c/o J.H. Stone, Warden's Lodge, Chepauk, Madras. - Have been here since 10 January, staying with Dickinson's old Cambridge friend [Joseph Henry Stone] in the educational department. They have lunched with the Pentlands, and he called again on Lady Pentland this morning; they seem to like it here, and have been 'very busy entertaining and seeing people'; their children also seemed well. Lady Pentland sent 'many kind messages' to Robert's parents, and to Molly, Charles and their children. She showed Robert the banquet hall where there was a picture of his grandfather [Sir Charles Trevelyan], though he did not think it very good; there are some 'quite good earlier portraits of Governors', and a 'rather dull Watts'; also an 'ugly one of Grant Duff', and a good one by Dickinson's father of Lord Napier. Robert and Dickinson have been to hear the commission [the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India] and may go again today; it is 'almost impossible to hear anything' due to bad acoustics, but they have met several of the commissioners. Likes R[amsay] Macdonald 'very much'; he and [Gopal Krishna] Gokhale seem the 'ablest men on the commission'. Have also met Sir T[heodore] Morison and Sir V[alentine] Chirol, both seem 'sensible men'. H[erbert] Fisher has not yet arrived; fortunate for him, as 'the commission must be a great bore'. Wishes they did not have to see so much 'second rate Anglo Indian society here'; their host is 'amiable, but rather dull'. Going to see the Seven Pagodas [at Mahabalipuram] tomorrow, before joining 'a Mr Bedford, a civilian, in his camp near Salem'; will stay several days before going on to Trichinopoly and Madura[i?], then to Trivandrum in Travancore and on to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. They will probably leave Colombo for Java on 14 February, a week later than he had hoped. The post and where to write next. Will finish packing now and go for a 'last look at the sea'; as it is a holiday, 'everyone is strolling about in their most brilliant shawls and dresses; the Madras crowd is 'the most picturesque' he has yet seen. Finishes the letter on the evening of 15 January. Is quite looking forward to a week in camp. Has been to dinner with the Pentlands, who are 'admirable hosts'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Read Robert's letter to Caroline [16/6] with great interest; glad he is sailing with the Pentlands; remembers travelling to Southampton in early 1859 with his father, who was 'leaving England on the same errand' [going out as Governor of Madras like Lord Pentland]; comments on his father's 'avoidable catastrophe'. They will take good care of Elizabeth and Julian when Robert is away. Interested to hear about the Indian poet [Rabindranath Tagore]; wonders whether his plays are on modern themes. Pepys made a note about deciding a bet between two of his friends on whether a tragedy needed to be true; Pepys thought not and Dr Fuller agreed with him. He and Charles shot a hundred and one rabbits one morning recently, round Sir E[dward] Grey's covers.
Government House, Madras. - 'Their Excellencies' [John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland, Governor of Madras, and his wife Lady Marjorie Sinclair] would be pleased if Trevelyan could join them 'at luncheon tomorrow... at 1.30 and at dinner on Monday 13th at 8 o'clock'.
Written in pencil below in Trevelyan's hand: 'C Sankaran Nair, Poondmalee Rd'
Included are letters from: Lady Betty Balfour (B/64) Louis de Broglie (B/63), Dorothea, Lady Charnwood (B/62), Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay (B/63), George Stuart Gordon (B/64), Graeme Haldane (B/65), Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (B/64), Gareth R. V. Jones (B/64), Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (B/62), James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater (B/65), Victor A. G. R. Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton (B/63), Desmond MacCarthy (B/64), Paul E. Paget (B/62), John H. G. Randolph (B/63), Lady Marjorie Sinclair, Baroness Pentland (B/62, B/63 and B/65), Sir Annesley Ashworth Somerville (B/65), Alexandra, Lady Studd (B/64).
Mayor House, Farley Heath, Guildford. - Thanks Trevelyan for the 'delightful surprise of mixed fruits for Christmas' ["From the Shiffolds"]; asks him to 'give this Scots Poussie Baudrons to your Pusska [Trevelyan's cat] from us, with respects'. If he has a copy to spare, Peggy would like to send it to the US Colonel [Robert?] Minturn Sedgwick, whom Trevelyan met here and whose aunt [Mildred Minturn Scott?] he knew. Minturn Sedgwick has now returned to Boston, and is very happy to be at home again.
Included are letters from Stanley Baldwin (B/67), Lady Betty Balfour (B/70), Harley Granville Barker (B/69), Sir J. M. Barrie (B/68), Edmund Charles Blunden (B/71), Evelyn Boscawen, 8th Viscount Falmouth (B/71), Robert Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh (B/67), Max Planck (B/67, B/70), Sir J. H. Jeans (B/71), Sir W. H. Bragg, (B/73), Godfrey Benson, 1st Baron Charnwood (B/67), Prince Chula of Siam (B/72), W. Martin Conway, 1st Baron Conway of Allington (B/71, B/73), Sir G. H. Duckworth (B/68), Frederich Homes Dudden (B/66), Lilly Frazer (B/72), Violet Grimston, Countess of Verulam (B/73), Graeme Haldane (B/72), Roy Harrod (B/72), A. E. Housman (B/73), David A. E. Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford (B/70), Sir Henry McCardie (B/63), Margaret (Daisy) McTaggart (B/68, B/70), Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven (B/70), Katharine, Lady Parsons (B/66), Marga Planck (B/67), A.O. Rankine (B/73), John, 1st Viscount Sankey (B/72), Lady Marjorie Sinclair, Baroness Pentland (B/71), Lady Elisabeth Babington Smith (B/66, B/69), Lucy Babington Smith (B/69), Susan Babington Smith (B/69).