Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad they can hope to see Elizabeth; thinks it is the best thing, especially as she is keeping Nurse Catt, which is very good news; the other nurse cannot have been very clever or she would have made friends with [Julian]. Charlie calls him 'a superb little chap'; he and Mary will be glad it is settled. Asks Elizabeth to tell Nurse Catt how glad she is she is staying, and that the north country air will do her good. Asks her to let Maria know when to expect them [at Grosvenor Crescent]; discusses travel arrangements. Sir Charles Dalrymple and his daughter [Alice?] are visiting on the 24th, and some neighbours are coming to dinner, but otherwise they will be quiet. Geordie [George Lowthian Trevelyan] has recovered from chickenpox and the girls show no sign of it yet; they have not been to Wallington so Julian will be safe. Politics is very exciting; was 'very glad the Conference failed'. Elizabeth's Dutch paper has begun to arrive. Sure she has done the best thing about the nurse, even if Mrs Catt only stays a few months. Good for the Liberal party to have the R[ussell] Reas at Tannhurst [sic: Tanhurst]; fears Elizabeth cannot fight the seat this time. Asks Elizabeth in a postscript to send a telegraph with their arrival day, as she may want to go to Newcastle.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Will be very pleased if Elizabeth brings Julian for a visit. Is going to see Annie from 21- 24 July, though unluckily Charles can come for that weekend so she will miss him; Mary is staying on with the children to look after Sir George; when they leave Julian can have the nursery to himself; can arrange the time for Elizabeth's second visit later, when they hope to see Robert too. Thinks Elizabeth is lucky to get Nurse Withers: it is rare to get two good nurses in succession. [Charles and Mary's] children are well and have 'a very satisfactory governess'. Asks how much help Elizabeth's nurse will need; would need to get extra help to provide the waiting on which Mrs Catt had. The Davidsons only have one young man lodging with them besides Gussie at the moment, so Mrs Enticknap could stay there; Caroline would pay.
With MS inscription on back: 'ELIZABETH GOTSCH 2 1/2 Months Jan. 1936 | To Mrs Röntgen | With much love from Kitty'
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.
The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S. W. 1. - Note by the address says that he has just arrived back. Very glad about Julian going to Trinity; pleased that Janet could be useful; the 'Trinity folks' obviously wanted him very much. That and Kitty's scholarship make him feel much happier.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Bessie for her letter; still thinks he should 'buy those Welcombe books', but they can settle that along with the other items; perhaps they will let him give more than they want for some of the other things. Sir George has, as she said, definitely given him the maps in the case, and spoke to him about it today. Has had some 'long talks' with his father, who is 'very affectionate about everyone, but shrinking strangely from wanting to see anyone'. Has also had a 'serious talk' with Dr [Edward] Hewer about the move; the doctor believes that 'under modern hospital conditions' it will be no more dangerous to Sir George than any other day of his life, and that since Sir George's heart is 'very weak' it would be dangerous to forbid him to go to Wallington, since he so wants to go. As for what Bessie wrote, George showed it to CPT [Charles] and discussed it; Charles said he writes 'frequent and friendly letters to him' on business and about Kitty; George has found the atmosphere 'cleared and settled', and talked to his father about it this evening. Thinks that 'all that either party can prevail on their natures and mind to do is being done, and further interference may do more harm than good'; reassures her that 'the situation is not so tragic as [she seems] to believe' and has improved even since she was here.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - They are very pleased about Mary [and Charles]'s baby, who is to be called Katharine; Caroline is going to see 'the little ones at Watford'. Interested in what Robert says about the new Ferrero ["Rome and Egypt"]; asks him to send it to them and let the London Library know. Loves reading about the classics, such as books by Grote and Ferrero, when he is writing himself; supposes it is a sign of growing older that he does not then feel inclined to read the classics themselves. Attempts being made to buy Coleridge's cottage at Nether Stowey; he himself does not 'value his poems quite enough... to condone him, as a man'. They are reading [Thomas Jefferson] Hogg's life of Shelley; Hogg was a 'wonderfully clever man' and it is a 'marvellous picture of Shelley'. Withers is getting 'very angry and blunt with Philipson' [over Florence Trevelyan's will]; will write to him when he gets an answer from Sir [Arthur] Middleton.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth enjoyed her visit from A. [Annie Philips?], whom she will see tomorrow, and that she is getting better; hopes she will keep Mrs Fry on to look after her. Asks if Mrs Grammont [Bramine Grandmont Hubrecht] is expected. Mary went to Cambo to conduct her concert on Saturday, and had a car accident on Sunday; she suffered only slight cuts to the face but it 'brought out the neuralgia in her arm most violently' so she had to spend all Monday with Dr Ethel Williams; hopes she is better and at Harrogate again. Seems to have done [Mary and Charles] 'more harm than good'; she would like to go to look after them but 'dare not travel'; is taking great care of herself and Sir George. The three children arrive from Harrogate tomorrow. There has been a heavy frost, and 'all Stratford was skating yesterday'; one man broke his collar-bone on their pool.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - The weather is intensely cold, but [Charles and Mary's] children do not seem to mind it; Elizabeth must take great care not to get a chill. The present Sir George sent was all his own idea; he wants Elizabeth to have 'the best nurses & doctors' and any 'luxuries' she likes without worrying about expense. Asks what Julian would like for his birthday; there is a good little toyshop at Stratford. Charles and Mary seem to be recovering and hope to go to London on Wednesday. Hopes to come and see Elizabeth at the end of the month. Tinson [the gardener] is sending some sea kale.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Glad to hear that all is well; hopes the extra nurse will stay until the A[bercrombies] move as she thinks the large party is too much for Elizabeth's nannie's nerves, though she is very good for Julian alone. Mary and H[umphry] leave today, to general regret. Thinks people are 'very foolish to take Belgians into there [sic] own families'; the money they spend would be much more efficiently used by the Committee. '[Q]uite wonderful how far Janet makes it go'; never realised she was so capable; hopes she will not over-tire herself, though understand why people do too much as the war is 'so pitiful & ghastly'. Finds it hard herself to stay at home and do so little, and 'one's power of helping in money is rapidly diminishing'. Nothing yet settled about No. 8 [Grosvenor Crescent], but it is not too expensive now. 57 men from Snitterfield have joined the army; they see 'a good deal' of the regiment based at Stratford. Lucky that Elizabeth is not nearer the sea because of the bombing. Charlie seems well; the little girls [Marjorie and Kitty, perhaps Pauline?] are to come to London soon.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for his letters and telegrams about Elizabeth; hopes the 'affection of the kidney' will disappear entirely. She will need to be looked after for a long time; good that there is a change in the weather. The children [Geordie and Kitty] are well; is glad Julian 'flourishes'. C[harles] and M[ary] have gone to London; expects that Charles will now be better and that Harrogate was too cold. Everyone, including Annie [Philips] is very sad about Elizabeth 'as everyone loves her'. Asks him to keep sending 'a line or a Post card every day', though he need no telegraph. Asks when Robert's book ["The Bride of Dionysus"] will come out; Sir George's will be out very soon.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to get Elizabeth's letter, though wishes she were better; hopes the 'tonic' suits her and that it is not too hot in Surrey. Would much like to have Elizabeth at Wallington for a while 'with no housekeeping & only the child & the violin' to get strong. Molly and the children are coming for ten days on 29 June; thinks she will then settle at Cambo. Sir George is very interested in the US election contest; the latest developments are 'most astonishing' but she thinks Roosevelt is 'the right man to be President'. Good to hear that Julian remembers them; wonders if he will remember Wallington. Wants to hear what Dr C[arter?] says when Elizabeth sees him again. Caroline will give Elizabeth the name of a treatment recommended to Annie [Philips] by her doctor.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Annie [Philips] left yesterday after an enjoyable visit; she was very well. Mary is 'quite laid up'; thinks she will get through if she keeps very quiet; Dr Williams is away but her locum has visited and seemed efficient; Mary needs to take these precautions after [her miscarriage] last year. Asks if Mary wrote to Elizabeth inviting her and to stay in October when Sir George and Caroline are away, when C[harles] would also be away. M[argaret?] Vaughan Williams would like to come when Elizabeth was at Wallington; they would also like to see her. Hopes Robert is getting on with his arrangements and innoculations [for his trip to the East]. Pauline sprained her ankle and 'hopped about' for a while but is now better, as is Kitty. Is glad that Molly's cousin is coming on Wednesday; has been playing piquet with her. Julian is 'a duck' and will become most amusing now; glad the nannie will have a good holiday, and hopes Nurse Shepherd will 'satisfy' Julian. The rain is 'beyond words' and is now affecting all the potatoes. Sir George is much better and very interested in Elizabeth's question.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Annie [Philips] is staying with them and is well; she takes a 'good walk' with Sir George in the afternoon. Has news of Bob in London; hopes he will not catch Mary's cold; was glad to hear from Mary that she was deferring her daughters' returns as they would catch colds if they came to London in this weather. There is influenza in Stratford, and the town is full: over a thousand soldiers, plus refugees and wounded. They went to see the hospital, which is 'a curious sight'; 'really wonderful how everyone is working'. Sir George is fairly well, and 'enjoys talking to the officers'; they miss the children. Sure the Abercrombies will be sorry to leave the Shiffolds when the time comes; asks if David could stay a while longer, or if he would be 'an anxiety'. Hopes Miss Evans has come back better; asks if Nurse Godwin has gone. Sends love to Robert. Sir George has recently read her "The Old Curiosity Shop"; it is a 'child's book, but the characters are vivid, and dreadfully exaggerated'. They have just started "Middlemarch", which is very good to read aloud. Has little time for reading as she is doing the accounts and 'making all sorts of resolutions of economy'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] sends her love.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry to hear that Julian's 'little weakness' [an umbilical hernia?] has not yet gone; perhaps a truss might help. They must get him as strong as possible; he will spend all autumn at Wallington and recommends a month or longer of sea air in the spring. Knows that the operation is effective if it does not go in a couple of years. Booa [Mary Prestwich] says it is not uncommon and hopes Elizabeth will not worry. Very glad she has Nurse Shepherd for a while. Is much better and hopes to go downstairs this evening. Hopes Bob's inoculations do not make him too uncomfortable. Delighted to hear that Elizabeth is to have her 'picture taken by such a good artist'. The children are well and go to Cambo every morning 'for lessons, or drill, or class'. Mrs Runciman has gone; Mary is doing very well, their house is 'quite full' and she expects they 'all play noisy games round her bed'. Hopes Elizabeth enjoys her trip to Cambridge; asks to be remembered to Elizabeth's cousin Marie [Hubrecht]
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes that the preparations are going well, and that Elizabeth's poor friend [Gordon Bottomley?] copes with the journey. This morning there is a thick mist, and Julian will not go out until it clears so she is writing in the Hall while he plays with his toys. His cousins came to tea yesterday; Booa [Mary Prestwich] 'gave them a performance with the dancing kittens and the black man', and it was bed time when they left. Nurse is sending a parcel of washing. Grace cannot find the Kodac [sic: Kodak camera?]; does not remember Elizabeth having it when she came from the Park [Annie Philip's house]. Had a nice letter from Margaret [Vaughan Williams]; very glad she enjoyed her visit. Miss [Lily] Noble is coming today, and the Dick Holts next Sunday. Julian is 'making "his kisses"' for Elizabeth on a piece of paper [enclosed] which 'he thinks a great joke'; hopes Elizabeth does not miss him too much. Sends the "Times Literary [Supplement]" which is amusing this week.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Julian is well: is still getting time outside, and spends the evenings with them playing with his toy sheep. Yesterday he got to the piano in the drawing room and 'recited about the motor car'. Mary brought Pauline and Kitty to lunch and they got on well; Booa [Mary Prestwich] took Kitty and Julian to ride on the rocking horse. When Julian was walking home through the wood with Caroline and Sir George, they worked out he was saying 'the sky is gone', meaning the trees had hidden it. Miss [Lily?] Noble came for Sunday. Mrs [Hugh] Middleton gave birth to a son last week, and Mrs Anderson has been very ill. Hopes Mr [Gordon] Bottomley has recovered from his journey
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear that Elizabeth got through the journey all right; she must be delighted to be in the Netherlands again after so long. Glad she likes 'England to live in'; supposes she feels there is a 'broader and more varied outlook', but expects it is good to bring up children in the 'quieter atmosphere of Holland'. Julian is quiet enough here and has been pulling his train around the corridors; he wanted to be alone and told Booa [Mary Prestwich] to go and talk to Nannie. His nurse sensibly did not let him go to the birthday party [for Geordie] as he would be too cold and not enjoy it so much; the party ended with 'fireworks and a bonfire'. The children and Miss Richardson [their nanny?] are coming to tea in the nursery today. A niece of Booa's has been killed in a motor car accident; her husband, a doctor, was driving. Brown has been in a bicycle accident and is 'very bad', but she thinks he will pull through. Thinks she will have a Christmas tree this year and give two parties, one for the children of the family and some friends, and one for the schools; suggests around the 10-13 December, before they go to Welcombe the following week. Sir George is very cheerful, though anxious about Roosevelt: hopes he will be second [in the US election]. She hopes that 'England will play a decent part, & help to settle the [First Balkan] war'. The Holts are sending one of their daughters to Miss Weisse [her school, Northlands].
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - News of Julian: thinks Elizabeth will find him much stronger and more active. Kitty is coming to tea with him this afternoon. Gertrude Bell is going to give a lecture on Thursday and Miss [Charlotte?] Moberly is coming for the night. Sir C[arles] Dalrymple and his daughter are visiting later in the month; hopes Elizabeth will just have returned by then. Ella Pease is coming for the night on 4 December, so Caroline will invite Mrs Cookson as well. Will have a party for the children on the 11th, then one for the school children on the 13th. Asks to be remembered to Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht]; hopes she is better and stronger.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - They have just had a 'long letter from Robert' [in the East] but have not yet read it through; expects Elizabeth will also hear from him. Julian becomes ever more talkative. Miss [Charlotte?] Moberly has been to visit. The hounds are coming this morning; does not know whether Julian will get out as it is raining, but he will be able to see them in the yard from the window. She and Sir George are 'greatly distressed' about the 'shocking row' in the House [of Commons, on Home Rule]. Charlie was here on Thursday night; he has gone today with Mary to Alnwick to speak in the place of E[dward] Grey, who cannot leave London. Their children are coming today to see the hounds, then 'sleep and dine' at Wallington. Nora [Trevelyan] came to lunch and to say goodbye as she is leaving; she looked very shaky. Meta [Smith]'s eldest son Reginald is engaged; he is 23 and does not come of age till he is 25, so Meta will not have to leave Goldings till then. Mary is quite well now.
'Vondel' written on the front cover. 'Argument' of the drama also translated; cast list included. Translation written on the right side of each page, with the left side used for corrections; line numbers given at intervals of five, up to 450. Single sheet inserted between ff. 4 and 5 with part translation of the 'Argument'. Insertions between ff. 19 and 20: 1 foolscap bifolium with an (incomplete) introduction to the work for an English reader, including the possible influence of Vondel on Milton [perhaps intended to be sent with the translated first act to a publisher]; two foolscap sheets with translation of a dialogue between Apollion and Beelzebub [also in text in book].
Also inserted here: letter, 4 Oct 1934, from Kitty Trevelyan, Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth, to 'Uncle Bob', returning the 'St. Francis story' which she liked 'quite immensely' and found very moving in places; hopes he will publish it. Will return the other books she borrowed in a few days; wishes she had had more time to read them, as she was only able to 'dip into them'. He is very generous about lending books; hopes they all come back to him safely. Back of the letter used by Trevelyan for part of a translation of Vondel's "Address to all Fellow-Poets and Patrons of the Drama". This continues on the back of 5 single sheets [two formed by halving a sheet advertising a sale at D. H. Evans' stationery department on a sample of their 'Hadrian Papyrus']. Another insertion is a sheet of headed notepaper from I Tatti [Bernard Berenson's home] on which Trevelyan has copied out Ezekiel 28.12-15 and Isaiah 14.12-15.
Vondel's "Address to all Fellow-Poets and Patrons of the Drama" translated from the back of the book in; single sheet inserted between ff. 36-37 on which Trevelyan has copied out Jude 6.
Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside [on headed notepaper from the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge]. - News about Bessie's grandson is 'really glorious'; expects that if he is dark he will be like his mother [Ursula], with 'just a general background perhaps of Trevelyan blackness'. She and George think the name 'splendid'; wonder why 'Philip' was chosen, and whether it is a 'general reminiscence' of the Philips inheritance which would 'amuse Aunt Annie'. The Trevelyans are 'doing well' for grandchildren at the moment, with Thomas Arnold [Humphry and Molly's son] and also Marjorie and Patricia's children; thinks there are currently 'a round dozen', counting Kitty's three, then Patricia's next is expected at Christmas. Thinks young mothers are very 'brave' now, to come out of hospital after only ten days, then only have a nurse for three weeks; she herself 'recovered so slowly' after Mary was born that she cannot imagine how she would have coped with the baby on her own. True that the child is 'much more neglected nowadays... popped in the pram and left to sleep out for hours in all weathers'. Thinks that 'Humphry's Molly's' two eldest 'did suffer from it' but are recovering now, though the second still has trouble with consonants at over three and a half; Janet suspects this may be 'a result of early shock from cold', and remembers having to speak privately to the doctor to 'make him speak to Molly'. She and George are spending time Robin Ghyll; have not been there together since June 1939; it is 'wonderful, as always' but though the weather in the south has been 'scorching', they have had heavy rain. George went back to Cambridge on college business a fortnight ago and brought their cook with him on his return; she is a 'nice adventurous person, and loves coming out on the fells' with them, but even George is 'content with short walks now' and they 'feel quite proud' when they walk over to take tea with Nelly Rawnsley.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - All pleasant here so far; the only people here are Phil and Liza [Price], Hugh Bell's son [Hugh or John] and a friend of his who are 'quite nice boys', Kitty with her children, Marjorie and Patricia. There had been a shooting party, and he saw George and Janet for a minute before they left; thinks he will cycle over to see them soon. Glad he went by the early train from Ockley, as it meant he was in time to get a 'corner seat' on the Kings Cross train; his compartment was full throughout the journey, with 'quite nice people' including soldiers and later several merchant-service sailors; the corridors were 'rather crowded' so although he could have got to the restaurant car he was glad to have a packed lunch. Thinks Bessie had better go by train from Newcastle to avoid the 'long cold wait' he had in the Haymarket for a bus, reading Anatole France. She need only bring his small scarf. The school-children are 'very quiet'; the Bell boy plays piano in the evening '(not very brilliantly)' and Marjorie the oboe, but apparently Charles usually reads "Vanity Fair". Last night, however, he had to 'put on his general's uniform' and go to dine at Morpeth with 'a lot of Officers and the Duke of Gloucester - rather dull, C. says'. Hopes Bessie is also having the fine weather. Has not yet been round to see the woods and fallen trees. Will be very glad when Bessie comes on Tuesday.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Elizabeth has decided to take on Miss Boneleu and hopes Julian likes her; Janet's governess has turned out to be 'a great success'. Thinks an 'educated woman (however inexperienced)' will be easier to deal with. Asks when Elizabeth proposes to come to Wallington. Annie [Philips] comes on 12 August, and the Ilberts from 21-24 August. Charles and Mary are away for a few days from 25 August, and Kitty may stay at Wallington; Janet and the children come on 1 September. George and Janet visited on Sunday; George goes to Italy again this week to arrange about the ambulance; he says 'practical work & arrangements are not congenial' but she thinks he does it well, and he thinks it is the best he can do. A 'nice gentle little widow' is staying at Wallington, liked by both Caroline and Sir George. Sorry to hear Mrs Vaughan Williams still suffers from shingles: she should see a specialist; she herself still has some irritation from her outbreak.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very interesting, but 'very sad and depressing' about [Maurice?] Amos [the failure of treaty negotiations between Egypt and the UK?]; had heard from George along the same lines. Looking forward very much to seeing Elizabeth this evening. Trouble at Sidcot [School] with diphtheria, so George and Kitty are back early for their Christmas holidays, but Charles and Mary are making the best of it. Is reading [Euripides's] "Phoenissae", which he calls a 'noble play' and places 'with the "Orestes" and "Alcestis" after the "Medea" and "Bacchae".