131 Banbury Road, Oxford. - "Sisyphus" is 'delightful and extraordinary'; has only just read it as when it arrived he was about to leave for Italy and by mistake it did not go with him. Likes it better than anything else by Trevelyan he knows: 'so individual... has such a strange blend of grotesqueness and beauty running through it - very Aristophanic in some ways'. Though the 'queer broken-backed metres... bothered [him]' for a while, they fit the theme. Is a little disappointed in the 'Artemis-chastity point': even he 'would not have accepted such an oath, and Sisyphus had much more knowledge of the world than a don'. Wonders about performance: no doubt Trevelyan has music; to Murray's taste 'music will bedevil and ruin it' but others would not agree. Would be expensive if there is much music; if not, suggests sending it to Charles Strachey or to GBS [George Bernard Shaw] for the Stage Society. Does not know Trevelyan's address, so is sending it to his brother [George?].
The Loke House, West Road, Cambridge - Offers congratulations, apologises for not calling in person.
28 Grange Road, Barnes, S.W.13. - Will deliver the material [for the Frazer Lectures volume] to the printer on Tuesday; has a number of questions about Egyptian words in Rivet's essay and has written for clarification; encloses a draft of the Introduction and asks for changes or additions; has been working hard as he would like to see it published in October.
Thanks Trevelyan for his letter revealing that he, Pearsall Smith, and others had considered nominating Abercrombie for a prize [the Nobel]. Is overwhelmed by the compliment, and is inspired to try poetry again, having previously given up his ambitions in that regard. Delighted to hear the news of Julian's engagement [to Ursula Darwin].
2 The Residences - Is planning to come up to King's for a rest on doctor's orders, looks forward to seeing Frazer.
Venice. - Is very sorry to hear the news [the death of the Trevelyan's daughter Susan] and hopes Elizabeth Trevelyan is all right; would like to hear. Is having a good time, and hopes to go on to various other Italian towns such as Ferrara, Ravenna and Faenza.
77 rue Gambetta, Loos [on mourning stationery] - Congratulates Frazer on the new honour [Order of Merit]; is at the conferences given by the University of Lille on the relationship between French and English scholars where Frazer is not forgotten; 'Le Folklore dans l'Ancien Testament' is published, may the reviews be kind to the translator.
[headed notepaper] Secretary for Scotland, Dover House, Whitehall. - Thanks Robert for his letter; has told Caroline about the train. Will be at Welcombe and very glad to see him. Sir George is responsible for recommending a candidate to the Queen for the new professorship of English Literature at Aberdeen, which must be filled before the end of the year; will be happy to hear frim Mr [Walter?] Raleigh.
Enclosing sketch of birds by Hon. Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes, at p. 119.
Printed in London by Spottiswoode & Shaw, New Street Square.
Stantons Wharf House, Tooley St, Boro’. - Seeks employment owing to loss of income; can provide testimonials or security of his remaining capital; encloses work [no longer present] written three years ago; hopes Milnes will accept it as a lover of literature
16 Guildford Street, Russell Square, W.C. - Met Milnes years ago when Queen Adelaide was at Stowe and he and Disraeli were staying at Buckingham; he subsequently assisted her brother. Now seeks help for Emily De Lesdernier, who has been cruelly treated by her husband and suffered hardship to support her friends; gives details of De Lesdernier's life. Longfellow and Mary Howitt are friends; she gives public readings but also wishes to engage for private parties; her attempts at publication; she is currently employed 'at Wheeler & Wilson's 139 Regent Street where she is daily superintending the sale of their celebrated sewing machines'; asks if Milnes and Disraeli will consider assisting her.
No. 4 Upper Holland Street, Kensington. - Seeks pension in recognition of literary work of his father R. P. Gillies; impoverished since his father's death in November 1859 [sic?]. [no signature - incomplete?].
Denmark Road, Diss. - Met a son of Thomas Hood at Miss Forrest's; he is teaching but would like to join staff of British Museum. Bumstead is 'doing something in old books again'.
Thanks for beautiful poems.
Talk broadcast January 1955, English and German versions, correspondence.
(With an envelope.)
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Transcript
Trinity College | Cambridge
10 Feb. 1930
My dear Gerald,
Do you think you could come here on Saturday March 8? If you say yes, I will try to get a bedroom, which is why I propose a date so far ahead.
The last train to London on Sundays is 8.27, and has a restaurant-car.
Your affectionate godfather
A. E. Housman.
[Direction on envelope:] Gerald Jackson Esq. | 85 Oakley Street | Chelsea | London S. W. 3.
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The envelope, which bears a 1½d. stamp, was postmarked at Cambridge at 10.15 p.m. on 10 February.
6 De Vesci Terrace, Kingstown, Co. Dublin.—Explains why she urged Lady Constance Lytton to oppose militant action by suffragettes.
(Marked ‘Copy’ and ‘Extracts’. Annotated by the recipient. The initials of the signature are transcribed as ‘L. V.’, but query whether the writer was Rosa Mary Barrett.)
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Transcript
COPY
Extracts.
6, De Vesci Terrace | Kingstown Co. Dublin. Jan 13. 1912
(From a Snobby suffragist: the pencil comments are Betty’s)
Dear Lady Betty Balfour,
I had today a long letter from your sister Lady Constance, it was most kind of her to write & I fear I hurt her feelings by asking her to use her influence at this critical moment in the cause of the suffrage, by discountenancing such scenes as at the City Temple or raids on shops in the Strand etc. I know what damage to the cause has been done by these things, & as one who has worked & fought for women’s suffrage for 30 years {1} I feel the greatest discretion & wise counsel is now necessary. I have such an intense admiration for yr sister & her heroism {2} that it pains me to differ from her. Of course I may be wrong but men do feel very differently to women on this action of the Women’s Social & Pol. Union
Yrs v. sincerely
L. V. Barrett {3}
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{1} Interlined in pencil: ‘greatest justification of militancy I have said’.
{2} Interlined in pencil: ‘I sd Why for her & not all the militants’.
{3} The closing salutation and name are at the head of the sheet.
Trinity College Cambridge. - War 'a boredom', can learn a lot about human beings through it; fair in Cambridge.
(i) The annexed telegram about Amritsar must be sent to avoid delay.
(ii) General Dyer’s conduct in firing at Amritsar has been criticised because he is reported to have said that the crowd might have dispersed without being fired on, and because the Criminal Procedure Code forbids the use of unnecessary force to disperse a crowd. Dyer’s defenders, including O’Dwyer, allege that his action prevented disorder elsewhere in the Punjab. Asks Chelmsford to advise his own view of accepted practice, in order that Montagu may express an opinion when the report emerges.
(Typed. Used for transmission.)