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Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire.—Asks how is feeling after his Budget speech. Is spending two quiet days with her family. Her father says that Arnold is not to be invited again.

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Transcript

Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire
Thursday 27th July 1911

My dear Mr Montagu

Are nt you glad its over, specially as after all your doubts and misgivings it has been a success {1}. Were you miserable the whole time you were speaking or was it rather fun.

I came here yesterday as I had meant to and have got 2 peaceful days with my family in front of me. You would have been very much amused if you could have heard the very uncompromising and Roman line which my father took up about Arnold. He said “I wish it to be clearly understood that Arnold is never to be asked here again” It made me rather regret not having dined with him on Wednesday after all. I stayed at Taplow instead.

I do hope nothing very wonderful and thrilling will happen when I am abroad, will you write me a graphic account if anything does?

Yrs
Venetia Stanley

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{1} The reference is to Montagu's speech in the Commons the previous day introducing the Indian Budget. See The Times, 27 July 1911, p. 8, and Hansard.

2, Cheyne Gardens. - Thanks Bessie for the 'long letter from Aulla' about a month ago; apologises for taking so long to answer 'as usual' but knows she is 'of a kind & forgiving spirit'. The letter came in the middle of the General Election, when 'one thought of nothing else'; it was a 'glorious time', and she even went to the Strand on the first night and saw the 'great Manchester results' [such as Arthur Balfour's defeat]. Generally though she was rather solitary, since George was away almost all month working for Charles, or Francis Acland; had to 'console [herself] by chalking in the map with more & more red squares every day'; her 'feelings got very torn' about her brother, standing in Wiltshire as a Protectionist, since his opponent [John Massie] was the sort of Liberal she has least sympathy with, 'the narrow-minded Nonconformist sort', beginning to hope Arnold would at least cut down his majority. Instead it was doubled, and Arnold had only the 'poor consolation of being invited to the Party Meeting at Lansdowne House'. Words 'quite fail' her over Balfour's 'last manoeuvre'.

The family then all went to Welcombe, so that Charles, George, and Molly could rest 'after their fearful exertions'; of course Mary and Pauline were 'by far the most important members of the party'; contrasts Pauline's placidity with Mary's 'rampaging'; in fact they discovered Pauline was underweight, so Molly has stopped breastfeeding on doctor's orders and now she is 'flourishing'. Very 'jolly' about Charlie's Charity Commissionership; 'makes one feel he hasn't been left out after all'; he says the work is quite interesting. Mary is now one, which makes Janet 'feel tremendously old too!'. George has almost finished the proofs of his book on Meredith ["The Poetry and Philosophy of George Meredith"]; her own translation [of Wilhelm Bousset's "Jesus"] has just come out, though she is sure '[n]o one will ever buy it'. Hopes that Bessie and Bob are returning in the middle of March; things are 'buzzing over here'.

Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - Thanks Bessie for her sympathy; it [the death of her mother] was a 'most terribly sudden catastrophe' as she had seemed much better, but she made 'one imprudent movement next morning, and the poor heart gave way'. Arnold had just time to see her, but Janet was 'an hour too late'; was very hard taking the news to their father in the nursing home. It is 'the sort of grief that makes one feel years older'; feels as if they grew even closer during her mother's last years of ill health; George and her children loved her too. Hardest for her father and Dorothy, so she must help them; his father is recovering slowly; they hope to bring him back to Stocks for this summer and then the house will have to be sold. Hopes that Bessie is having a lovely time with Julian in Holland; asks if she will go to Germany at all; accounts of 'all the misery east of Holland absolutely haunt one'. Her mother's penultimate public appearance was at a Save the Children meeting in Berkhampsted; her speech 'made a deep impression'.

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Defends her handling of certain engagements. Is dining at Downing Street.

(Montagu's reply may be B1/15.)

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Transcript

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.

Thank you very much for keeping me on the straight path of duty. I am afraid you didnt put much trust in me, however I may say as defence I had chucked Arnold before I had a very amusing conversation with Mr Havelock Allan on the telephone.

I am dining at Downing St instead.

Venetia Stanley

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Black-edged paper.