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19 Lord North Street, Westminster, London. - Kind of Trevelyan to send his "[From the] Shiffolds" poems, which have 'all the nostalgia we must feel who have known that other world'; but as he notes 'Sorrow vanishes, the joy endures'; hopes that will be true for the grandson to whom that is addressed and for all the 'young born now'; also hopes 1945 will be 'better for all'. Hears that Mary [Berenson] is 'fading away': Ben Nicolson, Harold's son, who has been to stay at I Tatti for four days, writes that she is 'pale & still beautiful... her mind quite clear'.

Review of Trevelyan's translation of Socrates' Ajax by J. T. Sheppard, "Athenaeum", 30 Jan 1920; review of Lascelles Abercrombie's "The Art of Wordsworth" by Desmond MacCarthy, "Sunday Times", 8 June 1952; obituary for Desmond MacCarthy, "The Times", 9 June 1952; obituary for Desmond MacCarthy, with an 'appreciation' by 'C.V.W', "Manchester Guardian", 9 June 1952; piece on MacCarthy by G. M. Trevelyan, "Sunday Times", 15 June 1952; "Marginal Comment", on Desmond MacCarthy, by Harold Nicolson, "Spectator", 20 June 1952; Reader's tributes to Desmond MacCarthy by Martyn Skinner, Oxford and T. F. Harvey Jacob, Waterford, unknown publication and date.

The Shiffolds. - Apologises for not writing lately; is 'only just settled down at home'. Had to go to London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Julian returned to Bedales on Monday, seeming 'very well and cheerful'; Robert was glad to see him for a few days before he went back. Bessie seems well, and enjoyed her trip to the Netherlands, 'though it was a bit tiring seeing so many people in so short a time'.

Is 'very glad' he went to Greece, since he greatly enjoyed his walks in the countryside. Read 'Nicholson's book about Byron [Harold Nicolson's Byron: The Last Journey] and thought it very good'; it made him like Byron more. He 'took care to be out of the way of the Celebrations [of the centenary of Byron's death] and was walking in the Peloponnese at the time'.

Will write to his father soon. Will try to visit before his parents go North: will know in a few days when he can come, and write to fix dates then. Is sorry Pauline 'did not get through [to university?]: but the standard seems very high now, owing to the number of girls who want to get in. Three clever Bedales girls also failed'. Charles and Molly 'seemed very cheerful' when he saw them in London.

Sissinghurst Castle, Kent; 'as from' 19 Lord North Street, Westminster. - Very kind of Trevelyan to send her his book ["Windfalls"]; mentions some of her favourite pieces; remembers walking with him and B.B. [Bernard Berenson] by Vincigliata; perhaps one of her favourites is the piece on "Kindness", which recall 'days of talk at Settignano'; 'how sweet' I Tatti [Berenson's home] was, and how much they 'long' for it again, the 'very Palace of talk & enjoyment''. Had news on 29 August from Harold Nicolson's younger son Nigel that Berenson is safe in hiding, and that as soon as the British line advances he will try to find him. That was nearly a month ago; the Germans are still in Fiesole, the Villa Medici, and Settignagno. Nicky [Mariano] and Alda [Anrep] are at I Tatti.

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.