Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Elizabeth's letter arrived by the evening post yesterday, as always. They are having a heatwave; sorry it was not better weather for Elizabeth's visit. Pleased to hear about the good beginning on [Elizabeth and Robert's new] house; tells her to be careful of the long walk there; she and Sir George went to Greenleighton yesterday with Booa [Mary Prestwich] and Cooper, taking tea, and she felt quite worn out. Has had a nice letter from Paul Hubrecht, who seems to have much enjoyed Northumberland and writes 'wonderfully good English'; criticises the British lack of facility with other languages. Originally enclosing a letter from Audrey [Trevelyan?] and one from 'young [Henry Graham?] Dakyns'; asks whether he is married. Sorry Miss [Lily] Noble's invitation came too late, and hopes Elizabeth can go another time; thanks her for sending it. A lady who called yesterday said there were good stone seats and garden ornaments at the Italian Exhibition in London; it closes on 1 October and the visitor was planning to get some right at the end when they would be sold off cheaply. Thought Elizabeth might like to see them, and she could let Caroline know if anything might suit them. Glad the Enticknaps are well. Hopes Elizabeth will find someone to go with her this winter; would be happier if she had a companion 'during R[obert]'s wanderings'; supposes Meg Booth would not do; Caroline does not know her well but she is 'quieter than Imogen'.
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. - Hopes Elizabeth is not over-burdened with 'guests & small worries', and that she might be able to do some good for her cousin [one of the Hubrechts?] and his wife; always difficult, but 'the mere fact of his relations being kind to her' may help; it is all very sad and unfortunate for their child. Is glad Julian 'flourishes'; expects it will be good for him to be in the nursery with the other children [Mary and Humphry], who will be there throughout Elizabeth's visit. G[eorge] and J[anet] will come for a week, and Aunt Annie [Philips] will also be visiting then. Hopes to hear about Robert's plans for travel abroad in the winter. Hopes the game arrived; will send some grapes on Monday. Thoughts on the strikes: sympathises with the men, and there is 'something fine in them acting together', but the violence has been very unfortunate, and the economic impact great. Churchill 'seems to have made mistakes' but it was hard 'in such a storm' to see clearly; Sir George thinks he was 'not strong enough at first'. Amusing that the House of Lords has been so entirely forgotten. The [tenants'] party was on Thursday, and went well except for a little rain; Sir George and Charles made speeches, and Geordie said afterwards 'That was nice poetry'. He, Pauline and Kitty gave their grandparents a concert the other day; their governess is 'clever at getting up little entertainments' and they sing 'very prettily' now. Audrey Trevelyan has been to visit, and they like her a lot. Sends love to Bob; hopes Mr [Donald] Tovey will have done much work on the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] before he goes.
Chillingham Castle, Belford, Northumberland. - Has come here for a night's stay; arrived in time for a 'beautiful walk' yesterday. Wonders whether the Grandmonts are with Elizabeth and hopes they are having this good weather if so; sends regards, and hopes they like the [new] house. Thinks she must come to London at the end of October; asks if she can come to visit on 31 October or 1 November; discusses travel arrangements. Audrey Trevelyan has been to stay; she played 'some queer music by a man called Debussy which she said was very much thought of in Paris'. Agrees with Elizabeth that music here is not very good, but thought Audrey played well. Everyone envies Elizabeth and Robert having [Donald] Tovey to stay with them.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks her for her letter and the cutting about Taormina: 'the place is certainly being rapidly spoilt, and the funiculare will complete the process'. There has been little recent 'development of the "affaire" [of Florence Cacciola Trevelyan's will'. They were very sorry to hear of the death of Lady Trevelyan, Audrey's mother; saw in the papers today that it was due to a 'fall in her room'.
Happily, Enticknap has recovered quickly: his wife has gone up to London today to bring him back, though of course he will not be able to work again yet. Bessie and Paul are well: Paul 'takes more solid food now'. They are staying with the Russells in Oxford next Saturday to Monday; next week the Whiteheads are staying with them for a few days (Whitehead is 'the mathematician at Cambridge with whom Russell collaborates').
Glad she is having 'so pleasant a time' in Rome, and that his father is enjoying himself; will write to him soon. Weather recently very stormy. Sorry they have 'made the viaduct into the Borghese': fears it 'will go a long way to spoil it... but the fashionable world were determined to be no longer confined to the Pincian for their evening drive', he supposes.
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'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Much appreciates Elizabeth's present, which is also admired by Aunt Annie [Philiips], 'such a specialist in gifts'. Originally enclosing a 'beautiful letter [from George: see 46/280] about [Henry] Jackson's funeral' for her and Bob to see; encourages her to think of the corner in the cemetery where Jebb and Jackson are buried, men who let their fame rest on their scholarship and did not 'court a pseudo reputation by trifling with sensational and paradoxical matters'. They are enjoying the visits of Aunt Anna and Audrey Trevelyan, 'a fine creature'.
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.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Elizabeth seems to have had more snow than they have at Welcombe. Will be very good to see her and Robert again; asks if they will stop a night on the way through London, or prefer to get home then come after they are settled. Is thinking of hosting 'a weekly dinner on Tuesdays in March, & a "small & early for MP's & young people afterwards'; Elizabeth and Robert must come to one. Henry James arrived last night and is 'most amusing & delightful on his American experiences'. Audrey T[revelyan] and the Bells are coming today. She and Sir George go to London on 23 February. Will give Elizabeth her club subscription when she returns; she will then have to make enquiries about which is the best club and change next year; Caroline thinks the Gr[osvenor] Cr[escent] club has 'become very common & inferior'. Is glad Elizabeth saw Shelley's villa; the coast where Byron burnt his body is 'wierd [sic] & beautiful too'. Asks if she has read Mrs Shelley's "Life" of her husband, which Caroline thinks is better than [Edward] Dowden's. Mary has had to give up nursing Pauline, having done too much over the election and got run down. Charlie has accepted the position of Parliamentary Charity Commissioner, which is unpaid and not much work, but 'keeps him "in the running"'.