Glad to get Julian's telegraph [from Egypt] yesterday. One word could not be made out: in the description of his pastimes as 'painting, goffinping, and dancing', should the second word be golfing, 'driving your ball over the back of the Sphinx, or getting it bunkered between its paws?'. Expects the weather is hotter than here: today is the first day of spring weather, but 'everything is backward', with no sign of bluebells and cuckoos and 'the very primroses smaller than usual'. Has just had his new book published, and sent it to Ursula; Julian knows almost all of the contents; has become 'un vrai prosateur', as 'Flaubert used to call himself', writing 'nothing but Essays': has just finished one 'on (or rather against) books'. His Simple Pleasures was recently broadcast on the [BBC] Forces Programme; it was 'really rather awful, as they tried to poetize [sic] it, though [he] had meant it to be flatter-than-pancake prose', but he got his five guineas. Tom and Marie [Sturge Moore] are here - Marie unwell in bed but recovering - Tet Htoot is also here for a few days, as 'he too was unwell and wanted cheering up'. Bessie seems quite well, though will go to London on Tuesday to see [Dr Karl] Bluth. Supposes he should write Julian a 'Horatian verse Epistle', but cannot compose it in time for this post; if he does write one will have to send it to Julian on his return; it will 'of course be largely about Egypt, Cleopatra, Amenophis [Amenhotep] and Ramesis, but not Tutenkamen [Tutankhamun]' whom he does not approve of, though 'his predecessor Aknaton [Akhenaten] was an interesting failure'. Hopes Julian will ensure that the 'Memnon statue is camouflaged very carefully'. Seems a pity that now the Nile has only two mouths, lists the names of the seven which 'every school-boy once knew'. Is reading [Lytton] Strachey's Queen Victoria aloud, which is 'really very amusing'; amazing how much easier it is to read a well-written book aloud than a badly-written one. Tet Htoot is reading the first volume of Gibbon, while he himself reads the second; is just coming to the chapter on the Christians, where he knows 'one will have some fun, especially in the notes'. Went with John Luce, with 'a party of Waleys, Joan and Polly [Allen] etc' to quite a good production of the Magic Flute at Sadler's Wells, for which they 'tried, not very successfully, to make the scenery Egyptian'. John is being sent abroad next week, but does not know where; they hope his father [Gordon] is coming home. Mossot [sic: Julian's cat Maszat] has had just one kitten, 'a sad falling off'; is told all cats in Egypt are mummified as divine.
King's College, Cambridge. - 10 Pelham Place, S.W.7. - Arrangements for visiting Trevelyan at Seatoller with [Stephen] Waley; it will be great fun to see him and the Allens, including Deb. Quotes Austen's Elizabeth Bennet on a proposed visit to the Lakes; an American lady once told him that 'no-one could possibly speak such English'. Asks if he was right to tell a friend suffering from conjunctivitis that Vergil once suffered from it on a journey to Brundisium [in fact Horace, see Satire 1.4].
216 L.A.A. Bty. R.A., The Old Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk. - Thanks Trevelyan for the Christmas present which Tet Htoot has sent on for him. Dick Bosanquet wants him to come to Surrey towards the end of the month, but he does not think he will be able to: they are due to move camp again in a fortnight, and do not know their destination; they have already moved twice since Christmas. Asks after Joan [Allen] and what Polly [Allen] has decided about the WAAFS [Women's Auxiliary Air Force]. Has received a cable from his parents who are well and still in Rangoon; does not imagine his mother will leave. Sends love to Bessie and Miss Simpkins. Is getting 'desperately fed up' with army life.
45 Beacon Hill, N.7. - Thanks Bob for a 'lovely Christmas card'; looks forward to them 'eagerly each year'; he and Sandra [his sister] will enjoy reading the poems. Has told Bessie his position: would of course love to spend Christmas with the Trevelyans, but it would be very difficult not to go to [his relations in] Gloucester. Also only has three day's leave, 24-26 December, so can only visit the Shiffolds at a weekend; would therefore be difficult to combine seeing the Trevelyans with a visit to Hurtwood [home of Joan and Polly Allen]. Has had no news since mid-October from his parents; they were then well with 'ample food', though 'the price of other commodities has risen so much that they find themselves hard pressed for money'. They have re-opened the Home [for Waifs and Strays], are living there and 'working hard to put it on its feet again'. Adds a postscript to say he will enclose this letter with Bessie's.
100 Weston Road, Gloucester. - Has a month's leave and would like to visit the Trevelyans at the Shiffolds: will be visiting his uncle near Godalming and asks if he can travel on from there. Also hopes to see Joan and Polly [Allen]. Hears the Waleys [David and Ruth?] are in Paris; hopes to see them before Christmas. Is still an army officer: hopes to be released before next summer though is likely to be posted to Germany after Christmas. Has just found Trevelyan's anthology of Chinese poems ["From The Chinese"] with its partiality for Arthur Waley. His father has a cold, but his mother seems better.
22 Holding Bt., Moreton Paddox, Leamington. - Thanks Trevelyan for his translation of Sophocles' "Oedipus Coloneus". Still at Leamington: will go to Wrexham next week and expects to be demobbed shortly. His Civil Service exam is in July and he may try to get a temporary post in the Home Civil while awaiting the outcome. Has not yet heard from his parents of their arrival, but thinks they must have reached Rangoon by now. Hears that Joan [Allen] is to scale down her work and Polly [Allen] is writing another novel. Saw Stephen [Waley] on his return from his honeymoon: his wife is charming.
4 Beacon Hill, N.7. - Is sorry that he has not been able to find anyone to take Frau Sophie Beyschley's niece: was sure Ronnie Chapman would but they have arranged to have a Swiss girl called Susie Egg, 'and who could resist a maid so called'. Will continue to keep the matter in mind. He and Polly [Allen] had two perfect days in the Lakes.
West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - The "Poems and Plays" arrived yesterday, they will be a "κτῆμα ἐς ἀεί" [Thucydides: 'a possession for all time']. Will not make a decision about the Lakes until he hears about the Allens [Joan and Polly]: hopes they will be able to come. He and [Stephen] Waley would probably have to go on the 30th March. Has written to Mrs Honey. Has sent off "The Ivory Tower" which he very much enjoyed. Tet Htoot says he has learnt a lot from Trevelyan about English prosody and would like to know more: Luce has encouraged him to write.
100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - Thanks for the trouble Trevelyan and [Thomas] Sturge Moore have taken in criticising [Ronald] Chapman's poems. Hopes to see Trevelyan at the Ivy on Saturday. Expecting Joan and Polly [Allen] to spend the weekend at Wraysbury. Encloses a letter for Sturge Moore.
West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - Would love to see Trevelyan's new dialogue, and suggests visiting for a weekend at the beginning of June: will write to Bessie to confirm. Has just spent a lovely night at Hartwood; its inhabitants are 'quite adorable', to use one of Joan [Allen's] words.
University College, Rangoon. - Feels he remembers Trevelyan working on his "Sulla"; is touched by the thought of it being dedicated to him. Enjoys and understands Trevelyan's work more than most other modern poetry; wonders if anyone in the future will know the classics as he does, at least 'until the Second Dark Ages of Europe pass'. Cannot express how much his and Bessie's friendship have meant. Luce may come home for good any time now, since the new Burma government has brought in a bill 'to enslave' the University and make it a State University 'of the totalitarian type', which he has protested vigorously. He may be sacked, but if not he will go as soon as the Burman he is training to succeed him is ready. Does not want his children to know, particularly Sandra, since Ethel writes she now regrets not having gone to University and is attempting to get into Newnham. Hopes that Bessie and Trevelyan will encourage her, as she has rather an inferiority complex. Sends love to the Allens; wishes he were with them at Crummock. Asks Trevelyan to show him Coniston and Windermere when he is next in England, and urges him to come out to Burma.
Levington, near Ipswich, Suffolk. - Thanks Trevelyan for his "Beelzebub" which is a lasting pleasure; glad to hear he is 'stirring towards' the "[Collected] Works"; wishes good luck with it to him and the Macmillans. Has sold Ludderburn; the move took up most of last year; now they are an hour and a half from London by train and hope to see Trevelyan more often. Expects he is out of the country, but if not sends best regards to Trevelyan's wife and the [Clifford] Allens; P.A. [Pollu Allen] should be proud 'to be so charmingly invited to throw her lesson books away'. His book ["Pigeon Post"] is stuck and he feels stupid and old. Postscript gives a telephone number.
Heald, Coniston, Lancashire. - Is sorry to have kept Trevelyan's book about the poacher so long; it was buried under other things and 'had become a silurian or palaeozoic stratum'. Asks how he, the 'rest of the colony', and Joan and Polly Allen are. The Ransomes are planning a move south as Genia has had enough of the weather; asks Trevelyan to let him know if he hears of a likely flat in London or nearby.
100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - Is happy to accept Trevelyan's correction of a phrase [in his verse translation of Martial Epigram x.47, see 4/180], also very glad that he is writing poetry again. Thanks him for the poem, which is 'halfway to Chinese, but very Bob'. Recommends Dryden's "Preface to the Fables" to him and Bessie. Joan and Polly [Allen] are 'dear'.
147 Willifield Way, Golders Green, N.W.11. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for the 'noble edition' [his "Collected Works"?] which is like 'drinking very fragrant tea out of Sèvres cups, a pleasure in itself'. Sends Nellie Swanwick's letter to Henry Swadling; no doubt Nellie also 'experienced the faithfulness & practical help of [Trevelyan's] friendship' and Marie is glad he can feel her appreciation after her death. Says Nellie 'always had a greater opinion of virtue in women than in men - excepting her own (good but dull) Fred'. Since it was Nellie's last letter to him, Henry would like to have it back; he is in Hammersmith Hospital. Wishes Trevelyan 'as cheerful a Xmas as one can hope for at present'.
'Extract from last letter of Mrs Swanwick to Swadling', in R. C. Trevelyan's hand. No date. Helena Swanwick has heard nothing from Walter since his wife [Thérèse Lessore] wrote to say they were settled in Bath: Walter never writes. Leonard does nothing, as usual, and 'isn't fit to do anything'. Bessie [Sickert]'s orchestra has dissolved, and is working without salary in a government office; thinks she will stay if her health stands it; she still lives in her flat in Gower Street. Robert Trevelyan's 'dearest friend', Lord Allen of Hurtwood, died in the summer and he is looking after the widow and daughter. He is 'very heartbroken... one of the few men really capable of devoted affection'. Agnes is well. She herself can 'hardly walk at all' but the gardening is finished.
The Shiffolds. - Returned yesterday after a 'very wet hunt [the Lake Hunt], though they had a 'good day on Monday, and plenty of fun', which partly made up for the wet weekend. They went out on Saturday despite the rain, but it was 'rather poor sport'; they stayed at home on Sunday, and walked to Lodore after tea. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, but it was 'disappointing only to have one good day'.
Bessie seems very well; the Sangers and 'Mrs Clifford Allen with the baby', are here till Sunday, and the weather is fine but cold. Julian writes 'quite cheerfully'. Remembers liking James's The American Scene, 'especially the chapter about Richmond. They have heard of 'two promising couples, that may do as successors to Alice and Bert [Elms], but nothing is yet settled. Thought Charles and Molly 'both very well, and in good spirits'. Has been translating much of Theocritus' poetry, and hopes to bring it out in a book this autumn or next spring; perhaps also a book of new poems, but he 'must try to write a few more this summer'.
Furzen Wood, Abinger Common, near Dorking. - Has been sent some money for Julian's furniture, which he has paid into the account at Drummond's. Elizabeth has had to put off her visit to the Netherlands because of her 'nose-bleeding', which is 'not serious but a nuisance'; expects she will be able to go in a week or two. Is 'fairly right again' now himself, though gets tired if he does too much. They went to London on Wednesday for Donald [Tovey]'s first concert with Adila [Fachiri], who played a Bach sonata with Donald's new Dolmetsch harpsichord - though this could not be heard at all, 'as Adila would not play softly, though she said she did', and the Wigmore Hall 'swallowed up the poor harpsichord's jangling in its unacoustic maw'. The rest of the concert went well. Sorry to hear that Shahid [Suhrawardy] is ill and hopes it is not serious; supposes this may prevent him going to India. Hopes [Aleksandr] Kalitinski is better. Is going to see his [translation of Sophocles'] "Antigone" 'performed, or misperformed, by Terence [Gray]' at Cambridge; has kept away from rehearsals so is 'not responsible'. Has begun work again on an epistle to [Arthur] Waley and 'plugging away at [translating] Lucretius'. Must write to [Hugh?] Sykes soon to see when he can come to talk about it. He and Bessie are 'both quite cheerful, in spite of noses and operations'; the Allens [Clifford and Joan] also seem all right, though they have to take [their daughter] Polly up to London every other day for eye exercises. Hopes Julian's 'frescoe [sic] project will flourish'; warns him not to fall off the scaffold 'like Barna [da Siena] at San Geminiano [San Gimignano]'. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and hopes he has recovered.
Contains "Wilfred Scawen Blunt's Garden", by Alfred Lambart; "Old Surrey Saws" by Max Beerbohm; "Childhood Memoirs (1)" by Sarah Shorey Gill, with an introductory note to her grand-daughter Polly; "Exile" by M. Poyntz-Wright; "Between Trains" by S.S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; and a poem, "Bad Weather", by Sylvia Lynd.
Contains a poem, "King's, Cambridge", by R. G. Bosanquet; "Garrick and the Histrionic Temperament" by Desmond MacCarthy; poems, "Lines written after re-reading Housman's "The name and nature of Poetry" and "Cry of the Gentle", by Geoffrey Eley; "2. Ancestor Worship" by Sarah Shorey Gill, with a note at the head to her grand-daughter Polly"; poem, '"Mosses' Wood, Leith Hill", by V. S. Wainwright; poem, "Escape", by Clifford Dyment; poem, "A Reaper - To The Winds" (a translation from Joachim du Bellay); poem, "On the Rejection of Some Lines on Liberty", by Jacob Hornstein.
Contains: "Blind Oak Gate" by E. M. Forster; poem, " The Hill", by Oliver Lodge; poems, "Why Should We Die, Being Young?" and "From Plato's 'Τήν ψυχήν...' [the soul]", by R. G. Bosanquet; "3. 'Uptown' and 'Downtown'" by Sarah Shorey Gill, with a note at the head addressed to her grand-daughter Polly; "Prayer", by J. L. Mortimer; "The Stone Rut" by Sylvia Sprigge.
Contains: "Einstein's Advent", by Oliver Lodge, remembering his father and the impact of the new developments in physics; portrait sketch of Max Beerbohm by William Rothenstein; portrait sketch of William Rothenstein by Max Beerbohm; poem, "To Gordon Bottomley", by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "War Sky 1940", by Sylvia Sprigge"; "4. Sunday", by Sarah Shorey Gill, with introductory note to her granddaughter Polly; poem, "To Seville: Siesta", by Carla Lanyon Lanyon.
Contains: "The Surrey Practitioner", by Olive Heseltine; poem, "To A Skylark Over An Aerodrome", by Douglas Gibson; poem, "Death", by R. D. Bosanquet [an error for R. G. Bosanquet?]; "5. Visitors" by Sarah Shorey Gill, for her granddaughter Polly.
Contains: poem, "Autumn View", by Geoffrey Eley; "The Horns of Elfland" by Elizabeth Muntz; poem, "February", by V. S. Wainwright; poem, "Caedmon's Song", by D. Eardley Wilmot; poem, "Pilots Waiting", by E. M. Skipper; "6. Going Hopping" and "7. All 'Souls'", by Sarah Shorey Gill, for her granddaughter Polly; poem, "Propaganda", by Ida Procter; poem, "Opportunity", by E. D. Young.
Also contains Index to Volume 1 of the "Chronicle"
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.