11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks for the book with 'its lovely title' ["Windfalls"]: did not know Trevelyan could write 'such charming prose'. Especially enjoyed the autobiographical passages; suggests that Trevelyan write 'a more complete account of [his] adventures among books & people'. Has been re-reading [Alain-René Lesage's] "Gil Blas", inspired by a comment of Santayana in his "Persons and Places". As a 'word-wrangler', has a few points of contention with Trevelyan: gives his own definition of 'rhetoric', complete with references to his own published work; discusses the definition of 'lyrical' at length, and with numerous references. Will support Trevelyan's use of 'kindness' for charity or love, if in return Trevelyan helps introduce 'the fine French word bougresse', as used by Flaubert, into English; would be useful to describe 'Mrs Keppel, Lady Cunard, & such-like ancient females'. Their 'male counterparts' can be called 'bougre', now Cyril [Connolly] has printed the word in "Horizon", or "pagod", as used by Pope. Lady Colefax (not yet a 'bougresse') has told him that Harold Nicolson's son Nigel, a soldier in Italy, has written to say that B.B. [Berenson] is at Pistoia but is expected to be released soon. Asks if it is true that the Beerbohms were bombed out of their house The 'worst massacre in London' [the destruction of the Guinness flats in Chelsea in the 'Little Blitz'?] was 'just round the corner', but only a few windows were broken at St. Leonard's Terrace. Is ordering some copies of "Windfalls" for his friends.
Tally [?] marks on inside cover. List mentioning Thomas Hardy's "Desperate Remedies" and 'Burnyard. Royal Nurseries, Maidstone' on flyleaf. Essay on the repulsion often evoked by the 'exhibition of pleasurable emotion in others'. Beginning of a piece 'of a talk that Coryat [a figure often used by Trevelyan to represent himself] and I had with G[oldie] a few weeks before he died'; another version, which actually includes the conversation, appears later in the book in the form of a report of it made by Coryat to Miranda, dated 28 Sept 1937. Autobiographical piece about Trevelyan believing his nurse's warning that if he carried on swinging his arms they would fall off. Draft of "Juvenilia" [published in "Windfalls"]. "Wallington Notes 1937": reference to swimming in the ponds on 6 August and notes onediting of his "Collected Works".
Notebook also used from other end in: reference to books by G. M. Trevelyan and George Santayana. Nature notes on oak trees. Aphorism: 'We hang our thoughts onto words like hanging clothes on pegs which do not fit....'; initalled 'H', perhaps not in Trevelyan's own hand. Draft of "In April" [published in "Aftermath". Beginning of piece about loss of faith. Dialogue between Colin, Jane, and Reuben. Translations: Horace, "Satires" 2.3; Juvenal "Satires" III.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Elizabeth for her 'long interesting letter'; hopes she and Robert will now have some quiet weeks. Sir George has had an accident: the nails in his fishing boots made him slip down the doorstep, and he has hurt his elbow badly. At first it was just put in carbolic dressings, but they had to send for the doctor on Friday and Booa [Mary Prestwich] is now kept busy making poultices; the arm is in a sling and Sir George 'gets very low-spirited'. Thinks it is improved today; hopes in a few days it may be 'strapped up with plaister'; fortunately no injury to the bone. George enjoyed himself at Naworth; expects Charles will be back tomorrow. Will keep the list of things left at Gr[osvenor] Cr[escen]t; thinks Elizabeth is right not to take the silver, as Mrs Enticknap does not have time to look after it; always thinks it is a 'pity to give young married people silver' as often it is not suitable. Hoping to visit in October. They are reading some of [Austen's] "Emma" each evening, and have finished the third volume of Byron's letters. Has not got on fast with Santayana, as she has little time for reading, but thinks what she has read 'very interesting'. No shooting since Elizabeth left. Charlotte came to tea yesterday and was sorry to miss her, and the Daylishes [?] called on her last week. Very interesting for Elizabeth to see [Joseph?] Joachim; sounds like a pleasant excursion. Asks how her aunt and cousin Marie are. Tells her not to do 'too much stitching at [her] curtains and take a good walk every day'. Sent her a cream cheese yesterday. Supposes the manuscript came safely.
106 Columbia H[eigh]ts, Brooklyn. - Sends congratulations to the Trevelyans on the birth of their son [Paul], and hopes he will see 'all three ere long'. All going well with them; saw 'quite a little of Roger [Fry] when he was here'; regrets Roger thinks 'six weeks all too long to devote to us poor American mortals'. [George] Santayana dined here recently, with an introduction from Roger; he reminds Field 'of B.B. [Bernard Berenson] in more ways than one', but he thinks he has a 'less lovable nature'. Santayana is lecturing on aesthetics in Brooklyn to 'a small but appreciative audience'. Thanks Trevelyan for his card to his mother; Paul is a good name, as is Trevelyan, which goes well with it.
216 L.A.A. Bty. R.A., 151 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham. - Looks forward to receiving Trevelyan's new book of poems ["Aftermath"?]. Returns "Adonais", which he enjoyed very much. Has just finished Santayana's "The Last Puritan", which is beautifully written but sometimes insipid, and "The Quest for Corvo" [by A. J. A. Symons], as recommended by Joan [Allen] which he loved. Asks if Trevelyan could lend him an easy novel in Italian.
Richmond. - Has just finished reading Trevelyan's "Birth of Parsival", and thanks him for the pleasure of reading it and his kindness in sending it and his other books. Apologises for not replying before, which Trevelyan must have thought 'strange and rude'. Thinks Trevelyan's poetry 'the best, the most pleasing' being written at present, and could have written many sincere compliments; however, he has 'fallen out of love with poetry, and feel[s] a kind of incompetence in speaking of it' as one might of a 'sweetheart that had jilted one'. Seems to see 'the author's intention rather than his achievement' in what he reads, and cannot help wondering whether writers are 'doing more than indulge a sort of school-boys day-dream, dealing with nothing real'. Does not say this to discourage Trevelyan from writing more - 'heaven forbid!' - but to explain his long silence and lack of anything pertinent to say.
Has already sent Flora Santayana's "Last of the Puritans" [sic; "The Last Puritan]; she need not rush to return it, and he will be interested to hear what she thinks; wonders if she will also read the life of Tennyson, which he and Bessie have read 'with great interest'. as well as a life of Sara Bernhardt by her grand-daughter [Lysiane Bernhardt], which they found 'great fun'. Used to 'delight in' Henry Sidgwick's life; Sidgwick was 'very kind' to him when he was an undergraduate. Must get Joan Allen to drive him over to see Flora soon. Will send a translation of a Homeric hymn as a Christmas card to her in a few days. Bessie is well, and sends her love. Saw Bertie [Russell] last week; he was 'very cheerful and full of talk, but looking rather older'.
Thanks Flora for sending back the Santayanas, and is glad she enjoyed them; remarks on the 'curious lapse of memory about Lady Stanley's knee-breeched footmen!'. Thinks she might like Santayana's "Last Puritan", which is 'not perhaps a good novel', but 'much better written than most novels, and full of good things'; the 'very recognisable portrait of Frank Russell is amusing'. The hero is 'more or less [Santayana] himself, but less interesting'. Offers to lend Flora his copy. Used to own some 'quite good sonnets' which Santayana gave him, but seems to have lost them; Santayana is 'not really a poet, though he sometimes writes good poetry'. Now finds "Lucifer [: a theological tragedy]", which Santayana also gave him, 'rather dull'. Thinks Flora may enjoy some of the 'less philosophical' works like "Soliloquies in England', and could lend them.