Showing 13 results

The Manor House, Garsington, Oxford. - 'No, no! my dear Trevy, I'm shocked. Such / ribald verse as you sent us / Is alas! to [sic] often admired / For me to admire it....' Criticises Trevy for 'burlesquing.... a man of genius, in / his moment of sentimentality' and feels a 'sense of moral indignation'; 'desire to be read and / the need of appreciation' are very poor excuses. Turns from 'the parodist of today' to the Trevy he 'loved long ago, a grave / And traditional poet'.

Since Bridges cannot reply personally to all those who contributed to his 80th birthday present, he sends them a portrait photograph of himself with the clavichord, taken by Lady Ottoline Morrell and engraved by Emery Walker. Praises the 'beauty & excellence & great value' of Dolmetsch's instrument. Appreciates the recognition of his love for 17th century music and respect for his Poet Laureateship.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Distressed to hear things did not go well [regarding the birth of the Trevelyans' son, Julian?] and glad they seem to be better again. Is glad that Moore thinks his book good: says that he 'never understand[s] Moore but like[s] him very much', then corrects himself when he realises not G.E. Moore but [Thomas] Sturge Moore is meant. Was at Lady Ottoline's yesterday and saw Fry; his wife is at home and he seems in good spirits. Went to 'the Sicilians' [the production of Sinopoli's "La Zolfara" at the Lyric Theatre?]

Copy letter, dated 30 Aug 1918: Kind of Brett to write while Russell is here [in prison]: letters are 'the only unhampered contact' he has with other people. Prison would be worse than her 'fate' [deafness], if it were to last, but since it is so brief it is nowhere near as bad. Realizes how hard her life is, but makes recommendations to ameliorate it: practise mental discipline; try to avoid general conversation and keep to tête-a-têtes; do not be satirical, aloof, or 'judge people morally' but try to understand them. Has always thought it hard for her 'to spend so much time in the middle of lark and laughter [at Garsington] that you cannot understand'. Hopes she will not find this impertinent; has only written as he 'cant bear to think how you suffer'. 'Poor Mr Green' should consult Russell 'when he wants to make a conquest', and Russell will give him the 'sage advice which he evidently needs'. Brett's picture of the three women sounds exciting: hopes it will be 'glorious'. Hopes to see her when she returns from fishing - 'destroying your fellow-creatures' - in Scotland; he sympathises with the Chinese philosopher who fished without a bait, as he liked the pastime but not catching fish. The Emperor made him Prime Minister, but fears that will not happen to him.

Note, undated but Dec 1956?, explaining that two letters by Bertrand Russell, one to Ottoline Morrell and one to Brett, were found in a letter lent by R. C. Trevelyan to Bertrand Russell when Russell was in prison in 1918. These were discovered when Trevelyan's library was sent to Birkbeck College, London [in 1954], but Elizabeth Trevelyan forgot about them for a couple of years. She found them again in December 1956 and sent them to Russell with an explanation; she kept a copy of the letter to Brett.

Solicitor's Department, Central Post Office, London. - Is flattered by the notice Trevelyan takes of "Arethusa" (see 2/28) and wonders if [Thomas Sturge?] Moore might look at it, but otherwise disturbed by his letter. Asks whether Bertie [Russell] has succeeded in his appeal; has seen nothing about it in the newspapers. Has had a letter from Ottoline [Morrell] about the money but has not yet answered; discusses his feelings on the matter. Thinks the [Apostles?] dinner ought to go ahead, even though it may not be pleasant; otherwise, as Moya writes, 'it would look as if the Pacifist group think they are the Society'. Asks about Silverdale.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his mother for her 'kind letter' and the rucksack, which he will 'find very useful indeed'. He 'suppose[s] one is well past the "mezzo del cammin di nostra vita" [quoting from the first line of the Divina Commedia at fifty', but he does not feel as if he were 'getting old yet'. Saw Charles last week in London, who 'seemed cheerful'. Bessie will see him next week. Is going to London tonight for a dinner 'in honour of [Jean] Marchand, the French painter', who is a friend and will come to the Shiffolds for a visit later 'if he can find the time'. On Saturday Robert and Bessie 'go to Garsington near Oxford, where Philip Morrell and Lady Ottoline live. It is about the only country-house visit we have paid in years. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is staying with them for a while.

Is getting on better with his work than he has 'for some time past'. They have had 'some rain, but not enough yet'. Their water has failed, 'not through drought, but because the pipes have got furred up. They are being opened now to see where the stoppage is'. They 'can't have baths, but get along somehow by bringing water from Tanhurst and washing in rainwater'.

Asks if his mother has read 'Sophie Kovalesky's [Sofya Kovalevskaya] memoirs, in French': expects she would like them if not, and he might send them to her when he has finished reading them

Hunny Hill, Brightstone, Isle of Wight. - Enclosing letter from [Rutland] Boughton [2/175], for whom Dickinson is going to lecture at Glastonbury on religion in drama. He is not likely to touch on metre, and Boughton seems interested in this; perhaps Trevelyan can send a version of his translation of the ["Oresteia"] trilogy. Is looking at [Arthur?] Way's translation of Sophocles, which does not seem bad, but for 'over-romanticism'. Glad Bessie was pleased with Bedales [which the Trevelyan's son Julian attended], and that Trevelyan had a nice letter from Ottoline.

The reverse of the letter has two lines of Aeschylus, Agamemnon 406-407, transliterated and scanned with a translation beneath. There is also a draft letter in pencil; this is difficult to read but appeals to be about costs for publication of a book.

The Cottage, Bosham. - Regrets that he cannot put up [John] Rodker, as Durbins is let until the end of September and he is 'more or less a wanderer'. Has had little success in thinking of other possible hosts: expects Lady Ottoline [Morrell] would not be possible and fears Rodker may have to go to London. Is sorry not to help as he liked Rodker when he met him at Dora Sanger's. Asks if Trevelyan will be in town the week after next. He and the children have had a good time at Bosham, sailing and spending time outdoors; they leave for Failand on Monday.

Is going to Italy on 6 January; if Julian is in Paris that week he might stay there for a couple of nights before travelling on. Betty Muntz is arriving from [Le] Havre on the morning of the 6th; she will spend the day in Paris then travel on to Florence, Cortona and Assisi with Bob; she will have two or three weeks in Italy, he will stay on until the end of February. Bessie has just had two teeth out, but otherwise is well; she is reading [Robin] Fedden's book, which Bob has not done yet. The [Oliver] Lodges and their baby [Rosalie Belinda] are well, as is C.A. [Clifford Allen] who is starting a debate in the House of Lords today 'more or less attacking the Government about aeroplanes'. Bob thinks he rather agrees with Mussolini that the League of Nations should be detached from the Versailles Treaty. Hopes Julian will be able to sell his film; supposes his engravings will soon be at the Leicester G[alleries]. Hopes to see [Maria] Germanova in Paris; saw Nijinsky's daughter [Kyra?] at Lady Ottoline [Morrell]'s, who pronounced Germanova's name with an accent on the second syllable instead of the third. Must write to [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy. Asks if Julian would like him to bring any books, such as Virginia [Woolf]'s "Flush", which is 'quite good'.

A manuscript volume of poetry dated 1896-1900; a manuscript of a short play, possibly by Saxon Sydney-Turner; page 1 of a typescript entitled "The Need for Aestheticism"; a single page from a piece on prestige in art; a short piece on Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell for South African art lovers; a typescript made in 1990 of Bell's memoir of Ottoline Morrell; the typescript "The Published Works of Clive Bell" by Donald A. Laing.