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University College, London.—Comments on Greg's edition of Jonson's Masque of Gipsies.

University College, London.—Invites him to participate in the College’s commemoration of the centenary of A. E. Housman’s birth.

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Transcript

University College London, Gower Street WC1
22nd April 1959.

Dear Mr. Symons,

This year is the one hundredth anniversary of A. E. Housman’s birth, and the month of March passed very quietly. University College, however, is postponing its celebration of the occasion until September, when it hopes to take advantage of the presence in London of some five hundred Classical scholars, who will be attending the Third International Congress of Classical Studies. In the week beginning 31st August there will be an exhibition of books and manuscripts in the College, and on September 3rd it is proposed to hold an evening reception. The Provost, Sir Ifor Evans, who is on leave of absence from the College, has put arrangements in my hands, and I am hoping to have a small dinner party to preceded the reception with a few scholars and literary men as guests.

May I invite you and Mrs. Symons to join me as guests of the College on that occasion? It would be a great pleasure if you would consent to represent the surviving descendants of A. E. Housman. {1} Believe me that he is remembered with great honour in this College. I should also appreciate it if you could tell me of any other descendants of A. E. Housman’s brothers or sisters, or any other remoter members of the Housman family.

Yours sincerely,
Eric G. Turner

N. V. H. Symons Esq., C.I.E., M.C., J.P.
Bucklands,
Lymington,
Hants.

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Typed, except the signature. ‘R. 23.4.59’, indicating the date of reply, has been added at the head in pencil.

{1] Strictly speaking, of course, A. E. Housman had no descendants. Symons was his nephew.

12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - Has enjoyed reading Trevelyan's paper [on metre see 18/91] even more than he did hearing it read, as he can 'go more slowly and try the rhythms in [his] own way'; has got 'more understanding' of the subject than he has from anything else, and will 'certainly print' the paper [in the collection of pieces by members of the English Association]. Will probably drop the introduction, and if he may if the space is limited omit Horace's "Ode" and the translation by Milton. Now has several papers from 'Yvor Evans'; Rylands; Sparrow; Wattie; and Dickins; but is 'specially grateful' for Trevelyan's. Sends thanks to Mrs Trevelyan for her card, which he ought to have acknowledged. Will have a proof sent to Trevelyan so that he can check the translation. Hopes that they will see him this winter. Has a 'dreadful incubus' of a paper to prepare for Manchester; is also 'slaving at Scott's letters and getting some interesting new light'. Janet will be married in November; the French relatives will come too so they will be 'pretty full', but if Trevelyan could come up after that it would be 'a great pleasure to have some rational talk'. Thinks [Donald] Tovey is in Germany, but he will be 'looking homeward soon' as the arrangements for his concerts have come out.