States that he would have written last Autumn to inform him that his eldest son was going up to Trinity, and to ask him and Mrs Sidgwick to show him what kindness they could. Admits that it is now 'rather late in the day', but hopes that they might seek him out, as he [Elliott senior] would greatly value the Sidgwicks' friendship and advice to his son. Gives an account of the boy's activities since leaving school, and his time at Trinity, and expresses concern about his future. Reports that Fred Myers 'has been good to him'. With regard to his time in India, he reports that since he last saw Sidgwick he has had the post of Public Works Minister. Discusses the Department and the work it carries out, including canal construction throughout India. Mentions Sidgwick's efforts to revise the University's constitution and states that '[t]here is an undercurrent of sedition which has to be checked'. Expresses the desire to 'talk it all out with' Sidgwick. Mentions having read the Psychical Journal.
Tells her to send the papers to him, as he has not gone abroad. Explains that he is trying to cure his stammering in Cambridge. Expresses his regret at hearing of the 'inroads of illness', and remarks on how unfortunately she is situated 'in having no stock of young men near to impress', and states that at Rugby there are always recruits. Tells her to inform Arthur that he sits opposite Elliot, 'The ELLIOT [a reference to C. A. Elliott?]', in hall. Claims that he didn't know anyone there 'until Macfarlane dropped heavensent from the North Riding of Yorkshire. Claims that the people he knows have gone down for the vacation, and that he has forged Arthur's name to an order on the Union Library and buried himself in the literature of the eighteenth century. States that he is also reading 'Aids to Faith [edited by William Thomson], which seems good, except for Dr Mc Caul's contribution.' States that somebody is to be married, but he cannot remember whom, and refers to the piece of letter that he left out of his last missive.
Grand Hotel Valescure, St Raphael [headed notepaper]:- Postmarked Marseille; sent to Lady Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Has arrived safely at St Raphael and is staying at the Grand Hotel Velescure [Valescure]. Sandilands [James or John?] arrives today. Sir Charles and Lady Elliott, with their son Frank who was at Harrow and Trinity with Robert, are here. Bowen also recommended this place to them, and it ‘is about as delightful a place as anyone could wish for’. The Elliotts are ‘very good company’; he is on the London School Board, and must return in a week or two. Will write again soon.
Hotel Valescure, St Raphael, France [on headed notepaper for 56 Belsize Park, Hampstead, N.W.]:- She may think him a ‘very shifting individual’, but he has altered his plans: he has been here a fortnight and ‘scarcely had one fine day’, with steady rain, so he is ‘tired of the place’ and does not think he would like to stay even if the weather were to improve. The Elliotts left two days ago, the Grahams are leaving tomorrow, and Sandilands [James or John?] thinks of going to Cannes, where Robert ‘certainly would not care to stay’. Thinks of going to Naples and then, if it is not too cold, to Corpo di Cava, where he ‘had so satisfactory a time two years ago’ and can live for ‘fr. 5 a day’, half of the pension at his current hotel. If it is too cold he can ‘go to Capri or Amalfi, either temporally or for good’ Is as ‘well as anyone can be who has been unable to take a walk without getting wet through for a fortnight’. If he starts this afternoon he will reach Naples next evening, ‘after a few hours to lunch and rest at Rome’.
He and Sandilands went to see the Rendels yesterday, and he met Mrs Goodhart for the first time. Clare [Clarice] was there, and drove them up the hill; Daphne was in England ‘keeping house for Lord Rendel’. Lady Rendel had ‘assembled the 8 oldest fogies from the Canne[s] hotels and villas’ and sat them at two tables ‘to play two games of four-handed chess, of which she is the apostle’; this was in the next room to that where tea was taken, and Lady Rendel took Robert to the door to see them, ‘as one might show a hutch full of tame rabbits, or guinea-pigs’. She pointed out ‘one old fellow… deaf and in blue spectacles’, saying he had played the game forty years ago; Robert hopes he has not played it continuously 'for it is a game plainly invented by the Evil One for man’s torment’. Clare has ‘weakly’ agreed to play, but says Daphne has ‘refused to learn the rules’. Asks her to send his letters to the poste-restante in Naples until further notice; supposes she will be in London, or just on her way.