Cortona. - Hopes that will reach Julian in time to give best wishes for the New Year; by then he will be in Naples, Pompeii, or perhaps Ravello already. Is staying in a 'plain rather ugly house built in 1767' near Cortona, which they visited last week 'in a blizzard', and saw 'a lot of fine old buildings, and some dull pictures', except for an 'enchanting' Fra Angelico. His friend [Umberto] Morra lives here alone, and is a 'very pleasant host'; they read Shakespeare together, sometimes Morra reads him Italian poetry. Has had a bad cold, but it has almost gone now. Goes to Naples tomorrow and hopes to see snow on Soracte [Monte Saratte]; quotes Horace in Latin. Asks Julian to tell his mother that her letter from Bedales has just reached him, and that he is glad she enjoyed her visit; Julian seems to have done well in the part of Snout [in "Midsummer Night's Dream"]. Hopes Jacobs has sent back [Donald] Tovey's music and that she has sent it on. Expects the Russells are now at the Shiffolds; jokingly [?] advises Julian to be on his guard against Russell, who is 'that dangerous thing, a philosopher'; Russell 'ought to have stuck to his mathematics, at which, they say, he was quite good. But philosophy never leads one anywhere in particular'. Tells Julian to be kind to Russell's children: not to put John to swim in the rain-tank 'at least not if you have to break the ice'; and not to 'lock up the girl [Kate] in the box-room for more than half an hour at a time'. If Russell 'becomes too superior', suggests Julian should 'bring out [Cicero's] "Pro Milone" and ask him to construe some not too difficult passage', or get him to name the mouths of the Nile; if he 'retaliates' by asking what Mr Elton's first name is in Jane Austen's "Emma", which Julian has not yet read, the answer is Philip. 'Nevertheless', sends Russell and his family love and best wishes for the New Year.
Has received a letter from Bertie Russell asking the Trevelyans to send a statement that they consider him to be a good father, and that there is no lack of affection between him, his children, and Miss Spence, to Llewelyn Davies. They hardly know her, but are prepared to do so, and encloses a more formal statement [see 5/291]. They are very sorry for all concerned, and hope that Dora and Bertie will come to an arrangement to share custody of John and Kate.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - States the Trevelyans' belief that Russell is an 'excellent and most devoted father' to his children, and there is 'no lack of affection between them and him and Miss Spence'. Hopes that the arrangements made for the children's custody will satisfy both parents; this last statement is corrected from the hope that 'the parents may equally have a share in the custody of the two children'.
Telegraph House, Harting, Petersfield. - Peter Russell hanks Bessie for the little jackets; was short of these, and since she plans to knit a large shawl was worried about not getting enough done. It is 'very warming and encouraging to have the baby welcomed like this'; Bessie is already being as kind to it as she always has to John and Kate. The children are 'both so grown up' and have been making things for the baby.
Bertrand Russell adds that it would suit him to bring John and Kate to visit on April 9, as long as the baby does not come then. Is not going to Holland this spring, though this was talked of. Is glad she agrees with what he said to the Lords.
31 Sydney Street, London, S.W.3. - Thanks Bessie for all her kindness this Christmas: it seemed silly to write from Lemons Hill Farm [near the Shiffolds, at Abinger]; meant to come over on the last day but 'Bertie developed glands - probably the same flu infection'. Christmas was 'delightful' and John keeps talking about the train, the big nursery, and the hundred bricks, which make a 'marvellous present'. Discusses his and Kate's weight and height. Sends love to the Trevelyans, including Julian, and hopes they will see them in Cornwall in the summer. Bertie and the children saw Dora Sanger today; she is 'better, but far from well'. 31 Sydney Street 'all but sold' on the Russells' terms, and Bertie has got 20 pounds on insurance for a coat which was stolen from the hall when they were away: they are 'doing a war dance, & would like to give the burglar a commission'.
27 Dorset House, Gloucester Place, N.W.1. - Would very much like to come to the Shiffolds, but can only make May 8 or 15: knows this 'sounds proposterous', but those are his only free dates before the autumn. Will be in Wales for vacations, and in term-time has the 'B.B.C., various meetings, deputations, & God knows what', so 'not even the prospect of a radiator' can bring him. Sees Bessie's brother-in-law, the Master of Trinity [G. M. Trevelyan] once a week. John and his family are in Richmond, all goes well with them; Kate is engaged and will be married quite soon, to 'an American whom I don't know but believe to be nice' [Charles Tait]. Peter has had an operation to remove her gall-bladder and gone to Wales to convalesce; Conrad is with her. Would love to see Bessie in London.
Little Datchet Farm, Malvern, R.D.1, Pennsylvania. - Agrees that it is difficult to write to distant friends - much unknown and much that cannot be said - but values letters from friends in England more and more. Absurd that Bob's walks on Leith Hill are so restricted. Agrees that ["The Brothers] Karamazov" is a great book, but hates it, and thinks Dostoevsky 'evil': dislikes 'the doctrine that one should sin in order to experience humility'. Has written about John in his letter to Bob [see Russell's "Autobiography"]; Kate is doing very well at Radcliffe, an annex of Harvard; at the moment she is on holiday and they are 'employing her as a servant, because ordinary servants can't be got' (they are all engaged in war work). This is 'terrible slavery' for Peter and she has hardly any time for reading or writing. Conrad is very well, 'a chatter-box, with an enormous vocabulary'; he can read a little, but they have not started him on writing; he is a delight, but it is hard not to wonder 'what sort of world he will have to live in'. Have had a visit from Julian Huxley and several from Ted Lloyd: 'a joy to see friends from England'. Also saw Jos Wedgwood, who was 'quite untamed'. Finds his pupils 'dull', and his employer 'very difficult', but is making a book from his lectures and his research is interesting. Peter 'fairly well', but sad at being exiled from all mental life by house-work'.
Little Datchet Farm, Malvern, R.D.1, Pa., U.S.A. - Was very glad to have Elizabeth's letter: it is hard to avoid "[p]hysical and mental depression', mainly due to the impossibility of doing much to help. Asks her to tell Bob how much he enjoyed his translations: amused to learn that Plato was a comic poet; read Horace's "Odes" when young but nothing else, so it is interesting to 'get at him in English'. Thinks Bob 'shows admirable strength of mind' getting on with work; he himself has 'external compulsion' - the need to lecture' to keep his mind on 'equally remote' Greek philosophy. Has just heard the German assault on Yugoslavia has begun: seems no hope that the war will end quickly. Conrad 'flourishes and is very intelligent'. John is 'intensely scholarly', with classical interests; 'would make an admirable don in quiet times'. The 'friendliness of Americans' is curing Kate of shyness. They are still in California, but will come East in June and probably stay. Asks if all the trees on Leith Hill have been cut down: is 'haunted by the thought of disappearing beauty'.
Little Datchet Farm, Malvern, R.D.1, Pa., U.S.A. - Good to have Bessie's letter: hopes things are going as well as is possible for the Trevelyans. Being so far from England, 'one feels ashamed of comfort & safety'; Russell has 'a soft job' with one lecture a week, they have enough to live on, and are renting an old farmhouse in beautiful countryside 25 miles west of Philadelphia. Is giving a four year course on the history of philosophy and likes it very much; Peter has been busy furnishing the house but he hopes will now have some leisure; John and Kate still at the University of California but probably will come east at the end of the academic year; Conrad is very happy to be in the country. Has not yet seen [G.E.] Moore but hopes to soon; wonders what he thinks of America. 'People in the Eastern states are passionately pro-English' and are kind to the Russells. Is not pacifist this time; wonders what the Trevelyans think about it. 'Being away from home makes one more patriotic'; asks if Bessie gets any news from Holland. Seems a very long time since he used to visit the Trevelyans at Westcott: sometimes the past has such a grip on him that he 'find[s] it hard to live in the present', and so many of the people he cared for are dead, it makes him 'feel like a ghost'.
Fallen Leaf Lodge, Lake Tahoe, Lake California, U.S.A. - Not being in England is 'like being absent when some one whom one loves very much is dangerously ill', but it is impossible because of the children and the need to earn money: it is good that Conrad is out of it, and they try not to think about the war; this is easier at present as they are on holiday in the mountains. Has just finished "An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth"; feels that preserving as much as he can of 'our perishing civilisation' is all he can do for the world at the moment, 'in the hope of a Renaissance in a thousand years'. Is still a pacifist inasmuch as he thinks 'peace the most important thing in the world', but does not think there can be peace while Hitler prospers; has 'always thought some [underlined] wars worth fighting'. Is glad of what Bessie says about Julian; his children are also 'a great joy' to him. John feels he must go back if called upon to fight but for the moment he and Kate are both doing well at the University of California; Conrad is 'altogether delightful'. Peter is trying to get British children to safety in America, but this is very difficult; they 'hope the American government will send ships'.
Telegraph House, Harting, Petersfield. - Thanks Elizabeth for her letter: it is not too late to visit; they have this house till 29 September and will be there until about a week before that. John and Kate are currently here but will leave in a few days; they and he 'deserted Peter & Conrad' and went to stay with Lion Phillimore for a holiday in Ulster; they are 'most satisfactory, & Conrad prospers'.
Telegraph House, Harting, Petersfield. - All is well with Peter: the child is expected on 12 April and she has decided to have it at home. Would be very nice to see her; he is currently away a great deal 'making pacifist speeches' around the country, but will stop when John and Kate come for the Easter holidays and asks if he might bring them to lunch in the second week of April. Agrees that not many people will spend two guineas on the book about his parents ["The Amberley Papers"] but it is large, with many pictures, so could not really have been cheaper.
Deudraeth Castle Hotel, Portmeirion Peninsula, Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales. - Thanks Elizabeth for her letter, but thinks she does not quite know the facts: that he and Dora have an agreement which give them equal rights in the children, and he has only asked that this continue, but Dora wants 'sole rights & complete custody'; she is petitioning for divorce and representing herself as a 'completely blameless wife', concealing the existence of Harriet and Roderick [her children with Griffin Barry]. Does not see why Elizabeth talks of both his and Dora's suffering: 'Does the tiger suffer when it kills the deer'?; Dora knows that if she deprives him of John and Kate, 'the whole of the rest of [his] life will be one of unbearable misery', and that to stop her doing so he will probably have to give up hope of divorce. This is very hard on Peter [Spence], 'who wants children, but not bastards', as he himself does. Asks if Elizabeth could let him know 'what version of the facts' she has heard.
47, Emperor's Gate, S.W.7. - Asks whether he, John, and Kate could indeed visit at Easter, as Elizabeth had seemed to suggest this would be all right when they met the other day. Would come from the 17th till the 22nd [April]. Peter [Patricia Spence] cannot come until the 19th if at all.
Beacon Hill School, Harting, Petersfield. - Thanks Bessie for her kind letter; the Russells are now over their anxiety about [their daughter] Kate who has now completely recovered. The operation was late in the evening of the 23rd so Kate had 'a pretty miserable Christmas', but enjoyed her birthday on the 29th. Dora got sciatica from getting out of bed on cold nights to look after her, and is now in London having it dealt with. According to the surgeons there has been an 'epidemic of mastoids as a consequence of influenza', and there has been another case at the school, but that is also no longer serious. They all remember the Christmas they spent at the Shiffolds; John will never forget Julian's electric train. They often hear of the Trevelyans through Charlie Sanger; invites them to visit, as it is a very easy car journey and he thinks they would enjoy seeing the children.