Stock's Cottage, Tring. - Thanks Bessie for writing about Mr Dakyns [his death]; was good to hear from her though they had seen the reports in the newspapers. Wishes she had known him better, but after her family left Haslemere she did not see him much so he is 'just a childish memory'; George of course was 'very fond of him'. Asks 'what will become of Frances', for whom she feels very sorry. Hopes that all goes well with the new nanny, and that Bessie might manage to visit for a few days before they go; suggests some dates: Moya Llewelyn Davies is probably coming for the day on Friday, and Bessie might like to meet her; the [Charles?] Mastermans may be coming on Sunday the 9th but there would be room for Bessie too. Will understand if she cannot come, and look forward to seeing her at Wallington, and getting 'to know each others' babies really well'. Humphry is 'such a delight' to her now, and since his 'bush of curls' was clipped has 'turned into such a real big boy'. Notes in a postscript that it is almost certain the Mastermans will not come.
Trevelyan has filled in the sections printed on the front: 'Written by' with 'R.C.T'; 'Commenced' with 27 August 1923 [looks like 8]; 'School' with 'Ἡ ΓΗ' ['The Earth' in Ancient Greek]. Notes in his first entry that he has been reading Ponsonby's book ["English Diaries" by Arthur Ponsonby] which has inspired him to start this diary.
Mentions of Mabel [Godwin?], Marian [?], Alice, Bert and Bobbie Elms; Bessie and Julian; his parents; Miles Malleson and his wife [Joan] and uncle [Philip Malleson]; O[liver] Simon at the "Fleuron" (who asks him to translate the "Acts of the Apostles", to be illustrated by Paul Nash); Miss Ewing [later wife of Walter Rea], Nicky Mariano; Bernard and Mary Berenson; Frances and Arthur Dakyns (visiting the Ponsonbys at Fernhurst); his brother George (who has written to the "Times" saying the matter between Greece and Italy should be referred to the Powers not the League of Nations); Margaret and Ralph Vaughan Williams and their mother; Mrs [Jane] Russell Rea; Irene [Cooper Willis or Noel-Baker]; 'Miss [blank left], with whom Rennier had an affair. She is now private secretary to [Henry?] Hamilton Fyfe'; Francis Birrell; Clifford and Joan Allen; 'an Italian-French lady' whom Trevelyan had met at I Tatti; Barbara Strachey; [Simon] Bussy [paintings by]; John Rodker 'and his child [Joan] by Sonia [Cohen]'; a 'nice rather muddle-headed young man.. Labour candidate for Petersfield' [Dudley Aman]; Bertrand Russell.
Works on: translations of Theocritus; his 'Flood poem' ["The Deluge"]; possible continuation of "Pterodamozels"; review of books on metre by Lascelles Abercrombie and E[gerton Smith] (Smith is the first person he has 'attacked' in a review; wonders if Desmond MacCarthy will think his comments 'too strong); review of Sturge Morre's "Judas" for Leonard Woolf at the "Nation"; his 'Pandora play'.
Reads (as well as Ponsonby, and sometimes with Julian): the "Manchester Guardian", Spenser's "Mother Hubbard ['s Tale]", Epicharmus, "Henry IV pt 1", Phaedrus, Macaulay, Aristophanes, the 'Summer number' of Julian's "Hurtenham Magazine", Lucian, the "Mikado"; Ssuma Ch'ien [Sima Qian]; Hastings' "Dictionary of the Bible" [at the London Library]; a "Classical Review" with Duff and Bailey on Lucretius; Molly MacCarthy's autobiography ["A Nineteenth-Century Childhood", 'Very charming']
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Has seen the news [of the death of Henry Graham Dakyns] in the "Morning Post" and written to Miss Dakyns. Will not be at the [Apostles?] dinner, and is unsure when he will next be able to see Trevelyan. Is writing an article on Luigi Cornaro.
Refers to her 'nice long letter', which he received two weeks previously, and sends on the thanks of Maggie and Frances [his wife and daughter] for all Nora's good wishes and for the pleasure her letter gave them. Hopes that she is well, and remarks that from her description of her life it seems to him that she is comfortable. Remarks also on the 'solemn and momentous incidents' that have occurred since she wrote to him, including [the deaths of] Creighton, Frederick Myers and the Queen. Adds that they all agree that her brother [Arthur Balfour]'s words 'were the noblest of all' [in relation to the Queen's death.]
Says that he is going to get a new map of Egypt [where Nora is travelling?], so that they 'may sit on that high place and see those sunsets - and the line of the mighty river and the E[ ] plain and the distant mountains.' States that he is also going soon to Oxford when Arthur [Sidgwick] 'has settled down and is ready' for him; wishes that 'something [could] be done to release [Arthur] from some of his work'. Wishes he knew what Henry would have advised him to do. Refers to the explanatory note on the numbers of Henry's letters, which he sends on a separate page [included].
Dakyns, Henry Graham (1838-1911) schoolmasterNorthlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - The death of [Henry Graham] Dakyns is 'a sad loss for [them] all': not sure what 'being happy' means, but Dakyns did seem to exemplify 'what life is worth living for' and probably also ended life in the right way, though Tovey says 'some people really oughtn't to die at all', only be given a holiday now and again and sent back before their friends have time to be unhappy. There are two typed copies of this portion of the letter. Supposes [Dakyns' daughter] Frances will go and live with her brother in London [Henry or Arthur?].
Has 'broken the back' of the symphonic introduction to the Labyrinth [scene in "The Bride of Dionysus"] and has reached its second subject, beginning with the Nereids and drifting into 'Theseid philandering'. Needs to know more about the Theseus-Ariadne duet; is worried whether this is now too long given the tension in the cave. Will meanwhile move on to the parts of Act III which bear on this: Ariadne's awakening, the Satyr's song, and perhaps Ariadne's dream. Feels that there is too much emphasis put on Phaedra's desertion of Aphrodite for Hecate in her first speech in the cave, though he recalls that this is a favourite of Trevelyan's.
Hopes that Nora is well. Reports on the weather at Haslemere, and on the nesting of the birds. Refers to two of Henry's comments 'on two "Initial [Society]" notes started by H.W. Eve', which he encloses [not included]. States that Eve sent him the series a few days previously, and that he [Dakyns] thought that Henry's comments were interesting in themselves.
Has not yet had his 'long talked of meeting with Arthur', but expects to be summoned by him to Oxford in the near future. Announces that he is going up to Cambridge for a Memorial [for Henry] meeting the following Tuesday, and puts forward two proposals as to the type of memorial; one being 'a lectureship in Moral Science to be called the Sidgwick Lectureship', and the other ' a studentship in Philosophy... open to men and women to be given every second or third year as the income of the fund may permit'. Expects that the Peiles will know Nora's own feelings on the subject. Adds that Miss [Jane?] Harrison will not be there, as she has set off the previous day for Rome, after which she plans to go on to Athens, and hopes that Dakyns would join her 'in a Cretan expedition' in about a month.
Discusses his wish to travel. Refers to Gilbert Murray, who lives close by Dakyns, 'with his verse translations of the Hippolytus of Euripides and his Greek [ ] readings of Shelley's Helios'. Refers also to Egypt, where he wishes he could take his son Arthur; states that they would then go to Luxor, where they would see Nora, and know that she is well. Sends Maggie and Frances [his wife and daughter]'s love.
Dakyns, Henry Graham (1838-1911) schoolmasterLillywhites, Wesburton, Pulborough, Sussex. - Is late in thanking Bob for his 'lovely Christmas poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"], which she has much enjoyed; asks him to write more. Does not think she ever sent him the enclosed [no longer present] which she likes. Asks him to thank Bessie for the 'nice letter re Mrs [Marie?] Busch Mendelssohn': will get in touch.
6 Devonshire Place, W.1. - Asks Bob to forgive her for not thanking him before for his 'lovely poems at Christmas' [From the Shiffolds". He sees what she is now doing [organising the Busch concerts?]: a 'big task... with everything to arrange'. Adolf and Hedwig [Busch] came for two days last week en route to Switzerland, and will return with the Quartet in mid-April. All is going well. Postscript asking whether Bob had called in on her here one day: very sorry to have missed him if so. The 'Petrol ban is a curse' and she would have visited them at the Shiffolds long ago otherwise.
Lillywhites, Westburton, Pulborough, Sussex. - Replying to thank him for the 'lovely Christmas gift' ["From the Shiffolds"] does not mean it made 'no impression' on her: has read and reread the poems 'with great pleasure and thankfulness', especially the one to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]. Thinks she gets continually worse at writing to people. Has only now finished with the 'wretched Busch Concerts (1948) and sends Bob the 'dire result' [no longer present]. Asks if she can come to see Bob about it: he said something 'very sympathetic & consoling' after the last Kingsway Hall concert. Feels 'responsible for the financial disaster', but George Booth has been 'overwhelmingly kind' and .offered to write off the whole debt if necessary'. Has also written to [Arthur?] Lister Harrison who originally promised some support. The 'great blow' was the American Federation of Musicians, led by Mr [James] Petrillo, banning recording anywhere outside America, which meant the recordings of 'those beautiful performances of the Cantatas', as well as the 'support and financial aid of the Columbia Gramophone Co.' were lost. Would not have suggested the Concerts without the promise of the support, but it was too late to cancel when news of the ban came. Adolf and Hedwig [Busch] have had a son, Nicholas, who is two months old.
Northlands, Englefield Green. - Plans for the celebration of Donald [Tovey's] birthday: the orchestra and [Louis] Fleury are coming and Donald's [piano] concerto, a flute concerto 'and much else' will be performed. Invites the Trevelyans to stay for supper and for the night; will find them 'quarters at the Wheatsheaf'. Is 'terribly grieved' for Frances Dakyns [on the death of her father]. Asks how Johannes Röntgen is. Sends love to Julian: says she 'ought to have had at least one hundred babies to take care of'.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Asks what is wrong with 'the dear and absolutely indispensable poet' [Robert Trevelyan]. 'Poor D.F.T' [Donald Tovey] had 'half his head torn of by the dentist' on Thursday, and she herself ended the term yesterday then had 'a portion of [her] leg removed'. However, they are both well, and there is 'nothing evil' in her leg. Asks for news, and if Bessie would like Donald to visit around the beginning of September before he goes to the Dakyns.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Has been visiting the Dakyns family and is 'so sorry to hear about [Bob's son] Paul'; hopes that he will get well soon at Broadstairs. Has been meaning to write for a long time to say 'how good' he thinks "Sisyphus", and how much it made him laugh; liked Hypnos's appearance best; thought his remarks 'seemed so true' that those of Thanatos - [annotation above, perhaps in Trevelyan's hand, 'Time?']- which were 'presumably meant to be more true... did seem deal and second hand mahogany in comparison'. Calls Aphrodite and Artemis 'two dears'; the chorus made him 'faint with joy'. They are returning the 'Italy book', which his mother 'could scarcely bear to part with', and 'have put "Don't forward"'.