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.
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.
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].
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.
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.
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.
Casa Boccaccio, Settignano, Florence, Italy. - Sorry to hear that Julian has had a bad cold; Elizabeth has sent his two first letters; glad he is getting on well [at Bedales], expects Elizabeth will visit soon. The 'common people speak Italian just like Arrius [in Catullus 84]' and put aspirates after their consonants. Glad they pronounce Latin 'properly' at Bedales; afraid he himself is 'shaky' about his 'v's'. Asks to be remembered to Mr [Reginald] Roper. Originally enclosing some photographs taken in this villa and the garden here; the library is modern but 'in the old Italian style', and he works or writes letters in it every morning, going up into the hills when the weather is fine. Large quarries and caves there, but he has met 'no tribe of Troglodites'; expects the Romans 'drove them all over the Alps'. Also originally enclosing some stamps (one Estonian) which the librarian has just received in the post. Sees there will be a by-election at Darlington, and hopes Julian will use his 'influence with the Mayor of Hurtenham [his imaginary town' in favour of any Labour candidate; though he expects Labour do not have much chance. Asks to be remembered to the [Thomas Sturge] Moores if Julian sees them, and to Igor [Anrep?].
Crom-a-boo, Heavitree, Exeter. - Congratulations on the 'safe arrival of Paul the first'; they only heard this morning as they left home on Thursday morning. Glad Bob's wife seemed to have 'suffered so comparatively little'. Paul weighed a little more than Dan did on his birth; they did not measure Dan. Has finished his comedy ["Two Ugly Men"?] and is very pleased with it. Dan is 'picking up nicely' since they got here. George is here and ;seems well & happy'. Has an article to write for the "[New] Quarterly" on all the new books on [William] Blake which he thinks he will do well; asks if Bob has seen [Frederick] Tatham's "Life" of Blake, edited with the Letters by A. G. B. Russell, which he likes more than anything else written about Blake. Would have put the story about Blake 'singing in bed just before his death' into his own ode "On Death" if he had known it before. Is also reading [John] Donne, but is 'rather disappointed with him'. Sends best Christmas and New Year's wishes.