Tyn-y-Fron, Betwys-y-Coed [sic: Betws-y-Coed]. - Knows Bessie will send this on to Bob at Settignano when she has read this. They are staying for a few days here with an aunt of Jan's [Ethel Arnold], then will go to Stocks; will be in London again on 9 October. Is lecturing at Bradford a week today, staying with the Herbert Joneses; will remember Bob and Bessie to them. Looks forward to seeing Bessie this or next month. Very good of Bob to read George's book ["Garibaldi and the Thousand"] before writing to thank him for him; 'immensely gratified' that Bob approved of it so completely, though this may be more praise than he deserved, since the "Times" which otherwise gave the book 'a blast of trumpets in favour' still finds his style 'unchaste in places'. However, it would be much worse if Bob had not taken him 'in hand over "[England under] the Stuarts". There are 'so few critics', and they never appear in print on history books 'which escape all literary [emphasised] criticism'. [Walter] Raleigh's "Wordsworth" seems a 'very fine book' to George, who is 'becoming more and more a Wordsworthian'. In a postscript over the page, Janet sends love; George confirms that he wrote all he knew 'about Cavour's and the King's thoughts', since Cavour 'contradicts himself' in his letters and the King's papers have not been published.
10 Prinsegracht, the Hague. - Her uncle received Bob's letter with 'all the legal papers, settlement etc.' last night. Asks if Bob read through the settlement; she tried to last night but did not understand everything, nor did her uncle, so he has sent it to his lawyer to have it explained and they will return it as soon as possible. Her uncle was surprised not to find the marriage contract enclosed; thinks he expects Bob to write saying he approves and sending the contract back. Does not now feel 'bitter' about the earlier tensions as she loves and understands her uncle too much. [Sir Henry] Howard and his wife called yesterday and left cards, so the 'bridge' is formed. Is busy with packing and clearing; tonight she will look through an interesting old collection of papers relating to her mother's life and marriage with her uncle; she will certainly want to keep her mother's own letters. Tomorrow she is lunching with her 'only Dutch co-senior of St. Andrews, a girl from Rotterdam whose mother was an old friend of Bramine [Hubrecht]'s. Likes the clavichord present all the more as she thinks of it; thinks it very nice of Bob's friends; asks if Mrs [Helen] Fry [who decorated it] is pleased, and what 'poor Dolmetsch' will do without it. Teases Bob for having 'wedding presents from nice young lady friends [Lily Hodgkin] sent over from Dresden' and keeping it secret from her; she found out from Alice Jones. Tells him not to forget the parcel Booa will give him, nor the gold spectacles; he should also bring his play and any other poems he likes.
10 Prinsegracht, the Hague. - Is writing early in the morning because of Alice Jones's early departure; her uncle is taking Alice as far as Gouda to help her into the carriage to Flushing [Vlissingen]. Has generally much enjoyed her visit and talking over old school days; Alice is the only one of her old friends who knows something of Bob through her brother [Herbert] and the Hodgkins. She is 'very sensible about the [Second Boer] war'; though since she is 'very penetrated with English Church Christianity', is much pained by the thought that Bessie and Bob are not to have a church wedding; Bessie has tried to explain that it is 'a matter of custom & individual opinion', Alice tried to find out everything Bob thought and believed, but Bessie did not reveal anything. May have written too strongly in her last letter [about whether Sir Henry Howard and his wife should be invited to the wedding]; Ambro [Hubrecht] was here on Wednesday and her uncle and aunt talked it over when she was out of the room; thinks he may have influenced them in the right way but does not know as her aunt would not discuss it until her uncle was there; they may discuss it when she returns from Amsterdam tonight. If her uncle's view is still not 'satisfactory', they had better wait until Bob comes over. Her last letter was 'very unkind & ungentle'; she remembers saying it was private and hopes he has not acted on it. Discussion of his crossing, which is now very soon; will come to meet him at the station. Asks him to ask Booa [Mary Prestwich] to give him a parcel of clothing she is keeping for Bessie, and to unpack it and put the contents amongst his things to escape notice at customs; he must also bring the gold spectacles for Ambro. Asks if they could deposit some of their belongings somewhere in London instead of taking them all on their honeymoon. Tuttie [Hubrecht] is coming between 20 and 25 of May. The Hodgkins [Lily and Robert] are crossing today, with Alice; is sorry she could not persuade them to come to the Hague as she would have liked very much to see them. Alice has given her a pound to buy some books as a wedding present; asks if Bob has any suggestions, or whether she should get some Dutch books. Asks if he has ordered his trousers. Asks whether [Desmond] McCarthy and [Oswald?] Sickert are staying with Bob, and whether he is enjoying his 'bachelor party & manners for the last time'. Starting for Amsterdam, and her last but one lesson [with Bram Eldering]; will read Goethe's "Faust".
10 Prinsegracht. - Originally enclosing a new photograph of herself, wearing a green dress and Bob's 'favourite hat'. Had an excellent evening at the Piersons' last night; [the Joachim Quartet] played a late Beethoven quartet she had never heard before, which made her 'nearly jump into the sky', and then a Schumann one. Talked to [Joseph] Joachim; hopes they will meet him again, perhaps at Harold Joachim's family's house at Haslemere. Alice and Herbert Jones arrived this morning; since Herbert is returning home tonight he has done lots of sightseeing with her uncle, then Bessie took him to the Mauritshuis picture galley. She and Alice are going to the Joachim concert tonight. Felt 'quite schooly again' seeing them; they talked lots about Bob. The Joneses were staying in the same pension at Dresden as Lily Hodgkin and 'her brother (the Oxford one); the brother is studying German and Lily music; Lily wanted Alice to send her Bob's address so that she could send a wedding present. Herbert 'seemed rather astonished if not shocked' that the wedding was not to be in a church; supposes the idea is rather 'awful' for an English clergyman. He is 'very bright & cheerful... & humorous as ever', though she does not think he is 'ein feinfühlender Mensch [sensitive man]'.
Old Ridley, Stocksfield, Northumberland. - Lily G.J. [Gresford Jones] spent some time here last week, and they spent several hours sorting through old letters kept by [Catharine's husband] Edward; Lily thought 'Mr "Trevy"' might like to see them [16/1-4?]. It is 'a saddening thing to read old letters', but they 'bring back happy times'; the 'rare Cambridge days (& after) held so much for your band of friends'. Hopes that Bob is now finally recovering. Sends love to Bessie; it has been a long time since they met.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear from Miss Martin that Elizabeth's return home went well; is sure she will feel well again. Very sad news about Lily Jones; feels sorry for them all. Hopes Robert is happy to be out of London; asks when the '"great work"' ["Polyphemus and Other Poems"] will appear. Must start to make the arrangements for the Christmas 'festivities'; good that 'children always enjoy any treat that is provided for them, as it is difficult to make any variety'. Asks if Elizabeth and Robert have decided to go to Ravello or somewhere nearer.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Elizabeth for sending her birthday wishes, though it is 'really too old to be noticed now'. Glad she enjoyed The Park, which is 'a nice old house, & a curious relic of the past'; it was less 'encircled' by the town when she was a child, and they used to 'ride about country lanes'. Annie told her she was going to give Elizabeth the necklace; thought she would be pleased with it. Poor Miss Fitch 'the older one, she is 19, who played Eviey [?]' has jaundice; Mr [Charles Augustus?] Fitch's housekeeper told Caroline he 'did not "understand young people" & was "much too kind to them" & gave them "too many good things to eat". Miss Fitch is still in bed and will not be able to leave for more than a week. [Edward] Keith took thirteen prizes at Rothbury show. She and Sir George are reading Carlyle's early letters aloud, which she 'much prefer[s] to Johnson'. Sent some figs yesterday; hopes they arrive in good condition. Asks about the Jones [Herbert and Lily?]
Four disbound sheets from a photograph album with 18 photographs captioned in Jones' hand, a mix of candid and posed photographs. Two photographs date from Feb. 1901 showing the Great Gate flag at half mast for Queen Victoria's death, and the Royal Proclamation outside Senate House on the accession of King Edward VII. There are also six candid photographs depicting the wedding of his brother Herbert Gresford Jones and Elizabeth ("Lily) Hodgkin in August 1900; two boating images: the 1st Trinity III Lent Boat on the water, and spectators of the May Races in June 1901; two cast photos from "The Magistrate" by A. W. Pinero at the A.D.C. depicting E. Dunkels, C. E. Winter, and Jones in character; three photographs of Lyme Regis; one photograph of Jones and others sitting outside L Great Court[?] with chairs, tables, and drinks, an "all night sitting" in the Long Vacation 1901, another of Jones, K. V. Elphinstone, and J. G. Gordon, and one a posed portrait of the guests at a private dance given by J. W. Cropper in June 1901.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear Elizabeth is enjoying Seatoller so much; showery weather is normal for the Lakes. Has been fishing, and Sir George has been fishing; he and George are working hard every morning and the house 'seems to be a sort of literary mill for turning out books & lectures'; suitable as it is very quiet with few neighbours. Glad Elizabeth is 'becoming more of a walker and a climber'; hopes she will keep it up in Surrey. George's beard is growing; will see how it suits him in a couple of weeks; very nice having him here. Glad Elizabeth's aunt is getting out into the country and hopes she will be better soon. Almost forgot Robert's birthday and only sent him 'a shabby line'; asks when Elizabeth's birthday is. Asks to be remembered to the Croppers if Elizabeth sees them. Glad to hear of Mr [Herbert] Jones's engagement to Lily Hodgkin. Elizabeth had better tell Anne Pearce who will get things ready and give them tea. Charles is still in town.
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Will not be able to sign the deeds till Wednesday so thinks he should stay in England then cross that night, though his father thinks they could be signed in Holland. Has ordered the beds, which cost more than a pound each than was printed in the catalogue as the '[Second Boer] war has sent up iron and labour considerably'; discussion of pillows and mattresses; [Roger] Fry recommended a 'spring or woollen [sic] mattress underneath the French'. Sophie [Wicksteed]'s Carlyle and Meredith have come. Will go over to the Frys now to see if they are coming to Roundhurst with him tomorrow. Lily H. [Hodgkin?] and her sister have sent some brass candlesticks and a glass jar.
3 Hare Court, Inner Temple, London E.C. - It is very good of her to see the matter [his father's wish that Sir Henry Howard and his wife be invited to the wedding] the way she does; not possible for 'these sort of things' to be ideal; does not think the Howards will really spoil much, and hopes the Grandmonts will not be 'unreasonable' and come too. Had to tell his father of the Grandmonts' objections or he would been angry when he called on Sir Henry at the Hague and found he had not been invited. His father does not know Sir Henry well, but his aunt [Alice] Dugdale does, and in general his family 'are on very good terms with the Howards of Corby, though not very closely related'. His relations would very likely be offended if Sir Henry were not invited; does not particularly care about Aunt Alice, but his father does, and he does care for his Aunt Margaret and does not know how she would react. Sanger is engaged, and therefore quite recovered. True that she [Dora Pease] 'behaved so badly to him' and there is a doubt whether she is really in love with him, but Bob is optimistic; [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson knows more and is reassuring; Bob has not yet seen Roger. Expects Sanger's wedding will be in July or August; wonders whether Bessie will like Dora, as people often do not and she has plenty of faults; yet she is not heartless. Splendid that Sanger is 'so miraculously cured'. Thinks he will go to Dorking on Thursday; MacCarthy and Sickert are coming to visit. Will write more later of what he did in Cambridge. Curious about Lily H[odgkin]; did know she was there [Dresden] and had just written to thank her for returning a book he lent her two years ago. Is glad to have her new photos, though does not think them very good.
The Shiffolds. - Very good of her to write again about his book ["A Dream"?]; agrees that it is worth while to 'diminish the difference' between their ways of thinking, or rather to find whether it is as great as it may appear at first. He does not think they differ in any important way in 'moral feelings, charity, and the love of goodness', but that is of course 'not the whole of religion', though it may mean most to him. Has not had the 'experiences which have been so real' to Lily, and given her 'such comfort and assurance', but he too has faith 'if not in God, yet in goodness and loving kindness'. The line in his book 'If you seek comfort, seek it not from me' is not meant to refer to Lily's God who is good, and whom he therefore 'cannot think of as the omnipotent God who seems responsible for the evil as well as the good in the world'; she however may have found a way he has not of 'reconciling that difficulty (whether intellectually or mystically)', and in any case these matters are not easy to discuss, as they 'lie deeper than argument'. Discusses his own religious feelings and spiritually, with reference to his poem: does not think of the human spirit as God, though it may be the 'best thing that there is and in a sense the only divine thing'. Wants to explain rather than argue, since with friends as close as she and [her husband] Herbert are, he is sure it is not right to 'hide one's deepest feelings about such things'; she has 'such understanding and kindness' he thinks she will not be 'offended' by their differences. Hopes they will hear from each other if it is not possible to meet.
About his own humanism and how it relates to religion.
Written on the back of a typed letter, 15 July 1942, from F[rank] B. Woollen, giving notice that the Annual General Meeting of the "Burlington Magazine" will be held on Thursday at the Bank Buildings, 16a St James's Street.