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293, Woodstock Road, Oxford. - Trevelyan will not remember their brief meeting at The Gallows thirty years ago; Elton is writing to him, as Abercrombie's executor, as he himself is writing a memoir of Abercrombie for the British Academy. Hopes Trevelyan can help him pin down the composition and first appearance of a number of Abercrombie's works, including theatrical performances of his dramatic poems and his journalism; pencil notes may be Trevelyan's responses to some of these questions. Originally enclosing a copy of an obituary notice [by Elton?] which appeared in the "Oxford Magazine" and is to be reprinted in the "Malvernian" and the volume of tributes (to which he expects Trevelyan will also contribute).

293, Woodstock Road, Oxford. - Thanks for the response to his letter [1/124] and the information about Abercrombie's works he provided by Trevelyan. Has also had much help from [Abercrombie's son] Ralph. Wishes an edition of the uncollected prose could be put together. Thanks Trevelyan for his kind words about Elton's own work; is pleased to think that Abercrombie's copies of his "Surveys" and translations from Pushkin are now in Trevelyan's hands.

293 Woodstock Road, Oxford - Thanks her for 'The Gorgon's Head', is particularly interested in the Addison and Cowper papers, and approves of the use of Latin in 'Ad Libellum' to utter J. G.'s deeper sentiments.

1A Brompton Avenue, Liverpool.—Congratulates him on the first issue of the Review, and comments on it.

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Transcript

20 Dec. 1924 1a Brompton Avenue, Liverpool

Dear Dr McKerrow,

let me congratulate you on your first issue—print, turn-out, and learned contents. One great point is that you have, by limiting the field to English, found more room than any other jour-al—such as the excellent M. L. Review, which we hope may still flourish—for due discussion. The Elizabethan matter—as to which I confess myself in arrear, having attended so much to later times—is of much price. I hope, however, that you will be able, later, also to give space to the xviiith Century,—which is now getting back some of its own.

In my article (which is proud of its company) I have after all found a horrid false concord (p. 36, l. 6 from end) and a ‘this’ for ‘his’ (p. 27, l. 11 from end) and must apologise for letting such misprints remain.

Miss Batho’s ‘Summary’ is most useful It will save the seeker a lot of exploring.

With best wishes for your venture for 1925.

Yours very faithfully
O. Elton

Do not trouble to acknowledge this.

Poggio allo Spino, Consuma, (Prov. di Firenze). - Apologies for not writing sooner: was waiting to see the Braccis, but they are involved in negotiations to see most of their land and have not come; had hoped he would be able to tell Trevelyan about the payment of money owed him. Is here while Nicky [Mariano] is resting at Sorrento. B.B. [Berenson] has regained energy but complains of not being able to do much work. Clotilde [Marghieri], still in poor health, is here; her sister is at Vallombrosa and they see her often; there is also a French diplomat, Truela [?], and Martha Ruspoli. Thinks she would take to Trevelyan: B.B. nicknames her 'la pedantina'. Was reading about Alfoxden and Nether Stowey when he received Trevelyan's letter: has been writing about [Mario] Praz's history of English literature and reading around the subject. [John Livingstone Lowes'] "The Road to Xanadu", on Coleridge was 'much too long'; has found [Oliver] Elton's work most rewarding; Middleton Murry's "Keats and Shakespeare" was interesting but had a 'very distasteful, over-emphatic' way of putting across even good arguments.

Board of Education.—Encloses letters from some of those invited to join the advisory panel, and suggests an alteration to the prospectus.

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Board of Education
1 Jan. 1924

Dear McKerrow,

Elton, Chapman, and Miss Morley agree to join our panel. I think you had better file and keep the letters I enclose. We are asking Gordon; are we not?

Elton’s letter partly concerns other matters, but he says

“I shall be happy to join your panel and do what I can, but could not write much, being deeply booked for some time ahead. The Review is much wanted and the idea excellent.”

I also send Bradley’s letter. Perhaps we can turn the wording of the Prospectus, when we print it off, so as to leave room for the names of those in like case. From Miss Spurgeon I have not heard yet.

Yrs sincerely
E. K. Chambers

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This letter was accompanied by letters to Chambers from Edith J. Morley, R. W. Chapman, George S. Gordon, and A. C. Bradley (MCKW A3/8b–f).