The Nonesuch Press Ltd., 16 Great James Street, London, W.C.1. - Understands Trevelyan's reluctance to take on such a large project [that of translating Herodotus for the Press, see 4/105] but he should think it over and they will discuss the matter when they meet on the 28th.
Contains: "Ave Atque Vale" by S. S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; "Abinger Notes" by E. M. Forster; poems, "The Giraffe" and "Memory", by N. Gumilev, translated from the Russian by Jacob Hornstein; poem, "Battle Landscape", by Ida Procter; "Leaves from a London Diary" by S. S.; "My Victorian Days" by Sarah Shorey Gill; poem, "Ten Years Ago", by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "Hymn of Thanksgiving for Old Age", by O[live] Heseltine; "The Painter, the Slave Woman and the Rose", by C. Kerr Lawson; "Patrolling in the Apennines", by Richard Bosanquet [mistakenly called R. D. rather than R. G. Bosanquet on the inside cover], with a note by S. S. that Bosanquet was killed in action this summer; "Pear Tree Cottage" by V. S. Wainwright; poem, "The Poet Otherwise Occupied" by Kenneth Hopkins"; poem, "Penelope in April", by Geoffrey Eley.
King's College, Cambridge. - Has learned that he has been elected to the Kahn fellowship. Wants to know what the Trustees expect before making firm plans, but thinks either of going to China in October, or to go first to India and then on to China and Japan in early 1913. Very much hopes Trevelyan can come.
Bourbon l'Archambault, Villa des Fleurs - Has read his article on the French debt in 'Le Temps' (originally in the 'Morning Post') and thanks him for it; left Cambridge to found an Institute of Ethnology, which will soon be created at the University of Paris.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge; forwarded on to Trevelyan c/o Mr H. Thompson, 19 Portman Sq[uare], London. - Bierstock is in the L.L. [London Library]. "War and Peace" 'runs into six [volumes?]'. Is coming to W[est] H[ackhurst] and would like to see Trevelyan. Is reading Jalal al din Rumi and likes him; asks if there is any one similar; Firdausi [Abu ʾl-Qasim Ferdowsi Tusi] is 'impossible'.
Woodside, Cove, Dumbartonshire - Baldwin Spencer's daughter writes that she has had a letter from her father's secretary Miss Hamilton, who was with him when he died, and who was then shipwrecked so that she could not contact the family; relates Hamilton's notes of the final days with Spencer, and that she is bringing back all his papers, which Young would like Frazer to look at.
Accompanied by the envelope.
Intended to send a small book of his "Translations from Leopardi", but then decided to wait until Julian and Ursula next come here, as they 'might easily lose it moving about'. Pity they cannot come now, when the flowers in the woods are at their best. All quite well here; the [Sturge] Moores will return in a month. Originally enclosing, on Bessie's request, a photograph of 'the street in Forest Green that [Julian] used to admire'. The Bluths and Tet Htoot were here at Easter, but otherwise they 'seem to see nobody'. Hopes that Tet Htoot will bring two Chinese friends to visit. A 'bad London raid last night'; hopes he and the Bluths are all right; Irene [Cooper Willis?] has fortunately been away. Has very few friends in London now besides these, Logan [Pearsall Smith] and Alys [Russell]. Virginia [Woolf]'s death 'a great blow'; she 'felt she was going out of her mind again and could not face it'. Is re-reading "To the Lighthouse", his favourite of her books; is writing something on her for the "Abinger Chronicle", but it is 'impossible to say anything adequate in the way of criticism'. Forgets whether Julian knew her. Is continuing to translate Montaigne and getting 'a little bored with it'; 'much more fun writing poetry, even if it is not worth much'. Hopes Julian has managed to see Ursula at Taunton, and that she is well again. Has heard from G.M.T. [his brother George] that Charles is giving Wallington to the National Trust now instead of leaving it in his will; he will continue to live there, and one of the family (probably his son George Lowthian) will stay there after his death; this will save on death-duties so there will be much more money for the children. Supposes this should not be discussed until it is announced. Hopes Bessie will go with Miss Simpkins for a few days to George and Janet next month; otherwise she never 'goes away from here, which is not good for her'.
Cairndhu, by Helensburgh, N.B. - Thanks him for his congratulations [on having been raised to the bench].
Trinity College - WW has not applied [to the Cambridge Press syndicate] about RJ's book [Wages]: 'I have not been able to see or talk to anybody, your MS is scanty'. WW thinks they should leave it till the autumn. The British Critic has written to WW 'and is really surprised at the idea of having a fling at the Ricardos and McCullochs - I will, I think, send you my proof sheets when they come' ['Review of An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth and Sources of Taxation by the Revd Richard Jones', The British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review and Ecclesiastical Record, 10, 1831]. WW has started thinking about his theology and will begin writing very shortly ['Astronomy and General Physics Considered with Reference to Natural Theology', 1833].
RT agrees with WW 'that the imputation of unfairness to the Cambridge Philosophical Society in Mr Potter's paper should not have been admitted into the Philosophical Magazine'. He is unsure whether WW's 'Letter to the Editor has been meant for publication, or as a private remonstrance. In either case I have only to express my persuasion that it cannot have been intended to you to imply that the Philosophical Magazine is generally faulty in this respect, as I trust that I have been, on the whole, successful in excluding the influence of personal views and feelings'. He is happy to put a note in the next edition 'expressing disapprobation of such a charge and regret at its admission'.
Robert Bickersteth Mayor arriving from Liverpool, Robert Mayor comforted by Wesley's hymns
On the death of his brother, Thomas Babington Macaulay. Incomplete.
[Problems of settling in a new place], continuous grey mist depressing
Collingwood - JH claims he thought he had sent WW 'my atoms' and encloses another off-print [JH, 'On Atoms' dated 16 Oct. 1860]. Thanks WW for his remarks on his translation of Homer's 'Iliad'. JH asks: 'What is to be done in the matter of this lamentable blow up between [George] Airy and [Edward] Sabine, - Surely A has taken up the matter in a very high handed and violent manner' [GA wants to expel ES as Chairman of the Board of Visitors to the Greenwich Observatory]. JH had been unaware that there had been any bickering at the BAAS.
Tunbridge Wells - Thanks WW and Cordelia Whewell for the offer of their house at Lowestoft. They have left Clifton for a change of air: 'there is a doubt whether sea air will agree with me' - at least along the south coasts, JDF thinks it might be different on the East. They had originally thought Lowestoft too distant before they received their letter, and had determined on Tunbridge Wells and a trial of the air at Folkestone: 'perhaps a few hours will decide the effect which sea air is likely to have upon me'. They will then send a letter to Cordelia Whewell's agent as to whether they want to stay at Lowestoft.
Correspondence re a lecture delivered by Thomson in Paris, 26 November 1938. Includes a letter from the Secretary of the Physical Society (W. Jevons) re Thomson's attendance at the Paris meeting as the Society's representative.
Asks Sidgwick to take his name 'as a supporter of Thursday's Graces'. Claims that he has been hoping that an opportunity would be given of showing the strength of their side, [i.e. the proponents of the removal of the obligation to study both Greek and Latin], after their opponents 'have brought up their forces so effectively'.
Sin títuloCongratulations on engagement.
Possibly entered for school prize. Marked.
Press cuttings on RAB's promises to National Farmers Union on farm prices, hire purchase curbs, pre-Budget speculations, retirement of Winston Churchill in April 1955 including 'momentoes' from farewell dinner, General Election campaign of 1955 including promise to double the standard of living in 25 years, autumn Budget and Gaitskell's personal attack, Cabinet changes of Jan 1956 with rumours of Butler succeeding Eden, RAB's first major speech as Lord Privy Seal 'Butskellism is dead', President of Central Council of National Union of Conservative and Unionist Association March 1956, visit of Krushchev and Marshall Bulganin, rumours of RAB's elevation to House of Lords July 1956, Suez crisis, Annual Conference, opening of Calder Hall atomic power station, election as Rector of Glasgow University with propaganda material, Honorary Doctorate of Laws of Sheffield University; text of RAB's address to Poets, Essayists and Novelists (PEN) International Congress; series of articles by Laurence Thompson on 'Man in the red' from News Chronicle; reviews of Ralph Harris's and Francis Boyd's biographies of RAB; political cartoons; terms of will of Sydney Butler, marriage of Adam Butler and Felicity Molesworth-St Aubyn, births of grandchildren
With carbon copy of reply from R. A. Butler,