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. - Can never write this date 'without thoughts' [a reference to Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz, and the coup by Louis Napoleon in 1851?]. Would like to have the [Times] "Literary Supplement" [of November 25, 1920; pg. 778; Issue 984] back; suggest that Robert should copy out both sets of verses. Those by 'Bobus' Smith were 'deeply felt by Macaulay' in the last months of his life but Sir George did not mention that in his letter to the "Literary Supplement" since so much by him on the subject has gone into print recently, in his chapter in the "Life" of Butler and in the second volume of Roosevelt's biography. Very glad to hear of Julian writing a 'good and sightly letter' ; 'Each letter is then an education in itself'. Looking forward to seeing Robert and his family; has not been well recently, but it is difficult to tell how much is illness and how much old age.