Horn Hill Court, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks. - Thanks Trevelyan for his gift, "From the Shiffolds"; has read the poems with 'the same sense of repose & refreshment to the mind & spirit' which his work always gives her. Also had Lord Dunsany's long poem ["The Year"] as a gift for Christmas, and enjoyed many 'beautiful passages' in it including 'descriptions of garden and country'; thinks Trevelyan would also enjoy it. Her book "From the Chilterns" has had 'great success': has received appreciation from people such as Siegfried Sassoon, Arthur Bryant and W[alter] de la Mare to 'the most humble' such as her gardener. Quotes praise from Dr G[eorge] P[eabody] Gooch. Sent a copy to the "Times Literary Supplement", but they have not mentioned it; however, '[a]ll the London bookshops have taken copes', as have W. H. Smith for their 'railway and local (Bucks) shops.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer. - Enjoyed the opera [Trevelyan and Tovey's "Bride of Dionysus"] very much, and is glad his praise pleased Trevelyan. Confesses that he would have liked to see the Minotaur. Ackerley is leaving the B.B.C. and may be available as a literary editor if Trevelyan wants him: perhaps he could talk it over with [Clifford] Allen. Is sure Sassoon would not do for this. Is 'fatalistic' rather than excited about politics; reserves his concern for interference with the rights of individuals, such as the Montalk case. Is going to Romania and would like to see Trevelyan beforehand.
Sends money towards the books with which Trevelyan is providing him. Is writing two articles, one on Philo's embassy to Caligula ["A Little Trip"] and one on army English; is also working on a lecture on ancient Alexandrian philosophy for the Theosophical Society. Discusses the war, bitterness, propaganda and Sassoon's poetry. Would like to know how Trevelyan is, as he has not heard from Dickinson; thanks him for his poem on Confucius. Sends a dramatic sketch involving Pericles [Anastastiades], Sir Bartle [Frere], Cavaffy and Terni; this is incomplete. Forster signs off at the top of the first page, adding that he 'liked Lytton ["Eminent Victorians"?] and Desmond [MacCarthy?] awfully'.
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.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Her letter [about "Maurice"] has given him 'the greatest pleasure': he had expected she might find the book interesting and that it would not shock her, but not that she would think so highly of it. He is not sure: the end is 'dead', and he thinks he can see what is wrong with it, and that there is 'too much theory' about Scudder, but does not think he will rewrite him. Bessie is also right about the 'change of method', though this was due to 'technical incompetence'; does not recall the changes of 'time-standpoint' and asks her to point them out when they meet. Hopes she likes M. [Maurice], who seems to him 'both nice and real'. Will probably not be able to go to Lulworth, as he is to be literary editor of the "Daily Herald" until Sassoon returns. "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and "The Longest Journey", which were out of print, can now be bought direct from him.
Postmark London; forwarded to Trevelyan from the Shiffolds to c/o Mrs Russell, 11 St Leonards Terrace, Chelsea, S.W. - Has seen S.S. [Siegfried Sassoon?] and is 'entirely to blame and to blush' over a poem of his which is intended to be satirical; others have made the same mistake, such as a headmistress at Brighton who ordered a complete works on the strength of it and was so shocked she burned them all. His mother has talked to Mrs M. about whether G's coat was put into the car. Enjoyed seeing Trevelyan, and also C.A. [Clifford Allen?]
Postmarked Weybridge. - Has written to Sassoon; has sent Charlie a little of his own money as well. Has given a lecture on Egypt to the Secular Society at Leicester. Would like to borrow a copy of Norman Douglas's "South Wind".
54 Tufton St, S.W.1. - Thanks Trevelyan for the "Pterodamozels", which he did not know before; 'what a disgusting time it recalls, & how sad it is that Ld Wottlepays are still permitted to "carry on"!'; is 'much tickled' by Trevelyan's 'flexible, ingenious, colloquial rhythms'. Comments on '[h]ow delightful it is when poets exchange compliments!': is very happy to have had Trevelyan's 'appreciative letter' about "Lingual Exercises". Is a little worried after meeting Morgan [Forster] this morning and hearing that Trevelyan had been 'puzzled' by his 'lines about bullet & bayonet' ["The Kiss"]: the 'wretched poem has been a nuisance' to him, and he has been told that it has been used as proof that his 'heart was quite sound in spite of other pacifist poems'. Did not realise its ambiguity when he first published it; wrote it ironically after hearing Colonel Campbell, a 'sort of Isiah [sic] who went up & down France preaching bloodiness to the troops' give his 'celebrated lecture on "the spirit of the bayonet"', assisted by a sergeant to demonstrate 'what the Col. called "the killing face"'; remembers thinking afterwards that it was impossible to be both a good soldier and a good poet. If Trevelyan could see his war diaries, he would realise 'how difficult it was to be two things at once' since Sassoon always knew the only way he could show his 'interest in the humanity of the men was by being an efficient officer', and would only have made things harder for them if he had shown his 'disgust at the futility of what they were enduring'. Expects Trevelyan would say he should not have been there at all; did try protesting, but this only ended in him 'being obliged to go back & try to get killed'. This does not matter now, but he hopes Trevelyan will 'readjust his impression' of the poem. Does not often think about the war now, and it 'all seems quite incredible' when he does.
On headed notepaper for West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking, 'as from' Heytesbury House, Wiltshire [home of Siegfried Sassoon]. - Was about to ring her on 'a matter of slight public importance, when a private disaster overwhelmed' him: Agnes has given notice, as she 'doesn't like the cooking'. His mother has 'borne it better' than he has so far: he does not see how they can stay on at West Hackhurst. Will talk it over when he returns from the long weekend with Sassoon already arranged. If Bessie is 'driving alone' near his mother, knows she would like to see her. Must post this letter (in Dorking) and board the train.
Tells her to look at the Times, he thinks from last Saturday, announcing that the Dorking town councillors 'propose to cut a chalk cock on Box Hill in honour of the Coronation!'. Wonders if she could contact 'eg some V[aughan] Williamses, find out whether it is true, and join in a protest if it is'.