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Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Good to hear about Arnside [where Bessie and Julian are staying]; supposes Robert is only about a nine mile walk from them. Will be going to the Park [Annie Philips' house] soon. Agrees with Robert's analysis of what is 'hopelessly arid' in Swinburne's poetry; for Sir George, 'nothing... is more barren and devoid of real knowledge' than Swinburne's political poems, which suffer in comparison with [Browning's] "Old Pictures at Florence' or "De Gustibus", or the conversation between Luigi and his mother in "Pippa Passes". Criticises Swinburne's 'gross and violent ignorance' of the 'singular, many-sided, visionary Louis Napoleon'. Continues to criticise Swinburne on Louis Napoleon in a postscript, written on the back of an printed invitation card for a dinner of "The Club" at the Princes Hotel on 8 May 1917, which Earl Curzon will chair.

62 Portland Gate. - Believes there is no doubt that Edward Twisleton committed suicide; 'the Report of the Doctor to Lord Saye & Sele was evidently concocted in order to conceal the truth from Lady S. & S.' Twistleton lived for three days, 'for he had not divided the carotid artery', which allowed the doctor to say he died of 'cerebral effusion': Reeves does not doubt there was 'pressure on the brain'.

Does not 'at all' agree with Houghton about the Conynghams: 'If people choose to accept the position & emoluments of a King's Mistress, they must take the consequence, & Lady Conyngham is not more sacred to me than Madame de Montespan or Madame du Barri'.

Literary Society dinners begin on Monday, but is afraid Houghton will not be there; asks if he would rather be proposed as member of 'The Club' 'with the possibility of not being elected or not being proposed at all'. 'The Club' has lost Van de Weyer and Twisleton this year, and Reeve would gladly propose Houghton when it meets in February.