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Catfield, Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. - Addresses Trevelyan as Bob since 'tough life has not brought [them] often together' they are 'very old friends in spirit'; remembers well calling on him 'early in the century' while doing a walking tour in Surrey, and Bob 'escorting' him for some miles on his way to [Arthur] Clutton Brock at Farncombe; hopes the first name is therefore not 'too familiar', and invites Bob to call him Lawrence. The Hammonds are 'delighted' with their Christmas present [this year's "From the Shiffolds"]; it is a 'great pleasure to read beautiful poetry these days'; the poem to [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson is 'very moving' and fills him with nostalgia. They send best New Year wishes to both Trevelyans.

Catfield, Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. - Thanks to Trevelyan from both Hammonds for the 'Christmas gift' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?], which gave them 'great pleasure'; the poems' 'grace and charm are specially agreeabl[e] at a time when politics are so depressing and alarming'; they 'bring real peace and comfort'. They will soon send him a 'shillingworth of Hammond in a Pelican ["The Bleak Age"], but are waiting for copies. Asks Trevelyan to forgive the 'behaviour' of the letter el on his typewriter [in fact the letter I] , which has 'nothing to do with Xmaa' but is 'unfortunately organic'. Sends best wishes to both Trevelyans; hopes Robert 'live[s] long' to send out his Christmas greetings. Adds a postscript noting that Bertrand Russell was born in May 1872 while Trevelyan was born in June and he himself in July; when they were 'all young men together in the days of the "Speaker"', they little 'dreamt of the sort of world' they would live to see.

Catfield, Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. - Thanks Trevelyan for the 'delightful gift' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?]; 'especially refreshing' to read these poems as they 'take one away to such peaceful scenes and memories' and it is good to forget the world as it is for a while. However, the 'year is ending rather less hopelessly than we should have expected a few months or weeks ago'. The Hammonds send 'warmest wishes' to the Trevelyans for Christmas and the New Year.

Catfield, Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. - He and his wife much appreciated Trevelyan sending them his 'sheaf of little poems' ["From the Shiffolds"] and much enjoyed them. He and Trevelyan were 'born within a few weeks of each other', so "Sometimes in happy dream", 'touches [him] closely'. The Hammonds have had 'unlimited opportunities during the last forty years of studying and in certain repsetcs [sic: respects] trying to control the habits of cats' so "Pusska" is 'very vivid'. Hopes that Trevelyan has long recovered from his accident. Used to have news of him from Mary Moorman when they were in Manchester; their 'long exile' there ended last summer. Best wishes to both Trevelyans.

Letters from Oscar Browning, Sir Geoffrey Butler, H. M. Butler, Randall Davidson, Lord Durham, George W. E. Russell, G. P. Gooch, J. L. Hammond, R. G. Longman, Charlotte Lilas Ramsay, George Trevelyan and including a letter to Gordon Butler from A. W. R. D.

Welcombe. - Much appreciates reading about the way in which Robert reads with Julian; most important thing is that the 'higher and deeper aspects should be genuine, and within the compass of one's own honest belief', and that any creed should be 'acted on sincerely'. Says that for him, 'the Monday repetition of the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel to Vaughan were the matter of a frequent nightmare' for years. Sends a letter from 'old Hammond' [sic: a mistake for Hallam?] who lives at 'Ortygia' in Harrow, and appears to be staying at what Sir George thinks 'was not Horace's villa at Tivoli'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury, St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for the fifty pounds which Bessie says he has paid into Robert's account; it is 'very kind... to go on paying it'. Julian returned to school last Friday; Robert thinks now he will be 'quite happy there'.

Went to the dinner in honour of Basil Williams last Tuesday, which was a 'great success': George, as chair, 'made a very good speech' including reading out 'a letter dated from Westminster Abbey, from Chatham [Pitt the Elder, subject of a biography by Williams, buried in the Abbey], regretting he could not be present, and saying many nice and true things about Basil in his best eighteenth Century grand style'; George also 'read a telegram from Rhodes [Cecil Rhodes, also the subject of Williams biography], very characteristic, I should think'. [J. L.?] Hammond also made a 'very good speech, and so too did Basil himself. The whole thing was a very genuine and spontaneous tribute, without a false note from any side'.

Bessie asks him to thank his father for his letter. Robert has finished reading the Plutus [of Aristophanes] and is beginning the Pax. Sends love to his mother, and to Aunt Annie.

Life & Letters, 21 Hill Street, Mayfair, London, W.1. - Sends thanks to Bessie for her postcard; hopes that Trevelyan's is indeed suffering 'little pain or discomfort' and asks to be let known when a visit is possible. He and Molly spent a 'cold and happy' weekend with the Hammonds. Wants Trevelyan to read "A Voyage to Arcturus" by David Lindsay, which he will send in a day or two as a change from Trollope. Encourages him to write a 'great straggling untidy work', which would bring him to a greater public and also give him much pleasure in composition.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - George's movements recently have been 'meteoric'; he turned up at Charing Cross last night and they do want to visit; asks if Saturday 19th would work. They plan to ride over on their bicycles, probably from Dorking. Longing to see Bessie's 'darling babe' [Julian] again; hopes by then he is 'well out of these first troubles', and hears he is improving. Asks how Elizabeth is doing. Great 'fun' to have George back; he is 'so well & jolly after a week's walk in Sicily'. They will probably go back to Italy together next week as planned: George has to go for the Calabrian walk, and they are both 'bound to the Hammonds' [John and Barbara]; otherwise she might have preferred to stay and walk 'among Devonshire primrose-woods!' Calls herself a 'Little-Englander'. Says in a postscript that she is enclosing her 'precious letter about Adult Suff[rage]', which Bessie can burn.

Postmarked Ravello. - She and George are in 'Bob's own room opening on the terrace' at the Pension Palumbo, a 'sudden bound into civilisation' for them after some 'very indifferent Italian inns'; they are staying there two nights while the Hammonds [John and Barbara] have 'sternly walked on to Positano'. Caroline has not given her much news of Bessie, so asks her to write and say when Janet can visit on her return from Italy. They have had a 'splendid time', with generally good weather; the Hammonds are 'excellent companions'.

The Mill House, Westcot, Dorking. - Tells her about a discussion with Bargman, the man who did the house for him, about damp, the possibility of putting in a baize door as Gussie [Enticknap] can be 'a little obstreperous' after tea; and burglars. Thinks perhaps he should have the library, as first decided. [His aunt Meg Price] says she will pay the extra when they want a grand piano if she is still alive, which is 'very generous'; he has suggested she gets them a Broadwood £40 upright, but her 'professional friend' will know best what will suit a small room. They must go and visit as soon as they can; she rather reproached Bob for not visiting. Gives the measurements for the table. Sends her a curl from his head; is wearing hers next to his heart. Thinks he will send "The [Lady's] Bat" and "Dryope", and perhaps some others, to the "Speaker"; Hammond, an editor he knows, thinks they may put them in. Can break off his tenancy of the Temple rooms whenever he likes, but should like to keep them for the summer; Sanger will probably find another tenant in the summer, though he may still marry, which Bob and Fry think would probably be best although his friend [Dora Pease] has treated him badly. Sanger is in financial difficulty, which Bob does not want to worsen. Thinks he will probably go to the Lizard for a few days at Easter. Has not yet written to the Borrowdale people [the Peppers] about the honeymoon, nor to her uncle, which he should do this evening. Does not anticipate that there will be any difficulties regarding the wedding, but he should check; will leave the precise date of the ceremony for her and her relations to choose. Asks if she has heard from the Grandmonts. Had a scare yesterday when his Shakespeare, two Greek books, and the manuscript of his play, which he had hidden in the woods then 'wandered off meditating' were taken home by a passing labourer; was in despair but the gamekeeper suggested where they might be. The [Second Boer] war is 'getting to a very unpleasant state': the 'war party are very brutal, breaking up meetings, rioting etc'. Thinks the Government has behaved 'shockingly' for not suppressing them, there has been much indignation against them which may do good in the end.

Rapallo. - He and Janet are very glad to hear that Julian has put on eight ounces. They are having good weather and walks here by themselves, before 'going on south to join the Hammonds' [John and Barbara]. Thanks Bessie for sending 'Madame Scocco's letter' [sic: Irene Zocco]; fears he will not be able to go to Palermo again; would have called on her last month if he had known she was there.