Refers to a letter from von Hügel some months previously on the subject of Sidgwick's' 'little book on the History of Ethics'. Explains that he did not reply because he miscalculated the time it would take him to finish his book on politics on which he was at that time working, and reports that he has only just sent it to the publisher. Explains that he is about to leave for a holiday in Switzerland, and assures von Hügel that his letter has not been discarded. States that the two points which von Hügel chiefly criticised in the book 'were both of much interest'; one of them being the contrast Sidgwick drew 'between Christian and pre-Christian civilisation in respect of religious persecution.' Assures him that he had no intention of making any charge against Christianity, and refers to Plato's advocacy of such persecution, as well as to the persecutions of the Roman Empire, and to Tacitus' thoughts on the subject. The other point to which von Hügel had referred was in relation to 'the vagaries of Luther and Calvin in sexual matters'. Admits that he ought to have said something about this, and explains that he did not mention it because he felt that he should 'maintain a severe reserve [on] the whole subject of sexual morality.' Claims that the relation of Christianity to this area of human life is a matter of extreme interest to him, and intends to add 'at least a few sentences' on the matter whenever another edition of his book is called for. Refers to another minor criticism, which von Hügel made in relation to the content of the book
Sans titreOn headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Mr Belfield arrived last Saturday, and Robert met him at the station. Likes him 'very much so far in every way': finds him 'very interesting' and they get on well. Thinks he teaches 'very well', as far as he can say from the little experience he has had of that so far: they have done some Thucydides, and began Tacitus today.
Yesterday they fished, but caught nothing so will wait until they have had more rain. 'Very windy' last Sunday, but they still went to church in the morning. Hopes his father is keeping well, and 'the good cause is prospering'. Sees that K[ing] Harman is dead, and wonders 'who will be appointed in his stead' [as parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ireland]. There 'is no fear of the Manchester murderer [John Jackson] now', as Robert sees he has been caught.
Thornton [gamekeeper at Wallington] caught a 'large pike yesterday at Capheaton lake'; he had gone there to 'see about a dog'. Thanks his father for his letter and '[Mountstuart?] Grant Duff's about the flower'. Thompson and Keith [John and Edward, gardeners at Wallington?] 'came in to see the books and found out several things they had not known'. Sends his love to his mother, and asks his father to thank her for the books and say that Robert will write to her tomorrow.
30 Bruton Street, Berkeley Square, W. - Hopes Bob is still at Naples; his letter [15/270] made him 'extremely dissatisfied with London'. Has seen [Wilde's] "Ideal Husband" acted mostly by understudies, which 'showed it up rather'. Has also seen '"the 3rd Mrs Tanqueray twice' ["The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith", Pinero's follow up to "The Second Mrs Tanqueray"?]; thinks it 'really superior to the 2nd' though 'not nearly so thrilling'; Mrs P[atrick] C[ampbell] is 'splendid', as is [John] Hare. Next week the Independent Theatre is putting on 'a wonderful French company (bossed by a descendant of Edgar Poe [Aurélien Lugné-Poë]' performing [Ibsen's] "Rosmersholm" and "Master Builder", and two plays by Maeterlinck, whom Marsh will see at an At Home he is attending on Monday. Hopes Bob will 'find some relics of the orgies of Tiberius [on Capri]'; tells him to write 'a lost book of Tacitus'. Asks if he knows of the theory that what is known as Tacitus's work was in fact 'the work of Poggio Bracciolini'. Bob should '[r]oll Messalina & Agrippina & Lollia Paulina into one for the heroine, and invent some entirely new form of vice'; should be easy as 'there don't seem to be so very many'. Is reading Thomas de Quincey's autobiography ["Autobiographic Sketches"?], 'one of the most entertaining books [he has] come across'. Will write again when he has a permanent address for Bob. Has just been invited by Shipley to dinner with a 'Scotch novelist' [John Watson, pen name Ian Maclaren] so must spend the afternoon reading his novel '"[Beside] the Bonnie Briarbush' it's foolishly called'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Has asked Aunt Anna [Philips] to pass on this letter as 'in these days of rigid economy' it is good to save on a postage stamp. Agrees with Robert's preference for Bobus Smith's verses over Calverley's [both printed in a letter from Sir George to the editor of the "Times Literary Supplement" [November 25, 1920; pg. 778; Issue 984, see also 12/325]. Has just finished [Euripides's] "Medea" again, and is about to re-read the "Bacchae": has now got 'the old man's love of Euripides'; says the "Medea" is to Greek drama as "Othello" is the Elizabethan. Has also been reading the first book of Tacitus's "Histories". Very glad Bessy appreciates [Byron's] "Don Juan"; when they meet he will tell them 'the circumstances in which he once read it aloud'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - They have been enjoying Robert's account of the chestnut trees and red heath above Aulla [home of Robert's friends the Waterfields] which makes a pleasing contrast with the 'utter want of colour' here; however, the current frost is likely to bring Elizabeth back from Edinburgh a day early and they want as much of her company as they can get. They have enjoyed two concerts in which the commercial school-master's wife, Mrs Howe, 'whom Elizabeth had discovered and made friends with' acted as accompanyist. Is just finishing the eleventh book of Tacitus ["Annals"].
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - The 'next generation' are very fortunate: Mary Caroline, George Lowthian, and now Julian can read Macaulay, Carlyle, and [Motley's] "Dutch Republic", and the books he himself had to read 'almost secretly, and as a sin' because he was meant to be writing 'copies of bad Greek Iambics' and puzzling over Demosthenes; now his grandchildren's 'first duties' are to 'read "Clive" and "Chatham" and Ferrero'. Interested to hear that Robert and Elizabeth have been reading Herodotus aloud together; when Elizabeth comes to Wallington he will show her Paul Louis Courier's paper, which is a 'masterpiece'. Begins re-reading the last two books of Herodotus himself on Wednesday; is finishing Tacitus's "Annals" today; discusses the contrasting styles of it and the "Histories". Agrees completely about Horace's "Epistles". Asks for advice on editions of Thucydides.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes Robert has arrived safely. Has read the first article in the ["Times] Literary Supplement" [on Robert's "Thamyris, or Is There a Future for Poetry?"]; wonders whether there will be discussion in the correspondence next week. Had a very pleasant week with Robert's 'dear people', though Sir George has been ill and 'confined to his room'; has finished Herodotus and Tacitus's "Annals" and is now reading Thucydides and [Tacitus's] "Histories"; has bought a new text of Thucydides.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Likes writing to Settignano; sends his regards to Robert's host [Bernard Berenson]. Is grateful for the photograph of Aulla [home of Robert's friends the Waterfields]; has tried to get a sense of it by comparing photograph and letter, but will have to ask Elizabeth for further help when she comes tomorrow; hopes she has recovered from her bad cold. He and Caroline are quite well, but he is 'very perceptibly weaker every month or so', though he can still get household and financial business done, and enjoys his Greek and Latin reading 'at least as much as ever'; has now finished re-reading Tacitus, Herodotus, and the first half of Thucydides, which he intends now to finish alongside Xenophon's "Hellenica" and some Suetonius; praises Suetonius's biographies of Augustus and Julius Caesar.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sends Christmas wishes to Robert and Elizabeth and expects it is very different to theirs; the "Times" says it is the most wintry Christmas since 1895 and although he generally believes nothing they print supposes they are right. Has read all of Robert's book ["Polyphemus and other poems"] and thinks there is 'very genuine refinement and delicacy throughout', while the form is 'very ingenious'. Having a 'largish party' on Friday: Eleanor Cropper, Dorothy Ward, [Kenneth?] Swan, 'Mr Ridge MP,' and Geoffrey Young; the girls 'ought to have enough beaux'. The shooting has finished and it has been a 'record year'. Is reading Tacitus through slowly; thinks his style is 'Carlylean': 'rugged, amorphous, intensely individual - carrying everything off by its being the mode of expression chosen by a very strong man'. Asks Robert to remember them to Madame Palumbo [in Ravello].
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sorry that the shooting has fallen through. The black cock [grouse] here were very bad this year, but they have enjoyed the shooting; they are now shooting rabbits, which have over-run the centre of the estate; will insist on them being 'greatly put down in the winter'. Will try and see the pictures at the Carfax Gallery. Mrs Young has sent 'some amusing college letters' from Sir George to her husband. Is interested by Robert's 'definite information' about the saying to seize Time, or 'occasion', by the forelock; expects it is not in Herodotus. Is reading of the war between Vitellius and Vespasian in the third book of [Tacitus's] "Histories": it 'implies such disorganisation of civil government' and 'licence and demoralisation' in the army that it 'immensely raises one's opinion of Vespasian'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - High winds have brought down a 'fine beech' tree at the corner of the China Pond, 'sparing the old yews' but ruining a laburnum and a mespilus [medlar] 'that recalled Italy'. Has recently discovered that the balustrade in the central hall at Wallington, always said to have been designed by Ruskin, almost exactly resembles one described and drawn in "The Stones of Venice", at the Cathedral in Murano. Has finished reading Tacitus 'with great regret'; last thing he read was the "De Oratoribus", which was very interesting though he cannot believe it to be by Tacitus. Sends love to Elizabeth, and hopes the stain has come out of her silk dress.
12 Holland Street, W.8. - Wonders whether it is still possibly to get Bob's "Lucretius" anywhere: [his son] Jocelin has a 'very selected library, for his years in eastern waters', and since he appreciates Tacitus two people have suggested that the "Lucretius" might make a good Christmas present for him. He and his wife hope that Bob will visit, and also they are now 'near enough to see something of Julian and Ursula'. Their move has gone well, and done them 'both good'.