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Written from Downing Street.

Describes his journey to Paris and the accommodation that he had found for the two of them in the city. Recounts his meeting with [Allan] 'Kardec' and his meetings with those to whom the latter introduced him, including two Russian noblemen who were engaged in 'spreading the doctrine [of spiritism] in Russia'. Describes drawings and engravings produced by spiritists, which were shown to him by Kardec. Describes the seance, presided over by Kardec, which he attended; the session commenced with a prayer, and the minutes of the previous meeting were read, followed by the reading by the respective mediums of various communications made by the different spirits (including St Augustine and a late member of the Society) who had been evoked at the previous meeting. A member of the society, Dr Ferru, then recounted his experience of his encounters with a spirit called Undine (who was evoked at the meeting and promised to return at the next). Then four or five mediums began to write down the several communications that they were receiving from various spirits. Reports that Kardec is to take him to a small meeting of spiritists that evening. Awaits the arrival of Sidgwick [on Tuesday morning] with impatience.

File entitled 'Visit to Nyasaland of the Secretary of State: briefs and programme'. Index at front, briefs mainly biographical, some additional notes

Good discussions between Wittgenstein and Sraffa would result only if Wittgenstein wrote things down in advance.

Conduit Head - is not surprised at gaining a first in Tripos but had not expected a distinction, his scholarship will enable him to be self-supporting, surprised by similarities between his views in the Elizabethans and Francis Cornford's on Thucydides, going to work on a farm before starting academic work.

Includes Christmas card printed with 'Greetings from His Majesty's Middle East Forces, Christmas 1943'.

Mas St Gabriel, Peyloubet, Grasse, A[lpes] M[aritime], France. - Sends condolences on the death of Trevelyan's father. Glad to think Charles can now begin 'his project & its duties'. He and May [his sister] are happy, though the future is uncertain.

Had a match with Cameron [Lovett-Cameron's school at Mortimer?] yesterday, which was a goal-less draw but a good game. Would rather come home on the 2nd as Mr A[rnold] does not like people to leave early, and Robert likes staying for the last day. Has found he has another pair of shoes in his locker. Notes in a postscript that 'the holls [sic: holidays] are very near.

Pension Palumbo, Ravello, preso Amalfi. - Corrects Bessie's Italian for his address. Details of post times. The weather continues to be bad so he has been reading, writing letters, and finishing copying out [Thomas Sturge Moore's] "Danaë". Thanks her for sending on the "Chronicle". Has written for the "Manchester Guardian", as he agrees with it about the [Second Boer] War; its editor [C.P.] Scott was here when he arrived, and he had a long talk with him about the war. The "Guardian" is 'almost the best paper in England, being cosmopolitan'; is encouraged that Scott says he has 'kept most of his public, in spite of his attitude to the war', and that opposition to their policy led to the resignation of the "Chronicle's" editors, rather than public opinion. Hopes Bessie's visit to the dentist went well. Discussion of the lack of interest in romantic love in Sophocles and its treatment by the other ancient tragedians; contrasts this with the way 'almost all the great modern dramatis, Shakespear [sic], Racine, Molière, de Vega etc. fetch their subjects from Venus' archives'. Continues the letter later, after 'scribbling off a severe commentary on some of the obscurities in Moore's "Danaë"' and reading the first chapters of [Joseph Henry Shorthouse's] "John Inglesant", which Mrs Reid lent him this afternoon. Has told her about Bessie and she took a great interest; she is 'a dear old lady, and very kind' to him. Improvises a poem about being a black beetle crawling under Bessie's door to give her kisses.

Returns to the letter next evening; has been outside most of the day, spending the morning in Mrs Reid's garden, though not really able to work, and walking in the afternoon. Hopes to start work in a day or two on another play, not the one he showed Bessie. Has begun his commentary on Moore's "Danaë," but it will take him hours. Tells her to show the photographs his mother sent her to her uncle and aunt. Is touched by what she says about trusting him. Hopes that [Ambrose Hubrecht's] whale 'has been successfully dissected'; disappointed to hear 'he is not going to Utrecht whole, to be stuffed, or bottled.'

Continues the letter next day. Has been reading Chaucer and 'commenting on Danaë's little faults'. Perhaps exaggerated when he said 'modern art scarcely seemed to exist at all', but does feel that modern art is 'on the wrong lines', though 'men like Degas and Puvis de Chavannes and Whistler, and even often Watts and Burne Jones, have done great things'. Would be wrong to persuade himself that bad art was good, and there are times when 'circumstances have made great art difficult or impossible', such as literature in the middle ages. Does not think the Frys' attitude to art is exclusive; they may well be in music, but they know less about that.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry that Julian is not gaining weight; he may do better with the 'non-peptonized milk'. Glad that Elizabeth is going away for a while, though understands she cannot go far from home. Robert is having marvellous weather. She is quite well now, and happy to be 'very quiet'; Mary's children are coming around 20 July; she joins them on the 25th and they go to Cambo a few days later. Sends a jacket for Julian and will make a larger one for autumn if Elizabeth tells her the size. Glad Mrs Catt is improving. There is much rebuilding going on at the Portico, to give 'the young men [gardeners?]' a sitting and bed room and Mrs Davidson a back kitchen, plus 'better sanitary arrangements, which will not be finished for some time; Gussie [Enticknap] can therefore not be taken on for a while. The W.L.F. [Women's Liberal Federation] went well on the whole; Mary 'thought Lady C. [the Countess of Carlisle?] lost her temper too much' but 'the northern delegates were delighted with her'. Sir George is 'no worse for his expedition & was glad he went'; at least a hundred and fifty PCs were sworn in.

15 Pitcroft Road, Portsmouth - Congratulates Frazer.

Kings College Cambridge [headed notepaper). - Very nice to hear from her; will answer 'at once like a good boy - which I am not always!'. Agrees that Florence [Barger] is 'wonderful'; he 'found her looking out of the way well'. Has also had a 'good year'; his 'great achievement was getting to Italy for six weeks, to stay with American friends'.

Bessie asks about the London LIbrary; is not on the committee and thinks she should write directly to the Secretary and ask whether Bob's life membership entitles her to become an 'ordinary annual member without paying an entrance fee'; thinks the annual subscription is five or six pounds now but is unsure as he has a life membership himself. Would be more difficult for her to join on a reduced subscription; the Carlyle Fund provides for this, but 'the applicant has to prove special need'. It is 'very nice, and very right' that Birkbeck College allows her to borrow from Bob's library [which she has given to them as a memorial].

His book is about Dewas, the Indian state he was in years ago. Malcolm Darling, 'whom Bob liked and stayed with', has much information about it which Forster has worked in with his own letters from there to his mother. Hopes the book will be published next year; it will be called The Hill of Devi, which is the 'little acropolis that stands about Dewas and gives it its name'.

Would like to come and see her in the warmer weather; may be able to find a 'young friend to bring me in a car - they will sometimes'. Earlier this year he got to the Hammer with John Meade, son of a former rector at Abinger, now at the Staff College at Camberley, who is married to 'a grand-daughter of Major Lugard'.

[On headed notepaper for 40 Ennismore Gardens, SW]. Heard recently that Mr [Charles Mostyn?] Champneys, 'the master who was here last term, has died'; he was prescribed a pain medication which 'he thought he could make itself', tried, drank it, and died; he 'had probably poisoned himself, by taking too much Lodnam [laudanum]'. Robert 'rather liked him... though he was not at all popular'. The snow has now gone completely. Robert has a new belt. They are both [he and Georgie] 'getting on very well'. Adds a postscript to say he was caught in a 'dreadful' rainstorm this morning.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. [London] :- Thanks his parents for their letters. Came up this morning to go to the Dolmetsch concert. Bessie is well except for a 'slight cold', and says the rehearsals are going well 'though some of the players are rather weak, including the new Madame Dolmetsch'. Is sorry his father's rheumatism 'has been so troublesome', and hopes he will be all right at Zermatt. Has just seen her letter to Bessie, which came this morning.

Is going to see George this afternoon to 'go over the corrections of the first two chapters [of George's England under the Stuarts]; this is 'rather severe work', but he and George agree that these chapters need corrections more than the rest. George seems to like Robert's article [or the Independent Review], as do others, though 'they are not all convinced that Moore's poems are as good' as Robert thinks them. However, did not expect to persuade many people. Does not think either that George will persuade him to like Meredith's poetry 'in his coming article, though it will no doubt be very interesting'.

He and Bessie have not yet heard anything about their building estimates; supposes these are 'in the hands of the builders', but that it will 'come all right now' although they may still have to wait a while. Is going to Seatoller to work for a few weeks in early July; Bessie may join him there for a while, when she leaves Mrs Salomonson. Hopes they might see Caroline at Dorking before then. Is glad Aunt Margaret is 'so well again'.

[In Bessie's handwriting] Wants to 'add a line' to say she is glad Caroline and Sir George are enjoying their trip, and that Sir George's rheumatism has gone. It is 'so very comfortable' being able to stay at Grosvenor Crescent, it is 'so quiet' and 'it makes such a difference not having to bustle about noisy hotels'. Maria looks after her 'like a mother!'. They are just going to lunch at the Moores' before another rehearsal and the concert tonight. Sends love from them both; asks if Caroline could visit them on the 26th or 27th, or the 2nd July, but she must do what is most convenient for her.