8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - He and his wife wish to leave the question of whether there should be a religious ceremony for Robert and Elizabeth's marriage to Hubrecht and his wife. They 'quite sympathise' with the desire for the marriage party to be 'quiet and familar', as their own wedding was the same; will not ask Hubrecht to invite any of their relations from England but will come alone with Robert's two brothers and ask if an apartment could be reserved at the hotel for them; will arrange about rooms for the servants themselves. They have no relations in the Netherlands but Sir Henry Howard; the connection between his family and theirs has been 'so old and honourable', and he has shown such marked recent kindness, that Sir George wishes him and his wife to invited to the luncheon. Has written a separate note [13/48] about the papers he is sending for Hubrecht's inspection; will have them immediately engrossed for Robert to sign once they come back from the Netherlands.
Gives details of the wedding, such as the bride's costume, the guests (including Sir Henry Howard and his wife and Lord Reay), and the wedding gifts. The workmen on the Snitterfield estate had 'half a day's holiday and a present of half-a-sovereign each' in honour of the occasion, and the 'church bells rang out a merry peal'. Quotes Robert Trevelyan's letter thanking the men for their present.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Robert is with them; is sorry that there is a difficulty and Bessie's uncle does not want to invite the Howards to the wedding. Sir George feels that since the Howards are his relations and 'intimate with his family', and Sir Henry 'has been civil and helpful to Robert', he could not attend the wedding under the circumstances. She and Charles will come; hopes everything will go very happily.
At the wedding of Robert Trevelyan and Elizabeth des Amorie van der Hoeven.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear that Bessie's aunt is convalescent; hopes she will soon be able to come downstairs, and that Bessie is not tired out nursing her. Will do Bessie good to have a change; they will expect her with pleasure on 14 or 15 Feb; she should arrange about her journey with Robert, and a servant can meet her in London if she is alone. Thinks Sir George will not be in a hurry to return to town, so she will be able to have a week with them at Welcombe, when there should be some signs of spring; she and Robert can be quiet there then in London Bessie can be introduced to a few friends and relatives. Encloses a letter from Robert. Sure the 'unhappy [Second Boer] war' must be 'very painful' to Bessie, as it is to them; she will not find them 'at all "jingo"'; she herself finds it 'most unnecessary & therefore wicked' on the part of Britain'. Would like Robert to have photographs taken of the same size as Bessie's, so she can have them together; would also like him to call on the Howards [Sir Henry Howard and his wife].
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Glad to hear Bessie is all right. Teases her about his 'wedding presents from young ladies'. Is going to Roundhurst with the Frys now, unless they do not think the weather fine enough. Sorry he did not send the marriage contract; thought his father had done so; will get it amended before he comes over, which he expects will be Wednesday night. Will bring over his silk white tie for her to see, Will go up to London on Monday, staying at Hare Court. Glad the H's [Howards] called, which should make "matters quite simple now". Quotes the first lines of "Midsummer Night's Dream", changing 'Hippolyta' to 'Elizabeth'.
3, Hare Court, Inner Temple. - Has come [to London] to be nearer to her. Hopes she got his wire to send letters to G[rosvenor] C[rescent]. Thinks his father is right that Bessie should show the letter at once, so that her uncle may realise the situation and the matter be settled a quickly as possible. Thinks she was right to state the whole thing to him as she did, and if her uncle is angry with her for this he is wrong. Is sorry she thinks he was wrong to tell his father, but does not see he had a choice; his father 'must be dealt with absolutely openly' and her uncle's objection to inviting the Howards 'concerned him nearly. Understands and sympathises with her reasons for writing to his father, but thinks it was a mistake. If her uncle were to invite the Howards after all, and do it 'in the right spirit', his father may come, though he cannot be sure of this. She must not allow herself to be upset.
28, Queen Anne's Gate, S. W. - Has just received Robert's letter [with the news of his engagement] and 'warmly welcome[s her] new niece'. Has 'always had a great liking' for the Netherlands, having stayed at the Hague with the Howards [Sir Henry Howard was British ambassador there], and thinks there is 'such a likeness' between the nations. Has been 'sorry for any possible strained relations' due to the [Second Boer] War, and hopes Robert and Elizabeth's engagement is a 'happy omen'. Asks Bob to tell Elizabeth that the Croppers at Ellergreen already make a link with her; has heard Miss [Eleanor?] Cropper on the subject. Wonders if Bob likes the Hague, and Delft, where her 'favourite hero of all, William the Silent, was done to death'. [Her son] Edgar is here and also sends 'warm wishes; [her other son] Frank is in the country.
8 Grosvenor Crescent, London S.W. - Has come to London to be nearer to Bessie in her 'difficulties'; his train was late so his parents were out when he arrived, but will talk to them later. Does not think they will yet have had a letter from her. 'Grieved' she reproaches herself for writing as she did [about her uncle's reaction to the idea of inviting Sir Henry Howard]; does not think he was wrong to tell his father but understands why she might think he was. As for his mother's letter, he understands why Bessie has appealed directly to his father. His father has sent him a copy and he thinks it may hold out 'a hope of his coming' to the wedding after all. Thinks the best solution is for the Howards to be invited and his father come; is now anxious about how her uncle will take his mother's letter, which is meant to be conciliatory; her uncle has no right to be angry with her. His father is not offended; even less so than when he first learnt of the Grandmonts' possible reaction to Sir Henry being invited. Further discussion of the situation. Will come over earlier if she wants him to, otherwise will cross next Monday and stay in the same hotel. If this matter is settled, may go to Roundhurst with the Frys on Friday, where he wants to take her before the [Apostles'] dinner. Is glad she does not mind him going; it is not in Cambridge but London, where they could perhaps stop the night at a hotel. Will bring over her underclothes and the spectacles. Is sorry Alice Jones minded so much about the civil marriage; 'Church people in England are often very difficult on such matters, but Alice is 'evidently very nice, and very fond' of Bessie. Tells Bessie to get Dutch books with their [Alice and Herbert Jones's] present; would not have her 'unDutched for the world'. Glad his last letter gave her 'so much joy and confidence'.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Is very sorry Bessie is 'being given this pain' and there is 'all this unpleasantness' [about inviting Sir Henry Howard to the wedding]; thinks it will all come right in the end. Has spoken to his parents about it; they appreciate her uncle's point of view, though they are 'annoyed at him'. They feel it is 'out of the question' to force her uncle to invite anyone he does not want; however, his father feels it 'impossible to come under the circumstances'; Bob's mother, who is no relation of the Howards, and his brothers will come. His parents have been very kind; his mother is writing a letter to Bessie which she should be able to show her uncle. Does not think it would improve matters if her uncle gave in now. His father is very fond of Bessie, and has been 'extraordinarily kind' to Bob. Bob will come over earlier if she wants him to. Plans to return to Dorking this morning.
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.
3 Hare Court, Inner Temple, London E.C. - Glad to hear that [Joseph] Joachim was so nice to her; hopes she also enjoyed her evening with the Piersons. Has talked to his father, who has convinced him that they should invite Sir Henry Howard to the wedding, as a relative; admits that it would be strange not to do so in England. Told his father it may cause difficulties with the Grandmonts; but he replied that politics should not enter into the matter. In a way it would be a slight to his father, since he wishes it, not to invite them; he would in that case not come over. Thinks that the Howards would not be 'much in the way' at the wedding, especially as his brothers and parents will be there; does not think him 'a bad fellow, and she, though dull, was quite harmless'; will not deny it would be pleasanter if they did not come. More serious if the Grandmonts really object; understands their feelings, though thinks them 'wrong and unreasonable'; they are among Bessie's best friends and good friends of his too, and it is through them that he and Bessie know each other; would be a great pity if they did not come. Does not think the fact her uncle, who will send the invitations, does not know the Howards is 'essential'. She will have to explain the situation to him; then the Grandmonts should probably be told as soon as possible so that they can make a decision. He or his father could write to her uncle to explain if she prefers.
The marriage conditions are all right; both he and his father will write to her uncle about them. Is going to Cambridge tomorrow and will see Tom Moore; wants to read him the two finished acts of the play. Will probably 'take wings' on Saturday evening: become an 'angel' and 'cease to be an active member of the Society of Apostles'. [Oswald?] Sickert is probably coming to Dorking the Sunday after; has worked well recently, and a few visitors will not make much difference. Sanger is back and seems well again, from the little Bob has seen of him. Has been to the tailors and it is hard to find material of the kind she wants; sends some more patterns, which he thinks will look lighter when made up and were lighter than the ones he wore for Roger [Fry's] wedding. The travelling clock which the servants have given them is very good; there was a note with it in Booa [Mary Prestwich]'s handwriting, which he copies out. Wants to write them a thank-you note, but is unsure how to address it; had better ask his mother.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Wishes Elizabeth a happy birthday for tomorrow; hopes she has ordered the writing desk as her present from Caroline, or will have it sent to the new house if she has not done so yet. Went to Broadwood's yesterday about the new piano which will be sent off 'via Guildford & Reading' at the beginning of June; asks if Elizabeth could oversee this; encloses a label to be fixed to the case. Saw Sir Henry and Lady Howard yesterday, who asked after Elizabeth and Robert. She and Sir George are going to see [Beaumont's] "The Knight of the Burning Pestle" this afternoon; they will leave London on 8 June and are giving parties at Welcombe on the 21st and 23rd; would be very grateful if Elizabeth and Robert could come and help. Charlie will come if he can, but Parliament will probably have begun, while G[eorge] and J[anet] will be in the north then. Sir Sidney Colvin is 'very jealous' of Elizabeth and Robert's new house on Leith Hill. Is sending Robert a "Times [Literary] Supplement" since Sir George 'thought the article so good' [a review of "The Birth of Parsival"?].