Savoy-Hotel, Ouchy-Lausanne. - Sent a card from Paris, which was hot and unpleasant; the heat continued till they reached the Jura and arrived in a thunderstorm. Today the weather is beautiful and the hotel is charming; they go to Les Avants tomorrow, and she hopes they will stay a few days. Sir George is 'very energetic' and needs to be held back or they would 'be round Switzerland in a fortnight'. They are taking tea with Hilda Trevelyan, who is staying in a nearby hotel. Is anxious to hear whether Elizabeth 'engaged the nice looking nurse'; would be very sorry if Nurse Catt had to leave altogether; hopes Julian has not been disturbed by the hot weather and that his 'little "freak" tooth has done no harm'. Lausanne very large now, with much new building going on. They have got a new music box. Glad Elizabeth got a good cart for Julian; hopes she received the money orders as Caroline 'ought to be responsible for his locomotion!'. Sends love to Robert; they have a new edition of Stevenson's letters which are 'delightful reading'.
Grand Hôtel Continental, Siena. - Rather 'arctic' in Siena; Hilda Trevelyan has been staying here a while and will come to tea tonight; she is leaving tomorrow. He and Caroline enjoyed Florence very much; all the new building is in the suburbs so the 'essential part of the city' is not at all spoiled. They had a good visit to the Berensons, whose house must be good to stay in. Supposes Robert is at Cambridge today. Sends love to Elizabeth, with assurances of their interest in Paul and his 'troubles'; made friends with a 'lovely little Italian baby' in a street near the Duomo yesterday. Has read about the Sicilian property [left to Robert by Florence Trevelyan, but only after her husband's death]; does not feel great confidence and dislikes the way the will was arranged in Sicily rather than by the Trustees' lawyer, which benefits Dr Cacciola; however, Robert 'is in good hands,' and his financial prospects mean he need not 'undertake certain worry for an uncertain prospective gain'. Is very interested in the third volume of [Guglielmo] Ferrero's ["The Greatness and Decline of Rome": "The Fall of An Aristocracy"] and has Cicero's "Philippics" with him. Currently reading the "Heauton Timorumenos" [Terence's "The Self-Tormentor"], which is a 'rattling comedy'.
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.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Wonders if Elizabeth got to Tunbridge yesterday. The H[enry] Y[ates] Thompsons, Hilda and Audrey Trevelyan have been to stay; they had 'a "tea picnic" on Wednesday at the Gibbet'. Miss Martin came last night and is to stay for a long visit as she is 'quite "one of the family"; hopes Elizabeth will see her. As 6 Aug is Bank Holiday, would be best if Elizabeth and Robert keep to their first plan and come the week before; Friday would be best as the trains 'are terribly late on Saturday'. She should bring lots of music, as Heathcote Long is coming early in August and is a good musician. Audrey Trevelyan played 'very nicely' when she was here. Glad Elizabeth liked Dolmetsch, who is 'a genius in his way'. Asks how the Frys are, and whether they are coming north this year. Hopes the furniture is arrived, that things are getting settled, and that Robert can 'work comfortably'.
Casa di Boccaccio, Settignano, Firenze, Italy [on headed notepaper for I Tatti, Settignano]. - Thanks his mother for her letter. Bessie says she will be with his mother until Saturday, so this letter may come while she is there. Is 'very glad she is going to Holland'; is sure she will enjoy it and that it will 'do her good'. Julian seems well again now. The weather here is 'very changeable', but he has done 'a fair amount of work'. Is 'quite comfortable' in his lodgings, and has meals with the Waterfields in the Casa di Boccaccio. Usually works in the Berensons' library in the morning, then goes 'out on the hills in the afternoon, unless the weather is impossible, as it often is'. Glad his mother had a 'pleasant visit from Audrey [Trevelyan]'; hopes Hilda is now better.
Prefers the English translation of War and Peace by [Constance] Garnett to the French, as it is 'more accurate, and does not leave things out'; however, he 'like[s] reading Turgeneff best in French'. The 'postage for letters abroad' is now three pence, not two and a half; it is a lira from Italy to England, which is just over two pence. Asks her to thank his father for his letter [12/349?]; will write to him soon. [Bernard] Berenson sends his 'kind regards'; he and his wife are going to Greece next month, about the time Robert will start home.
14 Pelham Crescent, S.W.7. - Logan [Pearsall-Smith] has just read her Robert's poem in the "New Statesman" ]: thought it a 'noble and beautiful tribute to a friend' [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson]. Hopes they can meet soon; suggests lunch next time he is at St Leonard's Terrace.