Intended to send a small book of his "Translations from Leopardi", but then decided to wait until Julian and Ursula next come here, as they 'might easily lose it moving about'. Pity they cannot come now, when the flowers in the woods are at their best. All quite well here; the [Sturge] Moores will return in a month. Originally enclosing, on Bessie's request, a photograph of 'the street in Forest Green that [Julian] used to admire'. The Bluths and Tet Htoot were here at Easter, but otherwise they 'seem to see nobody'. Hopes that Tet Htoot will bring two Chinese friends to visit. A 'bad London raid last night'; hopes he and the Bluths are all right; Irene [Cooper Willis?] has fortunately been away. Has very few friends in London now besides these, Logan [Pearsall Smith] and Alys [Russell]. Virginia [Woolf]'s death 'a great blow'; she 'felt she was going out of her mind again and could not face it'. Is re-reading "To the Lighthouse", his favourite of her books; is writing something on her for the "Abinger Chronicle", but it is 'impossible to say anything adequate in the way of criticism'. Forgets whether Julian knew her. Is continuing to translate Montaigne and getting 'a little bored with it'; 'much more fun writing poetry, even if it is not worth much'. Hopes Julian has managed to see Ursula at Taunton, and that she is well again. Has heard from G.M.T. [his brother George] that Charles is giving Wallington to the National Trust now instead of leaving it in his will; he will continue to live there, and one of the family (probably his son George Lowthian) will stay there after his death; this will save on death-duties so there will be much more money for the children. Supposes this should not be discussed until it is announced. Hopes Bessie will go with Miss Simpkins for a few days to George and Janet next month; otherwise she never 'goes away from here, which is not good for her'.
Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - George gave Bob's [translation of] Theocritus to his father in law for his eightieth birthday, who has been reading it alongside the Greek and is 'full of admiration'. Having a 'great business here saving some of the wonderful Ashridge wilderness for the National Trust'; they have bought 'at least £40 000 worth' of land.
Hallington Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. - Charles showed him a letter from Bob about Welcombe yesterday, which gave him 'the greatest satisfaction'; had always hoped that Bob would sell the house if offered £100 000; glad that he is likely to get more. The National Trust 'had dealings with Place' over both Ashridge and Hatfield Forest, and found him ''much better in his ideas and conduct than many other "estate breakers"' who are 'often ruthless both to tenants and to beauty'.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bessie for her letter [about the sale of Welcombe]; all seems as well as might be hoped; is 'delighted about the Snitterfield folk', and knows Bessie has 'given a great deal of thought and work' to their care. Not surprised that 'Place has turned out well'; had 'good experience of him on the National Trust'.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bessie for a 'most delightful weekend' which has 'added something to [his] feeling about life'. Has had a 'good talk' to Hamer [Sam Hield Hamer, secretary of the National Trust?] about Friday Street; Hield will go 'quietly to enquire' and George expects something will come of it.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Glad Bessie likes Veronica Wedgwood's "William [the Silent]". Bertie Russell is currently living at the Clifton Place Hotel, Sidmouth with his wife and son , who has not been well but is now recovering. Russell himself will be at Trinity for three nights this week, but George advises Bessie to write to Sidmouth since the posts are slow. Very much interested in Ralph Vaughan Williams' offer [of Leith Hill Place] to the National Trust.
Hallington Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne (22 miles). - Agrees that 'things seem to be going better in the Wallington family' [see 14/138]; Molly is 'very grateful' to Bob. Discussed Bob's 'kind suggestion' about the classics books which used to belong to Macaulay with Charles last night: both think the idea that they should go to Trinity or Wallington 'excellent', and that Trinity would be best 'as more classical scholars will always be assembled there': Macaulay's journals, which George has given to Trinity, have 'already been much studied there'. Otherwise Wallington in the hands of the N.T. [National Trust] would be a 'permanent resting place'. Asks if he may discuss Bob's suggestion of leaving the Greek classics to Humphry for his life with Humphry when he visits in a few days.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thinks things are going well about [Charles's son] George, thanks to Bob's 'most kind intervention'. Both Georges wrote to Moll, and she has 'played up' and almost certainly persuaded Charles to postpone the announcement [about his intention to leave Wallington to the National Trust] until the Tenants' Party on 1 August, and to write a 'nice letter' to his son inviting him for next weekend. This change of plan is good as regards the tenants, who 'ought not to read of [Charles's intentions] first in the papers'. Best not to mention it to anyone else; only a few NT officials will know there has been any postponement. Thanks Bob again for what he did.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Glad that Bob approves about Wallington [being given at once to the National Trust by Charles: see 14/169]. Much looking forward to a visit from Bob: they can only put up two people at a time, so asks Bob to arrange it in good time beforehand: must be after 3 May. Janet is writing to Bessie about a visit from her and Miss Simkins.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Is also sending this letter to Aunt Annie [Philips], Humphry and Mary. Charles, largely on his wife and George's advice, has decided to hand over the Wallington house and estate to the National Trust at once, reserving a life interest for himself in its management; he requests the National Trust to allow Molly, or one of his children, to stay in the rent for a nominal amount after his death, and for the NT to vest the management of the estate in one of his children; the NT have agreed to declare their intention to do so, though they cannot put themselves under legal obligation without also incurring death duties; George states that the Trust will 'certainly fulfil its promise'. He himself approves of the arrangement, having as Executor of Charles's Will urged it on him since it avoids death duties. Did 'not take a decided view' on whether Wallington ought to be left to the Trust, but when he saw that Charles was determined to do so he became his Executor to 'make it easy as possible for all concerned'; the war and 'probable state of things' afterwards make him 'more favourably disposed towards the plan', as he is convinced that neither [Charles's son] George nor anyone else would be able to 'run the estate burdened with death duties without selling the treasures of Wallington or large parts of the estate or both', and so on 'from generation to generation'. A lengthy handwritten final paragraph acknowledges that the younger George has been 'hardly treated in not being more consulted and given a more definite place in the arrangement'; yet he previously 'showed no interest in Wallington' and his father is determined 'not to treat him as "an eldest son"; given that, the new arrangement is much the best for George.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Encloses a letter [14/169] which he is also sending a copy of to his children and to Aunt Annie [Philips]; expects Charles will tell Bob himself, but thought that since he himself was 'mainly responsible for it being done now and in this way' he would write. Feels that in 'the general ruin that is falling on us all', that handing Wallington over to the N[ationa] T[rust] now, thereby avoiding death duties, is the only way to save it
The White Gates, Dorking. - This letter is 'dictated for legibility's sake!'. Has offered Leith Hill Place to the National Trust; thinks they will take it, but they 'must let the house and the immediate surroundings' for an income to keep up the estate. Therefore to him and the Trevelyans 'as neighbours' to find a tenant who is both 'desirable and rich'. Would prefer an individual to 'some form of community' since they would probably be 'more human in their relations with the cottagers and workmen'; wants to 'keep up the great tradition in that respect' of his grandfather, mother, and [brother] Hervey. The house will be let partly furnished; he will take 'the valuable pictures china and furniture', but a good amount of '"utility" stuff' will remain. A few desirable tenants have 'already nibbled', but nobody has yet taken it.
The White Gates. - If the National Trust accept Leith Hill Place, will 'certainly stipulate' that the public will have 'rights of access to the woods and some of the fields', though Bessie, Bob and their friends must anyway feel free to walk there as they have 'always done'. The kitchen garden may go with the house or be let out to a market gardener; thinks this may be best as it has 'great potentialities'. Stresses that the National Trust have not definitely accepted the house yet.
Stocks Cottage, Tring. - Has sent on a cheque from Robert with one of his own; hopes they will 'buy a nice acre, lots of bracken and birches and part of a beck'. Agrees that the landlords may 'blackmail' them, but every policy has dangers. So far the Society [National Trust?] is only buying land threatened by building. The proposed Academic Committee of the Royal Society of Literature seems 'likely to be a harmless, if useless and unimportant, body', whose object is to 'prevent the fatuous dons who compose the so called 'British Academy' from posing as the official representation of Literature', as for the Tennyson centenary and the death of [George] Meredith.