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.
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.
Wixenford, Eversley. - They returned home last night after a 'delightful week at Niton' [on the Isle of Wight]. Has now unwrapped the paper-case and blotting book which are 'pretty' and useful, and which he will greatly value as Bobbie's gifts. Will hope to receive few lines from Bobbie at the end of his first fortnight [at Harrow]; thinks he will be placed 'without further exam[inatio]n in Lower Remove', where the work will not be easy, with some of it familiar, so he need only keep from making 'avoidable blunders'. Hopes Bobbie will show them he has 'some idea of Latin Prose'. Asks him to tell George he will keep the same bed-room: Arnold will try to find someone George will like to share it with. Expects that after Midsummer he will share it with Booth's brother, who will join the school then. Is returning [James?] Welldon's letter, which Bobbie's mother 'kindly' let him read; thanks her for writing; he will reply to her when he has news about George. Hopes Bobbie's elder brother [Charles] has recovered, and that he will not 'lose his promotion': it would be 'very hard lines' if it did. Adds a postscript to say he is reading [John Robert] Seeley's "Expansion of England", and thinks Bobbie would like it: it is certainly 'more interesting than the dry-as-dust' he read for the Bowen prize; he can probably find it in his House library.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Writing to tell her 'what a dear Paul is'; did not see him when he was ill, but he is 'all brightness now'; Paul mistook George for 'his daddy' when he first went in to see him 'and the disappointment caused a scene', but he soon got quite fond of him; the trick is not to touch him too soon. Paul is very like Bob, 'with his curls and all', and they are now great friends. Wishes Bessie 'good luck' [probably as she is due to give birth].
Trinity College, Cambridge. - Likes "Cheiron" very much, and will be "proud of the dedication". Is much interested in Bob's latest classical plays, which take him into a thoroughly pleasant 'world of moral, intellectual and aesthetic imagination', and 'criticize real life' without 'directly setting out' to do so. Postscript at top of letter says that Humphry is enjoying his classical studies, and life in general, in Cambridge very much.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hopes that the snow in Italy has melted. Spent one night and '2 busy days' in London; Sir George went up for the day yesterday. Spent that evening with Janet, since George was at a 'review meeting' [for the "Independent Review"?], who is very well and 'enjoys the situation to the full'; approves of her preparations [for the forthcoming birth]. Thinks Charles and Mary are staying at Cambo till the end of the month. Mary has 'thoroughly got up the subject of Taxation of Land Values' and has given several short speeches on it; she has also written a leaflet which Caroline hopes to get printed for the W.L.F. [Women's Liberal Federation]. Good that she can help Charles politically. Wants Elizabeth's advice about pianos: there ought to be one at Welcombe, and she would 'like to change the monster in London!'. Has a room at Welcombe to write in now, so Elizabeth can now have the drawing room to herself to practice in. Expects Meg Booth will arrive [in Italy] soon. Asks if Elizabeth is thinking of going to Taormina this year; hopes the Grandmonts are well. "The Times" is 'so hard up for an argument for the sugar tax that they say it is unhealthy and that people should not eat so much'. A party of neighbours came for lunch recently, and more will come. Has had a 'nice letter' from Mrs Enticknap.
Haies [?: postmarked Bristol]. - Interested to learn from Robert's 'delightful essay in Books that the Blatant Beast [allegory for calumny and slander in Spenser's "Faerie Queene"] is still at large'. She and Daphne [her daughter] are 'not among the "very few & very weary"' so had thought the Beast had suffered the same fate as the 'other powers of Evil'. Wishes she had seen the ponds when George took her to tea at Wallington once, but it 'would have been torture... not to bathe'. His point about the 'romance as well as the sensuous pleasure of bathing' is quite true; an essay could be written in itself on the 'various flavours' of bathing in different types of water. Postscript on address side of card notes that she lent out the first edition he sent her [of "Windfalls"?] and does not know to whom, so is very glad to get this one.
Thinks this [referring to an enclosure now not present?] is a 'really dear old letter'; he is 'human enough to prefer such 'thinking aloud' to 'propriety' though he would not have written it himself and hopes he will 'be spared a correspondence'. Very pleased that Elizabeth so likes his book ["Garibaldi and the Thousand"]; values her opinion 'highly'. She is 'quite right about the Sicilians'; if it were not for his considerable debt to 'individual Sicilians', he would have been 'more humorous at the expense of their absurd countrymen'. Comments on what a 'jolly time we have on the Fifth of November'. Is lunching with 'the Jans' [Jan Hubrecht and his wife] tomorrow at Cambridge. Notes in a postscript that he knows about Aunt Annie [Philips] and has heard from her.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - News of Julian, who is well despite not having a good night's sleep according to the nurse, who has just taken him off for a drive, 'he & old Maria [the maid?] looking equally delighted'; he is getting onto his feet more now. She herself will take him to the village this afternoon. Hopes Elizabeth found all well at home; was very good to have her for such a 'long quiet visit'; if only they had not had 'the sad little tragedy' [the death of George's son Theodore]. Has heard no more from George; hopes Geoffrey Young 'is helping to console him'. Enjoyed seeing Robert very much; hopes he can settle to work now. Mrs Catt says she has not had so much pain for the last few days.
Aulla. - Thanks his mother for her letter [10/44]; she must now be 'pretty well satisfied with the elections'; thinks 'even George can't be so very pessimistic'. They only know the result up to Monday. London 'seems to be playing up well': if the counties follow, 'there won't be much of an opposition left'. It will be a 'great responsibility for the Government', as they are not likely to have such a chance again. Hopes they will 'prepare for a House of Lords campaign': thinks the Liberals should 'ask leave to settle the business of the House of Lords' in the next election campaign, as no doubt the Lords will have 'by then made themselves unpopular by rejecting [Liberal] bills'; also 'to settle Ireland once and for all' and to 'pass a general reform bill on the lines of one man one vote, one vote one value'. All these things 'hang together', and he does not think any one can pass by itself, but together they might 'carry the next election'. Hopes the Liberal candidate at Stratford [Malcolm Kincaid-Smith] will win.
'C[harles] and M[olly]'s paper' has just arrives and 'looks amusing', but he has 'hardly read it yet'. Sends thanks to his father for his letter [12/91], to which he will reply soon. Today it is the festa of Sant Antonio: passing through Aulla this morning he saw the piazza 'crowded with the whole population, both of human beings and of beasts, horses, mules, donkeys and cows' waiting for the priests to bless the beasts. Is getting on quite well with his opera libretto [The Bride of Dionysus]; Bessie is very well.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Headed 'Private'. Encloses a letter from Aunt Annie [Philips: 13/229]. Suggests that if Bob does decide to write to their father as she suggests, he should begin by saying that he does not know whether their mother is 'really likely to leave us quite soon', but understands from Aunt Annie that this is a possibility, and that he is anxious that in that event their father should not hurry to leave Welcombe. Also thinks that Bob should say he and Bessie have 'no thought of moving into Welcombe' themselves.
Rapallo. - He and Janet are very glad to hear that Julian has put on eight ounces. They are having good weather and walks here by themselves, before 'going on south to join the Hammonds' [John and Barbara]. Thanks Bessie for sending 'Madame Scocco's letter' [sic: Irene Zocco]; fears he will not be able to go to Palermo again; would have called on her last month if he had known she was there.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Originally enclosing a letter from Charles, which 'induces' him to send a cheque for £182.2.6. He and Mary had a 'delightful as well as useful time at Welcombe'; thanks Bob and Bessie for their 'hospitality and kindness'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - News of Julian, who is well and does not seem to be too much disturbed by teething. He is always very excited when he sees Hearn [the butler] and 'insists on his lifting him up to look at the pictures'. Took him for a drive to the village yesterday, and now he has gone for his 'last poney [sic] cart drive'. Elizabeth's dinner on Monday will be very amusing; hopes she will not get tired out with her busy fortnight. Annie [Philips] is coming from Monday till Thursday; expects she will be in an 'over-energetic mood'; she must have helped the two young men [her Price nephews] very much as they have been making inventories. Has had no more letters from George, but C[harles] says he is quieter [after the death of his son Theodore]. Sends love and a "Times Literary Supplement" for Bob.
Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - The Prime Minister has asked George to 'go to Cambridge [as Regius Professor of History]' and he has accepted; the 'K[ing]'s pleasure has yet to be taken' so this is still a secret. Has been to Cambridge and talked to the 'principal history dons there with satisfactory results' about what he can do, and need not do, there. [His book, "History Under] Queen Anne" will move more slowly, but she will move'. Expects they will move there in January; sketches out his movements for the next month or so; will have the 'fun of writing an Inaugural Lecture up in the North'. Discusses financial affairs, and the amount Bob can expect to receive from him [from the Hallington estate].
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - The lawyers acting for Robert and George [in the matter of Florence Trevelyan's legacy] should see an old letter of 1884 which he has found; has written to George in London, as the lawyers must see Philipson personally. Philipson is 'the most honourable and kindly of men' and Sir George thinks all is going right.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Bessie for her letter, and for enclosing Madame [Irene] Zocco's; very glad to hear 'how well and splendid Julian is ', which makes up for their sadness about the nurse's illness. Glad Julian has curls; Humphry is also 'very curly' but this is 'more out of the family line' for them. He and Mary 'play Lake Regillus and Horatius on the Museum floor' with some soldiers and some 'ancient Romans' he once got in Switzerland; she is 'very clever and sharp at the uptake'. Meanwhile Theo usually rides the rocking horse, though he looks on a little, 'and spouts the poems' [by Macaulay]. He is 'very much interested' ('much' is an insertion as 'concession to Jan's hereditary ideas of grammar') about [Donald] Tovey; takes it that his progress [on the opera "The Bride of Dionysus", to Robert's libretto] is 'slow but sure'. Must be very interesting to watch him at work. Can easily believe what she says about Forster's book ["Howard's End"], which would make it 'like all his others'; he is 'just one half of a great writer' and could do with being boiled down by 'Peer Gynt's button moulder' with 'some ordinary mechanic writer who can spin him a common likely plot'. Sends love to Bob and wishes 'success to his Solomon, and the Sage' [a reference to Bob's "Foolishness of Solomon"?].
Note from Janet offering condolences for 'poor Nurse Catt's departure'; asks to be remembered to her before she leaves.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has sent Withers's letter to Robert on to George; sorry about the trouble Robert and Elizabeth are having [over Florence Trevelyan's will]; luckily Sir George and Caroline have plenty [of money] of their own, which will 'all be for [their] sons and daughters'. Discusses a letter he has had from Philipson; does not know the value of the land at Taormina and imagines Robert may incline towards not acting as executor, not paying the sixty thousand francs, and renouncing the property; Withers and Davies are 'wise advisers'. Glad that he himself refused to be a Trustee, which none of the family ought to be 'on any account'.
Letter declining invitation to the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
Postmarked Chelsea. - Janet has had appendicitis; had a 'very successful operation this afternoon'; 'all is well'.
Delighted to hear Butler is moving back to Cambridge, compliments him, having read 'Passing of the Great Reform Bill'.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Glad to hear from Charles that 'the Name & Arms are dead'. Originally enclosing something which 'may interest' Bob. Notes in a postscript that he has read 'nearly all the Macaulay journals' and thinks it would be 'a mistake to make an extensive publication of them': their father had produced an edited version 'with great skill' ["Marginal notes by Lord Macaulay"]; much of the rest is interesting 'if one really cares about Macaulay' but never meant for publication.
Hallington Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. - Has been looking at the books left to him in their father's will, and believes that Bob should have the collection of over a hundred volumes in the 'Pipontine [sic: Bipontine] or Deux Ponts Edition in old white binding', currently in Sir George's study, many of which contain notes by Macaulay. Feels that Bob would appreciate these notes much better than he would himself, since they are 'on points of classical scholarship and history in which [he is] an ignoramus'. Would give him great pleasure to think of the books 'in the new Library at the Shiffolds' and often read by Bob.
Hotel des Alpes, Mürren. - Arrived yesterday and plan to stay for more than a week; it is a 'wonderful place' though the air is 'rather fatiguing' at first. She will rest today; Sir George is very well and 'walks a great deal'. The electric railway to Interlaken is pleasant and travels through some fine passes. Very sorry to hear from Elizabeth about the Russells; [their separation] is 'surprising and very sad'; sure Russell is 'difficult, & the family are rather uncompromising' but he is 'a quiet good fellow'; does not know her [Alys] well but thought she seemed 'to belong to another "monde"'. Likes to think of Julian almost walking; asked what is settled about the nurses, and whether Mrs Catt is going to the hospital; it is very sad. People must be very anxious about the weather [for the Coronation]; is glad to be 'out of it all'; Mürren is completely quiet, with no road for carriages, and Bob would love it. Glad Julian likes his cart. George says [he and Janet] are going on 12 July to the Lakes, and would like to come to Wallington in September; asks if Elizabeth and Robert could be there for some of that time. Is glad the [Lake] Hunt was a success once more, it is 'a wonderful institution'. Thinks C[harles] and M[ary] will enjoy themselves at the [Coronation] festivities. Sends love to Robert, and asks if Mr [Roger] Fry is coming.
Brixton Prison.—Encourages her with reflections on the ability of the human spirit to transcend material circumstances. Refers to his study of French and Italian, and his other reading, and describes a method of counting on the fingers.
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Transcript
Brixton Prison
19th June 1912
Dearest
How delightful it is to think that this actual paper will be carried to you & that I shall get a reply written by yourself! I have sent you in my thoughts many messages of love which I feel confident have reached you, just as yours have reached me bringing their rich benison with them; But the actual written word gives tangible shape & contact & certainty.
I have not been in any way anxious about you, & equally you have I am sure not been anxious about me. You know that the one thing, which alone always seems worth while to me, is that the human spirit should transcend the whole of the material world; & therefore you do not need to be told that not in the very smallest degree have I been dismayed or discouraged by my environment. Dearest, here in the stillness—that is, to me, essentially the stillness of earth life—I am conscious only of the great spiritual tie which binds us together & binds us to the great Power which guides us. These are days when one drinks of the deep wells of life & because the draft is pure & crystal it refreshes & invigorates far beyond any draft of ordinary daily life. Or again it is as though the noisy overtones which make the chords & discords of the work-a-day world were hushed, & the fundamental notes were heard alone in all their simple grandeur. Or again it seems to me as though of the beauty, which is in the outer world & which our senses detect, the spirit itself had become perceptible to our souls direct.
One of my great joys is to watch the sunlight in the evening on the walls of my cell; some-times the nights are dull & then I miss it, but more often the last hours are bright. It sinks below a house close by about a quarter past seven and is then shut off from sight; each evening the last rays go a little further on the wall than the evening before, but we are coming soon (next Friday) to the longest day & after that it will begin to go back again.
Now you will want to know all I have been reading; First let me say it is surprising how little time I seem to have though I scarcely miss a minute of the day. Nevertheless I have read a larger number of books since I came in. I haven’t made so very much progress in Italian so I daresay you will nearly have caught up to where I am reckoning in what I did before. In the Berlitz Book, which I think you have got also, I have got to page 50. For the last few days I have laid it aside for a study of French which has caught my fancy, but I shall come back to it again in a little while & then I shall probably go on until I finish the book. I have been fascinated with Trevelyans† story of the siege of Rome {1}. It is really the volume preceding the one on Garabaldi’s† Thousand, & it is in my judgment a good deal the finer of the two. Have you read it? I cannot remember. Then I have read over again the story of the Thousand & hope shortly to read the third volume which I understand is now out. I have also got Crispi’s account of the same events {2} but have not read it yet. I have also read a book on radium, & one on Faraday which have inter-ested me very much. During the last week I have been wrestling with Green’s history of England {3} & with a very ponderous life of Henry Newman {4} which though good is very heavy to di-gest. A great soul was Newman, but somehow I can’t help feeling that he lost his way; perhaps a wider understanding might make one see it differently. In addition to other things I have also read a good deal of lighter literature including Pecheur d Island† {5} which I think delightful & two books by Mark Twain—Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn—which Annie gave me. You should get May to send them to you[;] they are full of delicious humour.
May has been very good to me, so thoughtful & kind, sending me everything I could possibly want.
I think you will be amused to know that once when I was taking exercise by walking up & down my cell, I started counting my walks on my fingers & arrived at the following:—it is of course said that on the fingers of the two hands one can count from one up to ten, but that is only by reckoning each finger of each hand to count one only; if the fingers of the left hand are allowed to have a different value from the fingers of the right, one can count all the way from one up to 35 (that is six times six less one), & if the thumbs of each hand are also allowed to count differently from the fingers, then one can count all the way from 1 up to 99. One may even go further but if I do so you will say I am becoming like I was on the top of the omnibus on that famous occasion! Anyhow I don’t think you will mind this little digression. Perhaps you will be able to work it out yourself!
Dearest how close we have been together all this month for all the physical barriers that have been between us. I have treasured your beautiful words about Whit Sunday in my heart & they have been a great joy to me. I have thought very much about you and shall be thinking of you so in the next few days, but they will not be thoughts of anxiety but of confidence & assurance. You well know that my spirit is behind yours sustaining you in all that you do, & I know & have the certainty that your spirit is behind mine; & so together we are very strong.
Dearest the sun is shining brilliantly, it is a gorgeous & magnificent day! I am full of radiant life.
My very great love to you
Your husband.
P.S Your dear delightful letter has just come; you seem to have been able to write a day earlier than me. I have read it through with such pleasure & shall read it and reread it many times; but I am so anxious to get this off without any delay so that you may have it soon. Blessings on you for all your dear words. Ever thine
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One folded sheet. At the head is printed, ‘In replying to this letter, please write on the envelope:— Number 7294 Name Lawrence F W. P.’, the name and number being filled in by hand. The word ‘Prison’ of the address and the first two digits of the year are also printed, and the letter is marked with the reference ‘C1/12’ and some initials. Strokes of letters omitted either deliberately or in haste have been supplied silently.
{1} Garibaldi’s Defence of the Roman Republic, by George Macaulay Trevelyan (1907), the first book of a trilogy which also comprised Garibaldi and the Thousand (1909), and Garibaldi and the Making of Italy (1911).
{2} Probably The Memoirs of Francesco Crispi (2 vols., 1912).
{3} A Short History of the English People, by J. R. Green, first published in 1874, or perhaps his expanded History of the English People (4 vols., 1878–80).
{4} The Life of John Henry, Cardinal Newman, by Wilfrid Ward (2 vols., 1912).
{5} Pêcheur d’Islande (An Iceland Fisherman), by Pierre Loti (1886).
5 St Mary's Passage - new subject for dissertation, Cambridge Review book to appear within a month, defends Rousseau, G M Trevelyan to publish his dissertation ["England in the Age of Wycliffe"].
2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Bessie will have heard about what has happened today [the death of George and Janet Trevelyan's son Theo]. Cannot write about it except to say he 'often thought about [her] and Bob' [remembering the death of their son Paul in 1909?]