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Farney Close, Peaslake, Guildford. - Thanks Bob for the book of poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; thinks they have 'a sort of Chinese simplicity' and that the 'complete absence of "pose" makes them rare & infinitely consoling'. Recommends "In Search of Two Characters" by Dormer Chreston, which he got from the library after it was praised by Dr G. P. Gooch; it is largely about Napoleon though his son is also mentioned. Sure that Bessie would be interested; sends his love; will write to her later; there 'is so much to do'.

Farney Close, Peaselake, Guildford. - Very kind of Bob to send the poems; Philip Erasmus will be 'very proud' of the "Epistle" to him, though Rinder does not think he will 'fully understand it & appreciate it until he can look back on a long life'. Thinks the poems must have been written recently from the 'brooding, sorrowful note'. Congratulates Bob also on "Windfalls", which he got from the library; wishes some of the essays had been longer, and asks him to write some more. Wonders whether 'teatotalitarian', in "The Wallington Museum" is a misprint. Sends love to Bessie, and hopes she is better.

Farney Close, Peaslake, Guildford. - Apologises for not writing before to thank Bob for the poems [this year's "From the Shiffolds"] due to visits from friends and other urgent business. Finds the tribute to [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson very moving 'in an austere way' and 'full of exquisite sensibility'. Is reading "[Travels in] Arabia Deserta" aloud in the evenings, and wonders if Bob knows it; thinks it 'one of the most successful travel books' he has read. [Charles Montagu] Doughty 'contrives to lure the reader into the desert' to share the journey with him 'without apparent [underlined] art'. Has read Freya Stark's and St John Phiby's books, but Doughty's 'seems far above them'.

Farney Close, Peaslake, Guildford. - Thanks for the poems [this year's "From the Shiffolds"] and Christmas greetings; lists poems he particularly likes. Finds it hard these days to understand much new poetry; expects to some extent this is his 'stupidity', but still thinks a 'poet or painter fails if he cannot make his thought & intention tolerably clear'. Gladys [his sister] says she saw Bob at the National Gallery, 'looking at the cleaned pictures'; went himself the week after and much admires the organisers of the exhibition and the cleaning of the pictures. Very sorry that Bessie cannot see them [due to eye troubles]; hopes they are both well; means to write to Bessie before Christmas.

Farney Close, Peaslake, Guildford. - Thanks Bob for the 'calming poetry' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?], which is a 'welcome escape from the tormenting questions & difficulties of life today'; expects troubles in 'ancient times' were 'more local', whereas now the 'whole world is perturbed'. Finds the policies of the current government worrying, and fears 'this idea of nationalisation will lead to a state not very different from a dictatorship'; wishes they would 'go more slowly'. Hears reliable reports that the British Zone in Germany is 'very badly administered': this means a 'daily' loss of prestige, and it is very important to 'get Germany on her feet again'; however, the Government largely ignores this and concentrates on nationalisation. 'Poor Pethick-Lawrence is ageing fast under the stress and disappointment'; he 'works far too hard'. He visits them most weekends, and they 'try to divert him' but this is hard. Is glad the "Social History" [George Macaulay Trevelyan's "English Social History"] is 'such a prodigious success', though is 'annoyed... the Government makes quite so much out of the author's brains and hard work'. Sorry that Bob has 'lost E M. Forster' [due to Forster selling his Surrey house], but as they get old 'friends die or circumstances move them away. Only books are left!'.