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Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Julian writes excellent letters; the handwriting of those his age is interesting as it shows 'the connection between the mechanical and the intellectual side of education' which the Greeks understood well. Good handwriting 'leads to good spelling and good composition - and to the prefixing of dates and addresses' which his own childhood letters lack. Is reading "Πλοῖον ἢ Εὐχαί" [Lucian's "The Ship, or The Wishes"] on Robert and Elizabeth's recommendation and enjoying it very much.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Quite a sign 'or rather a speciality of the times' to get up "Patience" in a style which pleases Elizabeth and can 'remind' Robert [of the original production?]. Glad that satisfactory domestic staff arrangements have now been made at the Shiffolds. Looking forward very much to Elizabeth's visit, and hoping to see Robert too. Has looked up [Lucian's] "Πλοἶον ἢ Εὐχαί" ["The Ship, or The Wishes"], and will talk to Robert again about it and about Plutarch's Alexander; will read Lucian's "Alexander Pseudomantis" again before he leaves Welcombe next summer.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline have recovered from the journey, but he supposes he will remain 'at a lower level than before [his] long illness'. Has never read any Plutarch in Greek: he is one of the great writers 'to whom one pays the hightest of compliments of reading them with reverence in English', as he did for so long with [Dumas's "Count of] Monte Cristo" and "The Three Musketeers". Would like to know what Robert thinks of Plutarch's biography of Alexander; he himself is planning to re-read Lucian's "Alexander Pseudomantis" and "On Salaried Posts in Great Houses"; has just finished the "De morte Peregrini"; expresses his 'distaste' for the "Dialogues of the Dead" and 'something stronger than distaste' for Lucian's many imitators. Caroline 'really fancied the Shelley book', but they both got bored by Dowson last time they read him; [James?] Hogg is 'above, or beside, or somehow sacred from criticism'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear [see 46/255] about Robert's visit from Aunt Annie [Philips], and that he has read [Lucian's] "Alexander [Pseudomantis]" and "De Mercede conductis [On Salaried Posts in Great Houses: see 12/314]"; the latter seems to throw more light on the Roman banquet than Petronius, Horace, or Juvenal. Encloses a review which must be read carefully 'to bring out the full asininity of the author who is the subject of it [whose] book passed in folly and conceit anything conceivable'. Asks for the review to be returned, along with Rosebery's letter; does not think any man, even Edward Grey, has been 'more cruelly tried and bereaved'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Envies Robert having heard the Fairy Queen [see 46/254]; Purcell is the 'only name which really fascinates' him in music, apart from that of Mrs R. C. Trevelyan, the effect of allusion to him in Browning's Waring', and of reading about him in the 'list of composers at the beginning of the Anthem-book in Trinity Chapel' as he sat in his surplice like the four or five hundred other young men around him in 'the most impressive Church ceremony (Uncle Tom used to say) except perhaps the Beguinage at Ghent'. Thanks Robert for sending [Lucian's] Peregrinus which goes well with the Alexander Pseudomantis and the On Salaried Posts in Great Houses [whose title he gives in Greek]; considers to be 'the most human pictures of ancient society', and recommends Robert to read the other two if he has not done so. Is going to read gradually through Bergck, except for the Pindar and the fragments taken from ancient grammarians; will use Robert's letter from 1900 with the 'first sketch of a charming little poem on the "roses"'. Good to hear of Robert and Julian's bonfires; cannot remember if he saw their bonfire for the 'second jubilee of 1897' [Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee], which was the best he himself ever saw: the estate was fully staffed, and the estate workers built it forty foot high of brushwood soaked with paraffin.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Here they are 'enjoying the most beautiful weather'. Bessie has gone to London to stay with Molly for a night, do shopping and see friends. They had a 'very pleasant visit' from Aunt Annie, who he thinks will now be with his parents; they thought her 'very well and cheerful, and not too tired by her house-moving'.

Has taken his father's advice [in 12/314] and read [Lucian's On Salaried Posts in Great Houses/The Dependent Scholar, which he had forgotten; it is 'admirable', as is The Life of Alexander [the False Prophet]. Notes 'how modern the point of view is; it might almost be Anatole France'.

Was at Haslemere during the [Diamond] Jubilee of 1897, so his bonfire was 'the one on Blackdowne'; it was a good one, but 'not forty feet high' [like the one at Wallington, see 12/314]. Quotes Aeschylus' Agamemnon 270, 280-281 on kindling beacons in Greek; hopes to publish his translation of the Agamemnon, but [Gilbert] Murray is just now bringing out his translation with the same publisher [Allen & Unwin], so Robert must 'wait another season'.

Sends love to his mother, Aunt Annie, and Booa [Mary Prestwich].

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that they found Caroline 'a great comfort and pleasure'; is not 'anxious' but 'much interested' about Elizabeth [due to give birth]. Interested by what Robert says about [Aeschylus's] "Eumenides", which he thinks the best Greek tragedy he has read. Hopes the newspaper reports of the discovery of a substantial fragment of Menander are true. Discusses his recent reading of Lucian, whom Macaulay quotes in his essay on Madame D'Arblay.