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The papers consist of correspondence, printed material, writings, personal papers, and photographs documenting the English life of Erskine Childers. The correspondence includes incoming letters to Erskine and to Molly Childers, copies of letters sent by Erskine, and a large number of letters written to others from others.

There are over 75 letters from Erskine to Molly dated 1903-1913; Erskine's other principal correspondents include Ian Hamilton, Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, and Basil Williams. Molly's principal correspondents include Benoît-Constant Coquelin, Kate Courtney, and John Singer Sargent. The collection includes letters from a variety of other correspondents, among them Edward Arnold, Julian Corbett, Arthur Conan Doyle, Henry James, William James, Lord Kitchener, J. Ellis McTaggart, Walter Runciman, George Bernard Shaw (to Emily Ford), and G. M. Trevelyan.

Printed material includes cuttings of reviews for 'The H.A.C. in South Africa', 'The Times History of the war in South Africa', 'War and the Arme Blanche', 'The Riddle of the Sands', and 'The German Influence on British Cavalry'; cuttings of articles on cruising printed in 'The Times' from 1907-1913; as well as two issues of 'Poblacht na hÉireann' from 21, 23 October, 1922.

The collection also includes a holograph poem apiece by Bronson Alcott and William Ellery Channing, photographs of Benoît-Constant Coquelin, and a signed photograph of Sarah Bernhardt.

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Station Street. - Is 'very flattered' by the offer to play Prometheus [in Trevelyan's translation of Aeschylus' play], and grateful to [Gordon] Bottomley for thinking of him. Mr [Terence] Gray had not told Toyne which part he wanted to play; he heard about it from Clifford Allen via his mother. Has asked his current employers about being released to act for Gray and Trevelyan; was told that the Birmingham Repertory Company 'never stood in the way of their members'. However, they have treated him well after he had been 'out of interesting work for some time', and he gathers that his release would 'greatly inconvenience them' at the moment; therefore felt 'morally obliged' to refuse Gray's offer, much to his own 'personal chagrin'. Encloses the program for the season [no longer present] for reference: is not playing an 'interesting ' part until the fifth part of "Bach to Methuselah" [by G. B. Shaw], starting on 20 October. Would be 'honoured' to play the part next term if it would really not 'inconvenience' Gray to postpone the production until then, and would be free any time after 14 December; could get released at any time if necessary to play the part, but as explained is reluctant to do so unless 'absolutely necessary'. Unless Trevelyan thinks it necessary to see Toyne acting, any day would suit him to meet; has indicated his parts in the enclosed program.

4 The Gables, Vale of Health, Hampstead, N.W.3. - Thanks Trevelyan for sending the book ["Three Plays: Sulla, Fand, The Pearl-tree"]: is 'very much honoured' to have a signed copy. Loves the two new plays, though 'naturally' likes "Fand" best [having performed in it in 1929]. Asks if "Sulla" has ever been staged; wishes it could be put on at Oxford, though a 'marvellous person' would have to be found to play the Satyr, on whom so much depends. Has been with the Greater London Players recently, and has just played Raina in [Shaw's] "Arms and the Man" with them, which was 'rather fun'. Very glad Trevelyan was able to find a copy of "Fand": must have been worrying not to have one when he wanted to publish it [see also 20/84]. If he ever produces another play, with a 'tiny part or a "noise off"' or something else she could do, would 'love to work for [him] again'.

Went to see 'The Public Ear - The Private Eye' and admires it, better than most Shaw, who was 'so apt to boast & show off his cleverness. And he knew nothing about sex -- did he? -- although he liked to write about it.'

Glad that Julian can see no difficulty with the idea of putting a tomb in the right wing [of the scenery for Robert's "Meleager"]; does not want him to alter the backcloth with the three tombs. Likes his suggestion of putting the shrine in the painted side-cloth on the opposite wing, but must discuss it with Mrs [Penelope] Wheeler when they rehearse again on Wednesday; suspects she may think it is too important to be 'a mere painting half-hidden in the side-wing', but she may appreciate the extra room it would give for movement on stage. Glad Julian has a place to paint; he should not worry about the canvasses being late. The first performance is on 7 November; expects they will all go to Oxford for rehearsals three days before. 'So you have seen Wittgenstein, and survive!'. Likes him himself, though sees 'one could easily have too much of him', and 'the younger generation don't seem to be able to put up with him'; a shame he is 'always so serious'. Julian seems to have 'got together a good team of Heretics' [speakers for the Heretics Society]. Will certainly go to the L[ondon] G[roup exhibition]; had no idea Julian had sent anything. Sorry he will not be able to come to Cambridge on 23 October, because of rehearsals, but will come another time. If Julian thinks it necessary, he should send a small sketch of his idea for the side-cloth with the tomb; would also like to see one for the opposite wing showing the shrine if they decide on it, but that can wait. Went to see Shaw's "Apple Cart" and thought it 'very good fun', with 'the politics not very serious, and certainly not offensive'.

Is glad to hear Trevelyan is thinking of writing a novel, though the 'bothers' about writing distress him as they resemble his own. Asks if he has read and admired Norman Douglas's "South Wind"; suggests it, and Gide's "Les Caves du Vatican", as possible models. Will send him and Bessie 'the unpublished thing' ["Maurice"], but asks them to promise not to mention it to anyone except Goldie [Dickinson]. Has re-read it recently and found some 'grave faults' which he may alter. Has written a memorandum on Egypt for the Labour Party, and so spent a pleasant day in London seeing Woolf and Shaw. His aunt's neighbours, the Agnews, came to tea; he liked Mr Agnew. 'Yesterday I had tea at the House of the Lord'. Saw Tovey and Miss W. [Sophie Weisse] in Edinburgh. His mother is reading 'The Arrows of Lead' [ Joseph Conrad's "The Arrow of Gold"] which she finds slow.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea:- Has just returned from Harrow, where he goes to 'get a game [of football] once a week' to keep himself 'very fit in body and mind'. Bowen had got up a 'team of masters and old boys' against the boys of his house, 'which is very good this year'. Robert's team were 'Somehow' beaten 6-0, but Bowen 'covered himself with glory, playing better than he has done for years'; he also told Robert he 'played like a hero'.

Met Charlie in the morning at the B[ritish] M[useum] Library, 'getting up the question of State Railways'; he is 'much interested in a scheme for a progressive periodical [the Progressive Review] which [William] Clarke, late of the Chronicle, and a young Socialist, [Ramsay?] MacDonald, are going to start next year. It is to be to these dregs of times what the Edinburgh Review was to be to those other dark days'. It 'promises to do well', and Robert wishes it 'God-speed', though they say it 'has as yet no Brougham, much less its Sidney Smith'. Bernard Shaw, whom Robert saw recently in a restaurant, told him 'with his usual superb egotism', that if they had wanted the paper to succeed, they ought to have asked him to 'write a series of articles, as he knew the secret of making a splash and drawing the gaze of the public'. However, 'Clarke cant stand G.B.S., calling him an anarchist and a Jacobin', and Shaw is a 'little piqued at being out of it'.

[Roger] Fry has a cold today and has taken to his bed 'as he always does at the slightest alarm'; this is sensible as 'his colds are both more sudden and more formidable than other people's'. He is doing well otherwise, and has 'just finished some theatrical scenery for a friend [a pencil note suggests this is 'Badley - [at] Bedales']' - the wood in Midsummer Night's Dream] - which is as good as anything Robert has seen by him, 'though you can't get very rich colour effects in tempera'. Their next door neighbours, Ricket[t]s and Shannon, have 'just brought out a magazine... a single Christmas number [The Pageant]' for which they have obtained contributions from 'all the great names in the literary and artistic word' such as Swinburne, Bridges, Maeterlinck, Verlaine, Burne Jones and Watts. There is 'some fine work in it, and some very queer'; Robert's friend [Thomas Sturge] Moore has two short poems included, though Robert does not think them his best. Will show his parents the magazine when they return. Shannon and Ricketts are 'taking to publishing poetry'; he believes they 'make a great success', and hopes that knowing them 'might be useful in the future'.

Is putting this letter into an envelope he finds 'on C[harles]'s table' with his parents' name on it but not yet their address. Expects they will soon be in Rome. Is going to see Aunt Annie [Philips] next week' does not plan to go abroad as he is 'very well, and do not feel the cold'. He will go to Welcombe for a few days, but otherwise stay in London unless 'the frost gives [him] colds'. Is glad their travelling is going so well, and that they like Gregorovius: it is 'always pleasant work welcoming a new historical star', though he doubts this one is 'of the first magnitude'.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea:- Has seen his mother's letter to Charlie; is glad to hear the journey 'has been so far so delightful'. Wonders if they will go on to Ravenna; since the weather is fine, he hopes they will. Once had 'an hour' in Bologna, 'chiefly a flying visit to the gallery'; thought that it 'with its collonades [sic] and fascinating though somewhat ugly towers seemed quite unlike any other town in Italy', and would have liked to see more of it.

Hopes to see Charles today: has not seen him for a long time. Bernard Shaw came to dinner with them [Robert and Roger Fry] recently: they had 'the greatest difficult in getting him to eat or drink anything', and he would 'scarcely eat' a risotto they had 'specially prepared for him, because he detected a flavour of animal gravy in it'. Shaw 'made up for his fastidiousness by talking the whole evening', and Robert 'was very glad to listen'; has written a one act play about Napoleon [The Man of Destiny, first performed in Nov 1897], and has been 'studying military history for some time'. Robert thinks he ought to 'turn out something original in the Napoleonics'.

Roger has 'practically finished his portrait of Mrs W[iddrington?]', having 'considerably altered the face' since Robert's mother saw it, 'when it was very unsatisfactory'; Robert now thinks it 'very good'. To Roger's 'great amusement', the 'O. B. [Oscar Browning]' has commissioned a portrait from him.

Saw the Holman Hunts last Sunday; they were 'charmed' by the flowers his mother sent them. The 'old boy is painting a picture which promises to be the ugliest he has yet done. It has great merit in many ways, but in his old age he he seems to have lost all idea of what combinations of colours are beautiful'. Is going this evening to a 'Mottle concert [one conducted by Felix Mottl?]': has not heard except the Mikado for a 'dangerously long time*. Hopes his father is 'enjoying himself, and is reading his Dante regularly'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Asks Robert if he knows the whereabouts of a copy of [Dickens's] "Barnaby Rudge", and the "Harrow Atlas of Ancient Geography" which he very much misses; has found an entry in the list of lent books indicating that Robert had these, but the initials have been crossed out. Has just finished Conrad's "Rescue"; seems a 'strange delusion' that people consider him out of the ordinary, and rank him with writers such as 'Arnold Bennett, Wells, Mrs Sidgwick, Shaw, Kipling, and Stevenson'; he is of course clever, 'but he does not know how to tell a plain, or an impassioned story'; read "Chance" aloud to Caroline, which amused him despite 'the upside down of the narrative', but can read nothing else of his with pleasure. Sends birthday wishes.

98 Elm Park Gardens, S.W. 10. Dated 6th November 1930. Confidential - Is writing a book on women in politics and asks his opinion on an extract from George Bernard Shaw's 'The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism' about landlords forcing Dissenters to send their children to Church schools, and to use their power over women to anticipate a husband's privilege - asks if Frazer come across any further information on the subject since writing 'Folk-Lore in the Old Testament'. With enclosed transcript of the extract.

Grimsby Farm, Long Lane, Coldash, Newbury. - Since, 'like Alice [in Wonderland]' he always takes 'a great interest in questions of eating and drinking', he is worried that Trevy is under-eating, unless risotto is 'very comprehensive and satisfying', like the dish described [in Aristophanes' "Ecclesiazusae/Assemblywomen" in a long compound word of which he quotes the beginning. Other than that Trevy seems to be having a 'perfect time', much better than he is himself. Wants very much to see Trevy's work; tells him to 'leave Paul as he is' [see 15/274] or just change the name so he will not recognise him; expects the book will be 'uncommon good'. Oswald [Sickert] nearly finished his book at Christmas, but did nothing more between then and Easter, as he was too busy with "Beautiful B[retain": published by the Werner Company]; he says a great deal work needs still to be done on it. [Stanley] Makower's book ["The Mirror of Music"] should be out soon after Easter. The 'great literary event' has been [Arthur] Verrall's "Euripides the Rationalist"; does not think he has ever read 'anything so clever'; will not say anything about it as it would spoil it, and it seems 'perfectly convincing'. Has been 'getting on very well with [Robert] Bridges': went with him to Oxford for a day last week; he seems 'the biggest man I've ever known anything of, perhaps equal with [William Gunion?] Rutherford'; cannot think of anyone else so 'thoroughly serious, thoroughly humorous, and thoroughly consistent', except perhaps Sickert who does not seem to be 'exactly "great" at present', though may be at forty. Bridges is bringing out an edition of Keats soon which will, for example see 'plain "Endymion" as an allegory". They went to the Bodleian, which is 'a delightful place'; Lady Shelley has recently given them 'a fine collection of Shelley MSS etc'. Roger [Fry] is coming to Yattendon soon after Easter, but unfortunately Marsh will have left by then. The 'great thing about Maeterlinck is the sound'; "L'Intruse" was a 'complete failure on the stage'; "Pelléas et Mélisande" 'delightful to listen to'; afraid the 'beautiful M. Lugné Poë' 'is gone for good, and won't come back, the theatre was so dreadfully empty' though the 'decent critics' were all in favour has not seen [William] Archer's articles, but Shaw 'praised the company highly' who has been in Fiesole, will soon go 'for a sail down the Adriatic', and return to England at the end of April. Asks if Trevy has seen the reports of Russell's brother [Frank]'s case; believes it will be settled on Tuesday week; thinks [Russell's wife] 'the Countess and her mother exposed themselves pretty fully'.

Heard from 'dear [Arthur] Shipley this morning, he's in solitary splendour at Cambridge'. Asks if Shipley is Trevy's 'idea of Horace', as he is Marsh's own, both physically and in character. Has also had a 'very gay letter from T. T. [Phelps?], furious' with Trevy for writing twice to Marsh and not to him. Has heard from 'the Seatollerites': George [Trevelyan] and [George] Moore both wrote last Sunday and the party seems to have been a success up to then. Has been 'working very hard' himself, but does not think he is getting on and worries about his Tripos [examinations]; the only reading he is doing apart from revision is de Quincey, of whom he is becoming 'very fond'. Thought the murder Trevy told him about at Wallington, '[William] Winter's murder [i.e., that committed by Winter]' was in "Murder as a Fine Art [de Quincey's "Murder Considered as one of the Fine Arts"]', but read that this morning and there is nothing about it there; asks where Trevy 'got all the details'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Elizabeth and Julian 'arrived very punctually', and they were glad to see them. Robert knows how much he read Sam Butler; likes his favourite pieces 'more than ever' and had looked forward very much to the appearance of the "Life and Letters", writing to (he thinks) Festing [Jones] long ago about it. Was struck by Bernard Shaw's article in the "Manchester Guardian" [ "Samuel Butler: The New Life", "Manchester Guardian" 1 Nov 1919 p 7] as Shaw had 'always made a speciality of his feeling for Butler'; Shaw said the 'conventional ecstasies of the Reviewers' were a scandal to British reviewing'. Someone has send him the article originally enclosed with this letter; agrees with Maurice Hewlett that 'Miss Savage's letters vouch the very lowest moral point' he can remember. George and his family leave tomorrow.

Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Trevelyan for 'Henry Adney' [Ariadne: i.e. Trevelyan's first draft of the libretto for "The Bride of Dionysus" and apologises for not acknowledging receipt sooner. Will calculate the length of scenes and the whole, but does not think it will need much altering; suggests replacing the Satyr and his song [Act III, Scene II] with a second chorus of Maenads, and ending the work with a 'short Bacchic-philosophic chorus' modelled on an earlier 'captive-chorus'. Is already very excited about the work, and feels it has 'any amount of poetry & contrast & flow': sketches out the moods of the four acts. Miss Weisse also thinks it very beautiful. Is not sure when he will be able to begin, but will try some 'crude extempore experiments' very soon; doesn't expect major rhythmic difficulties, though he may have to sacrifice certain 'verbal rhythmical effects' which will not be noticeable when set to music. Trevelyan can publish his poem before the opera is ready, as long as they ensure the rights do not interfere with those of the poem: it would be awkward if the opera had to be published without words, or if Richard Strauss were to 'combine Ariadne with an operatic version of Bernard Shaw's Philanderer' before he was ready. Will 'agitate at Oxford' as soon as he starts composition, and ask for help 'in wire-pulling & preparing the ground'. It will be a 'large undertaking' and he fears his intention of doing it with 'a pre-Wagnerian orchestra' will not be feasible; will know more when he has sketched out the first act, and will do it for a small orchestra if he can.

Tovey returns to the letter 'three days later', with about twenty pages of detailed suggestions for the libretto: some of these are alterations of a word or two, others suggestions for additions or rearrangements, to best suit Tovey's conception of the characters and / or musical needs. Has other suggestions which he will make later. Emphasises that most of his alterations are very slight, a line or two only, except for the speeches of Minos and Dionysus in which he has suggested new arguments. Thinks Trevelyan has chosen a splendid story and succeeded despite Tovey's 'croaking'; he has written a play which 'cries out for music & is unlike any opera-book... that has ever been seen.' Will soon be 'boiling over with themes & contrasts'; finds it significant that all the musical ideas he has begun to have so far are connected with points which are 'most entirely [Trevelyan's]', who has taken up Tovey's past suggestions patiently but made them his own; he therefore has no hesitation in sending 'all this screed of details' as he knows Trevelyan will make of them something better than he could have imagined.

Gets through the first act in his head with extempore music, probably a little quick, in forty minutes; this is 'not very alarming' for four hundred lines out of fifteen hundred and fifty lines. Wishes Trevelyan would publish the text 'nicely got up' like his "Polyphemus", and omitting any alterations made by Tovey which are 'merely musical or practical'; it would 'aid its career as an opera if it is understood as literature' beforehand and even performed as such, maybe with choruses set to Tovey's music. Invites Trevelyan, his wife and son, to see 'the Miltonic Arcades' [at Northlands?] for which he has composed the songs.

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.

C/o Herr Geheimratt Strecker, Kaiserstrasse 32, Mainz. - Thinks a letter of his has gone missing, so will repeat the contents. Trevelyan's criticism of his own work in Act V of "The Bride of Dionysus" is 'very strong': he himself had thought of some of it but would not have felt sure until Trevelyan put it so strongly. Doesn't feel that Trevelyan's new proposals quite remove 'the appendix-like effect of Dionysus'. If it is clear that Ariadne does destroy herself, the Dionysus finale will be 'a mere Gounod's-Faust-resurrection'. Asks if Dionysus could be got into the action of the play earlier, and sketches out a proposal for this, outlining advantages. Cannot face the pause Trevelyan suggests between Ariadne's disappearance and the finale: he sat through [Wagner's] "Lohengrin" the other day (an excellent performance except that Elsa was just like '[Henry Gabriel?]Pelissier in one of his feminine rôles') and noticed how 'every stoppage on the stage becomes increasingly annoying' though there are not many and they are theoretically very dramatic. Question of the visibility of Dionysus now re-opened.

Thinks he will get on well now. Has been struggling with the Theseus-Phaedra duet, which he hopes to finish tomorrow; for the last couple of months has 'been suffering from a most disgusting inability to tackle anything', a feeling he is used to, but it has been very bad this last year, and coincides with depression about music in general. Feels that it is 'about the worst period in musical history since the 17th century' though admits this might be affected by his own low spirits. Thinks he should be over the worst now, and hopes in the summer they will be able to get the last act done together. Doesn't see how he can get back before the Classical Concert on the 25th as he wants to stop at Cologne and especially Amsterdam on the way home. Begs Trevelyan to 'put in an occasional week-end at Northlands': he will not be able to get about next term, as he needs to practice. Needs to make Northlands his base, as there aren't any academic posts which would give him such good chances for work: English music has no official openings for anyone not 'a cross between Marie Corelli, [John Philip?] Sousa, and Bernard Shaw'. Something which has been 'out of order' with him over the last year is coming right again. Is more sure than ever that the opera will be a 'big thing' if they can 'pull it through'.

Has been looking at [Trevelyan's] "Sisyphus" again; feels it will make 'a splendid modern Zauberflöte' and will certainly take it on when 'let out of Hanwell [Asylum] for finishing Ariadne. Is going to play the prison scene to Herr Geheimrat [Strecker] tomorrow, and will tell Trevelyan how it goes.

Is going to marry Molly Cornish; they were engaged at the beginning of last month, but she has been rather ill so he has not written to anyone; thinks she will soon be well again. They should have enough money to be married in the summer: has been offered a secretaryship at £300 per year by Paley , who wants to get into Parliament. This will take up Fridays to Sundays, he also has the prospect of regular work at the "Speaker" on Tuesdays and Thursdays for £100 as well as his dramatic criticism, so Wednesday will be left for his 'Penelope's web ' [his novel?]. Asks to be remembered to Mrs Waterfield; he will soon be in a better position to have books sent to the people he recommends. Sends greetings to Trevelyan's wife and would like her congratulations. Dreads the wedding day, and thinks of 'Young Lochinvaring Molly [eloping with her] before the ceremony'. Is writing a short book to pay for the honeymoon. G. B. S[haw] 'explained expounded & expurgated': this is private. Is giving a lecture in May which will be 'cleverish but a failure'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Will be eager to hear what Mrs Scharlieb thinks and what Elizabeth decides to do; very sorry she has something 'so unpleasant to look forward to' but sure she will be better afterwards. Would like it to be when she is in London herself, but Elizabeth must decide; Sir George says he will pay for it. Thinks Elizabeth and Robert's arrangement with their landlord very good; sure they will want to move before long but does not think the time has come yet. Hope [Roger] Fry has returned and the book ["Polyphemus and Other Poems"] 'will advance properly'. Quite cold at Wallington now; Sir George has a fire in his study but otherwise they only have them in the evening; hopes Elizabeth will keep herself warm. Sure Elizabeth would like to keep chickens and have her own eggs. Has seen 'Miss H's' letter and will get her article. B[ernard?] Shaw is 'really beneath contempt'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie and Julian arrived on Saturday, 'both in very good health', and 'seemed to have enjoyed their stay at Welcombe very much'. Hopes his parents are both by now fully recovered. The weather here has been 'perfect' since he returned. Had a 'very interesting week at Snowdon, getting to know a quite new country, and a number of new friends, also the rudiments of a new art, that of rock-climbing'. Too late, when over forty, to take to it seriously, but 'under the leadership of [Herbert?] Reade and Geoffrey Young', he managed so 'safe but fairly serious climbs, on Lliwedd, the Parson's Nose, Tryfan, and elsewhere'. Does not remember whether his father knows Snowdon well; thinks the views from the top are 'finer on the whole than from any of the Cumberland hills'.

Julian is now very pleased with the little garden which the gardener has made for him; he has planted fox-gloves, and 'wants to put up a notice up that the foxes must not come into the garden to get new gloves, unless they pay sixpence each for them'. Robert is reading Aristophanes' Peace, which is 'rather a favourite' of his, though it is not usually though of as one of the 'great ones'. Saw Shaw's play [Pygmalion?] in London, and 'laughed a good deal'; does not think it is 'a very satisfactory play perhaps, but few of his are'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie has been seeing her sister, and will see Mrs Grandmont [her cousin Bramine Hubrecht]. Robert was 'bold in playing [rugby] on Founders' Day [at Harrow]' and can rightly feel proud of himself; he himself is 'rather proud' of travelling to Rome while older than St Peter. He and Caroline are going to Bologna, via Padua, and will be in Florence for a week from 19 [November] and will be glad to see Robert there. The walk they took together was 'intensely characteristic'; thought that Italian scenery is generally 'much less attractive than English', but the way 'the masses compose is wonderful'; there is nothing like the view from the north bank of the Arno in Florence. Caroline is very sorry to miss "Androcles [and the Lion"], by Bernard Shaw]. They like Robert's account of Julian. Is sending 'a funny old letter' and will send the "Frogs" if Robert wants it.

45 Chesterton Road, Cambridge - thanks for ostrich feather, Eily Darwin and Aunt Etty (Henrietta Darwin), G B Shaw's Preface to "Cashel Byron's Profession", Greek play with music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, acting as chaperone at tea in Maynard Keynes' rooms.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Looking forward to seeing something of Elizabeth; she is going to a concert, and he and Caroline to 'what I suppose we may call Bernard Shaw's play' ["Fanny's First Play", put on anonymously]. Cannot remember the Theognis, but will re-read him at Welcombe; very like a piece by Heine; the translation is 'very Greek'. Has been reading the British Museum publication of the 'white Greek vases' from 1898; these were 'exquisitely simple and conventional'. Went with Caroline this morning to the [Royal] Academy; saw 'more to like' but nothing he would like to buy or own; Sargent's "Waterfall" would be 'wonderful' to see 'through the door of the next room but one', and [John Lavery's] "The Amazon" 'at the end of a great hall'; does not like Sargent's "Anna Seddon". Still need to go to the New English Gallery; this is 'the best month for London'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - The hot weather has returned, here the thermometer reads over 80 [degrees Fahrenheit] in the shade; hopes it is less hot for his parents. Was in London on Wednesday, which he thinks was the worst day, and saw at a distance 'the column of smoke from the Carlton Hotel' as he was on the way to see Fanny's First Play [by George Bernard Shaw]. Afterwards he went to see what was happening, but only saw a 'moderate crowd', and at least ten fire-engines preparing to leave. The fire did not seem to have done any external damage, but more may be visible by day. The 'Revolution [the passing of the Parliament Act] seems to have accomplished itself very quietly', and everyone now seems 'very grateful to Asquith for his management of affairs'.

Julian and Bessie are well. Tovey is at the Shiffolds, working on the score of the opera [The Bride of Dionysus]. Saw Charles on Monday, and had lunch with him 'just before the Censure Debate'; he 'gave a good account of Molly, and seemed quite cheerful'. Robert and Bessie are looking forward to their visit to Wallington in September.

Encloses, as a present for his mother, a poem from a 'young friend [Lascelles Abercrombie]... a descendant of Sir Ralph Abercromby, though he spells himself differently'. Thinks he has 'some real genius' and 'will do finer things before long'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear that 'the contributions to [Elizabeth's] commissariat turned out well'. Amused to think of her playing croquet at the Rectory. They have had a quiet week, with only George there as Charles has been 'away shooting and visiting'. The Archbishop of York and his wife are coming today 'which amuses us much', as well as Miss Dalrymple, Dorothy Ward and Carr Bosanquet. The [Herbert?] Pauls and Theo [Llewelyn?] Davies are coming tomorrow, so they will be 'quite gay till Monday'. [Sir George's] elbow is much better; he is reading her a 'most amusing novel by Bernard Shaw... discovered in a Socialist magazine called The Corner'. Will be in London on 9 Oct and hopes to come and see them; asks whether she should stay the night. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is 'rather envious of the blackberries' are there are none in Northumberland. Sure Elizabeth will 'think Pinewood [the Knutsfords' home] very pretty'.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Delightful to meet Bessy by chance in the London Library; good that she can mend Julian's toys 'αυτόχειρ' [by her own hand]'; has just been reading about 'Frau Bucholz's attempts at domestic art-workmanship' [in a book by Julius Stinde]. Agrees with Robert about 'the Bernard Shaw in old days. The artist is always good. The egotist always detestable'. Thinks he heard that Shaw 'disapproved of Well's recent goings on'; as George says, it is bringing 'old literary scandals... home.. and you see what they really are.' Very interesting about Verrall and the Professorship [the new English professorship at Cambridge].

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - They have got Mary Howey to 'make over the quilt' to them; is now sending it to Elizabeth as a present from himself; knows she thought it pretty and agrees. A 'very large party' are coming next week; he and George are going out to shoot game for them. Has calculated the location of [Austen's] 'Highbury', in "Emma" from the clues in the novel. They are reading one of Bernard Shaw's old novels, which he learned the names of in "Who's Who"; no-one else has them, for "even Mrs Shaw only got them as a wedding present from a friend who had bound them up when they came out"

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Expects this will find his father in town. Hopes that his mother will 'find Aunt Meg better, and not be tired by the journey'. He and Bessie were in town last week; Bessie saw Janet and 'gave a very good account of her', as she seems to be recovering well. Charles and Molly came here last weekend; Charles seemed 'quite cheerful, though perhaps a little tired. He slept part of Sunday' and appeared 'quite fresh' when he returned on Wednesday.

Julian is well, and 'gets about over the floor now, not by crawling, but jerking himself forward in a sitting position'; generally he 'gives little trouble', and is 'learning to play by himself more than he used to'. '[N]othing but wind and rain' today: Bessie is mending Julian's toys 'with cement', also 'several pieces of her china, which have been broken for years'. Has recently read some of Bernard Shaw's plays again, some of which he had never read but only sen acted. Thinks he likes them much more than he used to: 'Their merits seem greater, and their faults, though real, seem to matter less'. Even his prefaces 'annoy [Robert] less': he is 'often silly and exaggerated and egotistical', but Robert 'can't help feeling that all that is more bad manners and journalistic emphasis'; it used to 'disgust [him] beyond words', but now he 'can't help liking him in spite of it all'.

Asks if he should send back Verrall's Bacchae to London, or wait till his father returns to Wallington. Was 'unconvinced' by it, but found it 'more plausible than he often is'.

Il Palazzo Villa Alberti, Gerbido Torinese. - A postcard from Morra informs Alberti that Trevelyan has asked after him. Has had trouble with a 'sort of essay on Baudelaire' which has had a long time to finish; will send it when it is printed. Now is thinking of writing a few short stories. Asks if Trevelyan has been working a lot, or travelling, and whether he will soon return to Italy. Spent July in Bavaria, where he 'discovered' Mozart's "Magic Flute" in Munich and was 'absolutely charmed by it'. Asks if there are good translations of Goethe in English, since his German is not good enough to read "Dichtung und Wahrheit" in the original and he does not think French translations are very reliable. Asks whether he should read Lowes Dickinson's interpretation of Faust. Found [Emil?] Ludwig's book 'very disappointing and disagreeable' and will not finish it. Asks what Trevelyan thought of [Richard Hughes'] "A High Wind in Jamaica", published in "Life and Letters", which he rather enjoyed. Has also read recently "Sons and Lovers", his first D. H. Lawrence book, as well as Lawrence's short story "Jimmy and the Desperate Woman", and discusses them at length, and [Arnold Bennett's] "Old Wives Tale". Asks if Trevelyan has head [G. B. Shaw's] "The Apple Cart"; has read Desmond McCarthy's criticism in the "New Statesman" and was sorry to hear an English audience, at this point in time, had applauded Shaw's 'anti-democratic tomfoolery'. Recognises that polemics is Shaw's 'job', but people in Italy take him seriously. Asks for recommendations of new books, and whether Mary Webb is worth reading. In a postscript. asks for a recommendation of a mythological reference book which collects references to the stories of Tantalus, Pelops and others.

Part draft of Trevelyan's play "Sulla". Prose piece describing a dream conversation with Thersites and Cressida [an early version of "Thersites"?]. Short extract from a verse play [?] about Iphigeneia in the underworld, searching for her father Agamemnon. Draft of "Fand".

Notebook also used from other end in: on inside cover, list of names ('Parents, E[lizabeth] T[revelyan], Bertie [Russell], B[ernard] B[erenson]' etc), perhaps a distribution list; second list ('Belisarius, Manzoni, Jiaffer and Haroum' etc), perhaps a list of possible topics; diagram of chess board [?]. Review of book by 'Prof. S.' about Italian Fascism [Gaetano Salvemini's "The Fascist Dictatorship in Italy", published in 1927?]; Trevelyan criticises "English admirers of Mussolini such as Mr Bernard Shaw and Mr Churchill" for misleading public opinion with 'ignorant and irresponsible laudation of Fascism'. Translation of extracts from Lucretius's "De Rerum Natura"; beginning of these marked with slip, 'II 478 [corrected from 473]-990, IV 1-270'.

3, Hare Court, Inner Temple. - Is glad that matters are resolving themselves, even if not in an ideal way; does not think her uncle 'had any right' to speak of them as he did, but since he has thereby found a way out of the difficulty, they must not mind, though it was he who caused the difficulty and did not write directly to Bob's father about his objections [to inviting the Howards to the wedding]. Thinks Bessie should not have written to his father instead of showing the letter to her family at once, but it was an understandable mistake. His mother was very sympathetic and wise about everything this morning. A shame Ambro [Hubrecht] altered the letter, but he might have been the one to 'bring him to reason'. He and his family do not want the religious marriage, neither does she, so there is no need for it; 'absurd' to suggest that Sir H[enry Howard] cares; his father will probably 'settle that difficulty in his letter'. There was a small delay with the legal papers, which are being sent today; would perhaps be best for him to stay in England until they are signed. Will probably go to Roundhurst with the Frys for a night on Friday. Must not take her uncle being hard on them too much to heart; he is wrong, so she can laugh at him privately; 'it is a great thing to laugh at people; it is much better than being bitter'. His father is very relieved and now wants to come to the wedding very much. Had a good time with MacCarthy and [Oswald?] Sickert, though he was anxious about Bessie. Is glad she likes the idea of going to Haslemere first. Thinks he told her that the [Apostles'] dinner is in London, not Cambridge, and they might stay the night there before going North. Berenson and some of his other friends have got together to buy the clavichord painted by Mrs Fry. He likes it very much 'as a work of art', as he likes almost all of her work; also as an instrument, though not as much as the Frys and Dolmetsch do. Will send her the list of contributors soon. The Holman Hunts have sent a 'charming piece of old Japanese print'. Will bring over his frock coat, new blue suit and new country suit; does not think he needs his London clothes, which are 'very old and shabby'. Needs a new topper [top hat]. Asks whether he should cross to Flushing or the Hoek.

Adds a postscript saying that he has been to a 'very amusing farce with [Henry Francis?] Previté', with 'lots of very good things in it about falling in love' which interested him more than would have been the case in 'the old days'. It was by [George] Bernard Shaw ["You Never Can Tell"?], whom Bessie may not have heard of. Will write tonight to Berenson and some of his 'clavichord friends'; his letter to the servants apparently pleased them very much. Sanger is 'at this moment writing to Dora on the same table'.

List of books on flyleaf, including [R.G.?] Collingwood's "An autobiography". Autobiographical fragment, including Trevelyan's childhood 'courting' of a girl at dancing class, friendships including two 'of an emotional, romantic kind' at Harrow, and thoughts on Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale". Translations: of first part of Sophocles' "Philoctetes"; the "Homeric Hymns to Pan, Dionysus, Aphrodite and Demeter; fragments of Greek New Comedy by Menander, Alexis and Philemon.

Book used from other end in: draft verse [translation?] on inside cover and flyleaf; list of possible topics under the heading "More Windfalls", including '[George?] Meredith', Reminiscences', '[Donald] Tovey'. Draft piece, "On losing one's bearings". Verse, 'Oh sea and shore, dearer to me than life...'. Ideas for "Less Simple Pleasures" under headings such as 'Literary', "Of Friendship', 'Of Walking'. Essay of pleasures of the senses. particularly touch. Piece about Horace and his friendships, perhaps as introduction for Trevelyan's two fictional dialogues about him, or part of the subsequent discussion of conversation. This mentions Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, Roger Fry and Donald Tovey (Virginia Woolf and Lytton Strachey are also mentioned but Trevelyan then crosses this out)'; Henry Sidgwick, his father's friend, is mentioned as a 'perfect artist in conversation'. Discussion of philosophical dialogues. Biographical sketch of Thomas Sturge Moore. Piece on aging and desire. Notes on playing chess with Dickinson. Notes on Montaigne. Bertrand Russell and Bernard Shaw. Essay on the self, Buddhism, and change.