Empire Nursing Home, Vincent Square, London, S.W.1. - Is getting on very well now [after his operation] with little discomfort. Bessie reads Trollope to him most afternoons, and he usually has visitors each day: T[homas] S[turge] Moore is coming to tea today. Hopes Bessie will go to Paris next week, then on to Holland: no reason for her not to now Bob is 'so well' and go to the C.A.s [Clifford Allens] for the first couple of weeks after he leaves the nursing home. He works through chess games in the papers, and has just been looking at the tournament between Cambridge and Oxford, in which the marks were equal; Bronowski, whom he supposes is Julian's friend [Jacob] 'lost his game rather disastrously'. Terence Gray wants to do Bob's [translation of Euripides'] "Medea"in May, which he has agreed to but now regrets; Gray is trying to get [Maria] Germanova for Medea, but 'wants her to do it for nothing'; Bob has telegraphed to her saying she should 'on no account... accept the engagement. It is too monstrous'; Gray probably wants him to step in and pay Germanova himself, which he will not, as he will not be able to get to rehearsals and go through the part with her; Gray is also intending to put Medea in a mask, which is 'the height of folly' regarding Germanova. Unlikely Germanova would have been able to take the part with her husband [Aleksandr Kalitinsky] so ill. Wonders if [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy has gone to India yet and whether he has finished his book. Hopes Julian is getting on well with his work; frescos must be 'fun to try', though expects Julian is 'likely to make rather a mess at first'. [Étienne Adolphe?] Piot was 'technically quite competent' but artistically bad. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and to [Jean] Marchand if Julian sees him. Hopes Bessie will come to Paris next week, and see the Luce family. He and Bessie had hoped to see the Sykes family this month, but had to put it off; supposes [Hugh]'s exams are coming up anyway.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sure Mary C is very happy with Elizabeth; she is 'so deeply interested in Netherlands history' and anxious to hear about it from her. Glad Julian is well; Sir George is not at all well today, hopes he will recover soon. Thinks Julian 'will really become an architect' as he seems to have 'such a genuine taste for it'. His 'amusement for the holidays' is delightful. Wonders if "Dr Thorne" 'is a success'; expects so, as [Trollope] had not yet become 'lengthy'. Has been very interested in Robert's book. Expects the shooters will not mind the weather. Would like to see Julian's railway; must be great fun to make it. A 'new cousin' appeared yesterday, a grand-daughter of the Reverend George T[revelyan] who is staying at Hepple. George Lowthian brought her when she was lunching at Cambo; he is 'such a charming young man now'.
On embossed notepaper for 10 Upper Porchester Street, Hyde Park Square, W. - Solicits contribution for a Masonic magazine of which he is editor; Anthony Trollope is providing a story for the Christmas issue.
Explains his failure to write sooner on a succession of visitors, and the May examination. Presumed that Arthur would give her news of him. Reports that he has very nearly got through his work, and that he intends to be finished it in the next four hours. In relation to his private work reports that marks are to be added up in conclave the following day, followed by a dinner. Intends to go to London on Wednesday or Thursday, and hopes to get rid of his hayfever there. Hopes to find a lodging somewhere near the British Museum, as he wishes to use the library. Does not think he will venture down to Rugby 'until the end of the perilous season.' Reports that he has just heard from Tawney, who is staying in the Bernards' house on the Lake of Geneva, and who is 'bent on matrimonial designs.' He wants Henry to 'go and back him up'. Henry feels inclined to go as it would probably be the last he shall see of Tawney apart from a flying visit to England.
Refers to his health and reports that he feels very well, but that his hayfever causes him some discomfort. Asks his mother to tell Arthur to read Nina Balatka. Does not think that it can be by Trollope, but states that it is 'a very decided and very successful imitation of his manner'. Supposes that she will see William before he goes, and refers to his competition against W. Jackson. Reports that he saw Edward the previous day 'as a D.D.', and states that Mr Martin looks better.
Album containing over 250 letters, notes, documents, unaccompanied envelopes, printed items, and photographic prints carrying the handwriting and/or autographs of sovereigns, prelates, government ministers, peers, authors, and Trinity College masters and professors, with a few unusual items in addition. The material appears to have been largely culled from the correspondence of George Peacock, his wife Frances Peacock, her father William Selwyn, and her second husband William Hepworth Thompson, with a few unrelated items. Most date from the 19th century but there are a few items from the 18th century.
Among those represented are King George III, Charles Babbage, E.W. Benson, the 15th Earl of Derby, the 7th Duke of Devonshire, W. E. Gladstone, Lord Houghton, Charles Kingsley, H. W. Longfellow, Lord Macaulay, Sir Robert Peel, John Ruskin, Adam Sedgwick, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Anthony Trollope, and William Whewell; there are in addition a miniature handwritten Lord's Prayer in a circle no larger than 15mm across, a carte-de-visite photograph souvenir 'balloon letter' from the Paris siege of 1870 with an image of the newspaper 'La Cloche', and a photographic print of Lane's portrait of George Peacock.
Ellis, Mary Viner (1857-1928) great-niece of George PeacockWallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Writes to greet Robert and Elizabeth on their return home. Interested to hear about their host at Saxifield [?]. Agrees with Robert's appreciation of Baldwin's 'choice of men for such functions'. Approves Julian being 'introduced' to "Emma", "Bleak House", and "Barchester Towers". He himself is reading Gissing's 'two great books': "New Grub Street" and the "Nether World", which are tragic but very readable. Tells Robert to read the article marked with pencil in the ["Times] Literary Supplement", "The War on Science" [Harpur, Caldwell. "The War on Science," Times Literary Supplement" 1 Sept. 1927 p 590] which will make him 'sit up with surprise'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for his 'jolly letter'; will re-read [Trollope's] "Framleigh Parsonage" [sic: "Framley..."] again soon, perhaps aloud to Caroline. They are currently alternating between "The Wreckers" [R. L. Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne's "The Wrecker"?] and the "[Roman] Journal" of Gregorovius. Is himself reading Anatole France's "L'Orme du Mail", some of which he thinks as good as Balzac, just as aspects of "La Reine Pédauque" are 'like the best Voltaire'. In a postscript, says that he too voted for Jim Butler [for the Cambridge University constituency] but 'in such a General Election as this an "Independent" has no chance'.
National Liberal Club.- His father's letter reached him yesterday, having been forwarded. Is writing to his mother to thank her for her 'great kindness in making us these presents on her birthday'; also thanks his father 'most gratefully' for his 'participation in the plan'. Is writing to Bessie, and hopes she will get his letter tomorrow. No doubt his father will see her soon when she is at Cambo with Julian.
Is going to Anglesey next week to stay with Lascelles Abercrombie, Professor of English Literature at Leeds, 'a fine critic, and a fine poet too, though of late years lecturing has taken up all his time'. Is just going to lunch with 'young [Francis] Birrell'; expects he will also see Birrell's father, whom he 'always like[s] meeting. He is still as charming a talker as ever'.
Before Bessie went away they had just finished reading Orley Farm, which seemed to them 'as fine a novel as any of Trollope's' though some things in the 'trial and the procedure seemed somewhat improbable and even a little absurd. But it is a superb plot'. Will join Bessie at Scarborough later in the month, then return with her and Julian to the Shiffolds.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Will be going off to the Lake Hunt next Thursday; hopes the fine weather which has returned today will 'last over Whitsuntide'. The Lake Hunt is 'a serious matter to one who will be fifty-three in a month from now', so he has 'to go into a mild form of training'; has already lost several pounds of weight 'so as to have less to carry up to the Haystacks and the Gable'. Fears that George Lothian [sic: George Lowthian Trevelyan]. Believes he went to Welcombe last Sunday with Charles; hopes they 'found Mama fairly well and enjoying the warmer weather'. Expects the cowslips and narcissuses will be almost over by now.
He and Bessie had a 'very pleasant surprise visit on Saturday and Sunday' from Molly and Florence; they came 'by motor bus' to Wotton, walked four or five miles from there over Leith Hill, and stayed the night on Sunday, When he finishes this letter, Bessie will read him a 'chapter or two from [Trollope's] The Small House at Allington. John Eames has just given Crosbie his cold eye'. Robert is 'just finishing' Aristophanes' Frogs and beginning to write a new comedy of his own.
Cuckfield. - Moxons are not replying owing to present state of their affairs; can Houghton say whether Dennis is free to publish selected sonnets by Keats; to omit them would condemn the book as his are some of the century's best; was introduced to Houghton at Willis's Rooms [Almack's] some years ago by his friend Mr Trollope. Postscript: does not include living poets; can be reached at the Garrick Club.
Trinity Lodge, Cambridge - The Thomsons meant to send birthday greetings on time but mistook the day; is sending some chocolate (Cadbury's and Meltis); her husband asks if J. G. would like to borrow a Trollope novel from his library.