Seatoller. - Expects Bob is enjoying himself abroad. Is having a good time at Seatoller with [Maurice?] Amos, [Ralph] Wedgwood and [George] Moore; Vaughan Williams left a few days ago; he and Wedgwood 'bathe in Cambridge pool every morning'; Amos and Wedgwood work hard for their triposes, while Moore chiefly reads "Jane Eyre" and other novels, and George 'all sorts of jolly books', none for his tripos. They are all getting on well, even better than at Stye since there is not the 'slight distance between Moore and Wedgwood'. They go up the mountains in the afternoon; he and Moore, as 'the Wordsworthians of the party' went over to Grasmere and Rydal; describes Dove Cottage, de Quincey's extension to it, and S.T.C. [Samuel Taylor Coleridge]'s house. Declares that there were 'men in England then', also naming Scott, Shelley, Byron and Keats. George got his scholarship; does not seem fair that Wedgwood has not, while they give one to someone like Charlie Buxton 'of very ordinary ability' in their first year; thinks this is 'bolstering up classics'. It is however a sign that the college is doing 'their duty to history' that there is now an entrance scholarship for it. Is glad at a personal level that Buxton has a scholarship: he and George will have plenty of money to go abroad in the long vacation now. Elliott has not got a scholarship, but is spoken of as 'certain' next year. Had a nice letter from Bowen; German measles is active in [Grove] house. Asks Bob to write to him about the novel if he needs someone to discuss it with: he knows the plan and beginning, and will keep it secret. Wedgwood is a really good rock climber. Notes in postscript that he will be seeing Moore's brother [Thomas] in London again next week, so Bob should write there.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - [The death of Theodore Llewelyn Davies] is 'indeed the most tragic event', and his family, friends and country will all miss him; he was 'one of the ablest & most useful of men'. Can tell her nothing more than the 'scraps' appearing in the newspapers: that he 'went out on Tuesday & was found drowned in the stream on Friday'. [Ralph?] Wedgwood wrote to Janet saying that the funeral was on Friday; none of his friends could have been there as it was so soon. George feels it 'most terribly'; Caroline is sure Bob will also miss him, and he is a 'great loss to Charles, as he was of the greatest help to him'. Everyone is thinking of [his brother] Crompton. She and Sir George feel it very much: Theodore 'seemed in a way to belong to the family' and he had great hopes of what he would do when the Liberals came to government. Hoping Charles and Mary will come for a couple of nights while their servants settle at Cambo; Charles may see Crompton before he comes and hear more, but 'there is evidently nothing to be found out'. Janet and the baby leave today. Is trying to discover whether the Carr Bosanquets are in the north, and will invite them if possible.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Very glad that Bessie and Bob liked his lecture. Good that the Ralph Wedgwoods are living at Leith Hill Place; cannot imagine better neighbours for Bob and Bessie. Enjoyed seeing Bob yesterday and talking to him 'about the poets, always most refreshing'.
Letter declining invitation to the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
23 West Road, Cambridge. - Desmond [MacCarthy]'s death is a 'terrible loss to his friends', and to the 'reading public whom he advised so well'; it is much to be regretted that he cannot now 'write that Introduction to the selection of Bob's work'; fears only he could have written it 'to perfection'. Took George Moore and his wife to Desmond's private funeral here; Ralph and Iris [Wedgwood] also came as well as his relations. Only person he is not sorry for is 'Desmond himself'; 'not much privilege' for the old to 'drag on in the present age' and he suffered so much from the asthma 'he endured so bravely'. Janet is much the same, but cannot get about; he leaves her as little as possible. Thanks Bessie for the offer of a book from Bob's library; he does not have a particular one he would like so she should choose one for him.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for [his translation of Vergil's] "Eclogues and Georgics"; had already 'seen and admired the introductions' which Bob had read him, and is now 'browsing with great pleasure' through the translations; thinks Bob is 'certainly at the head of translators of the Classics now', and the 'general recognition' of the 'excellence' of all of Bob's work gives him great pleasure. Sends Bessie his 'dearest love'; he is especially grieved by two things in 'all this bitter scene - the Netherlands and Greece. The 'plight of Holland' is not particularly the fault of the British 'except for our share in the whole business', but he believes 'Greece has ben badly muddled by Churchill, whose obstinacy is sometimes a blessing but sometimes the reverse'. Feels that 'hope is better than prophecy' for the future, since 'even the best informed [prophets] seem usually to be wrong'. Very glad about Leith Hill Place: Bob will find [Ralph] Wedgwood a 'delightful neighbour'.
2 Garrick's Villa, Hampton, Middlesex. - Is glad that Bessie will be at the Shiffolds when he visits; asks if he can stay till Tuesday or Wednesday; they will certainly play chess. Is bringing something to read aloud to Bessie which he hopes will make her laugh. Expects he will miss 'the silent Miss Simpkins'. Asks if the Wedgwoods [Ralph and Iris] are at home. Dining with George [Trevelyan] last night, who was 'brisk' like Henry Sidgwick as remembered by MacCarthy and Trevelyan, and was not wearing any teeth. They discussed autobiographies and historians; George confessed he had never read Gibbon's "[Decline and Fall of the] Roman Empire"; MacCarthy did not tell him that one of his favourite autobiographies was 'that of Robert Calverly Trevelyan' [sic] as he is not sure if it is finished; his own is 'rather good, but rather scrappy'.
2 Garrick's Villa, Hampton-on-Thames. - Spent the last ten days of his time abroad at Somerset Maugham's villa near Nice, as the only guest; Maugham is 'industrious' so he had much lot of time to himself, there is a lovely bathing pool. Is delighted with "From the Shiffolds" and its dedication to him; also thanks Trevelyan for the Theocritus translations, which he found when he returned. Must have been delightful having Moore to stay: hopes the rest at the Shiffolds did him good after his recent illness, and that he did not even go up the hill to see the Wedgwoods [Ralph and Iris].
Garricks Villa. - Very sorry to hear from Bessie that he is ill, and has been worse; however, George got over his far worse pulmonary attack, and the Trevelyans are tough, like 'not a few of the old families in England'. Wants more news, but is writing to Bessie and Catherine Abercromby [sic: Abercrombie?] so Trevelyan should not trouble to write himself. Discusses the pleasure he gets from Trevelyan's writing, which if 'civilisation founders' due to expanding population, 'sentimental humanitarianism... coupled with practical callousness' and 'scientific technology' (television, for instance, is an 'asinine invention') has been loyal to the 'sinking ship'. Met a friend of Julian's recently, who told him that Julian is happy and has found a partner [Mary Fedden], and that Ursula has also found 'consolation' [Norman Mommens]; Trevelyan and Bessie must be relieved. Had a letter from Dorothy Moore yesterday, with two pots of marmalade, saying that Moore was well. Molly wants to 'hoof him out of England' for a while for his health, so he plans to stay with Somerset Maugham at Cap Ferrat in March, and would like to see Trevelyan before he goes; thinks he will ask to Iris and Ralph [Wedgwood] to put him up so that he can visit without being a strain at the Shiffolds.
The Shiffolds. - Was glad to get Bessie's letter; has also had some Wallington news from Bob. Is having a pleasant visit to the Shiffolds: likes the 'helpers and servers' very much. They came to the library one evening with their little girl, and Bob read poetry to them. He and Bob have had one long game of chess, which ended in a draw; Bob seems well and very active-minded, and is translating 'Ibant obscure...' [Virgil, "Aeneid VI"]; is unhappy because he has lost the minute hand of his watch. They are discussing literary subjects and about the past. Has seen little of the 'pleasant-faced dog'. Went to tea with the Wedgwoods [Ralph and Iris] on Saturday; they sent down the car as his 'breathing-machinery' cannot cope with the hill. She should tell Charles [Trevelyan] that he has been enjoying Keith's "Memories of Wallington"; sends his greetings to him and Molly. Remembers Molly as having the sweetest reading voice he ever heard.
Garrick's Villa, Hampton, Middlesex. - Wishes he could be sure that Cambridge would give Bob [Trevelyan] the honour he deserves; it is nearly a year since she and he discussed this, and MacCarthy approached Shepherd [sic: J. T. Sheppard?] and Roberts. The answer then was reassuring, but when he saw Roberts recently in the Athenaeum it seemed more doubtful. Has not heard from Trevelyan for a long time; gathers he has been up to Northumberland, and that he is suffering from eczema as well as his usual troubles; is glad the 'dear and wise Mrs Abercromby' [sic: Catherine Abercrombie?] stays with him. Has himself been unwell for a few weeks; is going to London for some special treatment. Went to the South of France in March; enjoyed the warmth and sun but did not get well. Thinks often of going to the Shiffolds or to see Ralph Wedgwood in order to see Trevelyan, but has not felt well enough to go for a short visit. Moore has written inviting him to Cambridge in May, though he doubts he will be able to come.
86 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. - Kind of Bessie to send extracts from her letter about his first visit to the Trevelyans after their marriage: he and Dorothy found them very interesting. Is ashamed to say he has forgotten completely what the house looked like. Not offended by her criticism of his piano playing, which he knows was not at all good; remembers Oliver Strachey being shocked at the way he 'scrambled through a piece'. Tim is appreciated at Dartington and also likes it very much, though he is very hard worked there; spends a lot of time when he stays with them in the holidays practising and composing, as there is little time to compose in term. They have unfortunately not been able to play duets together for four years, as Moore is thought not to be well enough. Ralph Wedgwood came to visit earlier in the summer, but Moore doubts whether he will ever go to Leith Hill Place again.
Grimsby Farm, Long Lane, Coldash, Newbury. - Hopes Trevy has received the letter he wrote to Naples, otherwise he will think Marsh 'rather a beast'. Glad Corpo di Cava was not snowed under, since it has turned out to be 'so delightful'; he himself would have 'preferred Capri for the sake of Tiberius' [see 15/318]. Has just got away from London and finished his first day of work here; his 'flesh crept to such a degree' when he woke on Monday night and started to think about his tripos [examinations] that it 'must have moved on about an inch all round'. Stayed in London a little longer than he should have done because of a 'superior French company' who performed [Ibsen's] "Rosmersholm" and "Master Builder" and a play by Maeterlinck under the direction of M. [Aurélien-François-Marie] Lugné -Poé who 'seems to be a descendant of Edgar Poe'. He is 'a very beautiful man with a pale face & black hair', and reminds Marsh of a 'portrait of some poet', perhaps Poe himself; he 'acts very respectably' and played the Master Builder as 'an American with a straggling beard & a drunken complexion' and 'quite revolutionized' Marsh's idea of the part, since 'the rather vulgar arrogant manner he put on in certain parts' made the character seem more consistent than 'the suavity of Lewis Waller'. Asks if Trevy has ever read Maeterlinck, as it is 'useless to try and explain what he's like' if not; in the 'mixture of great simplicity with an entire rejection of realism' he thinks it goes back to 'the Burne Jones & Morris kind of thing'. Sat next to William Archer, who was 'very nice' to him. Saw many friends at the Ibsen plays: [Erskine] Childers, Crompton [Llewelyn Davies], Gerald Duckworth, J[ohn] Waldegrave, 'the Babe' [William Haynes Smith?] etc. Thinks the Independent Theatre must be 'the worst managed concern in the world': the performances usually begin late 'after the curtain has gone up two or three times, to encourage the audience. You're never safe from the irruption of a cat in the most moving scenes', the actors miss their cues, or the curtain does not go down at the end of the act. The man who is called the Acting Manager [Charles Hoppe] is 'the greatest crook [he] ever met with in a responsible position', who seems unable to sell tickets without asking for assistance and did not even know how many acts there were in "Rosmersholm". Marsh took the Verralls to that play; comments on Arthur Verrall's reaction to theatre: 'he never is, or lays himself out to be, in the least moved by a play' but responds to 'the cleverness or stupidity with which it is written'.
Very glad that George [Trevelyan] got his scholarship, though there was no doubt he and Buxton would; 'very hard luck on [Ralph] Wedgwood. Went to see [Charles] Sanger yesterday in his new rooms at Hare Court. No-one has heard 'anything of [Bertrand] Russell for some time'. Only saw Oswald [Sickert], who had influenza, not serious, once; he has just got 'free from the Werner Company, which has used up the Beauties of Britain, & gone on to Paris [ie, finished publishing "Beautiful Britain]'; hopes he will have time for his novel now. [Maurice] Baring took Marsh to supper with Edmund Gosse on Sunday: a 'most amusing man', whose conversation is 'described in Stevenson's essay on conversation ["Talk and Talkers"] under the name of Purcell. He was in the teakettle mood'. Met [Henry] Harland, the editor of the "Yellow Book" there; thought him 'an awful little man', but 'on getting accustomed to his manner' next day he thought him 'like-able on the whole'. Hopes to go to supper next Sunday with 'the even more distinguished [Robert] Bridges', though he has not read his recent works so 'feels rather ill-equipped'. Met John Davidson briefly recently; he 'seemed a genial and light hearted little man, with a nice Scotch accent'.
86 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. - Would like to see Bob's collection of Desmond [MacCarthy]'s reviews, and would be able to send them back quite soon. Does not know who Desmond's literary executor is, but gives his son Michael's address; they see him occasionally as he usually visits when he is passing through Cambridge. His arthritis is still very bad; an X-ray has found that it is osteo-arthritis, which Dorothy says is incurable. He has no pain but is 'badly crippled'; it has affected his arms as well as his legs, and he is liable to fall asleep in the day. Hasn't yet read Forster's book ["Marianne Thornton, A Domestic Biography"?] as he discouraged Dorothy from getting it at first, but it has just arrived and they will read it soon. Saw Forster himself at an exhibition of Gwen Raverat's oil paintings. Always pleasant to hear of Ralph Wedgwood; is sorry to hear from Bessie that he looks older; hopes Veronica is not over-working. Hopes Tim will enjoy his visit to the States and get some good work done; Tim has always liked jazz, which is Moore's 'only reason for thinking that there must be some good in it.'
'In an LMS train'. - Was 'delighted' to get Gow's book on Housman.
Has not yet heard from Bessie, but supposes they got seats on one of the trains. Is going to tea at Leith Hill Place [with Ralph and Iris Wedgwood?] then to lunch and to stay the night at Hurtwood House [with Joan Allen?]. Will listen to [Mozart's "Marriage of] Figaro" tonight on the [BBC] third program'. The [A.W?] Lawrences and 'Mrs Anderson (or Edwards)?' came to tea yesterday, which was 'very pleasant'; they look alder, but he enjoyed seeing them. Is well, but cannot work so will read Ben Jonson's "Alchemist'. Feels 'rather lonely' without Bessie. May go to the Deuchars and bathe on Monday if it is still fine. Ted Lloyd has gone to a conference in Switzerland. May visit Olive [Heseltine?] one day. Asks Bessie to let him know when she is coming back, and whether he should send her the "New Statesman" and 'those white trousers which Kitty said she would mend'.
Emmanuel College, Cambridge [Headed notepaper; address underlined and exclamation marks added]. - Glad Bob's '"Experience as a lawyer"' will allow him to visit next Sunday. Everyone is cheerful, 'flourishing on [their] old lines', but they 'expect "a sop"' such as Bob to be thrown them once a week: 'this week's sops were [Bertrand] Russell and his brother [Frank]'. Saw [Nathaniel] Wedd this morning for breakfast and a walk, who was 'quite all [George] had hoped or expected'. Has decided not to speak again at the Union, which is 'an inexpressible relief'. 'Great revolutions' here this term: there was 'a lady at MacT[aggart]'s "Wednesday evening" last week', and an exhibition [scholarship] has been started for history at Trinity; this is important as previously there have only been third year scholarships, which do not attract the best students; in the exams last May everyone in both years got thirds; the college have received a gift of two thousand pounds from Lord Derby. Inberg{??] has come up and is "flourishing"; [Frank?] Elliott is 'developing into the most delightful of fellows". Notes in postscript that he has 'found the kettle holder'; gives an account of the battle [of toy soldiers]; lists 'our table' as consisting of [Edward?] Marsh, [Maurice] Amos. [Ralph] Wedgwood, [Ralph] V[aughan]-Williams, [George] Moore, [Henry Graham] Dakyns, [Harry] Watkins, George himself, and his Harrow friend [Charles] Buxton.
Union Society, Cambridge. - Hopes Bob will be visiting soon. Is 'very busy' getting to know people, 'finding plenty of friends of a younger generation' so he will 'not feel shelved next year'. This is important as 'both [Ralph] Wedgwood and [G.E.] Moore are particularly lazy' about doing so: Moore is 'much more wrapped up in his metaphysics' and this 'seems to make him quite unconscious of the outside world'; he 'never says a word at Hall' or makes any effort to get to know anyone; it is 'really rather sad', for himself, and because he 'might be so very valuable' if he tried 'to influence people or educate them'; he is 'a king of debate' and they have 'grand meetings [of the Apostles' Society] largely owing to him. Hopes that their relation [Walter] Greg, 'a man of very great ability', will be chosen for the Society this year. Young [Felix] Wedgwood is 'very [emphasised] young, but very clever and original... If his brother is the Puritan he is the cavalier'. Was at '[Godfrey] Locker-Lampson's place' recently seeing their library; was most interested in the original Blake editions; the "Songs of Innocence" are 'most wonderful"; describes the "Tiger" in detail. Bob should try and see Blake's books at the B[ritish] M[useum], as they give a different idea of Blake than the '"Book of Job", where there is more thought and possibly [emphasised] less genius', though George himself likes that best. Would like to tell Bob about an interpretation he has of the "Book of Thel".
Gazeley. Trumpington, Cambridge. - Sorry to have taken so long to answer Bessie's letters, but is 'snowed under with scholarship examining'. No reviews [of R. C. Trevelyan's "Selected Poems" yet as far as he knows. Encloses two letters he has had from Ralph Wedgwood and the Provost [of King's College Cambridge, Sir John Sheppard] which he would like back eventually. Hopes to hear from [James] MacGibbon this week how the book has been selling.
23 Sheffield Terrace, W.8. - Praises the review of Gow's Housman book in the [Times] Literary Supplement.