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The British Hospital, Hôtel Bellevue, Wimereux.—(24th.) Describes her journey to Wimereux, her impressions of the hospital, and her timetable of work. There is much discussion of the crisis, and she nearly quarrelled with a doctor who questioned Winston’s sense of decency.—(25th.) The railway and the ambulances are noisy. She has been to Boulogne to see Frances, and has tried to read ‘Joseph’. Is bored by the prospect in front of her, but will soon settle in. Urges him to pass on political gossip and war news.

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Transcript

The British Hospital, Hotel Bellevue, Wimereux
(Not my address | I gave you that didnt I?) {1}
Monday evening May 24th 1915

My darlingest not a vestige of a submarine disturbed our crossing and we arrived safely to find Sir Henry awaiting us on the platform. I couldnt telegraph as it takes hours. We came straight out here. The hospital is a rather squalid hotel in a street facing onto a small river, but one sees the sea not 300 yards away. I’ve not looked into the wards yet, but start tomorrow. Its much less arduous than the London breakfast at 7.30 instead of 6.30 and supper 8.15 instead of 9.30, so you see we are in clover. I’ve a reasonably nice room in which I’ve stowed myself and belongings with difficulty. After today I shant see much of the Normans, which I dont regret. They talk about the crisis a good deal, & I’m sorry to say I’ve nearly had a quarrel with a foul little doctor about whether Winston had any sense of decency or not. {2} I feel resigned and detached about the prospect of these next few weeks, but I miss you horribly. I’ll finish tomorrow. Goodnight, I hope you are dining somewhere and having fun. {3}

The noise is awful in this place, I hadnt realised that apparently the most vital railway from the whole world to the front passes within 20 yards of us, also ambulances drive up from time to time. I’m just going to have breakfast. Sir Heinrich has to pass all my letters so I shall feel a certain reluctance to write every day to you, but I daresay I shall become quite brazen about this. {4}

I’ve been into Boulogne and seen Frances, who has again been very anxious about Edward who has had a temp of 104, he’s better to-day.

My darling: Joseph is one of the most tedious writers I’ve ever come across. I tried him last night and found it anything but stimulating, or is it that all forms of religion, and the observances which accompany them & to which the religious attach so much importance, are bound to appear very foolish to someone like me. Still it doesnt matter as its not going to affect you or me afterwards.

I’ve just got your telegram {5} (11·30) thank you so much, I wonder when I shall get a letter from you. I’ll confess to you at once that I feel very much bored at the prospect in front of me, but then one always feels like that for the first few days, I shall soon become thoroughly happy in my new surroundings.

Write me every scrap of political gossip you can find, also any war news, as you know I never read the papers so I rely on you.

The doctors are mostly half casts† and very squalid looking.

This is worthy of your collection of letters at Cambridge its every bit as boring. What fun we had then. I wish I was back in England.

My love to you always

Venetia

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Partly written in pencil (see below).

{1} ‘Not … didnt I?’ is written below the printed address in pencil. The brackets have been supplied.

{2} The allusion is to Churchill’s handling of the Dardanelles campaign.

{3} The writing changes from ink to pencil here.

{4} A new sheet begins here. What follows was written slightly later.

{5} This does not survive.

† Sic.

Berlin W.50, Marburgerstr. 6. Dated 11.8.12 - Has been travelling, but will dictate his notes tomorrow; spoke to Professor [Henry] Wyld about taking some Greek matters down on the phonograph for Mrs Frazer but the apparatus is not in Liverpool.

Edinburgh - References to Henri Victor Regnault's researches on steam and his formula are given in the Memoires de l'Academie des Sciences and occupy a whole volume printed in 1847. HVR's hygrometer [an instrument which measures the humidity of the air or other gases] is superior to Daniell's [John F. Daniell]: 'It acts by drawing air by aspiration through ether in a tube, whose exterior is silvered and receives the dew'. JDF has difficulty answering WW's question about the Polarity of Bismuth: 'My impression on reading Tyndall's paper was in his favour, but not quite confidently [John Tyndall. On the Existence of a Magnetic Medium in Space, 1855]. On the other hand I do not know what opinion Faraday has of late maintained. I confess that his language and that of Thomson (who is understood to agree with him) is almost metaphysically obscure and that Thomson in his later published correspondence with Tyndall seemed to me almost to admit the fact except in words'.

One of 48 notebooks, Add.MS.c.113-150, used for Powell's edition of Thucydides published in 1942. Collation of Basel E.III.4.

Headingley - thanks him for his letter to his wife, has been given two weeks to live, Blakesley's consistent kindness towards him, asks him to help his wife in the management of his children

Refers to a conversation between himself and Sidgwick in Aberdeen, at the close of a meeting of the 'Economical Section' about the re-publication in a separate form of Sidgwick's article 'Ethics' in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Explains that the Church of Scotland has four committees, one for each of the four universities, for the examination of students entering the Divinity Halls. The text book in Moral Philosophy since the committees were first appointed has been Fleming's Manual [of Moral Philosophy], but when Sidgwick's article appeared Stewart believed that it offered what was required as a substitute for the Manual, which had proved to be unsatisfactory for the purpose, and he spoke to Professor Baynes about asking Sidgwick to publish separately. Now writes a semi-formal letter, which had been suggested by Sidgwick when they met in Aberdeen. Reports that since that meeting he has communicated with conveners and members of the four committees, and that they are prepared to adopt it as their text-book in Moral Philosophy if Sidgwick would be willing to republish it in a form and at a price somewhat similar to those of [Jevon's] Elementary Lessons on Logic. Claims that 'the moderate size yet comprehensiveness' of Sidgwick's article, and the space devoted in it to Greek and English Ethics, and especially to the influence of Christianity, makes it suitable for the purposes of the committee. Suggests that there are probably other examining bodies who would be glad of such a book. Is unaware of what the Boards of the Free and United Presbyterian Churches do in regard to this matter. Offers to open up communications with them. Reports that the name of the text-book to be used at the examinations in October must be inserted in the Mission Record for April. Asks Sidgwick to let him know whether he would be agreeable to the above proposal, and whether he could have the answer back by April 'or so soon thereafter' as to justify their publishing it in the April edition of the Mission Record.

Refers to the letter she received from him as 'a precious light'. Claims that it assisted her with her plans for the institution of a scheme to benefit to poor students. Agrees the 'condition of the Laboratory' to be all-important, and that consideration of the Land in Society should be excluded. Asks Sidgwick for further advice, now that the 'right path' has been struck out. Reports that she is not yet seeing even intimate friends, but is prepared to meet those who can aid her with her project. Refers to the question of which university or college offers the best machinery for the purpose, and also what conditions should be fixed 'as checks on the idle abuse of the studentship'. Expresses the hope that Sidgwick, Professor Stuart, Dr Foster or Frank Balfour will give her some advice when they come to town, and gives details of her availability.

With carbon copy of reply from R. A. Butler,

Correspondence, 1961, 1964, 1974, 1989.

2 letters from A. Brauer, 1932, to Blichfeldt.
'Remarks on work of Blichfeldt', n.d. (c.1947-50).
2pp. ms. notes by Davenport.
4pp. miscellaneous ms. notes on Blichfeldt, made by Davenport, n.d. (c.1947-50).
'Various topics in the theory of numbers', 1953-54.
6pp. typescript draft of a lecture by Davenport, containing material on 'Blichfeldt's Principle'.

With letter from Lady Selkirk to R. A. Butler, [20 Oct. 1959], and carbon copy of letter from R. A. Butler to Lord and Lady Selkirk, 27 Oct. 1959

42. Kidbrook Park Rd., Blackheath S.E. Notifies him the book is on its way and hopes he approves of her choice of his poem.

Letter declining invitation to the 1905 Apostles' dinner.

4 bundles.