c/o GPO, 216 KAA Bty R.A., Brough, E. Yorks. - Leopardi is wonderful, and Trevelyan's translations some of the best work he has done. Had leave last weekend and spent a night with the Waleys, then stayed with Sandra [his sister] and Theo [Rikh, her fiancé] at Henley. Glad to hear they had visited Trevelyan; asks what he thinks of Theo, who 'was completely enchanted' by Trevelyan. Also rang up Joan [Allen], but she 'was busy with nursery centres and the Lloyds'. Is reading Rex [Warner's] latest novel "The Aerodrome", which is 'very Kafkaesque... a little sordid' but still interesting. Joan's brother David [Gill] is now stationed nearby at Leeds which is good as Yorkshire people are 'amazingly kind' but he misses his southern friends. Hopes Trevelyan is not too depressed by the news from Greece.
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.
100 Weston Road, Gloucester. - Thanks Trevelyan for this year's poems from the Shiffolds, without which Christmas would be incomplete. Asks what he thinks of Eddie Marsh's translations of Horace [published 1941]; Luce considers they catch the spirit of Horace, if not the form, very well. Has not been to see Joan [Allen] again due to problems with leave; had a weekend with the Waleys and met Stephen's fiancée [Mary King], whom he thought charming, though the visit was not successful as Stephen and his mother were ill in bed. Luce's father has not heard anything more about passage to Burma. Sandra is here looking well. They all send love to the Trevelyans, and Miss SImpkins.
West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - Very much likes Trevelyan's poetic epistle to Bernard Berenson: loves its poignancy, and thinks Catullus would appreciate it. Is no longer at Cambridge: Sigi Waley has got him into P.E.P. [Political and Economic Planning] and he is staying with the Waleys. Sends love to Bessie. Thanks Trevelyan for putting him onto the "Abinger Chronicle".
The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Hopes that Trevelyan won't mind that she discussed his poem "The Dream", with Arthur Waley's 'Chinese allegory', in a talk she had to give on "Personal Philosophies in a World at War". Two Professors for the English Department have borrowed the poem. Looks forward very much to receiving Trevelyan's "Translations from Leopardi" and will send Salvemini his copy. Mona Gooden writes how much she enjoyed it, and she herself is 'like one of Pavlov's dogs'. Discusses the Waleys: has never met Stephen, though heard a lot about him from Gordon; met Ruth and Sigi once, but now knows them well through correspondence; she and Sam are very fond of Oliver, at the University of Rochester, who cheers Luce up when she is anxious about Gordon. On 21 Feb Luce is thrilled that the copies of "Leopardi" have arrived. If Forster's lecture on Virginia [Woolf] is published she would very much like to see it. Thoughts on the war.
West Watch, Wraysbury, Staines. - He and Ruth were very pleased that Bob thought of them and sent them his 'Christmas Card' of poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; in 'such a barbarous and gloomy world... their peace and wisdom are a green oasis in a lousy desert'.
13, Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove, W. - Very sorry that Bob has been 'having such a bad time with this disease', and is sending 'an inhaling apparatus which is an infallible preventative' [see 17/35]; hopes it will reach him in time. Has given the "Summons to the Soul" and the "Pitcher" exclusively to [J.C.] Squire for the "New Statesman"; has only his Po translations and cannot 'stain the pages of "Reconstruction" with such bilge'; would send anything he had gladly, and perhaps by next month will have some more Po Chu-I poems. His elder brother [Sigismund] is getting married on Tuesday 'with oriental pomp'; Hubert is at home with a cold, having a 'very good rest'. Saw Goldie [Lowes Dickinson] at the [1917?] Club on Tuesday, in 'great spirits'; also sees [Eric?] Maclagan sometimes, who is 'still rather washed out'. Asks Bob about a line of poetry, "And my young wife walks up the path alone", which he had thought came from the 'Chinese poems' in [Robert] Bridge's [anthology] "Spirit of Man". Has found a Li Po poem which he thinks is the original of the English line; it ends 'young wife alone mounts tower'.
Sees that [Laurence] Binyon has another volume of poetry out ["The New World: Poems"]; he is currently 'lecturing to soldiers in France on the Civilization of China', and Bob may see him in Paris. [Campbell] Dodgson, the Keeper of Prints [at the British Museum] has received an Order of the British Empire [CBE], but 'did not seem unduly elated'. Must be 'great fun being translated into French'; hopes 'Vildrac will soon get going' on him, and that 'poets are demobilized early in France'; 'Makers of "India rubber Medical appliances" came first on the list in England. Sir Auckland [Geddes] is evidently afraid of an undue increase in the birth-rate'. Sends his love to Francis [Birrell], and asks Bob to tell him Waley has lost his letter about where to get a 'copy of Foy [?]'. Wonders if [his translation of] the letter from Wang Wei to a friend could do for "Reconstruction" and encloses a copy [no longer present], but will not mind if it is no use. Thinks the "Summons" will be in the "New Statesman" and will send Bob a copy (possibly one for B.B. [Berenson] as well); will also send the second number of the Bulletin [of the School of Oriental and African Studies, in which further translations by Waley of Po Chu-'s works appear] when it comes out. Understands that [Thomas] Sturge Moore will continue to come to London [after a move to the countryside], and has organised 'a "poetry reading" for a proximate date'; would be 'harrowing if he were absolutely banished'. W.H. Davies has 'been in a tremendous flutter' due to sitting for a portrait by Augustus John; he has 'a passion for being painted by swells'; afraid that Davies' new poems are not selling well; does not think Fifield are good publishers.
British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Hopes the 'anti-flu apparatus' [see 17/27] has reached Trevelyan; it 'may puzzle the customs-authorities'; supposes Trevelyan will get leave at Christmas. London is 'intolerable this week' [due to the armistice]; it is 'impossible to get dinner at a restaurant' because of the crowds; supposes things will 'subside gradually. Paris must have been even more emotional'. Hopes Trevelyan can 'bear that sort of thing'; he himself 'very much dislike[s] women's voices which are so prominent at times like these'. The [British Museum] Print Room is as 'good a refuge from Peace as it was from War'. The conscientious objectors are all wondering whether their services will still be require, most favour 'eloping'. His younger brother [Hubert] hopes to get into the Treasury until 'Peace is properly fixed up'; his other brother [Sigismund] will of course go back when he is out of hospital'. Looks forward to 'tremendous conversations about Literature' when Trevelyan returns.
W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for sending on a letter [from an unknown writer], 'how nice and warm-hearted she is'. Has received two copies of the book and sends one to Bessie; asks if she can post it to Sig and Ruth [Waley] when she has finished with it. It is the 'sort of book' he finds 'impossible to read' in his present mood: 'yet another of those "recipe books" which the earnest and uninfluential continue to turn out on both sides of the Atlantic'.
Comments on the 'bitter cold': they have frozen and burst pipes, but since they have 'so little water at any time' the 'results are in no wise tragic'. Has been to London and brought back his aunt Rosalie to stay, so they are 'now a nice quartet'. Florence [Barger] is 'slowly recovering from her cold'. They hope that Bob and Bessie are keeping well.Adds undated postscript: is starting [Flaubert's] L'Education Sentimentale; wonders whether he will ever finish it.
Another postscript, dated 28 Jan: has received her letter, and is very sorry about Bob's cold; 'We must all take care'. Confirms that her 'Tovey Beethovens are safe here and have been much enjoyed and played', though he has not been playing the piano at all recently. Can send them whenever she wants.
Conseil Supréme Economique, 26 Rue de Bassano. - Addresses Trevelyan as 'Bob Trev': sorry he has taken so long to reply, but has been very busy with his new job as head of the French press service of the Supreme Economic Council which he started in 'April last'. Pleased that Bob values their acquaintance: he himself took great pleasure in the 'most delightful evenings' they spent together, and looks forward to seeing him again. Will be in England very soon as he is about to join the League of Nations (probably as the head of one of the sub-sections), and hopes to get down to Dorking to see Bob. Very glad of the post: Bob knows he has 'always been interested in peace questions'. Expects Bob found his wife and son well: must have been a 'real joy' to see them again; is keen to meet them. His own wife gave birth to a son, Yves-Bernard-Georges, on 22 May: both are in 'perfect health'. Had lunch with Francis [Birrell] and the Waleys last Tuesday: Mrs Waley is 'also at the Supreme Economic Council'. Peace has come at last: will do his best to 'make it durable'. Yvonne [his wife] sends regards.
League of Nations, Sunderland House, Curzon Street. - Is here and keen to see Bob again. Has been appointed Director of the Press Review, and started work this morning: it is very interesting, though London is 'fearfully hot'. Asks when and where he can see Bob. Saw Francis [Birrell] in Paris with Sigis [Waley] about three weeks ago.