Written from Aversa.
.1 bundle
(Place of writing not indicated.)—Has received his letter. Refers to their ‘sweet time’ together last night.
(Dated Tuesday.)
Bergmann-Fischer Verlag 1945
Bild der Wissenschaft 1966-67
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 1959, 1974
Butterworths 1950
Press cuttings about RAB's involvement in education matters, his House of Commons opposition to Government policy on the N.H.S., abolition of University M.P.s and the Middle East, Conservative charters on agriculture, imperial policy and The right road for Britain, visit to Italy 1949, twenty years as an M.P. and Honorary Degree of Oxford University, RAB as Chancellor of the Exchequer including budgets and speculation on his succeeding to premiership (Jan 1952); articles by RAB on Unesco, education, 'The challenge of 1948' from Picture Post; texts of broadcasts by RAB including 'What Conservatives stand for'; original letters from Anthony Eden to RAB (March 1948) on political situation, RAB to parents (11 Sept 1949 and 23 April 1951) including from Commonwealth Relations Conference, Sydney to Lady Butler (10 June 1949) describing luncheon with Winston Churchill at Chartwell, Lord Halifax to Lady Butler; newspaper cartoons particularly from January 1952 and 1952 Budget; photograph of RAB at Colston Boys' School, Bristol, prize giving; obituaries of Sir Montagu Butler and text of oration from ?Pembroke College, Cambridge, memorial service; ceremonial papers and cuttings on death and funeral of H.M. King George VI
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'.
With corrections and annotations. Endorsed by Lyon Barnes & Ellis, note that a fair copy has been made.
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'.
Taylor is a candidate for the Chair of Logic at Edinburgh University and is canvassing WW for support [attached is a 3 pp. printed letter outlining Taylor's definition and approach to logic].