RJ has been seized with one of his 'fits of sinful non-writing'. On behalf of two different people RJ has been asked to write to WW requesting favours for their respective sons. Robert Peel's speech last night has I think quenched his reputation as a statesman for ever - on looking attentively at the speech you will see that two very distinct objects pressed on him last autumn which he has fused violently...The first the state of Ireland - which required efficient - prompt nay instant measures. He does not take them even when his submissive cabinet came back - though he holds out now any delay in opening the Irish ports to Rice[,] Maize and Oats as almost a crime'. This emergency 'forces on him a conviction that a general review of our commercial and fiscal system, more especially of the corn laws is wise - if not essential - granted - this surely is an operation which both from its nature and from the expectations and temper of his own party required deliberation temper full investigation tact. But he who has neglected the emergency seems to have done so only that he might preserve it whole to use as an argument for making the great change of commercial policy abrupt[,] harsh and not merely distasteful but so odious and apparently so unfair and in the eyes of his surprised friends that all the advantages[,] preparation and persuasion might have given him in the great undertaking are gone. The argument that because there is a temporary dearth of potatoes in Ireland there must be an instant permanent and entire change in the system of England as to wheat for instance is absurd. He might as well attempt to feed the Irish on turtle soup as on wheat'. RJ thinks 'it just possible that with rational management he might have conciliated and kept together the greater part of his party and attained all it was wise to attempt at once. For till now no one ever thought it possible to change in a day a system complicated by colonial maritime and fiscal regulation for really free trade. In fact he has not fairly interpreted it and for that I do not blame him. He has attempted a larger step than he shewed in his circumstances I am well convinced'. The whole public horizon looks gloomy. The House of Lords 'will either throw the bill out or change it in committee - there must come a dissolution which all say will bring in parties too nearly balanced for either of them to conduct the government - and no one pretends to see what next'. However RJ thinks the measures themselves were in the right direction: 'I heartily wish I saw any chance of their gradual and wholesome progress - I see none. If after the coming struggle they pass in their present shape the unusual demand neated by the railway expenditure which more than equals our late war expenditure at home, may ward off a share of evil for a time and to the adjustments which take place during that time we must look for our best chance of escaping with institutions and property - unsmashed - It is well to have this ray and hope'.
Including copy of correspondence with Lord Malmesbury and of note by Sir Henry Bulwer.
Copy in unidentified hand; paper watermarked 1840.
Written from Boston, Massachusetts.
.1 bundle
Written from Aversa.
Stanstead Hall, Halstead, Essex.—Thanks him for his letter of sympathy (on the death of his wife).
(Place of writing not indicated.)—Has received his letter. Refers to their ‘sweet time’ together last night.
(Dated Tuesday.)
Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
Addressed to Trevelyan at the Friends War Victims Relief Committee, France. - His next chess move. Trevelyan's [chess] board is quite correct.
Originally enclosing three publicity notices for the "Abinger Chronicle" for Julian and Ursula to distribute to possible subscribers, such as Imogen [Gore-Browne?]; they should avoid people likely to be on Oliver [Lodge], Bob, [E.M.] Forster or Sylvia [Sprigge]'s lists. Max [Beerbohm] and Forster are both contributing to the Christmas number; does not think he himself will have anything ready. Bessie has a persistent cold, but he hopes she will soon get away to Hove for a few days. Hopes that Diana [Brinton-Lee?]'s 'expedition' was successful. Is trying to write an 'epistle in Alexandrines' to B.B. [Bernard Berenson], but it is 'rather uphill work'; quotes Pope ["Essay on Criticism"]. Tom S[turge] M[oore] is 'fairly all right', though Marie is still in Paris.
14, Great Russell St, W.C. - Glad that Trevelyan can come on Thursday afternoon, as he is 'all mixed up' for the rest of the week; will expect him between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
Cambo, Morpeth. - Booa [Mary Prestwich]'s funeral went 'very well today'; the weather allowed 'long views of the moors and hills she loved'. The cortège went from Wallington to Cambo, and she was buried in the churchyard 'almost next to' their grandfather [Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan]. Asks Bob to tell Bessie that 'Mary has developed one of her enthusiasms for William III and Holland', since she is studying 1688 as a 'special period' [at university], and has tried to learn some Dutch. They are going to the Netherlands at Easter partly because of this; should meet and discuss before then.
106 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh. - Feels ashamed that he has not written sooner; got Trevelyan's letter and cheque just before leaving London, and managed not to bring Trevelyan's address with him; then has been caught up in a great 'confusion of arrangements' involving alterations to the programme since Sir Donald [Tovey] could not play and subsequent corrections when he was told the Scottish [Symphony Orchestra] and Reid [Orchestra] had already played works this season. Was also given contradictory information as to whether he was to conduct the whole concert or not; eventually Dr Grierson conducted the first half and he the second; encloses one of the notices [no longer present]. The orchestra misses Sir Donald very much, and there has been a concerning fall in attendance. Sir Donald is 'much better and quite cheerful', but Renton does not think he will be fit enough to return soon, so either Tovey will 'come back too soon and wear himself out', or the 'confusion and lack of direction in the Faculty and in the Orchestra' will become dangerous; Dr Grierson 'does heroic work' but 'cannot be more than a pale shadow of Sir Donald' and there is nobody else. Will stop at Birmingham on his way back to London to see [Victor] Hely Hutchinson about the SA [South Africa?] job, though thinks this is 'no good'; however, has heard from the NBC [National Broadcasting Company?] manager who is 'very hopeful that he can pull off the American job'. Will send further news from London; hopes Trevelyan is having a good time in Italy; here they are 'enveloped in snow and sleet'.
Astley Hall, Stourport on Severn - Explains that if she sent the book [the Downie biography] to the House of Lords, it would have been addressed to his house in Eaton Square, where his daughter is driving an ambulance and a friend who is working in a canteen are living; he has forwarded her letter to the Prime Minister with an accompanying note from himself.
As from Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - Thanks Bob for the 'sheaf of lovely poems': meant to bring them with her, but 'packed in such a hurry' that she forgot; expect Marjory [Allen?] has told him 'some of the circumstances' behind her hasty departure. Is now 'steeling [herself] to bear her absence'.
Sends his tickets, spoke with Tom Hulce and says he will be back in December, also had a long conversation with Zubin [Mehta] when he called from Israel.
With corrections and annotations. Endorsed by Lyon Barnes & Ellis, note that a fair copy has been made.
40 Weymouth Street - London pantomimes, colonial government
Abstract of the conclusions to which Ritchie has reconciled philosophy with scripture.
WW is sorry he will not be able to avail himself of Mr Woodard's invitation [Nathaniel Woodard]. WW is going abroad to join Cordelia Whewell. The daughter of John Herschel has been her companion since March. WW agrees with JCH that in electing Thompson [William Hepworth Thompson elected Regius Professor of Greek] they have got the best Professor there was to be had. As to the spinning tables, WW finds 'every year some prevailing charlatanism in London, and that of this year, is I think, about the most childish and imprudent that I have yet seen'.