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Asks if Julian and Ursula could come to stay at the Shiffolds next weekend; has to go away to see Donald [Tovey] for the weekend on Saturday the 20th, so Bessie will be alone except for Miss Simpkins; she has to 'keep very quiet' and 'not read at all'. She has had some improvement in her eye, but not enough, so the doctors say she must give it a chance by lying down more. She is also writing to the Sturge Moores, who may be able to help. Tried to call Julian and Ursula and hear they are in Devon; asks if they can get in touch as soon as they return. Supposes they saw the 'Italian pictures' in Paris.

Kennet House, Harrow on the Hill [on headed notepaper for 2 High Street, Harrow on the Hill]. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'very handsome Christmas present [his "Collected Works"]: will add it to the books at his bed-side and looks forward to 'making new and renewing old acquaintances'. Was 'such fun' to visit the Shiffolds after 'so many years'; was 'delighted' to find them all at home; such 'rash experiments of unpredicted calls' are not always so successful. Hopes to visit again, but this will not be in term-time [at Harrow]; they are 'much imprisoned by black-outs and ARP [air raid precautions]. Will escape to do a ten-minutes broadcast [on the BBC Home Service] on 30 January, 'very familiar Wordsworth'. Sends greetings to Mrs Trevelyan and Mr and Mrs Sturge Moore. Adds postscript asking whether Trevelyan would be interested in the article about [Paul Cairn?] Vellacott in this week's "Harrovian", written by the Housemaster of the Grove [Leonard Henry], a 'historian like his subject'; will send a copy if so.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. [London] :- Thanks his parents for their letters. Came up this morning to go to the Dolmetsch concert. Bessie is well except for a 'slight cold', and says the rehearsals are going well 'though some of the players are rather weak, including the new Madame Dolmetsch'. Is sorry his father's rheumatism 'has been so troublesome', and hopes he will be all right at Zermatt. Has just seen her letter to Bessie, which came this morning.

Is going to see George this afternoon to 'go over the corrections of the first two chapters [of George's England under the Stuarts]; this is 'rather severe work', but he and George agree that these chapters need corrections more than the rest. George seems to like Robert's article [or the Independent Review], as do others, though 'they are not all convinced that Moore's poems are as good' as Robert thinks them. However, did not expect to persuade many people. Does not think either that George will persuade him to like Meredith's poetry 'in his coming article, though it will no doubt be very interesting'.

He and Bessie have not yet heard anything about their building estimates; supposes these are 'in the hands of the builders', but that it will 'come all right now' although they may still have to wait a while. Is going to Seatoller to work for a few weeks in early July; Bessie may join him there for a while, when she leaves Mrs Salomonson. Hopes they might see Caroline at Dorking before then. Is glad Aunt Margaret is 'so well again'.

[In Bessie's handwriting] Wants to 'add a line' to say she is glad Caroline and Sir George are enjoying their trip, and that Sir George's rheumatism has gone. It is 'so very comfortable' being able to stay at Grosvenor Crescent, it is 'so quiet' and 'it makes such a difference not having to bustle about noisy hotels'. Maria looks after her 'like a mother!'. They are just going to lunch at the Moores' before another rehearsal and the concert tonight. Sends love from them both; asks if Caroline could visit them on the 26th or 27th, or the 2nd July, but she must do what is most convenient for her.

Friends War Victims Relief Committee, A.P.O., S.5., B.E.F., France. - Thanks Julian for the Christmas card, notebook and poem, also 'trust[s] a few months will see [him] home'. Sends a coloured photograph of a Watteau painting as a Christmas card. Hopes Julian is having a good holiday with his mother and the Moores; wishes he could be there, and that Julian could 'fly over in an aeroplane' and see him 'folding up parcels of books', which he is very clumsy at, and his way of 'making an index of the library'. Will write to Elizabeth tomorrow, is sending a program for her of a concert he went to. Wonders whether Julian is 'eating Sumph for breakfast, or Sue perhaps [pigs?]', and how the rabbits are doing. Hears that Mr Moore is reading Captain Cook's voyages to Julian, Dan and Riette. It is wet, the river Seine is very full and muddy, and 'rushes along like the yellow Tiber in "Horatius" [by Macaulay]'

40 Well Walk, N.W.3. - Must thank Bob 'at last' for sending her his "Windfalls"; was 'very touched' that he sent it to her 'a poor remnant of "we" [Thomas Sturge Moore died in July 1944]' to whom he used to send his works 'so faithfully and generously'; she and her husband used to read Bob's poetry on Sunday evenings when Dan and Riette were children. Had read some of the essays in the book in the "Abinger Chronicle", but the majority were new; mentions some of the pieces she most likes. Asks if Bob could return the two manuscripts she left at his house; had meant to ask Bob for advice on where to send them, having thought of "Criterion" or "English" where Tom had published a few pieces. Postscripts: one sending a 'special message' to Miss Simpkins and 'the Julians' if they are still at the Shiffolds, the other that the 'terrible destructions in Holland' keep making her think of Bessie.

Adds [to a letter no longer present] a 'warm, very warm thank you' to Bob for sending his "Windfalls" [the revised edition], which she is 'very much enjoying'; finds it 'so varied and so vividly personal and yet detached': 'How Tom would have enjoyed it!'. Asks if Bob knows who is going to 'look after Gordon's possessions' [act as Gordon Bottomley's executor}; he must have had many letters from Tom, and she wonders whether they could be returned.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Is 'very sorry' about the news [of Florence Cacciola's death] in the letter from Withers, which he supposes Bob has by now received. Sorry her 'personal property is so small. It doesn't much matter about Hallington [Hall], one way or the other'. Janet wants to know whether Mrs [Marie] Sturge Moore has just had, or is about to have, another baby, as she would like to invite them to dinner; could Bessie send a line about it as soon as she can.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for his 'moving poem' ["The Dream"?]. Increasingly feels that 'economic re-adjustments' and 'anti-war precautions' and so on do not address 'the roots of our maladies... greed, fear, hate & ignorance'; thinks Bob agrees. Does not 'hope too much from peace, when it comes', but thinks it necessary to recognise that there is an 'immense amount of good-will in the world'. Strikes him that people seem to think the world 'can settle down to peace & prosperity once for all if a way can be found', though the future is 'unimaginable' and the only thing certain is 'perpetual change'. Finds the question of what life is, or its meaning, an 'absolute mystery', though humans have an aim even if the universe does not; gathers that is what Bob means by the end of his poem. Thinks it the most successful of his works 'in this manner'. Hopes the new year will bring the end of this 'terrible war'; sends love to the Trevelyans. Asks in a postscript if the [Sturge] Moores are staying with the Trevelyans; sends love if so; encloses a 'poor exchange' for Bob's poem [no longer present].

Very happy to hear from Mrs [Theo?] Bluth that Julian had returned safely. Marie sends thanks for the phone-calls and cards; he thanks her for the spectacles which arrived safely this morning. Spent some time with Riette at the National Gallery yesterday; she is going to Stansted tomorrow. Thanks for all her hospitality.

40 Well Walk, Hampstead, NW. - Will send "Micah" [his contribution to the "Annual of New Poetry"] soon; asks Bob to tell him if the 'sense [is] difficult or the sound too clogged' at any point, though he does not promise to alter everything. Marie was on the Sussex [torpedoed by a German submarine on 24 March]; she reached Paris 'quite safely' but they are worried about her return. Confirms that they hope [Gordon] Bottomley is coming to them.

Thanks Bob for his letter and the 'memo of agreement' [with Constables for the "Annual of New Poetry"] which seems 'admirable'. Also thanks him for his 'kind enquiries': the children are 'much better', though they hope Dan will improve further before he returns to school as he is 'neither himself in looks or spirits'. George [Trevelyan] has been staying with them and given them news of Bob; hopes that Julian and Bessie are 'quite well'; he and his wife send love to them all.

The Saracen's Head, Bath. - Has been in bed ill today but hope to be up tomorrow and go on to Torquay; the Fletchers will stay in Bath and rejoin them on their return journey. There have been air raid warnings every night, but the bombs fell at least thirty miles to the west. Riette's scenery was excellent, 'but of course made out of nothing'; the play was better than he expected though too close to the book; the heroine Anne was played by a 'young Canadian actress' with great 'beauty and dignity'; the author is very career-minded. Marie is working too hard, his indisposition makes things more difficult for her. Encloses a letter to be sent to the Oliver Lodges: does not know their Toronto address. All the trains over-full: a porter told Marie that 'People rush about more than ever'. Could not go to Mrs Lambert's yesterday but Marie did and was 'delighted with everything she saw there'. Love to the Trevelyans, and 'friendliest greetings to Miss Simpkins'

Thanks Bessie for the present of some cuffs; regrets that they are unfashionable and so hard to find in shops; perhaps the 'great slump in Wall Street' will bring about a return in Victorian fashion and the cuff. Marie says Bessie has generously offered to make another pair; he requests them thinner. She will have heard the 'calamities' which have come upon them, and now Marie will probably have to leave to look after her sister, who is threatened with a dangerous operation. Her own foot is much better, and she and Riette much enjoyed their stay with the Trevelyans.

Was 'so touched' to find her name with Tom's in Bob's first volume [of his "Collected Works"]: thanks him very much for her 'share' in his 'most handsome present'. Tom's [Collected Works] seems 'quite small' beside it. Good to find 'old friends' along with new ones amongst the poems; hopes Bob will get good reviews, but 'reviewers nowadays seem very careless', so 'good poets must take little notice of them'. Poets' 'best admirers do not get into print'. Hopes that both Trevelyans are well, and Bessie's eyes are not 'too much tried by the summer light'.

Havering, Bent Field End, Stansted, Essex. - Thanks Bessie for her letter and the two Bottomley letters. They had a pleasant time in Bath with Riette and her friends. Binyon came for the last weekend and lectured on Persian painting; he and Moore read from their poetry at a Mrs Knight's, a 'tall and elegant lady' with a 'tiny little husband... an artist not much out of the ordinary but intelligent' [Charles Neil Knight?]. Went for some 'delightful excursions' along the Avon. Is charmed by his two granddaughters in Stansted, the household is calm and he thinks there will be no reason to cut short their stay. Saw [their son] Dan in London, who 'looked tired and worn'; hopes he will come for a few days soon; is reading a Hemingway he lent him. Sends his love to the Bluths [Karl and Theo ] and Tet Htoot, and friendly greetings to Miss S [Simpkins].

40 Well Walk, N.W.3. - It is very kind of Bessie to have brought Valéry's "Literature" for him back from Paris: he only knows a few extracts from it, in Julien Monod's "Morceaux Choisis", and "Sur la diction des vers" proves that Valéry agrees with him on a subject on which 'all other poets, actors and elocutionists' are opposed to them. Now has his complete poems, and likes him better than ever. Hopes that Bob gets well speedily.

Should have thanked Bessie before for the Thibauds [?]: has been ill with the flu, unable to visit Ricketts, and largely confined to his room. Has therefore heard nothing of how the opera went at Edinburgh [Donald Tovey's "The Bride of Dionysus", with libretto by R.C. Trevelyan], so would be glad to hear where it had been well reviewed, and whether it used reproductions of Ricketts' designs. Asks if she has seen his letter in the "Nation" defending his book ["Armour for Aphrodite"?; this seems to be selling better than his previous books. Sends love to the Trevelyans, including Julian, in which Marie would join were she not in Paris again.

22 The Spain, Petersfield, Hants. - Thanks for the letter and card, and for Mr Mulready's address. They are sick of builders, and have left their house 'with rain pouring through the roof'. Is to go to Holland at the beginning of February and would be glad of any introductions or addresses. Hopes Marie will come with him. His poem has appeared at last in "Hommage des écrivains étrangers à Paul Valéry" and has written to ask about copies; he is the only English contributor and hardly knows the others, except Rilke and Curtius. Postscript in French: would like to have Bessie's sister [Abrahamina?]'s address; asks whether Bessie has a copy of "War and Peace" in French which she could lend to [his daughter] Riette.

Hillcroft, Steep, Petersfield, Hants. - Thanks Bessie for her Dutch friend's letter; had already replied asking for five pounds a lecture plus expenses, as suggested by Binyon. They have sold the Steep house for £1400 and are now packing and preparing to return to Well Walk. They saw Julian on Sunday, but did not speak to him. They had a good letter from Dan who is on his second job, with a rise of 5 shillings a week. Is sorry Bob had to write; would have sent the Gracchi in a day or two. Marie says Bessie intended him to keep the letter from her friend, so he has done so.

Hillcroft, Steep, Petersfield, Hants. - Thanks for the kind hospitality which allowed Marie to accompany him and made his Scottish tour a much greater success; the Verse Speaking Association were satisfied and he found the audiences very responsive. Marie 'made everything swim perfectly' and their host and hostess 'all fell in love with her'.

Postmarked Steep. - Thanks Bessie for the bow and arrows; Marie will tell Julian and ask permission to use them. Thanks Bob for his letter and the quotation, which enabled Moore to send off the 'M.F. book' ["A Selection from the Poems of Michael Field"] last night, with much relief.

Returns something with his own and Marie's thanks; sent on Bessie's letter to Marie since it arrived after she started for the Vallées. The house is now settled and they move on September 22nd; Marie and the children will go straight to Steep. Hopes that Julian's convalescence is going well; thinks he will 'give up the ghost' if his own children do not prosper at Steep. Has heard from Marie that they were not ill on the crossing and have arrived safely; they were to have go on to Chambèry and then Torre Pellice but he has no news of the later stages yet. If the Government do not heed the Trevelyans' efforts to get him a pension, they would be very grateful to receive some money to help 'recover from the move', as indeed they are for all their kindness and good intentions.

Reminds Julian to send a copy of the 'last "Ray" [school magazine?] to Auntie Mien [Röntgen]. Apologises for not writing about the Lake Hunt sooner, but has been very busy. The day before, uncle Charles drove him and Molly to visit Wordsworth's Dove Cottage at Grasmere; Charles had a bad knee, and 'could hardly walk, much less hunt'. He himself was a hare on the first day, and was 'not caught till 4.30'; the next day he chased the 'youngest and fastest hare, down a dreadful scree', then when searching for him in some rocks 'heard Molly shouting a long way off' and saw another hare in the valley being chased by uncle George, whom he cut off and enabled George to catch. Was 'so tired and stiff' next day that he accepted an offer to be driven to Leeds to catch an express train home. Saw the Sangers, who were visiting but have now left; Dorothy Archibald 'who used to be Mrs Reece' is staying. Matthews has taken away the wireless as it was not working, but says he can re-install it any time next week. Elizabeth and 'cousin Littie' are going to visit Julian and stay with the [Sturge] Moores; if he himself comes it will just be for the day. The cuckoos are still singing, but are 'usually out of tune'; the azaleas are at their best. C[lifford] A[llen]'s architect brother [Godfrey] has been to visit; thinks Julian would like him, so perhaps they will get him to visit again when Julian is here. He 'looks after St Paul's [Cathedral, London] and says they are probably going to do the wrong thing about it'.

He and Marie are very grateful for the Trevelyans' kindness and hospitality in having them to stay over the winter, so that ill-health seems 'at least temporarily a good fortune'. He himself is pleased to have got some work done, due to the 'almost excessive freedom' allowed him by Bessie; he has his 'little ways' which do not always please other members of the household. Has happy memories of the way Julian joined in the Christmas play. Sends kind remembrances to Bert, Alice, Peter and Mabel [Elms]. 'Tremble[s] in [his] boots' when he thinks of what an 'old donkey' Wordsworth turned into at his age.

c/o A[ubrey] Waterfield, La Fortezza, Aulla, Massa Carrarra, Italy. - Originally enclosing some 'little bits of mineral' in some newspaper, and asks Julian to guess what it is. Describes the 'big sala' in which he is writing, with measurements and sketches, especially the roof. Tells a story about Hannibal's 'last but one elephant' escaping and laying his bones near where the castle of Olivola now is, by coincidence, near the spot where a fossilised mastodon is now being dug up. The restaurant keeper has 'three large bits of his tusk, and two molars'; a piece which had chipped off is what he now sends to Julian. Sketches the grain of the ivory, still visible and 'very beautiful'. They are waiting for an expert to come to unearth the rest. Hears that the St[urge] Moores are staying at the Shiffolds with Elizabeth. Must now go and try to finish his play "Cheiron". Will probably come home early in March; may go to the Netherlands with Julian and Elizabeth, but has not yet decided.

40, Well Walk, NW3. - He and Marie touched by the Trevelyans' kind invitation to stay with them at the Shiffolds if they are driven away from home by air raids. Hopes that the conference at Munich may prevent war, though fears that it will increase the power of Fascism. They would very much have liked to visit, but had already arranged to have Annie [his half-sister]. Originally enclosing an 'excuse from Helicon with two divisions of [his] Provocations in it'.

40, Well Walk, NW3. - He and Marie cannot thank the Trevelyans enough for their 'very great generosity'; asks if it could be considered a loan rather than a gift, which they would look forward to paying back in instalments in a year or so with 'additional gratitude for your still greater kindness in allowing us to do so'. It is very timely as they have to meet the interest on the bank loan as well as extra charges for [their son] Dan while their investments have suspended payment of dividends. Macmillans have arranged to pay him royalties half-yearly, which will also help. Sends Christmas greetings and New Year wishes to the Trevelyans, including Julian.

Thought Bessie might like to see the enclosures [no longer present]; does not want them back. R. V. W. [Ralph Vaughan Williams] tells him 'he has now heard from her [reference unknown]'. Is going to spend the weekend with the Bells; hopes he [emphasised] gets back. Was very nice seeing her and Bob recently, and the Sturge Moores. Must get the Goethe novel which he [Thomas Sturge Moore?] recommended; Forster had never heard of it. Always 'fall[s] off Wilhelm Meister.

His mother seems fairly well, and 'more worried about the tea & rations than the bombs'. Must go to meet Mr Todd [perhaps J. J. Todd of Dorking, like Forster involved with refugee commitees and The National Council for
Civil Liberties], who is coming to tea.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Sends 'rather belated' thanks for Bob's translations ["Translations from Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne, with Two Imaginary Conversations"] and for the "Epistle [to Joan Allen]" he sent to Binyon and [his wife] Cicely. Cicely has been suffering from erysipelas; it is a 'very debilitating disease', and he had to take her to stay with her brother [Valentine?]in Sussex; they returned last week. Congratulates Bob on the 'suppleness of the verse', just right for translating Horace; would have liked Bob to translate some of the "Odes", but expects he is right that it is 'quite impossible to repeat the miracles of placing [emphasised]' in an uninflected language like English. Much enjoyed the "Imaginary Conversations", and thinks them a 'pleasant way of writing literary criticism'; encourages Bob to do more, as he 'write[s] such excellent prose (like all good poets)'; asks if Bob feels he is 'trespassing on Landor'. Thinks he has succeeded in 'suffusing all the elements of the book... with a wholeness of atmosphere, wise and mellow'; enjoys this, though he cannot share in it completely, since he does not 'really feel at home in the Roman world', and has an 'obstinate streak of the mystic' which he is sure Bob would disapprove of. Had already given a copy of the book to his son-in-law [Humphrey HIggens], a teacher at St Paul's school, who has read some of the Horace with his pupils and 'much admired' Bob's translations. Only has one more canto of [Dante's] "Paradiso" to translate, but Macmillan has 'lost so heavily' on the first two volumes of the Divine Comedy that he is not keen to publish the last at the moment; however, he has agreed to publish a new book of Binyon's poetry "[The North Star"], which Binyon will send Bob when it come out, perhaps in spring. Knows Bob must mind not being able to take his usual trip to Italy; expect he has heard about their five months in Greece last year, which were 'very enjoyable and interesting', though Binyon would have found Athens a 'dull place' if he had not been so busy with his lectures and the weather was bad much of the time. They flew home all of the way. Supposes Bob hears nothing direct from B.B. [Bernard Berenson]; hears Mrs [Eugénie?] Strong has been 'turned out of her flat in Rome'. Asks how Bessie is; he and Cicely send their love to her, and to the [Sturge] Moores if they are still with the Trevelyans.

Originally enclosing some stamps; Julian is not likely to have the old Italian ones already. Visited 'the bower' yesterday, and thinks 'the troglodites must have ventured back' [see 15/27], since some 'green fir-shoots' have been put inside, perhaps as a mattress, and there is some orange peel lying around. Glad it is now warm enough for Julian to bathe; he will soon learn to swim. The limerick was by Mr [Gordon] Bottomley, not [Donald] Tovey; they thought he would recognise the handwriting. Is coming to stay with the Moores soon, with Elizabeth, who will have told Julian about the 'various birds nests'; thinks there must be some young owls in the trees at the back. Mr [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is visiting; he types in Julian's room; he will probably want to play chess after lunch.