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Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Agrees with Robert's view of Euripides, although he reads so much of him; discusses Macaulay's view of the "Iphigenia in Tauris". Has just finished [Aristophanes's] "Batrachoi" ["The Frogs"] with 'intense delight'. Has finished the 'American part' of his book [a volume of "The American Revolution"] and has one concluding chapter left to write. Will send Bessy a hare if he can get one. Would like to make [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson a 'Special Commissioner of Road Traffic'].

131 Banbury Road, Oxford. - "Sisyphus" is 'delightful and extraordinary'; has only just read it as when it arrived he was about to leave for Italy and by mistake it did not go with him. Likes it better than anything else by Trevelyan he knows: 'so individual... has such a strange blend of grotesqueness and beauty running through it - very Aristophanic in some ways'. Though the 'queer broken-backed metres... bothered [him]' for a while, they fit the theme. Is a little disappointed in the 'Artemis-chastity point': even he 'would not have accepted such an oath, and Sisyphus had much more knowledge of the world than a don'. Wonders about performance: no doubt Trevelyan has music; to Murray's taste 'music will bedevil and ruin it' but others would not agree. Would be expensive if there is much music; if not, suggests sending it to Charles Strachey or to GBS [George Bernard Shaw] for the Stage Society. Does not know Trevelyan's address, so is sending it to his brother [George?].

Notes on texts of Aristophanes' plays, with two letters from Francesco Palermo dated 1867 tipped in at front.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Is watching the developments [surrounding Florence Trevelyan's legacy to Robert] 'with a friendly, but not a critical eye'. He and Caroline have also had 'vile weather' but have suffered no physical harm; glad the same is true of Elizabeth and Paul. Agrees with [Benjamin] Rogers about [Racine's] "Plaideurs"; thought it 'very poor stuff' when he read it as a boy 'to illustrate [Aristophanes's] the "Wasps"'. They have just finished the Queen's letters ["The Letters of Queen Victoria", edited by A C Benson]; there is much that is interesting 'embedded in a vast mass of twaddle': too much is included by 'so many royalties... not above the average of their class', and though the Queen's letters are often 'very human and spicy' the book should have been half the length. Agrees with Robert that the Mid-Devon [Ashburton] election should shake the [Liberal] party up. Hilda and Audrey Trevelyan have been staying.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his parents for their last letters. Interested to hear about his 'New Year's gift from America [a silver cup from Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, see 12/123] which shows that her best statesmen appreciate your history at its true value'. Perhaps today 'the lessons it has to teach would be more useful for English statesmen', but he does not expect that Chamberlain, Balfour and Milner are likely to present his father with a silver cup.

Thanks his father for returning the '"opinion" [on Florence Cacciola Trevelyan's will': no new developments, but Withers begins to think it would be better to 'make some sort of friendly bargain with Dr Cacciola', who 'certainly has the interest on the £20,000 during his lifetime' if it passes under the will, which seems clear. The weather has been 'very unpleasant' recently, but Bessie and Paul are well.

Has been reading several plays by Aristophanes in B[enjamin] Rogers' recent editions: these have good notes, and 'a first-rate verse translation opposite'. True that 'one does not often want a translation's help' for Aristophanes, but thinks that if he did not read Greek he would prefer this translation to any other he knows. In the introduction to the Wasps, Rogers 'pays a compliment' to Sir George's Cambridge Dionysia, saying there is 'considerable Aristophanic spirit in it'. Rogers has 'just called Racine's Les Plaideurs "a feeble and insipid play"': Robert does not know how justly, as he has never read it.

The Devonshire election [the Ashburton by-election of 17 January, in which the Liberals lost the seat to the Liberal Unionists] was 'unpleasant', but he expects it will 'do good indirectly by making Liberals feel less secure'.

Utrecht. - What a warm welcome Robert and Elizabeth have given his 'effigy'; if he himself could occupy that privileged place, it would wonder ceaselessly at the spectacle of their joys and the memory that his 'Sicilian roof sheltered their preparation'. Would also amuse him to share in the studies they undertake together in the Encyclopaedia Britannia. Asks whether they have a plan of which articles to read, or whether they choose by the 'inspiration of the moment'. Very interested by Robert's account of the production of "Agamemnon" [at Cambridge, directed in Greek by John Willis Clark]; a shame that the actors cannot 'push on to Taormina to perform on the stage originally built by the Greeks', but wonders how many listeners they would attract; he himself would only understand them if he had the text. A little surprised by Robert's exclusive preference for that play; he prefers "Prometheus", then the "Choephori". The works of Aeschylus produce on him 'the effect of Cyclopean monuments; they are majestic, sublime, but still rough'; thinks there is more 'harmony' in Sophocles, and praises the two "Oedipus" plays and "Antigone" highly; also highly esteems Euripides as a thinker, despite the 'ruthless trial' given him by Aristophanes in the "Frogs". However, he is telling Robert things he knows more about than himself. Thanks Robert for his two letters; is particularly obliged for giving him the address of a lawyer to whom he can entrust the pursuit of his rights regarding Wilhelm Pruijs. Unfortunately, Pruijs had 'already fallen into disrepair and his goods been seized at the time when he borrowed' from Grandmont, who is in the position of 'Maître Corbeau' [in Aesop's fable of the "Crow and the Fox"] who 'swore (but a little late) that he would not take it anymore.

Includes notes in Latin on Aristophanes' Frogs; a selection of passages for translation into Greek, Latin and English, presumably for examinations; line by line commentaries etc.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad that Paul is getting on all right; the children here are 'very good and merry' but he longs to see Paul again. Has just read Verrall's piece ["The Verse-Weighing Scene in the Frogs of Aristophanes", "The Classical Review", 22(6), 172-175 ?] and liked it more than he expected, but does not like his 'prose description of Dionysus'. Praises "The Frogs" highly. Enjoyed a weekend visit from [Francis] Hirst and Arthur Sidgwick; Arthur helped Sir George with a word in [Plato's] "Lysis".

Two printed sermons by Thompson: "Old things and new." A sermon, preached in the chapel of Trinity College, on Wednesday, December 15, 1852, being Commemoration Day; and A sermon preached in Ely Cathedral on Sunday, November 14, 1858, being the Sunday next after the funeral of the Very Reverend George Peacock (2 copies).
Five offprints from The Journal of Philology: "On the Word κρουνχυτροληραîος in the Equites of Aristophanes v. 89" and "Platonica" (3 copies) from Vol. V; "Introductory remarks on the Philebus", from Vol. XI; "Babriana" (13 copies) and "On the Nubes of Aristophanes" (12 copies) from Vol. XII.
Accompanied by an MS poem by D. D. H. [Douglas Denon Heath?], written in 1832[?], with note 'returned to D. D. H. 23 June 90' [possibly originally with verses by others in Add.MS.c.158, as described in a folder listing there in William Aldis Wright's hand].

Trinity. - Afraid he was not 'the "young person" who had taken out the Aeschylus' as his Greek can cope with Homer, and Aristophanes to some extent, but not the tragic poets; might have been able to learn if 'there had been a rational system of teaching classics'. The Fellowships were given to 'very good men' on the principle that those who were 'at their last chance' should receive them; this principle would make Moore and Barnet [sic: Lionel Barnett?] 'safe for next year', and George has other reasons for thinking this. A shame Moore could not get one this year. If there is a third fellowship next year he himself stands a chance, and his work was 'very much approved of'. Hopes that Bob is getting on well with his poetry.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Robert and 'dear Bessie' for their letters. Has put back [Trollope's?] "Warden". Bessie's 'account of Paul's "reading" is delightful'. Is reading "Sisyphus" slowly in the evening, as is his habit; has read through the first act, twice, as on first sight he did not realise how much was rhymed. Praises the 'rhyming' and plot highly; parts are very Aristophanic. Looks forward to reading the rest of the poem. Thanks Robert for 'the passage about "requisition"' [from a dictionary?]; strange that Sir George was 'at a loss for a word which... does not exist'. Hopes that they are eating the hare. Adds in a postscript that he agrees with Robert about [William? see also 12/149] Everett's 'capacity for scholarship: there was 'no scholarship in America when he was educated there', he came to Cambridge late, and was 'occupied in other interests'.

Loose pages at front of file B/5/1.

5 Selwyn Gardens, Cambridge. - Thanks Trevelyan for "Sisyphus": thinks 'the revival of the 'Satyric' drama... seems to be a highly promising experiment; the passages where 'the verse (under stress of hyper-tragic emotion...) is forced beyond content [?]' gave him 'great joy' when he 'caught the trick of them'. Will read the play again as soon as he can; meanwhile he has passed it on to his wife and [daughter] Helen. He and his family hope that next term Trevelyan and his wife will visit them; asks him to let them know when might suit. Has sent Desmond MacCarthy a 'most important application of Aristophanic criticism of Tennyson's "Idylls"' for the "[New] Quarterly" [published in "New Quarterly" 2 (1909), pp 81-89]; aimed not against Tennyson by Aristophanes; thinks it migh interest Trevelyan when it comes out.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie has been seeing her sister, and will see Mrs Grandmont [her cousin Bramine Hubrecht]. Robert was 'bold in playing [rugby] on Founders' Day [at Harrow]' and can rightly feel proud of himself; he himself is 'rather proud' of travelling to Rome while older than St Peter. He and Caroline are going to Bologna, via Padua, and will be in Florence for a week from 19 [November] and will be glad to see Robert there. The walk they took together was 'intensely characteristic'; thought that Italian scenery is generally 'much less attractive than English', but the way 'the masses compose is wonderful'; there is nothing like the view from the north bank of the Arno in Florence. Caroline is very sorry to miss "Androcles [and the Lion"], by Bernard Shaw]. They like Robert's account of Julian. Is sending 'a funny old letter' and will send the "Frogs" if Robert wants it.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very sorry about Julian's illness; Caroline will be glad to hear from Elizabeth tomorrow. Glad Robert is seeing some plays. Enjoying a visit from George; he has been interesting about the '[Sunday?] Tramps', so they appreciate Robert joining them; George agrees with him that Robert's "Parsifal" ["The New Parsival"] is 'charmingly poetical below the surface' and sometimes above it. Sir George surprised he did not 'catch' [Well's] "The New Machiavelli", as it is "pure Aristophanes'. Despite being so 'ill and pulled down', he is working almost more pleasurably than ever before, only has 'three more paragraphs to write'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie and Julian arrived on Saturday, 'both in very good health', and 'seemed to have enjoyed their stay at Welcombe very much'. Hopes his parents are both by now fully recovered. The weather here has been 'perfect' since he returned. Had a 'very interesting week at Snowdon, getting to know a quite new country, and a number of new friends, also the rudiments of a new art, that of rock-climbing'. Too late, when over forty, to take to it seriously, but 'under the leadership of [Herbert?] Reade and Geoffrey Young', he managed so 'safe but fairly serious climbs, on Lliwedd, the Parson's Nose, Tryfan, and elsewhere'. Does not remember whether his father knows Snowdon well; thinks the views from the top are 'finer on the whole than from any of the Cumberland hills'.

Julian is now very pleased with the little garden which the gardener has made for him; he has planted fox-gloves, and 'wants to put up a notice up that the foxes must not come into the garden to get new gloves, unless they pay sixpence each for them'. Robert is reading Aristophanes' Peace, which is 'rather a favourite' of his, though it is not usually though of as one of the 'great ones'. Saw Shaw's play [Pygmalion?] in London, and 'laughed a good deal'; does not think it is 'a very satisfactory play perhaps, but few of his are'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Not quite well enough to answer Robert's letter properly; envies him his first read of [Aristophanes's] "Lysistrata": 'whatever may be said about it, the plot has a meaning in it'. Is reading about the siege of Syracuse by Marcellus [in Livy]; taken as part of the Second Punic War, it has 'the same sort of interest as Admiral Studdy's victory [sic: Admiral Doveton Sturdee had just defeated a German squadron at the Falkland Islands]' or the capture of the Chesapeake by the Shannon; 'these events depend on their surroundings'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Would like to see Robert and Julian in the hay. Their own hay-making was 'deplorable' last year, but the crop has been wonderful this year and was 'practically made in the course of a week'; this makes a difference to the household, as a tea has to be sent out each day to the hay-makers. Strange how children 'like young nations' take verse for their first 'natural channel of literary production'. Is beginning to read Aristophanes in chronological order, with Latin between each play; is currently following up the "Acharnians" with [Cicero's] 'marvellously interesting speech on Sextius'. Judges Cicero to be the best 'orator who reads well': Macaulay reads very well, but 'it is primarily literature'; Gladstone is 'so deficient in matter'; Demosthenes and Bright lack 'the volume of historical and literary, and philosophical matter. Plans to read many of Cicero's best speeches, and Suetonius. Sends a letter from Hilton Young, referring to a 'really beautiful poem of his'; the 'Praed blood' seems to be coming out in him and Geoffrey [a reference to Winthrop Mackworth Praed?] as is 'the old naval blood of the builder and namer of Formosa' [Admiral Sir George Young, of Formosa Place, Cookham, Berkshire]. Has had a letter from Sir George Young about his 'own studies in English prosody, which he is making his old age occupation'; will send it to Robert when he finds it.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury, St. Mary, Dorking. - They are 'all assembled here again', though Julian returns to school on Friday; he 'seems all the better for his time in the North', as does Bessie. Mrs Holroyd-Reece is staying here, 'finishing her holiday", as her husband has gone to the Netherlands 'on Media Society business, in spite of his collar bone', which is better but 'not right yet'.

Robert is going to London today 'to attend the dinner in honour of Basil Williams, of which George takes the chair'; Charles will also be there, as well as 'many of the [Lake] Hunt'. Robert's old friend Edward Hodgkin, 'Thomas Hodgkin's son', has died, the first of Robert's 'contemporary friends (excepting Theodore [Llewelyn Davies]) who has died' with whom he was 'really intimate'. Robert 'cared for him almost more than any one else' when at Cambridge, 'and for some years afterwards, but had rather lost sight of him of late years'.

Is reading Aristophanes' Ploutos again, which he 'read with Bowen in sixth form pupil room', and has liked since then 'almost as much as his more famous plays. The Chorus isn't much; but the incidents and the dialogue and the ideas' always seem to him 'as good as they can be'. Sends love to his mother.

Plautus has little of the obscenity of Aristophanes, Niebuhr, preparing for his week in Marlborough.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury, St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for the fifty pounds which Bessie says he has paid into Robert's account; it is 'very kind... to go on paying it'. Julian returned to school last Friday; Robert thinks now he will be 'quite happy there'.

Went to the dinner in honour of Basil Williams last Tuesday, which was a 'great success': George, as chair, 'made a very good speech' including reading out 'a letter dated from Westminster Abbey, from Chatham [Pitt the Elder, subject of a biography by Williams, buried in the Abbey], regretting he could not be present, and saying many nice and true things about Basil in his best eighteenth Century grand style'; George also 'read a telegram from Rhodes [Cecil Rhodes, also the subject of Williams biography], very characteristic, I should think'. [J. L.?] Hammond also made a 'very good speech, and so too did Basil himself. The whole thing was a very genuine and spontaneous tribute, without a false note from any side'.

Bessie asks him to thank his father for his letter. Robert has finished reading the Plutus [of Aristophanes] and is beginning the Pax. Sends love to his mother, and to Aunt Annie.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline send best Christmas wishes to Robert and family. Appreciates Robert's treatment of his points 'in the Chorus of [Aristophanes's] "Lysistrata"'; discussion of Athenian familiarity with the Doric dialect, including comparison with the intelligibility of 'broad Aberdeenshire' to English people; [Benjamin?] Rogers seems to be 'very thorough'. Thinks Geoffrey [Winthrop Young] is arriving later than George.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very interested in Julian's Latin: Sir George believes Latin and Greek 'are the best of all legacies'. Has just finished the twentieth book of the "Odyssey", the end of which is a 'marvellous masterpiece'. Agrees with Robert about translations of Aristophanes, and about Frere having 'gone nearest to the impossible'. Envies Elizabeth's stay at 14 Great College Street [Charles and Molly's house]. Greatly curious about Jan [?, i.e. Jan Bastiaan Hubrecht; possibly Jon or Joris], as 'the development of an interesting, and most remarkable, sire'. Caroline is taking better care of herself and is well; he himself must 'act [his] time of life'. George leaves tomorrow; the children will be able to see him off.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear Robert is recovering; eager to hear he is quite well. '[V]ery pretty about the theatricals, and about Bessy "not knowing"'. Has begun to re-read Plato, starting with the "Meno" which was particularly recommended to him by Jackson in the 'wonderful letter' he has pasted into the Bekker Uncle Tom [Macaulay] gave him. Thinks Plato is the Greek author he reads most easily; has an 'extraordinary ideal, elevating, effect' on him. Will read the "Euthyphro" at Wallington this summer, for the fourth time, then the "Apology", "Crito", and "Phaedo"; will read the "Republic" if he lives another year. Has now finished reading Aristophanes"; liked the "Ecclesiazusae' less than the other plays. Glad Robert has the pigs [?] since he has someone to look after them.

Durbins. - Has not sent [Bob's translation of Aristophanes's] "Lysistrata" yet as he wanted Goldie [Lowes Dickinson's] criticisms; Goldie came on Sunday and Fry will read it to Madame Donnay [sic: Vera Donnet] tomorrow. Will try two days in town. Has read Bob's "Lucretius [On Death]" 'with very great delight; would like to bring out a second book, called "Lucretius On Origins" or similar. They should 'stir up Desmond [MacCarthy] to the point of writing' and perhaps advertise 'in educational places - girls' colleges & such like'; Margery [his sister] tells him about 'yearning intellectual appetites among the lower middle classes of Birmingham' though he is unsure 'whether they'd rise to' Lucretius. Is much better for his 'long rest', though managed to 'paint a good lot'; expects to be in town a little now, if he keeps well, but will be back at Durbins after 23 Mar when Pamela returns, so Bob could come over again then.