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Has received a telegram summoning him to Zurich.

Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire.—Geoffrey is very happy (about his engagement). Reflects on how she and Montagu felt towards each other three years ago, and on the difficulties of detaching herself from the Prime Minister. Is depressed that most of their friends and relations would by annoyed if they were to marry. Arranges to meet, and asks after his mother.

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Transcript

Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire
April 20th 1915

My darling Isnt Geoffrey wonderful. {1} I’ve never seen anyone so happy. I am glad for him. Isnt it cruel that 3 years ago that summer at Penrhos I didnt like you enough (tho’ you tell me also that you didnt really love me much either) because then, tho’ the P.M had already begun to think he was fond of me, it wouldnt really have mattered to him, & now? Will it? What a fool I’ve been havent I? You, being prejudiced in my favour, may say that I’ve made him very happy for 3 years, but I know quite well that if it hadnt been me there would have been someone else or a series of others who wd have made him just as happy. I feel so ungrateful to him & yet at times I resent very bitterly that he should stand in the way. And yet I know you are right & that it wd be almost impossible for me to go to him & say. “In spite of the fact that you’ve again & again told me that if I were to marry life would have nothing left to offer you, I am going to marry Edwin” How could he be so cruel as to say that to me But I must see you, he has not [a] claim on me has he?

You suggest that I should gradually detach & free myself. But do you know what that wd mean to someone like me. I should perhaps for a week see nothing of him, make excuses for not doing so, then there’d be a scene & in order to mollify & propitiate and make him happy again I should say anything he wanted. And in all this can you understand how completely unmoved I am.

My darling dont be angry with me and think me worse than I am, there must be some way out, you’ll come Friday, there’ll be no Bluey & I’ll wait for you even if you are 10 minutes late.

I do hope you’ve found yr mother all right. Isnt it a depressing thought that amongst all our friends & relations (except perhaps my mother) there isnt one who wd be otherwise than annoyed if we were to marry? Particularly our families.

Write to me every day. Wednesday, Thursday Friday.

Venetia.

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{1} Geoffrey Howard had just become engaged to Christian Methuen. They were married on 15 May.

Miscellaneous correspondence, mainly cards, letters, greetings from Frisch's parents. Few letters survive.

2 pp. typescript on research in Britain, no author. (2 copies.)

Watts Gallery, Compton, Guildford. - Has now read Trevelyan's poems, and likes them very much; regrets that he has 'no classical scholarship', but gets 'something of those "dark grandeurs"' from Trevelyan's verses. They sometimes remind him of 'translations from Chinese': he likes their 'simple austerity'. The only writing he does is in prose: 'very poorly', he expects.

The Shiffolds. - Very good of her to write again about his book ["A Dream"?]; agrees that it is worth while to 'diminish the difference' between their ways of thinking, or rather to find whether it is as great as it may appear at first. He does not think they differ in any important way in 'moral feelings, charity, and the love of goodness', but that is of course 'not the whole of religion', though it may mean most to him. Has not had the 'experiences which have been so real' to Lily, and given her 'such comfort and assurance', but he too has faith 'if not in God, yet in goodness and loving kindness'. The line in his book 'If you seek comfort, seek it not from me' is not meant to refer to Lily's God who is good, and whom he therefore 'cannot think of as the omnipotent God who seems responsible for the evil as well as the good in the world'; she however may have found a way he has not of 'reconciling that difficulty (whether intellectually or mystically)', and in any case these matters are not easy to discuss, as they 'lie deeper than argument'. Discusses his own religious feelings and spiritually, with reference to his poem: does not think of the human spirit as God, though it may be the 'best thing that there is and in a sense the only divine thing'. Wants to explain rather than argue, since with friends as close as she and [her husband] Herbert are, he is sure it is not right to 'hide one's deepest feelings about such things'; she has 'such understanding and kindness' he thinks she will not be 'offended' by their differences. Hopes they will hear from each other if it is not possible to meet.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S. W. - Plans to go for a walk on Friday to 'get into training for [his lecture at Harrow on Saturday', which he is 'rather afraid about'. Asks if he can end his walk at the Shiffolds and stay the night.

Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside. - As he and Janet have 'hoped and expected' for a while, Mary has got engaged to John Moorman, who came to Hallington for a week in August; they met in June, at the Cornfords' musical parties in Cambridge. He left Cambridge this year, having stayed after his degree to train as a clergyman, and is now a curate in Leeds; he studied under [George Gordon] Coulton, who 'thinks highly of him'. He is 'liberal-minded', and George has discussed religion and history with him 'with much agreement and no feeling of barrier'. Moorman is also a 'fine walker' and is 'small but wiry'; his father was Professor of English at Leeds, and his mother is 'much respected in academic circles', and matron of a University hall in Leeds; their closest family friend is [Arthur] Grant, recently retired from the History Professorship there, a 'first-rate man'. Moorman's 'most intimate older and younger friends are Bishop Wyld [sic: Herbert Wild, Bishop of Newcastle], who conducted George and Bob's parents' funerals, and his son [John?]; in fact his 'whole entourage and atmosphere is about equally academic and clerical'. Thinks he will suit Mary very well, though 'not many people would', so he and Janet are much pleased.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Hopes Elizabeth is settled at Ravello and having a good Christmas day; expects it will be quiet, as theirs is. Had their 'very mild festivity' last night; George is staying, and C[harles], M[ary], and Mr Fitch came to dinner. They had music after dinner - Mary has greatly improved Charlie's singing - then 'played a letter game'. Most of their packing is done, and they leave [for Welcombe] on Tuesday; George will travel some of the way with them as he is joining Janet at Stocks for a week. The fogs in London, Manchester, Leeds and so on 'quite terrible last week'; hopes they will have gone. Asks if she may use one of Elizabeth's 'supernumeray [sic] silver inkstands' at Welcombe, as she is having a small room set up to use in the morning. George is well; he and Sir George discuss 'their respective works & the treatment of History &c &c &c at length & very amusingly'. Does not think George's book ["England Under the Stuarts"] has 'had a brilliant success', but it has been well reviewed. Asks to be remembered to Madame Palumbo; supposes Mrs Reid is still alive. Has received a postcard of Vesuvius from Heathcote Long so supposes he is somewhere near Naples. Asks if 'the diplomat' is any relation of Elizabeth's.

3 Hare Court, Inner Temple. - Apologises for not saying goodbye properly on the boat; hopes the stewardess looked after her, that she had a good crossing, and found everyone well at home. Asks her to thank Louisa [Hubrecht, who was staying with her uncle and aunt]. His hotel was very comfortable; had a good journey to London, reading more of "Arne" [by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson?]. Is glad to return to his 'studious habits', but even more so to think that soon she will share them with him. Has enjoyed his day at the British Museum. Had supper with the Sickerts and a 'long talk with Oswald', one of the 'nicest' of his friends whom he thinks she will like very much. Will probably go to Highgate to see [Thomas Sturge] Moore tomorrow, then to Dorking next day. Has not yet seen [Charles] Sanger, who must be out for the evening. Has been to Curry & Paxton, who will have them [spectacles for Ambro Hubrecht?] ready in about a week. Is paying Luzac [?]. Saw his parents this morning; his father has almost recovered. Read the Gospel of Nicodemus and some [Matteo?] Bandello stories at the British Museum. Expects she will soon be discussing their marriage date with her uncle and explaining his parents' plans to travel over. Will write to Sir Henry Howard [the British ambassador to the Netherlands] when the date is settled. Sanger has just been telling the story of his friend Robertson's love affair with an American girl who has just died; Sanger is going to Greece, and has not had 'his bad headaches' recently. Was sent a guinea by the "Manchester Guardian" [for his letter on the Amalfi landslip]. Frank Holland has sent a letter [17/145] promising him a set of Anatole France [as a wedding present]; Bob thinks what he has read of France 'very good'.

4 Whitehall Court, London, S.W.1. - [In response to a request for assistance with securing the safety of Heinrich Swoboda and his family, see 7/194, 7/199, 16/209] 'No: let them all perish now as far as I am concerned: I am pumped dry and can do no more'. Is sorry, as S[woboda] is a 'very worthy object of assistance', but there is nothing to be done 'against a wholesale political persecution short of declaring war'.

Saw Simon Nicholson [ie Reginald Popham Nicholson] yesterday; cannot remember whether Julian knows him; he and his wife live near [E.M.] Forster and are 'great friends of his and B.B. [Bernard Berenson] and now of Bob and Bessie. Has given Bob the address of a friend whom Julian might like to meet, a 'camouflage during the last war' and also a painter, 'about 60 years old, and very intelligent etc'; however, he is based 'up beyond Fort William, nearer the [Loch Ness] Monster than to [Julian]'. Bessie is home from the Park [home of Annie Philips], and seems well; they hope to see Ursula soon. Simon Nicholson was in the colonial service with Lugard in west Africa 'for years'; said he was shown some of Julian's 'Africa sketches by K[enneth?] Clark and liked them very much'.

1. Envelope, labelled in Elizabeth Trevelyan's hand ' Some Autobiographical dates rlg [?: relating to] R. C. T.', containing: one sheet and four fragments of paper with autobiographical dates in pencil in Robert Trevelyan's hand, and an ink copy of the complete sheet in Elizabeth Berenson's hand; an obituary ["Times", Jul 31, 1905] of Theodore Llewelyn Davies, including comments from Henry Montagu Butler, as well as another cutting about Llewelyn Davies's death; several pages of the September 1905 issue of "Land Values" containing an obituary of Theodore Llewelyn Davies.

2. Six copies of a tribute by 'M.N.' to R. C. Trevelyan, under the title "Love of Nature and of Literature", "Times", 4 April 1951.

3. Three copies of an article by Desmond MacCarthy about the poetry of R. C. Trevelyan, under the title "Overlooked", "Sunday Times, 31 Dec 1950

4. Three copies of poem, "In Memory of R. C. Trevelyan", by Kenneth Hopkins, "Everybody's Weekly", 14 Apr 1951 [date and magazine title written in by hand, on two copies probably by Elizabeth Trevelyan].

5. Three copies of "An Appreciation" in the "Manchester Guardian", 24 Mar 1951, by 'S.S' [Sylvia Sprigge?]; the last copy perhaps sent by Johannes Röntgen, as per the annotation.

6. Six copies of an obituary of R. C. Trevelyan by Desmond MacCarthy, "Sunday Times", 1 April 1951, including the text of Trevelyan's last poem, sent to MacCarthy 'a few weeks before his death' [see 16/76]

7. Review in "Time and Tide" by C[icely] V[eronica] Wedgwood of F.L. Lucas's "Greek Poetry for Everyman" and Trevelyan's "Translations from Greek Poetry", published under the title "A Foreigner in Arcady".

8. Appreciation by Desmond MacCarthy of "The Poetry of Robert Trevelyan", "Empire Review" [undated: 1924?] pp 412-423.

Poggio Gherardo, Via Settignanese, Firenze. - Discusses Trevelyan's corrections for her book ["Florentine Villas"] which will not be published till April as 'Miss [Nelly] Erichsen is behindhand with her drawings'. Will be 'very pleasant' to see Trevelyan and make his wife's acquaintance. Afraid he will find Mr Ross 'very much altered and aged'. [Bernard] Berenson is staying with them as the Frullino is let; today Mrs Costelloe [Mary, later Berenson's wife], her mother, brother and two children went to the new villa [I Tatti], which is 'delightful'. Berenson will stay with the Rosses until the marriage on about 16 December. Lina is then probably going to Rome, or to visit the Curries; she was going to go to Egypt, but now does not want to leave her uncle in his illness for so long. Sends love to 'my Poet ([George]Meredith)' when Trevelyan next sees him; he is 'delightful company, when there is not a large audience', though 'apt to pose' when he has one. Feels guilty for taking up so much of Trevelyan's time [with corrections]; is very grateful and wishes she could do something in return.

110 Banbury Road, Oxford.—Discusses the section of his translation of the «Hypnerotomachia» which he sent to Smith. Wishes he had told him of the job at the British Institute in Florence which Bottrall got. Is glad that Leavis is being helpful; ‘there is much to be said for the Cambridge throw’. Asks whether Smith has thought of writing for the Daily Worker or Reynold’s News. He now has to turn his mind to religious poetry [in preparation for next term’s lectures], in order to have time to go to Parma and Florence to research Enea Vico.

Has sent a specimen copy of 'La Maison aux Panonceaux' to Cecil Dodd; if she wishes to have the stock of the library edition, they will hand it over.

Court Leys, Toot Baldon, Oxford - Is pleased to hear that Frazer has been able to finish his Encyclopaedia ['Anthologia Anthropologica'].

Metelliano. - Is happy to say that he is coming to England for the Executive Committee of the International PEN, taking place between 25-27 April. Is also planning to visit Roger Hinks in Holland. Must see Trevelyan, either in London or at the Shiffolds; is glad he is recovering, did not know he had been low. Saw a notice in the "Times" about [Reginald Popham] Nicholson's death, which must have affected B.B. [Berenson]. Will visit I Tatti just before coming to England. Has seen Raymond Mortimer, but missed [Stephen] Spender and Humphrey Sumner who were in Rome while he was in Paris with the W.F.U.N.A. Is very sorry about Trevelyan's sister in law [Janet: her illness]; would like to write to Trevelyan's brother [George]. Is almost sure to go to Edinburgh for the PEN Congress at the end of August.

King's College, Cambridge. - Thanks Trevelyan for his offer of a Christmas present: he is going to choose Catullus, Tibullus and Propertius whom he wants to read over the vacation. Has seen a painting signed 'Trevelyan 1932' in a fresher's room showing 'corpses within wheels' which he thinks must be one of Julian's early works.

RJ has only just got through the examination papers and must then go to Brighton. He has come across 'some curious philological questions in my teutonic researches which will amuse you'. RJ hears and believes 'that the government are in difficulties about finance and are meditating fresh taxes on raising the income tax to shilling'. This, he thinks, will be a problem after the general election.

Funeral of H M Butler, Agnata Butler to take a house in Cambridge on a temporary basis.