War Department, Washington. Dated April 28, 1889 - Information on Native American rites, in answer to Frazer's questions; Zunis burying 'plume sticks' at planting time; Frank H. Cushing is an authority on the Zunis; Moquis and nearly all the other Pueblos have the same rite; witnessed Apaches carrying a cross with snakes and other decorations; will send a copy of Frazer's questions to Dr [John S.] Hittell in San Francisco; is finishing a work on Ur-Orgies.
Believes that nothing he says really interests Sraffa. Thinks that Sraffa likes to discuss things with him because he is persistent and clever, but their discussion lacks the enjoyment which is the oil that lubricates it.
Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
Included here is a lively letter written December 1964 to the Grahams by Stephanie Taylor before she became seriously ill.
5 St Mary's Passage, Cambridge - has written to his father telling him he regretted much of what had passed, asks Mary Emma Cornford to apologise to Margie for him.
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Invites him to dinner. She wants to talk to him about Whitsuntide at Penrhôs. Has heard that he has moved into his house.
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Transcript
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.
Tuesday
Will you dine here on Thursday or Friday? I’ll tell you what you will get both evenings so that you can choose which appears most promising or reject them both. Friday Violet and I thought it would be fun to go to “Diplomacy” {1} which is said to be good, and Thursday its merely to play bridge here. 8.15.
I rather want to talk to you about Whitsuntide {2} and the grebes and Penrhôs.
Geoffrey, whom I saw at a ball, tells me you have moved into your house, but I’ve forgotten your number.
Venetia
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{1} An English adaptation of a play by Sardou, first produced in 1878, and revived on 26 March 1913 at Wyndham’s Theatre, where it ran until 18 April 1914. It then transferred to the Prince of Wales’ Theatre for a short run from 20 April to 9 May.
{2} Whit Sunday fell on 11 May.
From the start of the National Government. August 1931'. Photographs of RAB and Richard Clive Butler (3 docs), press cuttings about farmers and petrol tax, Marketing Bill and rural towns, RAB's review of parliamentary session, General Election, election posters and itinerary, National Government, original letters of congratulation etc. (3 docs), RAB's visit to India, Indian Franchise Committee, Essex drainage and water schemes, RAB's appointment to India Office, Round Table Conference, Joint Select Committee, India White Paper, tithe dispute, Japanese textiles, Assam dinner, World Economic Conference, Anglo-Indians, Wheat Act, Cambridge Union 1924, Milk Reorganisation Scheme, Indian Reform, Essex politics, Christmas card from Sir Samuel and Lady Hoare, obituary of Hon. Mary Pickford, original letter from Lord Bingley, RAB's travel documents for France and Italy, Butlers' move from Broxted to Halstead, Nicobar Islands, Poona Pact, menu for Farmers' Club annual dinner, 1930, Fitzwilliam Museum's Courtauld Galleries 1931, article by RAB in The Dalhousie Review on 'Canadian impressions' and galley proofs of his 'World wheat and the British farmer. A reply' 1930
Appointing Léonard Verger as bailiff (huissier) of Nevers after the death of Jean Gagnard. Also signed by 'Monseigneur de Saint Hilaire'.
Includes arrangements for Frisch to give a memorial lecture for W. Ehrenberg at Birkbeck College.
9 [?] St James Sq. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton.
Also includes:
99/193 - letter from Isabel Sidgwick (Apr 1901) to her sister-in-law Nora Sidgwick, enclosing Henry Sidgwick's wedding buttonhole flowers
99/204-205 - two letters from Mary Sidgwick to her son Henry (1859).
Ryton. - Marsh is away, but the Abercrombies and Gibson are staying at his house on Monday. Abercrombie is booked to read at the Poetry Bookshop (address given) on Monday evening.
Addressed to Trevelyan at The Shiffolds. - Many thanks for Trevelyan's "Lucretius" ["Translations from Lucretius"]. Is honoured by the dedication.
Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Strange and 'rather a bore' writing 1900. Has received Bessie's 'almond-bearing letter' [see 9/23]; remembers walking under other almond trees with her. Is going to put a bad dream into his play; is getting on slowly but quite well with it. Much relieved by a letter from [Lina] Duff Gordon; wrote to her saying he probably should have told her of his feelings for Bessie but explaining why that had been difficult, and that he was pained to think their friendship could not be the same again; she replied after a while with no mention of the misunderstanding, just writing 'the letter of one intimate friend to another'. He had promised to write a poem about the pet bat who visits her every winter, and she wrote down the bat's name as a reminder [cf. "The Lady's Bat"]. May have been unfair to Mrs C. [Mary Costelloe], but she certainly talked about him and Lina Duff Gordon 'in a way she had no right'; will try to avoid her, but it is difficult to see [Bernard] Berenson, whom he likes very much, separately. Berenson has written, and 'rather reproached' him for not visiting him at Florence on the way down; he is alone now as Mrs Costelloe has gone to London because her husband is dying. Bob may stop a couple of days on the way back, since Berenson is not coming to England this year; 'he rather feels neglect, and has been extraordinary kind' to Bob, though he 'is difficult at times'. Will not decide until he knows when he is coming to Holland. Continues the letter next day, Has not yet heard from his mother about whether he and Bessie should cross the Channel together. Thinks it would probably be best for her to stop at Grosvenor Crescent for a night on the way to Welcombe, but that can be determined later. Hopes she and Paul and Marie [Hubrecht] will persuade Willy van Riemsdijk not to go to Africa. Sorry that her aunt has such a bad cold; teases Bessie about learning cooking and 'fortifying [herself] against evil times in the barbaric isle, where neither foreign languages not [sic] the dressing of vegetables are understood'. Other people have also found his father's book difficult, and of course she knows little of British 'history or... parliamentary jargon'. Mr Straughn Davidson [James Leigh Strachan-Davidson?] , an Oxford don whom he rather likes, is coming at the end of the week
Contains: "On Translating Montaigne" by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "Dante's Beatrice", by S.S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; poem, "Nocturne", by M. D. Hastings; "Composer in the Nursery" by Robert Muller-Hartmann; poem, "Reflection", by John Griffin; "Some Thoughts on the Teaching of Art" by A. B. S. Sprigge; poem, "Nostalgia", by H. B. [Herbert Brereton?] Aldrich.
I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Starting South this afternoon after ten days with the Berensons; B.B. is anxious and not sleeping well, but seems more cheerful since their arrival; his wife also seems to be in poor health and when she returns B.B. hopes to go to Sicily for a holiday. Asks whether Fry will be in Italy in March, the probable time of their own return, and whether Daniel will accompany him. Glad Fry's watercolours were successful and that he likes the [Band of Hope] banner. He must not forget his picture of H[elen] and J[ulian], and Helen her 'Bronzino infant'. Has seen Moore's young brother [Bertie] who paints in Italy; hopes Fry might be able to give him advice. Has heard about 'Lina's artist' [Aubrey Waterfield] from her, the K[err] Lawsons, and Moore who knew him at the Slade: tends to think that Lina is right about Waterfield, 'the Oxford manner' makes him a little difficult at first but he is fundamentally decent, and that [Lina's aunt] Mrs Ross has treated her very badly; Berenson is also 'perfectly silly' about it. However, Lina is being sensible and they will marry in a year or so. According to Moore, Tonks thought highly of Waterfield's drawings. B.B. 'nicer than ever' himself but much more intolerant of others (not Fry). Is sorry about the book [problems with the reproduction of Fry's illustrations for Trevelyan's "Polyphemus and Other Poems"] but it was not Fry's fault and his illustrations are much appreciated by all there. Bessie sends regards to all.