Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear they are all well; Caroline sends love; a 'cuckoo for ever calling here' makes him think of 'the dear little boy' [Paul] and of 'Will Shakespeare'. They have just finished Hogg [his life of Shelley], and thinks more of Hogg 'in his queer way' than ever; has been reading a Macmillan edition of Shelley: 'What a poet!'. Has read [Roger] Fry's article in the Burlington Magazine, and paid a second visit to the illuminated manuscripts [exhibition at the Burlington Fine Arts Club] yesterday before leaving London; has also looked through the British Museum facsimiles here and at Grosvenor Crescent. Hopes Fry's wife will 'go on satisfactorily'. The 'Doctorate business' [his forthcoming honorary degree at Cambridge] is 'very plain sailing': Lord Halsbury, Lord Rayleigh, and Sir James Ramsey will also be staying at [Trinity College] Lodge; they lunch at [Gonville &] Caius, whose Master [Ernest Roberts] is Vice Chancellor. Others receiving honorary degrees are: the Duke of Northumberland; Admiral Sir John Fisher; Charles Parsons; Sir James Ramsay; Sir W[illiam] Crookes; Professor Lamb; Professor Marshall; Asquith; Lord Halsbury; Sir Hubert Herkomer; Sir Andrew Noble; Rudyard Kipling; Professor Living; they will 'advance on the Senate House...like the English at Trafalgar'. in two columns. Is looking forward to dinner in the hall at Trinity. Went to Harrow on Tuesday and will tell Robert about it and about the 'Cacciola affair'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Delighted with the picture of Julian. Enjoyed himself on a long day grouse-shooting at Ray; is 'always glad to be with those excellent neighbours' [Charles Parsons]. Mrs [Nora] Sidgwick had left when Elizabeth's letter arrived so he could not pass on her message; she seemed cheerful, and glad to be at Wallington; she likes the house she has bought near Newnham and 'regard[s] her future very cheerily'. Elizabeth must be interested in Mr [Donald] Tovey's visit; he 'brings more than most guests'. The 'public meeting in the yard was great fun' and a real success. Thanks Elizabeth for the Minimac [sic: Minimax] prospectus; Mrs Sidgwick says they used to put out a fire at Newnham 'which a foolish girl had occassioned'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Asks Robert to look at the catalogue enclosed and share anything he knows about the Meryon and Whistler publications; Campbell Dodgson 'is a high authority'; Robert's friend [Laurence Binyon] might tell him something; cannot write to his 'particular friend' Kenyon about the books of a colleague. 'A Prince Conti of Volaterra' [sic: Piero Gineri Conti?] a 'very imposing and attractive Italian' was brought for a visit by Sir Charles Parson, and much struck by the Trevelyans’ Francia, which he recognised 'with real emotion as an Italian masterpiece'.
Mannington, W.T., 1932
Drawing of Thomson for National Portrait Gallery
Parsons, C.A. 1930
Rawlinson, J.F.P. 1923
Soulsby, W. 1920
Re Hon. Degree at Cambridge 1920