S.W. - Apologises for not answering Mrs Trevelyan's 'sweet' letter and invitation, but they were very busy with Adila's wedding. Mrs Trevelyan is 'so, so nice': Jelly was 'so sad and wretched' before the wedding that Titi [her sister Hortense] arranged to stay with her for a week and join Ralph [Hawtrey] later; it was a 'great comfort' and now she is happy, 'very happy indeed for darling Adila'. Must stay in town for the moment, but if Mrs Trevelyan would still like them to come later, they will be very happy to do so. At the moment, they are very busy, including looking for a place to live; and she must be in town when Adila returns. Invites Mrs Trevelyan to visit if she is in town. Is 'practising quite madly' which is 'such a comfort'. Asks how Julian is; sends love to him; hopes he can 'still get into his Chinese costume'.

The Shiffolds. - He and Bessie are sorry to hear she has a cold, and hope by now it is gone. The weather is 'very cold and nasty here today', but everyone is well except May [Enticknap]; she however is recovering, and he does not think she had measles badly. Went to London on Tuesday to dine with his 'friend [George] Hardy the Actuary, who has been working out the Invalidity Insurance scheme for the Government'; wanted him to meet [Ralph] Hawtrey so they arranged a dinner, with [Francis?] Hirst also present. They had a 'lot of political discussion': according to Hirst, if Phil Price had been back, he would have had a good chance of being chosen as [liberal] candidate for the Forest of Dean.

Is very sorry that Aunt Meg is not recovering more quickly. Supposes his father has finished his [jigsaw] puzzle by now. Says they should 'keep the Medici book [Lives of the early Medici as told in their correspondence, by Janet Ross?] as long as Papa wants it'. Saw Charles and George 'at breakfast' yesterday; both seemed well, and 'Charles quite cheerful'. Hilton Young has got the 'city Editorship' of the Morning Post, so will 'give up the Economist: his new job is 'well paid, £800 a year, and he will be able to say what he likes, though of course politics won't come in much anyhow'. People such as Hirst and George 'seem to think it is a good thing', since Young will be 'much more able to afford the expense of standing [for Parliament] a few years hence'; Robert hopes they will not have another election for 'four years or so'.

A Spanish musician they do not yet know is staying at the Shiffolds this weekend: [Benvingut] Socias, a friend of Röntgen and Casals; he does not speak English, so Robert will 'get some practice speaking French'.

Accompanied by a printed report, University Colleges, Grants in Aid. Report of the Committee dated 20th March, 1906.

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'.

104 Beaufort Mansions; addressed to Trevelyan at the Shiffolds then forwarded to the National Liberal Club, Whitehall. SW. - Thanks Trevelyan for his "Bride of Dionysus"; one of the circulars [adverts] is 'obscuring a portion of the [Cambridge?] Almanack' on his mantelpiece at the Treasury,

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for his letter [12/94?]. Bessie 'seems to have enjoyed her stay in London' and had a good journey to Holland. Is very glad his mother has recovered; expects she will soon be 'entirely well' after a stay at Welcombe in this 'fine weather'.

Has found organising the 'Easter party' rather difficult, involving much 'writing and telegraphing', but thinks all will 'come right'. George Moore usually organises it but 'gave it up at the last moment' and left everything to him. Has got the 'two latest elected apostles' to come: [James] Strachey and [Harry] Norton; they are both in their first year, so 'the destinies of the Society will be in their hands for a long time probably'.

[Ralph] Hawtrey, a Treasury official, is staying with Robert for his holiday; he is a 'nephew of the actor', whom Robert supposes his father will have seen in The Man from Blankney's [actually Blankleys: by Thomas Anstey Guthrie]. Theodore [Llewelyn] Davies 'insisted' on Hawtrey's transferral from the Admiralty to the Treasury, as he 'thought he was the kind of man required' there; this was an 'exceptional step', and Robert believes 'much criticised at the time', but he supposes it 'quite wise'. Hawtrey is 'a man quite of Theodore's type of mind'; expects he has less of his 'power of influencing and directing others', but still 'with the fine common sense and intellectual power, and the same good political tradition', since like Theodore Hawtrey is a Home-ruler as well as a Liberal.

Will write to Welcombe from the Swan Inn, Fittleworth to say how the gathering goes; will go there tomorrow, but how long he stays depends on what the others do. The 'Vesuvius eruption seems very bad'. Lord Rosebery is at his villa now: Robert hopes he will not 'act the part and meet the fate of the elder Pliny'.