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Chhatarpur. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'kind letter of the 10th'; it is only because of Trevelyan's own 'kind nature and good-heartedness' that he makes 'so much of what little I did'. In turn, thanks Trevelyan for the present of his brother [George]'s Garibaldi and the Thousand.

Very glad to hear that Dickinson is now 'quite fit to go on with his long & distant journey'. Their best wishes go with both Trevelyan and Dickinson, and Forster, and they all hope they will 'fully enjoy' their travels. 'You know that H. H. [the Maharaja] likes & loves nothing better in the world than the society of cultured English gentlemen. I can say that from my personal experiences of the last 19 years that I have been with him. He missed your company very much - in fact he was very much depressed after you left'. It was not until 'long after that the loneliness & monotony of his life was somewhat relieved by a visit from Miss Cohen and her brother' but they could only stay a couple of days and left for Gwalior. Showed Trevelyan's letter to the Maharaja, who 'was very much impressed with what you said therein about your visit to Chhatarpur & the hospitality of its ruler'; the Maharaja has received Trevelyan's letter to him 'from the jungles of Salim' and will reply soon. He 'read it and re-read it in my presence and was much impressed. He was also very glad to hear that you met Sir Theodore [Morison], whom he he is going to see at Patna or Lucknow'. The 'Hon. A. G. G. [Assistant Governor General?] is due at Chhatarpur om his official tour about 20 Feb., and the Maharaja cannot fix a definite date [to see Morison] until that tour is over.

Is glad to hear that Nanhu Mal was useful to them at Benares. Notes that Bob finds 'the Persian alphabet very troublesome', but thinks if he takes it seriously he 'won't find it so unmanageable in the long run': hopes he will 'soon get over the difficulty' so that soon Haq will 'have the pleasure to correspond with you in Persian language & quote Persian poets'. Had a 'very kind letter from Mr Forster' recently, who seems to have 'very pleasant recollections' of his visit to Chhatarpur'.

Yesterday was a public holiday [] and the Maharaja 'held a dunbar last night to offer thanks to the Almighty on this happy occasion'. The Maharaja has 'entered into a singular correspondence with Dr. Carpenter [perhaps Edward Carpenter?] & has received many of his books of late'; has also had Dickinson and Forster's books 'direct from England' and is 'much interested in all these books': Haq always finds him with one in his hand. The Diwan told Haq recently that he had received [Trevelyan's father's] Life of Macaulay from Trevelyan.

Wonders if Trevelyan [and his friends?] 'can induce H. H. to visit England - It is sure to do him much good from every point of view'; he himself is 'only his servant & my solicitations in this respect can therefore be of very little avail'.

Asks to be remembered to Mr Dickinson.

Strafford House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk [dictated to his wife Phyllis] - Is glad to hear that all went well [at the gathering in Frazer's honour in the Old Combination Room at Trinity College] and that they included Theodore Morison, wishes them good luck on the trip to Switzerland, his recovery is a tedious business.

From Arthur B. Cane, Austen Chamberlain, Ernest R. Debenham, Frank Gillson, L. N. Guillemard, Stanley M. Leathes, Theodore Morison, F. S. Oliver, Arthur Platt, W. A. Raleigh, R. Ll. B. Rathbone, A. H. Smith, H. Babington Smith, H. F. Stewart, Arthur H. Studd,. C. S. Whibley, H. F. Wilson.

c/o J.H. Stone, Warden's Lodge, Chepauk, Madras. - Have been here since 10 January, staying with Dickinson's old Cambridge friend [Joseph Henry Stone] in the educational department. They have lunched with the Pentlands, and he called again on Lady Pentland this morning; they seem to like it here, and have been 'very busy entertaining and seeing people'; their children also seemed well. Lady Pentland sent 'many kind messages' to Robert's parents, and to Molly, Charles and their children. She showed Robert the banquet hall where there was a picture of his grandfather [Sir Charles Trevelyan], though he did not think it very good; there are some 'quite good earlier portraits of Governors', and a 'rather dull Watts'; also an 'ugly one of Grant Duff', and a good one by Dickinson's father of Lord Napier. Robert and Dickinson have been to hear the commission [the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India] and may go again today; it is 'almost impossible to hear anything' due to bad acoustics, but they have met several of the commissioners. Likes R[amsay] Macdonald 'very much'; he and [Gopal Krishna] Gokhale seem the 'ablest men on the commission'. Have also met Sir T[heodore] Morison and Sir V[alentine] Chirol, both seem 'sensible men'. H[erbert] Fisher has not yet arrived; fortunate for him, as 'the commission must be a great bore'. Wishes they did not have to see so much 'second rate Anglo Indian society here'; their host is 'amiable, but rather dull'. Going to see the Seven Pagodas [at Mahabalipuram] tomorrow, before joining 'a Mr Bedford, a civilian, in his camp near Salem'; will stay several days before going on to Trichinopoly and Madura[i?], then to Trivandrum in Travancore and on to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. They will probably leave Colombo for Java on 14 February, a week later than he had hoped. The post and where to write next. Will finish packing now and go for a 'last look at the sea'; as it is a holiday, 'everyone is strolling about in their most brilliant shawls and dresses; the Madras crowd is 'the most picturesque' he has yet seen. Finishes the letter on the evening of 15 January. Is quite looking forward to a week in camp. Has been to dinner with the Pentlands, who are 'admirable hosts'.

Chhatarpur, Bundlekhand, C. I. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter of 6 February; is 'greatly flattered' by the memories [of Trevelyan's visit with Lowes Dickinson and E. M. Forster in 1913] which it brings back 'with their original charm and sweetness', though he wonders whether it would be possible to relive that time. Glad that Trevelyan has 'introduced into English Poetry those scenes wh[ich] are dearly cherished in every Hindu heart' [a reference to Trevelyan's verse drama about Krishna, "The Pearl Tree"?]; if he ever comes again to India the Maharaja will have the play translated into Hindi and acted for him. Read Dickinson's "Magic Flute" with 'unabated interest': thinks it very characteristic of Dickinson, and well depicting 'the modern idea of truth', while Dickinson's 'pacifist views have come in very appropriately in that Drama'. Trevelyan's letter hinted that Forster intended to return to India, and the Maharaja 'naturally thought' he would come to him: he counts 'you people to be of my dear Tutor Sir Theodore [Morison]'s circle'. However, he learns with 'great surprise' that Forster has accepted a position at Dewas; does 'not know how he got there!'. Sure that Trevelyan, if Forster had consulted him, would have advised him to come to Chhatarpur; the Maharaja wanted Forster to 'correct the mistake' and come to be his 'companion', but he has refused. The Maharaja is 'greatly in need of a loyal [emphasised] & sympathetic companion of literary tastes - & practical experience of the World' but does 'not know how to find one!'.

Asks where 'our friend' Bertrand Russell is: his Christmas card was returned. Asks if Trevelyan ever sees Theodore Morison, or his friend T[homas] W[alker] Arnold; asks what Arnold's address is nowadays. Mr Haq is still at Chhatarpur, but Mr Mina has 'reverted to his British India service' and is working in an U[ttar] P[radesh?] D district. Received Trevelyan's Christmas card with the 'nice & promising attempt of the young Painter [Julian]'; hopes he will be like his father.