Commonwealth Offices, Treasury Place, Melbourne, C.2.—Thanks him for his card and sends seasonal greetings.
61 Ripon St., Calcutta. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter: thinks the changes have improved the lines [of a poem?]. Berenson is right about the pronunciation of Yudhishthira. Is very grateful to Trevelyan for having spoken to C.A. [Clifford Allen]. Is finding life hard in India, faced with the 'Victorian dogmatism' which most of the intellectuals affect, with a 'kind of religious mysticism for the sake of the reputation of the country'; human beings are not valued as human beings. Finds the country itself very beautiful though: has been to Ajunta, Ellora, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Lucknow; likes Hyderabad best. Is currently with the Singhs at Bahagalpur, since his father is away from Calcutta. Sees the League [of Nations] as his 'only salvation'; supposes that Allen is right and after the Reparations Conference there will be less economic tension and more posts available. Was nearly appointed to a post in the Information Department of the Secretariat in 1929, supported by Lord Lytton and Harold Williams of the "Times", a close friend because of 'shared Moscow experiences'; Williams' untimely death meant that the High Commissioner's brother got the post. Since then every post has gone to Indians in Geneva, even if they are less well qualified. Feels he will have to stay in India and get some temporary post, to lift cares from his friends in Paris [the Germanova / Kalitinsky household]; hears Julian is going to paint a fresco in their rooms, 'with Osny as the background and Rex [the dog] as the chief motif'; is so glad he visits them.
Postmarked Englefield Green. - Asks if he may shorten Theseus's speech on his re-entry in Act I [of "The Bride of Dionysus"]. The 'Alas for thee' chorus is going quite well. Will give an extra line to Minos in his cross-examination of the captives. The Cretans need not mention the 'strife between P. & Z.' [Poseidon and Zeus?]
Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey. - Trevelyan's 'very lovely poems at Christmas' ["From the Shiffolds"] will be a 'lasting joy'; has never read a more beautiful 'In Memoriam' than his to Lowes Dickinson, who, to her 'lasting regret', she never met in person but has 'known him through his books' like many others. Dickinson is one of those who restores her 'faith in the nature of man', and it seems natural that he is the 'guardian angel' of Trevelyan's words. Knew C[lifford] A[llen], and Robert's poem 'strikes the note' which she responds to; realises how much she and Trevelyan have in common; also praises his translation of a Pindar fragment.
Admiralty Registry, Royal Courts of Justice, London, W.C.2. - Congratulates the Frazers.
Garden Court, Swanage - Thanks him for the 'memorable' tribute to Albert Houtin ["Old Faith and New Thought" in "The Times", 4 Aug. 1926]. Accompanied by the envelope.
Austrian Hospice, Jerusalem - Has been reading 'Folklore in the Old Testament' while in Jerusalem and finds it not only extremely informative but well written, and 'as one who knows how hard it is to be learned and yet interesting, though I am not learned, I offer you my heart-felt congratulations'.
Accompanied by an envelope redirected from 'c/o MacMillan & Co. Ltd., Publishers, St. Martin's Street, London, England' to 'Flat 478 Queen Annes Mansions, St. James's Park, S.W.1'.
Postmarked Notting Hill. - Thanks Trevelyan for the card and sends best New Year wishes from himself and his wife to him and Bessie. Hopes he'll have a good time in Italy. Tenerife was splendid; the voyage home 'full of experiences'. Has 'made a raid' on Spanish literature, as well as 'climbing the Peak' [reading "Don Quixote"], and discovered the 'sublime' Luis de León.
Woodside, Cove, Dumbartonshire - Thinks Elsie Malinowski could give some interesting notes about her father Baldwin Spencer's time in Darwin; thanks the Frazers for their time and for helping with the project to publish the letters, would be happy to come to an arrangement with Macmillans.
Accompanied by the envelope.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The hard weather has 'carried off quite a group of [Sir George's] old London friends', leaving the same sort of gap as was left in his college circle by the deaths of Bowen, [Henry] Sidgwick and Edward Young. Goschen, Davey, Godfrey Lushington, and Allendale ([Wentworth] Beaumont) have all died within about a fortnight. Caroline and Booa [Mary Prestwich] much enjoyed their visit to the Shiffolds and meeting Paul. Was very lucky not to break his hip; is still lame. The Lords have 'a reform bill of their own House'; the "Times" seems not to think this is the business of the Commons, which is 'all very well if the same theory is adopted reciprocally' but they threw out the Plural Voting bill last year.
Will send proof impressions of the three portraits of Lord Macaulay he happens to have to Essex Street, Strand. Would like to see his correspondent's 'collection of Macaulay illustrations' if it were in London'. Will also enclose an autograph of Macaulay.
WW cannot be so near without trying to see JCH: 'I should like to come and see you some day next week'.
40 Weymouth Street - report of a visit to Faversham
Questionnaires. Questions of Policy notes prepared by Central Office for General Election campaign, drafts of some sent to RAB for comment
Typed copy. Lindsay Sap, Gallipoli. Units stay in the front line longer than in France as the shelling is less intense, life in the trenches monotonous but not intolerable, much sapping going on, little shooting with machine guns as it is important to conceal them.
Copies letter from F. Freeling relating to John's leave of absence: Kirkby Lonsdale
Written from Switzerland.
Thanks him for his kindness on their visit to London; enjoyed 'Black Comedy'; had a wonderful evening at Caroline's [?].
Anwoth, Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg.—Praises her letters. Comments on the books she mentions, and agrees with her remarks on Italian pictures. She and May are very happy.