Montepulciano (Prov. di Siena). - Thanks Trevelyan for his gift of [Woolf's] "Waves". Is here till tomorrow and saw Iris Origo last night; appreciates her all the more as he comes to know her; hopes to take Walker to stay with them for a few days. Heard 'the pathetic voice of Lloyd George' [on the radio?] a few days ago; did not think what he said 'first-rate' or 'accurate'. Asks where Julian is; was expecting to see him in October. Nicky [Mariano] said there is no water at I Tatti, but expects it will be better now due to recent heavy rain. Was amazed that Clifford A[llen] supported MacDonald [over the National Government]; asks for Trevelyan's opinion. Was in Arezzo recently for a commemoration of Petrarch; the foreigners he met there were 'all very gloomy'. Asks if Trevelyan has received the Baudelaire which Alberti says he has sent him.
I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Thanks for the letter and the anthology of Bob's poetry. A pity that Desmond [MacCarthy] did not live to write about Bob. Has Forster's and Virginia Woolf's last books but has not yet read them: the number of periodicals he must read leaves little time for books. Nicky reads them to him but it is slow going; the current book is Iris Origo's biography of Leopardi. Julian must come and visit next time he is in Italy.
Metelliano. - Apologises for not writing sooner: meant to after Lausanne [the Lausanne Conference] with congratulations on MacDonald's achievements, which seemed very important; Ottawa [the British Empire Economic Conference] not so successful but perhaps worse could have been done. Does not know whether to be hopeful; Iris Origo, whom he saw a few days ago, is not. His time at La Consuma was very pleasant; Clotilde [Marghieri?] was more efficient than last year as she did not need to 'lie down all the time' and sleep. Nicky [Mariano] read "Persuasion" and he liked it very much. Dreamt that Trevelyan threw a chair at them for being amused by [Panteleimon Romanov's] "Three pairs of silk stockings". Moravia is at St Moritz re-writing his novel. Has only heard news of the Berensons from Alda, not pessimistic about money but very much so about Mary's health. Regrets not being in England and wonders whether he might join the Berensons in Paris. Asks if he will see Julian on his way back.
Metelliano. - Hopes that Trevelyan will come to Italy this summer; if he says when he will be at La Consuma, Morra will arrange to be there at the same time. Asks if he should keep [Woolf's] "The Years" until then; has read it, written his article, and sent a translation and one of part of another article speaking more generally about Virginia to Judith [Stephen] to share with her aunt if she sees fit. Has heard from Iris Origo that Leonard Woolf is careful not to let Virginia see criticism than might upset her, and his opinion of "The Years" is 'not very favourable'. Is going to Venice on the 5th to meet B.B. [Berenson] and Nicky [Mariano] and see the Tintoretto exhibition with them; tomorrow he is hearing [Mozart's] "Nozze di Figaro" in Florence, which sounded very good through the radio.