Synge was an original member of the Society.
H/105: List of original members, 1944; List of members 1948.
H/106: Papers for meetings etc, 1945-1948
H/107: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1949-1953
H/108: Papers for meetings etc, 1949-1958
H/109: Refereeing for Journal of General Microbiology, 1961-1964
Concerns Of the Plurality of Worlds. Letter of 16 Oct. 1854 encloses a copy of a letter from "an eminent judicial person in Scotland" to [John] Blackwood.
108: 26 Aug. 1914, jointly addressed to Michael James and Henry Babington Smith
110: 2 May 1918, with addition, Michael James Babington Smith to Henry Babington Smith
111: 20 May 1918, enclosing letter from R. H. Macaulay to Lady Elisabeth Mary Babington Smith, 18 May 1918, and a copy of her reply, 20 May 1918.
117: 7 Jan. 1925, enclosing letter from A. G. Wilson to Lady Elisabeth Mary Babington Smith, 6 Jan. 1925.
The Manor House, West Coker, Yeovil - Was distressed to hear about Frazer's eyes, hopes the Parisian oculist will help; is surprised the African Society is not helping but they may after the next meeting; sends his subscription.
7 Rue Lincoln VIIIe - Has lost her address, so is sending to her Cambridge address in hopes it will reach her; is happy to learn Sir James' book has appeared; is very unhappy about the menace of war; has been unwell for two months.
University Museum of Archaeology and of Ethnology, Downing Street, Cambridge - Gives details of two books on the Bantu previously mentioned to Frazer by Alice Werner and W. C. Willoughby.
Ajanta. - Describes their 'strenuous' time since leaving Bombay on 25 October, though they are 'none the worse for it': they went to Daulatabad then Ellora, where they saw a number of cave-temples; the situation was 'very impressive' though in general the sculpture was 'disappointing'; they also visited ruins of two ancient Moghul cities. In one, Roza [Rauzaa, now Khuldabad], they saw the 'plain and simple' tomb of Aurangzeb. Went by rail to Jalgaon on 28 October, then drove to Ajanta next day; they are staying in a small bungalow to which they had to bring their own provisions and bedding. The caves, four miles away, are in a 'most romantic gorge', and are 'far finer than those at Ellora and Elephanta'; the art would 'hold its own with the best Italian frescos'. They bathed in a 'wonderful' pool at the top of the gorge. Will start at midday on the drive back to Jalgaon, where they will catch the express train to Lahore; [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson will stay there with a friend, and Robert with his old schoolmate Stowe, who is in the Indian Civil Service. After a week there and in Peshawar, they will go on to Delhi, then on to Rajputana. They made friends on the ship with a young officer stationed at Peshawar [Kenneth Searight] who will take them for a drive up the Khyber Pass.
So far, they have kept well and borne the heat easily. Heard from Bessie as they were leaving Bombay, and was glad that she, Julian, and everyone else at Wallington were well; expects she will now have gone South. Hopes his father's 'expedition to Stratford was a success'. Caught up with the English newspapers at Bombay and has seen Indian newspapers since; seems that Turkey is 'faring badly' [in the First Balkan War]; is 'not sorry, and hope[s] if the allies will they will be allowed to make whatever settlement of European Turkey they think best without interference from outside'. Did not sympathise with the Italians in their 'Tripoli adventure' [Italo-Turkish War] but does with the Balkan States. They have seen no snakes, tigers, or elephants, but saw three gazelles a couple of evenings ago, and have seen the 'tracks of a pantha' in the Ajanta gorge. Have enjoyed themselves so far, but he will be glad to get 'back to civilisation' at Lahore. Their Madras servant seems 'good and conscientious'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Begins the letter 'Dear as a daughter', which she says was used by 'an old Medici lady' in the book Robert has lent her ["Lives of the early Medici as told in their correspondence", by Janet Ross], which she finds interesting but has not yet finished. Annie [Philips] is here and seems well. Is more or less recovered from her 'little feverish attack'. Glad to have good news of Julian. Asks if Elizabeth can send back 'the Shetland scarf' if she is not using it, as it 'does not look as "invalidy" as a shawl'; glad she is better. The 'A.S's' [Arthur and Charlotte Sidgwick], Janet and George 'amalgamated well'. Asks if Elizabeth's maids have recovered, and hopes the nurse [Mrs Catt] is sleeping better. Miss Richardson is here and is going with TitBits [the horse] 'to see sights accompanied by Annie's maid'. Sir George was very pleased to get Robert's letter; he has had a correspondence 'with "the master" [of Trinity, Cambridge, Montagu Butler?] on classical things'.
Metelliano. - Reassures Trevelyan that all will go well on his and his friends' arrival; will make arrangements with Nicky [Mariano] for 'the material part', and will see them as soon as possible. Asks if they will come to Metelliano.
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Sends Christmas greetings. Asks whether the pupils came, and invites him to come and stay. Has sent Leavis a copy of the French Catholic journal La Vie intellectuelle, containing a discussion of Scrutiny. Hopes to return to his work on the recusants when term ends. Encourages Smith to write something on Chaucer, and praises J. C. Maxwell’s survey of the criticism of Measure for Measure in the Downside Review.
Woodthorpe, The Thrupp, Nr. Stroud, Glos. - Sends the 'revised version of [his] bit of Virgil' [see 21/107], which he believes is 'much improved' by Trevelyan's 'valuable criticism'. Good to know that the 'dear thing' will arrive safely; tried to send something to friends in Ireland but it was returned by the censor 'as being that noxious stuff "printed matter"'; comments ironically on the possibility of 'that discourse on a Greek epigram' being a 'great encouragement to Hitler'. Asks if Trevelyan remembers Vernon Rendall from Trinity who has recently visited. Rendall was 'rather run down' and so the Loanes' 'quiet not to say monotonous existence' suited him; he was happy to weed in the garden, play billiards and talk. They both 'suffer from a lack of conversation', living in the country, where it is 'not usual to find congenial talkers'; asks how Trevelyan does in that respect. Trevelyan promised to lend Loane his Theocritus and said he could send it when he returned Loane's Lathrop ["Translations from the classics into English from Caxton to Chapman, 1477-1620"?]; is ready for both if Trevelyan has finished with Lathrop; wants to see what he says about Chapman. Has just written his 'fortnightly letter to an Irish aunt who is well into her 101st year' but still corresponds with him; was a 'grief' not to be able to celebrate her 'centenary' with her, but it does not seem possible now to obtain any sort of permit.
Ravello. - Thanks his mother for her 'kind letter' about his book [The Birth of Parsival]; discusses the book and the legend of the Grail more generally. Does not intend to continue the story of Parsival at present, if he did would follow the legend more closely, but 'have a different ending, an anti-Grail one'.
They have had 'pretty bad weather again here'; will probably leave next week, perhaps on Tuesday with the Booths; will stop at the Berensons' for a few days on the way back. He and Bessie are well, though 'tired of the bad weather. Charles Booth is much better', though still not allowed to walk much. Sees from the paper that his father 'was [at?] the Irish debate', and from the Italian paper today that it had a 'good division - 42'.
They were 'delighted to hear from George [about the birth of his and Janet's daughter Mary] and also most pleased by the names chosen'; hopes Janet and baby are still doing well. Sends love to his father.
Typed copy. Lindsay Sap, Gallipoli. Description of daily routine, has responsibility for four widely-spaced guns, looks forward to weekly Fortnum and Masons boxes.
Sends congratulations on being awarded the Members' Prize
36 Smith Square, Westminster.—Discusses arrangements for meeting.
(Undated.)
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Transcript
36 Smith Square, Westminster
I’m terribly afraid tomorrow is bound to be a failure, but if you liked, & werent busy wd you pick me up at Mansfield St anytime after a quarter to 11, & not later than 11.15 & we’d drive back together. This is rather a foul suggestion as it entails a long dreary solitary drive for you & I {1} shall more than understand if you say you cant. Perhaps you’d like to let me know as if you werent coming I dont think I should go to Mansfield St at all.
You’d have found Aggie Barbara, Pamela & me if you’d lunched & of course dear Reggie. He was very sweet. If you want to go to Walmer early you will wont you.
I shall see you Wednesday {2} anyway 4.30.
Yrs
Venetia
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Written in two kinds of pencil (see below). Printed in H. H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley, p. 492.
{1} Up to this point the letter is in lead pencil; the rest is in blue pencil.
{2} 24th.
Thanks him for the message on her birthday, hope he enjoys the Dordogne, sends pictures [pasted on to the sheet] of 'the four of us' [Louise, PS, and an unidentified man and a woman] at La Caravello.
Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 30 October, 1919 - Thanks him for dedicating his book to him, congratulates himself for being on Council when they made Frazer a Student-Fellow 'one of our very best deeds'; his daughter Edith is writing to his dictation owing to eye troubles.
Endorsed by Ellis & Ellis. Note by Edward F. Jenner that it was sworn before him at the Principal Registry, Doctors Commons, on 28 Feb. 1874.