Barford, Churt, Farnham. - Bertie Russell has written to him about Trevelyan's tragedy ["Cecilia Gonzaga"], which he 'evidently enjoyed', saying that he quoted Murray as 'saying that blank verse was "played out"''; if someone had told Murray this when he had just finished a poem in blank verse, it 'would stick in [him] like a thorn!'. Is therefore writing quickly to say that all he meant was that he currently has a feeling that he does 'not know how blank verse ought to be written', and cannot write it himself without suspecting he is 'imitating some particular style - Tennysonian, Elizabethan, Swinburnian, Browningist'. Does not feel quite the same about heroic couplets, which 'after being ridden almost to death, has [sic] had a long time of neglect in which to get fresh again'. Blank verse is 'clearly best for a play'; sends best wishes to Trevelyan.
Agrees to continue to serve on the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee (see 3/100).
Correspondence.
Flood was based at the Institutt for Uorganisk Kjemi, Norges Tekniske Høgskole, Trondheim, Norway.
Re. Milman's memoir of Thomas Babington Macaulay.
Chemistry in Britain: Invitation to write obituary of Raphael Consden (declined). 1980.
CRC Press: Invitation to write section for CRC Handbook of Nutrition and Food. 1976.
Chronological continuation of the previous notebook [MS-101]. Contains some coded diary entries and at the front a note that on Wittgenstein’s death the volume should be sent to Leopoldine Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell: 'Nach meinem Todfe an meine Mutter...'
Congratulations on engagement.
Typed copy. Chatby Camp, Alexandria. Has orders to embark.
(London Hospital, Whitechapel?).—Discusses Montagu’s appointment (as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster). Hopes he will enjoy himself in Paris. Wants to see him when he returns.
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Transcript
Sunday Jan 31st 1915
You were right as far as dates go. I looked through my letters & I see that the first time it was mentioned was on Sunday 24th from Walmer {1}. Still I dont think that proves that it was entirely a plot of Lloyd Georges. I know the P.M has wanted to have you in for sometime. He’s very fond of you. He says in one letter “It is one of the few real pleasures one has to feel one can open the door, without any misgiving as to capacity or merit, to a really great friend”. I find I also did the old boy an injustice; {2} he never said he’d seen Mcnamara {3}. I do hope you’ll find there are some compensations for leaving the Treasury, tho’ of course neither I, nor anyone else wd think it strange for you to mind going. I am glad all the same because I am certain that you wont stick in the Duchy for long, & as I’m very ambitious for you(!) I welcome this step very greatly. But you mustnt let the P.M. put Addison in. It wd be too great an anti-climax.
I hope you’ll have a delicious time in Paris. I must see you when you come back & hear all about it. Perhaps Monday. Next time I have my day off I’m determined, if you can, to dine with you, get a “late pass” & try & win or lose a little money. Will you arrange that?
Yrs ever
Venetia
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Written in pencil, except for ‘real pleasures … door, with’, which is in ink. Probably written at the London Hospital, Whitechapel.
{1} The reference is to a letter from Asquith, dated 24 January. See H. H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley, No. 274.
{2} Semi-colon supplied.
{3} T. J. Macnamara, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty.
Carbon copy of letter from R. A. Butler to Lord Evershed , 30 Jul. 1953
Written from Bonn.
The electors of the Regius Professor of Divinity must look upon JCH's claims as weighty. WW will consider how to bring the question of separating the professorship from the living to the Trustees [see WW to CJH, 1 Nov. 1848]. He enjoyed his short stay at JCH's and had a good journey back to Cambridge.
'Monetary reform in Turkey: The Commission's proposals'.
London Library - Captain Black has taken a ready furnished house at Hingham but intends to rent Donne's house at Mattishall, attitude of the people of Bury St Edmunds to his move to London
Goldsmith Building, The Temple, E. C.