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Thanks his father for his letter. Thinks G[eorge] is happy and 'quite at home' [at Wixenford]. Mr Arnold has told Robert to ask Charlie how much he will have to know when he goes to Harrow; wrote to him a few days ago. Likes the Virgil and Euripides' "Iphigenia" very much. Hears that Welldon has been chosen for Harrow [as headmaster]; hopes he is a 'nice man'. He and George are getting on well in their work. Asks his father to thank his mother for her letter and the umbrella. Tomlin 'took Up[p]er Shell'. [Nugent] Hicks is going to Harrow next term. Has written to Grandpapa T[revelyan]. Sends love to all, 'Spider included'.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S. W. [London] :- Thanks his parents for their last letter; they are in town again, as Bessie needs to go to rehearsals for her last concert [with Arnold Dolmetsch] on Wednesday. The concerts have 'gone of very well so far', though Robert was unable to attend the last one since it was on the 'evening of the [Apostles?] dinner'. Henry Jackson made a 'very nice speech', as did 'Judge Lushington, who was the oldest of those present'.

They lunched at North Street last week and thought Charles and Molly looked 'very happy, and their house very nice'. They went to Harrow last Saturday to see the [F. E.?] Marshalls and had a 'very pleasant time there'; they went to the 'Speech room' in the evening 'to hear the final reading for the reading prize' which was 'very amusing', though they 'did not think the standard very high'. 'Young [James?] Butler, who must be about 15 or 16, was promising' though did not yet have 'sufficient command of his voice'; he is said to be 'quite a good scholar, and looks a nice boy'. The winner read Joy for his chosen piece. The Lower School had to read the 'description of William at the Boyne [from Macaulay]; but they did not make much of it'. Also saw Sir Arthur Hort, who is 'mainly responsible for [the] first fifteen boys'; believes he is 'doing very well', and there have certainly been more scholarships awarded to Harrow boys over the last few years. Very sad they have 'thought it necessary to dry up the Grove pond'; supposes it was a 'great nuisance and expense'.

They hope to see Sir George before long, and also that Caroline will come to Dorking around the end of the month.

They have arrived safely [at Wixenford]. He and Georgie are both all right. [Nugent] Hicks is going to Harrow and will be in Butler's house.

[On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club; 'Trinity' added in pencil]: - People are now beginning to go down: Cambridge is 'becoming much quieter', and he is 'rather glad to be able to stay up until next Friday'. Will come home then, and go to Tunbridge Wells on the following day [to see his aunt Anna Maria Philips, and Sophie Wicksteed]. Asks when they are likely to go abroad: he supposes 'as soon as Georgie comes home'. There are no more lectures, but he will go to Lendrum [a coach] once more; thinks he will continue to see him next term, as he 'learn[s] a great deal from him'.

Several people are coming up from Harrow tomorrow 'to pass [their] matriculation', including Tommy [Macaulay] Booth and [J.W.?] Sandilands. Robert is going to pay all his bills this term, including his kitchen bill; will then be able to 'see more or less what the term has cost'. Thinks Charlie is well, though has 'not seen him much for a day or two'. He himself has had a cold, but it is 'almost gone now'.

Hopes 'all is going well in politics', but they [the Liberals] 'can afford to have a few reverses after London'. The Magpie and Stump debating society dinner 'was a great success after the election [of the new President]': Verrall and Ja[c]kson were there, and it 'was not too rowdy'. Lord Herschell's meeting was also a success, though Robert was 'a little disappointed in his speech'. Hopes his parents are well.

Part I, on The Merchant of Venice, and Part II, on As You Like It and Henry IV, Parts I and II. Examiner Evelyn Abbott, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Quotes the first line of Virgil's "Aeneid" to begin an account of a fight between his house and the 'Vannites', in which he, [Harold?] Sandilands and [Claude] Rome were involved, and the ensuing talk from Bowen who 'dwelt on his own sacrifices for the house', which George knows more of than most, and 'the bitterness of his disappointment'; George was very touched, and this is the only aspect which grieves him. Expects he will lose his monitorship.

Notes on several events during the Franco-Prussian war, with several maps [ff 1-32]; reference to 'Mr [Edward] Bowen' being in Paris at the time suggests that the lectures were delivered by him during Trevelyan's schooldays at Harrow, 1886-1890 [f 31].

Translation, at the other end of the book, by Trevelyan of Lucretius Book III [of "De Rerum Natura"], lines 161-685, written on recto of folia with corrections and annotations, some in red and blue pencil, on facing page [63r-32v]

Came third in the 'quarter marks', while Charlie came seventh. Has been awarded the 'fifth form composition prize', mainly because of his verses. Has been 'swotting very hard in trials', though he has not 'overworked' himself, which is partly why he could not write to her at the proper time. Is going to try 'very hard' to keep his place or even do better. If Charlie does well in trials he is 'nearly certain of his remove'. There is only one more trial which needs 'hard swotting': the Greek test tomorrow morning. Thinks he and Charlie understand the journey well. Got a 'coppy [sic] for classics', but since he only has one, thinks he will wait until he gets a 'better book, of several copies together'. Hopes Georgie has done well; expects he will come back tomorrow. Hopes his father is well.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for "From the Shiffolds", which he has been 'reading with joy', both the 'old friends' and the new poems. Bob's 'mind and attitude to life and imaginings have a calming and strengthening effect' on him which no other modern poet does. Is much more 'rude donatus' [Latin: endowed with a cane; discharged from service] than Bob in terms of writing, despite being younger. Looking forwards to the Grove [their house at Harrow] dinner. Sends love to Bessie.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Hears that Bob is going abroad on Saturday; asks who he is going with. Asks for advice on exams he will have to take [at Cambridge] in October. Hopes to see Bob at Wallington in August and September. Is enjoying this term at Harrow as he never has before, with plenty of acquaintances; likes 'getting up the acting and spouting for Speech day' with Baker and [?] Geike, and is working even harder at history than at the beginning of term. Having great fun with the [cricket] Second XI who include 'young Sandilands' and are 'rather a nice set'. Hopes Bob can come down before he goes abroad.

Part I, on The Merchant of Venice, and Part II, on As You Like It and Henry IV, Parts I and II. Examiner Evelyn Abbott, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.

Perrystone Court, Ross, Herefordshire. - Thanks Bobby for returning the book on Harrow; is reading his book of essays ["Windfalls"] with 'great interest' though he knows very little of poetry and only tends to remember [Browning's] "Rabbi ben Ezra" and much of "Cyrano de Bergerac". Thinks rhythm plays a 'far bigger part' in his life than in Bobby's; whenever he goes up or down stairs he notes whether the number of steps fits the time in his head; there are twenty-nine in this house which suits almost every Harrow song, hymn and so on.

Title taken from the first line of Catullus 5. With corrections in red ink and comments (eg. 'Capital') in pencil. Note at end reads 'v.g. To Mr [G. H.?] Hallam'

Title taken from the first line of Catullus 5. 70/71 is another version, probably the original, with corrections by ? a Harrow teacher; this version takes the corrections into account and, for example, omits the last couplet.

Trinity, Cambridge [on Wallington headed notepaper, address crossed through]: - Had a 'very nice time at Oxford, and saw most that is to be seen there'. The play [Aristophanes' Frogs] was 'very good, and quite worth going to see'; the man who played the corpse and Euripides [Arthur Ponsonby] was 'far the best'.

Saw Frank [Dugdale], who was 'not at all well', and will not row in the races next week; Robert thinks it is nothing 'worse than bad neuralgia'; Aunt Alice was going to see him yesterday. They are going to have a game of Harrow football tomorrow, and 'have got footers from Harrow on purpose'. Tom [Macaulay Booth?] 'made a very good speech in the Union tonight against a literary tripos', the 'first he has ever made there'. Charlie is still well.

Asks when the family is going abroad, as he needs to 'settle' when he is going to Welcombe. Sees some of the newspapers 'have mistaken [Arthur?] Balfour's (the Babe's) sister for the sister of the "Heaven-borne"'. Hopes Georgie is well, and does well in the scholarship. There has been snow here this evening: will 'have a nice slush for tomorrow's game'. Hopes his father is well.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Has 'made [his] peace'; Bowen is being very kind; 'no hope of the other's doing so' but his position towards them will be unchanged, and vice versa. Very good of Bob to come; nothing more can be done to mend matters. Still uncertain when he will leave, but he is likely to spend another term or two, certainly not another summer. Good of Bob to ask the Davises' advice

Latin hexameters, lyrics, and pentameters. Including translations from Milton's Paradise Lost; 'Lament on the death of Thomson' [ie Ode on the Death of [James] Thomson, by William Collins]; pieces from Holden's Foliorum Silvula [a collection of English passages for translation into Latin and Greek]; Loss of the Birkenhead [by Sir Francis Hastings Doyle]; and 'Somerville's Chase' [or The Chace, by William Somerville]. Pieces which may be Robert Milnes' own composition are a dialogue between Mopsus and Menalcas [characters from Virgil's Eclogues], and a lyric entitles 'Salve, Alexandrovna', dated 13 Mar. 1874 and presumably written to mark the marriage between the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.

Winner of the Browne Medal in 1858, to the set subject "Versat / Saxum sudans nitendo neque proficit hilum" [a quotation from Cicero, "Tusculan Disputations" 1.10, perhaps quoting Ennius' "Annales"]. Addressed to 'Cotilus' [a name used in Martial's epigrams], who was a school-friend of Trevelyan's at Harrow and is now studying at Oxford.

Perrystone Court, Ross, Herefordshire. - Thanks Bobby for his 'delightful little poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?] which are 'like a little hyphen' between the Grove [their house at Harrow] dinner and the next day they meet. Best wishes for 1948.

Deanery, Gloucester. - Agrees it is 'pleasant' that their two boys [Arthur and Robert] 'would have been close together' [in the scholarship examination for Harrow?]: hopes it is a 'happy augury of future friendship'. His son has another year at Elstree then hopes to try again next year: he was only twelve last November, and is still 'very weak in translation' though his composition is 'promising'. Trevelyan's son came top of all the scholars in the two translation papers: hopes he will have a 'bright & happy time' at the Grove [Harrow house]. Is going with his sons and two daughters for an expedition in the 'Forest of Ardennes [Arden]', as they call the neighbouring Forest of Dean, starting tomorrow; they should reach Tintern on Saturday. When the time for Trevelyan 's speeches comes, will think about him: quotes the lines from [Addison's] Cato which 'brought down thunders at the speeches in 1835', when 'Peel was... the hero of the ovation!'.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Thanks Bob for his letter about the rooms [at Trinity, Cambridge]; intends to choose Whewell's Court. Hopes to see Bob soon; he need not be alarmed about the Grove, as a 'perfectly effectual reconciliation' has taken place; will tell the details of the story when they meet. Bowen is 'keeping on young Sandilands and [?] Becham for another year; George now feels 'quite comfortable about the house next term'. Bowen is being very kind to him, and helping him get his poem 'ready for the prolusiones-press'; the essay is to be printed almost exactly as sent in. Has got the "Seven Lamps [of Architecture]" and "Modern Pictures" with his prize money, which came to over twenty pounds, and has now 'got all the big [underlined] Ruskins' since he got the "Stones of Venice" last year; also bought the sixteen-volume edition of Browning with his prize money. Sandilands should get his [cricket] flannels: he and Rome did very well in the game against the Household Brigade; reminiscent of when Grove House had 'Pope bowling at one end and Rome at the other at Lords'.

On headed notepaper with Harrow crest. With envelope addressed to Lord Houghton (not sent in the post).

Trinity, Cambridge [on Wallington headed notepaper, address crossed through]: - Charlie 'seems to be getting along quite well'; is glad that he is 'writing more cheerfully'. Wright is going with Charlie to Welcombe, and much looking forward to it; Robert too is looking forward to his visit there. Saw Lascelles when he visited for the day yesterday; he has received, for the Vaughan Library [at Harrow], a 'Contio' containing Sir George Trevelyan's 'poem on the invasions of England', or perhaps on the Crimea as Robert cannot remember which; this is 'corrected... by someone writing in a large feminine hand'. Thinks he remembers his father saying that 'Uncle Tom [Macaulay] corrected several lines in one of his prize poems'; alternatively, since the handwriting is described by Lascelles as 'feminine', it is more likely to be Robert's grandmother's. Possible that it is Vaughan's, but has heard he wrote in a 'small Rugby hand'. They could find out by seeing the book, which 'someone picked up on a bookstall'.

There have been 'great rows' in the Trinity debating society, as there is a 'hot contest between two candidates for the Presidency'. Asks if she is going to Oxford next Saturday to see the [Greek] play. Sees the 'government is having a pretty bad time of it'.

Card printed with scores for both team's first innings. Majority of Eton's second innings scores, and the whole of Harrow's, added by hand in pencil and pen.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Was glad to leave the choice [between Edward Bowen's gun and bicycle, see 14/49] to Bob: could not have made up his mind himself. Asks Bob to tell Colbeck to send the bicycle to Grosvenor Crescent, not the first address he gave him.

Correspondence, school exercises, printed material including examination papers, bills and accounts, relating to Milnes' school years at Winton House and Harrow School.

Printed at Harrow. Contains an original Greek verse composition on Byron, Oct. 1872; a rendering of of Revelation chapter xviii in Greek hexameters, Feb. 1873; two verses from Keats' Endymion rendered into Latin lyric verse; English passage (perhaps a translation from Beowulf?)rendered into Latin hexameter. The two last are labelled as work for the Balliol scholarship examination, Nov. 1872.

The Grove, Harrow. - Had a pleasant week at Wallington; spent the night with Aunt Annie [Philips] on Tuesday, and saw Miss Martin before he came back. Found Sophie [Wicksteed?] 'much more cheerful and talkative' than expected. Gives results of a battle between his and Robert's toy soldiers. Lady Frederick Cavendish will be at Wallington by now. Few people have left school this term, though of those several are from Grove House. Clive has failed his Sandhurst exam and returned: a 'pleasant surprise'. The 'finds' [room sharing] have been arranged 'very satisfactorily': he, Tregoning and Farquhar are in Tregoning's room - the library -in the morning, and he and Farquhar in his own room for tea. Has to read prayers now. Complains [in capital letters] about the changes initiated because of Welldon's 'terrible funk of the influenza' until the weather improved: no 'first school', only one half holiday a week, and they all have to wear sweaters to go 'down to footer in'; hopes they 'all get the influenza and die of it to pay Welldon out'. Pencil annotation at top of letter, perhaps by Robert Trevelyan, says that 'Spider and Spot' are alright; took Spider back to Mrs Webster; Webster is recovering slowly after a relapse.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Has written the article on "Bowen in his House" which is to appear in the next "Harrovian"; found it very hard to do; hopes Bob will approve of it and that there is 'no impropriety'. No need to let it be 'generally known' that it is by George, though he has no special desire for concealment, since the article expresses what he 'genuinely felt' about Bowen; it was the editors who pressed him to write it. Colbeck wants to know whether they would like Bowen's gun and bicycle, so George tells Bob to choose which he would prefer. Postscript saying that he will be too busy to visit Bob before going north, so will see him at Wallington.

Union Society, Cambridge. - Spent all day yesterday [the beginning of term?] 'seeing people and getting [his] pictures and books in'. Has put Bob's books, 'mostly school classics', in the gyp room. Likes his rooms very much: the two places he is 'fondest of in the world are the old court and the cloisters'. [Maurice] Amos is in [Bertrand] Russell's rooms, [George] Gooch the rooms opposite Collins's, and [Henry Graham] Dakyns in the 'tower by the carriage entrance'; these are 'historical stairs', since Horace Walpole visited a friend in Dakyns' new rooms. MacT[aggart]'s lectures will be attended by 'Amos, Gooch, a lady, and Dickinson and Wedd probably'. Has acquired two statuettes of Assyrian kings, copied from originals in the British Museum, which he thinks are 'very fine' and 'almost as original' as Bob's 'Hindoo god was'. Came by the late train, so had no evening in London to go to the theatre. Amos has heart trouble, 'having overworked himself', and may even be unfit to study this year: MacT[aggart] says he is well ahead with his reading and could do his tripos with not much more work if the worst came; his mother is here and George took tea with her and Maurice yesterday. Asks if Bob has any 'gossip or scandal' from [Harrow] Founder's Day. Notes in a postscript that the 'two fellows who live opposite you [ie Theodore and Crompton Llewelyn Davies]' were here recently 'both in great force', Theodore bathed 'on a raw morning with Moore as usual'.