Announces that he intends to come to visit her 'from the 4th to the 11th'. Reports that he is up in Trinity College, working, and that he feels very well after a pleasant visit to Oxford. Reports that William seemed in very good spirits, and that he was sleeping 'very fairly' and hunts every other day. Desires to hear the Rugby news, and asks who are the five old Rugbeians. Reports that he wrote a letter to the Times, but that it was not published. Reports that he received a letter from his nephew Martin, which was 'very nicely written and with that curious mixture of childish and prematurely adult phraseology that one sees in a precocious child'. Asks her to tell him when Mary is going to visit her, and supposes that Edward will be very busy all the vacation.
Asks his mother's opinion on 'the new Tennyson'. States that they [in Trinity College] regard it 'as rather an imposition on the part of the publisher - republishing the Morte d'Arthur...and having so few lines in a page.' Complains that it is as bad as one of Victor Hugo's novels. Refers to a reading of the poem called The Higher Pantheism by Tennyson himself at a meeting of the Metaphysical Society, and to Tyndall's reaction to it. Remarks on 'how busy Death has been' during the previous six months among those whom he knows. Reports that he has just heard of the death of one of the Clifton Masters called Cay.
Commonwealth Offices, Treasury Place, Melbourne, C.2.—Has already agreed to submit a draft of his book to Norman Brook for governmental approval (see 1/115). Intends to submit copies of the text to publishers in London in April.
In preparation for his biographical talk at Lincoln on the centenary of Boole's death
Concluded that she would not attend a Latin class, scarlet fever in the Leslie family: [The Priory, Kenilworth]
The Post Office, Painswick, Glos. - Has been 'delighted by the reception' given to Bob's book [his "Collected Works"]; the review in the "Sunday Times" was good. As 'so sane, so wise... with such a hold on the past - bridging from it to the future', Bob is a most 'valuable & necessary' poet. Encloses his cheque [for the book?].
2, Cheyne Gardens, S. W. - Thanks Bessie for her letter; they were 'much amused and pleased at Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'s horror of the man of war', but Bessie never 'saw Goldie dressed up in his war paint' as George did when they were 'volunteers together'. Afraid he and Janet cannot lunch on Wednesday 20th, and he is lecturing at Cambridge on Thursday 21st. Invites her to come to tea with them on Wednesday, or to dinner just with Jan on Thursday. Asks to be remembered to Jan [Hubrecht], and sends good wishes to his wife.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad that Elizabeth is comfortably settled in her lodgings [at Eastbourne]. She and Sir George went to the Burlington Hotel there a while ago; she was not impressed by the food but expects the Grand is worse, 'it certainly looks seedy'. Is not sure when they can come, since she has been ill and it is still very cold. Was glad to see Robert, though he 'seemed tired and out of spirits', hopes he is better; very sorry for Elizabeth's 'domestic worries'. Longs to see Julian; hopes Mrs Catt [the nurse] will soon be better. Wants to take Booa [Mary Prestwich] to stay with Miss [name illegible] while they are at Eastbourne, which would 'do her good'. Annie [Philips] is coming on her way to Pen Moel; the news of Meggy [Price] is bad and Phil [Morgan Philips Price] has 'not been heard of for some time'. Newspapers very interesting at the moment. Asks if there would be room for her and Sir George at Elizabeth's lodgings.
Ayot St Lawrence, Welwyn, Herts. - Unfortunately, has 'never heard of the poor chap' [someone for whom Trevelyan is soliciting money or recommendations?] and 'it wouldn't do him any service to say so'.
Girset [?], Java. - Received his father's letter of 20 January at Batavia, but there was no time to answer it before the mail went. They have been as far as Djodkakarta [Yogyakarta] in central Java, where they visited the great Budddhist temple Borobudur; this was 'as fine as anything [they] saw in India. They came here on the way back to Batavia; it is 'surrounded by seven large volcanoes', and they visited two of the craters.. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is going to Bintenoy [?], while Robert returns to Batavia and will stay two nights with Bessie's half-brother Herman [des Amorie van der Hoeven], who manages several estates and is a 'very pleasant intelligent man'. They sail on 8 March for Singapore, but will not sail from there to Hong Kong until 15 March; will probably visit Deli in Sumatra in between. Will only have a month in China if he returns by the train leaving Pekin [Beijing] on 21 April in order to get back to London by 4 May. Not sure if he will receive any letters posted after this one is received, but gives an address in Pekin, which he expects to reach about 6 April. It is the rainy season here, but they have had a 'very pleasant impression of Java', though he does not 'find the people so interesting as in India'. The Dutch have certainly 'made more of a success of Java' than the British have of Ceylon; cites population growth. It is very hot in Batavia, but 'quite cool and pleasant' up here in the hills. Will be 'very glad to get home again', though he has had, and is 'still having, a wonderful time', and is especially looking forward to seeing something of China. Has just finished "Cousin Pons", which is 'a depressing story. The world can hardly be as bad as Balzac paints it'.
Newnham Cottage, Queen's Road, Cambridge - Thanks Frazer for his note; congratulates him; was very agreeably surprised to get the O.M., and is 'very proud to be linked with you as a brother O.M. of the same college at the same time'.
The Macmillan Company, New York - Thanks her for her letter, will add Frazer's omitted titles to the next printing of the dust jacket.
11 Edwardes Square W.8. - 'Amalgamation' [the forming of the League of Nations Union] has been a great worry, but it is clearly necessary for the LNS [the League of Nations Society, of which Dickinson was a member. The 'other association' [the League of Free Nations Association] knows how to run propaganda campaigns, and he thinks in general their aims are the same; certainly Murray and Wells want the same, even McCurdy. Their literature is bad, and their policy of the 'League now' has been turned down by Wilson and Grey, who is to be the Union's president and said the right thing on almost every point. Hopes Bessie will not be too suspicious about the amalgamation, though he understands her fears. Is still playing the [chess] game with Bob, who seems very happy. Asks if she is staying on at the Shiffolds. Is glad Julian is happy, but fears she will be lonely. Almost dares hope for the end [of the war].
Lisnamallard, Omagh, Co. Tyrone - Sends best wishes on his birthday.
Regarding the will of Madame Cacciola [Florence Trevelyan]: according to Bramine, Trevelyan's brother had some qualms about the duty payable, but Grandmont explains Italian inheritance law; thinks Trevelyan would be able to sell part or all of the estate. Does not believe the widower [Salvatore Cacciola] could create difficulties. Grandmont however does not know the situation in detail, so Trevelyan should not be swayed by his advice to either accept or reject the legacy; he should consult a Sicilian lawyer before making a final decision. Recommends Calogero Galio at Catane and Adolfo Carducci at Messina. The legacy to Mariannina has no validity if the uncle does not execute the clause written by the dead woman.
Brief correspondence re possible consultancy.
Includes photocopy of a letter from D. Gabor, 28 January 1958, re 'Langmuir's Paradox' and miscellaneous notes and calculations by Thomson in response to letters or drafts from Ware.
Fettercairne House, Fettercairne - JDF has been unwell and gives a description of his illness. Consequently his studies have been interrupted for some two to three months. JDF is pleased in the recent appointment of his namesake , Edward Forbes, to Edinburgh University. He is sorry that Lord Rosse has resigned from the Royal Society: 'Lord Wrottesley though a very worthy man seems hardly suited for so public a post, so far as I know of him. I think on the whole Murchison [Roderick Murchison] would have done it well. I do not think the Royal Society seems flourishing. The council is not strong and the new elections below criticism'.