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33 Camden Rd, N. W.

(The salutation is ‘My dears all’.)

Explains that she has hesitated to write to Nora sooner, lest a letter might seem almost an intrusion in the first weeks of Nora's great sorrow, but hopes that she will not mind her now ending a few lines to express her deep sympathy with her. States that all who have benefitted by Henry's 'self-sacrificing efforts in the cause of women's education realize how great a debt of gratitude is due to him', and that those, like herself, who had the privilege of attending his lectures and coming under the influence of his remarkable mind, 'are very conscious of all they owe him.' Trusts that Nora's health has not suffered and that she will still feel equal to go on with her work for the cause she and Henry 'have both been so devoted to.'

Trinity College, Cambridge - He wishes the news about Sir James was better; the recent sales numbers 'must have something like the effect of a mattress to lie on, keeping one from contact with the cold hard ground'; will not translate Renan, doesn't think he could do it well enough; is not very strong, his life should have ended two years before; recently travelled to Savoy and Dauphiné; suspects her of staying at Buckingham Palace; the Sedgwick elm in the roundabout was blown down in a storm.

Written from 2 Nelson Street, Camden Town.

Written from Dusseldorf.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Wants to cut some lines in the dialogue at the end of the act [Act I of "The Bride of Dionysus"] to keep the music moving; has never tried to keep music going for more than sixteen minutes before, and doing so for an hour is a 'simply terrific' strain. Suggests how to do this.

The school played Farnborough at home on Thursday, but lost by three goals to nil. It is nearing the end of term, with only four more weeks. The election here [the vote during the General Election for the Basingstoke constituency] is on Friday; supposes the other elections will be this and next week. Is getting near the end of the Odyssey now. The school did not go to church today as it was raining. Robert wrote to Browning ma[jor] today.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Responds to his inquiries about the academic dress he (Steuert) needs for graduation. Hopes that Smith’s interview with the [British] Council goes well and that he will be able to get congenial work in England. Moreno is now a lecturer at King’s College, London. Has much to discuss with him. ‘I’m afraid in many ways I’m no longer a thorough-going Leavisite.’

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Very pleased to receive Bob's 'Christmas greeting of poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"]: the translations makes him wish he knew more of the authors; regrets his 'lack of a Classical education' more often as he gets older. The 'smattering of science' he gathered at Cambridge was enough to 'awaken [him] to the limitations of the scientific approach'; is sure Bob's translations give the 'right feeling'. Will have them 'bound up with the other two one day'. Hopes all well with Bob and Bessie. He and Katharine are in their new home: they 'sold the Torrington house quite well', then he 'dared greatly and bought an old and lovely and enormous house' at Northam, with two acres of grounds surrounded by a 'high stone wall', which had not sold at auction. Has divided the house in two, sold one half, and got their half and most of the 'lovely old garden' for around one and a half thousand pounds, not dear for today's prices. The rooms are large and beautiful, and the house near both Bideford and the sea. His autobiography ["But to What Purpose"] has been held up at the binders again, but he is assured it will be out on 14 January. Has in fact written two books after it, and is just starting another; did 'little but foreman's work' during the alterations to the house, and 'enjoyed it'. Hopes to stay at Peaslake in February [see also 18/67?], and would like to visit the Trevelyans. Sends Christmas and New Year's best wishes.

Contains: poem, "Moonlight", by E. D. Idle; "Notes from a War Diary" by S. S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; poem, "Lord Death", by Ethel Ginsberg; poem, "The First Hand (for John Donne)" by Nicholas Moore; poem, "Lines for Music", by G. Rostrevor Hamilton; poem, "Apologia Punica" by "J. H."; "By the Abinger Well", by the Editor [Sylvia Sprigge].

Index for Volume 2 of the "Chronicle"; note from the Editor saying that it will only be possible to publish eight numbers next year, but that the subscription will remain at six shillings, also encouraging people to fill in the following form to renew their subscription.

Warley, 17 Hills Avenue, Cambridge - Congratulates Frazer.

Postmarked Dymock. - Birth of a son [Michael].

Barton Cottage, Cambridge - Thanks her for 'Trésor légendaire de l'humanité', has been reading it while at home with a cold; is interested to hear 'The Golden Bough' is to be translated into German, sends regards.

Thanks his parents for their letters. The [cricket] match began yesterday and will go on until Tuesday. Thinks the picnic will be on Friday. Will send his mother four roses he has got in his garden. Mrs Bartlett [the matron] says the medicine has 'put some colour' into his face and he should go on taking it. Has caught three caterpillars; 'Levson' [Granville Leveson-Gower ?] says he thinks they are peacocks, so Robert has given them away since they are common and small. His other caterpillars seems to be doing well; people think it will turn into a moth. Mr Arnold says the back board has made Robert's back straighter already, that he is fourth out of five in arithmetic and was bottom in French last week but is now second. Is working alone in Latin to 'get up' his grammar. Goes to bed late now, and gets up late.

Pension Palumbo, Ravello. - There is not sufficient paper in the hotel to answer her long letter as it deserves. Strange that he is not inspired to write Bessie love-poetry, but says he is 'not good at putting difficult and elaborate and wonderful thoughts into verse', which would be needed; will try one day. Sorry that Gredel [Guije] failed. Since he sometimes misses out words in his letters, Bessie need never be shocked by his 'wicked opinions' but can add 'nots' when she pleases and 'convert the sense to please [her] fancy'. Glad she is re-reading [Joseph Henry Shorthouse's] "John Inglesant". Sends her kisses "blown through the ether like waves of light or electricity'. Continues the letter next morning, copying out an extract about Shorthouse from a piece of paper in Mrs Reid's book an extract from a letter from Isabel Balfour; this recalls what his brother [George?] has heard about Shorthouse. The book reminds Bob of Pater's "Marius the Epicurean"; thinks one must have influenced the other; also thinks "Marius" the better book on the whole. Asks his waiter to settle their dispute about Italian grammar, which he does in Bob's favour. Returns to the letter in the afternoon: old Palumbo died this morning, and since his wife did not want Bob to leave, he is staying in a separate part of the house where he is 'quite out of the way'. News has just come that the Cappuccini hotel at Amalfi 'has subsided on a great part of it' and some people have been killed. Writes again in the evening having gone to see the landslip, which was as bad as the rumours; seven or eight people died, and 'part of the end of the hotel had gone'. The people say it is St. Francis' doing, "angry because his monastery had been put to base uses". Had never been to Amalfi before, though this is his third visit; not much to see 'except the people and the beggars', and the Cathedral is 'spoilt by restoring'. Palumbo was dying about the same time as the landslip, and the proprietor of the Cappuccini, a friend, was here comforting Madame Palumbo when the news about the hotel came. 'They say he almost fainted... [and] will probably be ruined, as no one will dare come to his hotel now'. Bob exerted himself greatly on the journey down to Amalfi and back and 'sweeted (in Grandmont language' despite the bitter cold.

Originally enclosing a 'charming letter from [Eddie] Marsh'; his 'first Cambridge friend' who works in the Colonial office 'though, like many there, he does not like the war'; gives a brief character sketch. Has also heard from [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson. Has not heard from [Bernard] Berenson, but has from [Mary] Costelloe, whom he just asked Berenson to tell; 'rather annoying', as he 'care[s] for Berenson very much, and dislike Mrs C.', though it was a 'perfectly proper letter'. Is very troubled by [Lina] Duff Gordon's letter: her wish for his happiness is 'unmistakeably sincere', as she always is, but her reply to his wish for them to remain as good friends is that since he told her nothing about this when he saw her 'constantly' in London last October, things can never be quite the same. It would have been very difficult to tell her, but feels that perhaps he should have done, not because she was an 'intimate friend' - the only one of his friends he told, 'for special reasons', was Fry - but because Mrs Costelloe had been spreading rumours that she was in love with him. Perhaps this was true, and he should have realised, although he does not think he gave her reason to believe he was in love with her; it is possible that Mrs Costelloe has stirred up trouble, as 'she has a great influence over Miss D. G.' and he believes her 'really to be a bad woman, though with many good qualities'. Is going to see Palumbo's funeral start for Naples. Writes again in the evening, after writing at 'my cliff, the Cembrone [Cimbrone]'. Quotes from a letter from Tom Moore: Moore thinks he will 'make a good husband' but spoil all his children. Has received Bessie's next letter, but not the photographs. He can skate, but not very well. Does not think Buller's defeat will make much difference to British attitudes to the [Second Boer] war; discussion of the war; does not think it would be good if all of South Africa were governed by the Dutch, would not object to 'an independent Dutch South Africa if it were well governed, and the natives treated properly' which currently happens in the Cape but not in the Transvaal. Methuen and probably Buller are not equal to the people against them, but this does not mean the English have fought badly; however, she need not worry that he is 'becoming Jingo'. Sorry Bessie has missed Tonina [van Riemsdijk]'s violin; when one good enough becomes available, will get it for her. They must visit Ravello together; Madame asked if they would come here on their honeymoon, which they will have to discuss; she intends to keep the hotel for some years at least.

JSM has won £25 in the Act Union Lottery, likes the butler but the servants are all idle and lay in bed too late

Explains that he has been busy with Ecclesiastical Commission business, and the 'Camb[ridge] Mod[ern] Hist[ory]', and has only just found time to read Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir. Writes to tell Nora how much he likes and admires it, referring to its self-restraint and dignity, and to the way in which the letters 'are left to tell their own story, aided by the excellent pieces of biography or incidental explanation here and there.'