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3 Via Camerata, Florence. - Arrived safely yesterday, having had a 'delightful afternoon' at Pompeii on the way. Has found [Bernard] Berenson alone; Mrs C. [Mary Costelloe] will not return for a week or two; thinks that he and Berenson are 'making an effort not to squabble on matters of opinion, which is good discipline'. Hopes to hear from Bessie soon; will decide from what she says about her aunt's health how long to stay in Florence. Has not yet seen Miss D. G. [Lina Duff Gordon]; thinks things between them are all right now as 'her letters were quite friendly' and she liked his poem about her pet bat ["The Lady's Bat"]. Is in more difficulty with Mrs Costelloe; must keep on good terms with her if he wants to stay friends with Berenson; mistrusts her gossip and the effect it might have had on Lina. Has not yet shown Berenson his last year's poems and the work on his new play; hopes he will be encouraging. Dined with the Rasponis last night, who are very nice and live opposite in 'a magnificent palace'. Thinks Tuscany 'the finest country in the world'. Had a good time at Ravello, especially towards the end; the Straughns [sic: Strachan-Davidsons?] were 'very good company', though some 'annoying strangers' turned up. Mrs Reid was 'very kind'; wants him and Bessie to come in August or September; he has said that is not for him to decide. Will let Bessie know when he is due to arrive, and make sure he does so in the day so she will not have to get up in the dark to meet him at the station; wonders who will see the other first, as they are both 'as blind as bats'. Will show her the poem about the bat when she comes; it is not 'first class' but 'pretty'. Hopes her aunt continues to get well; would be a great shame if Bessie could not come to England in time to go to Welcombe.

Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Has been 'out composing verses in a tempest'. Glad she is having happy dreams; suggests analyses for her one about the cicalas [9/26]. Quotes from Moore on sleep [Thomas Sturge Moore, "To An Early Spring Day"]. Sorry that her aunt's recovery is not speedier. Will send a letter to her tomorrow. Does not like Mrs Costelloe 'in many ways', but does not condemn her for 'refusing to live with Costelloe' who seems to have been 'almost impossible to live with', though she should not have been 'taken in' by him; thinks her and [Bernard] Berenson's relationship is 'as nice as those sort of relations can be'; discusses her influence on him. Supposes he will see Miss D. G. [Lina Duff Gordon] at Florence; explains the nature of their friendship further. He and Lina are on 'very good terms' again, and she likes his poem about her pet bat ["The Lady's Bat"], though it is not yet finished.

Continues the letter next day; has read most of the editor's letter in the paper sent by Bessie's uncle [in a Dutch paper, to the Duke of Devonshire, see 9/26]; thinks he is 'in the main right' but knows 'little of the facts, except what he has gathered from English writers who disapprove of the [Second Boer] war' such as Bryce, Hobson, Lecky and Courtney; since he has 'ornamented his columns with many not very apt quotations' Bob as a poet ought not to be too hard on him. Thinks he will spend two days with Berenson at Florence, since it is unlikely Mrs Costelloe will be back; has not yet heard from his mother about crossing with Bessie and the letter may not have reached her. Asks him his plans suit Bessie. Is torn between Venus and Apollo, and 'Apollo has all the nine young ladies [the Muses] on his side'.

c/o G. Bottomley, The Sheiling, Silverdale nr Carnforth. - Is very sorry if her letter gave the impression that she was not in 'wholehearted sympathy' with Russell's anxiety over the divorce; it is 'inconceivable' to her that anyone should wish to deprive Russell of his children. She was under the impression that Dora wanted to share the custody of the children with Russell, having heard this through Ted Lloyd and C[lifford] Allen. Has not seen Dora for almost a year. The 'situation seems full of sadness' to her. Hopes that some solution will be reached; could not bear the thought of Russell being entirely separated from the children.

Has received a letter from Bertie Russell asking the Trevelyans to send a statement that they consider him to be a good father, and that there is no lack of affection between him, his children, and Miss Spence, to Llewelyn Davies. They hardly know her, but are prepared to do so, and encloses a more formal statement [see 5/291]. They are very sorry for all concerned, and hope that Dora and Bertie will come to an arrangement to share custody of John and Kate.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - States the Trevelyans' belief that Russell is an 'excellent and most devoted father' to his children, and there is 'no lack of affection between them and him and Miss Spence'. Hopes that the arrangements made for the children's custody will satisfy both parents; this last statement is corrected from the hope that 'the parents may equally have a share in the custody of the two children'.

41 Queen's Road, Richmond, Surrey. - The Russells were sorry not to see Elizabeth at Julian and Mary's Boat Race Party; however, they enjoyed themselves and saw many old friends. Trying to sell the Richmond house; looking forward to going to the Welsh house for the children's holiday, as they hear the spring flowers are coming out and hope the Chinese geese are beginning to lay eggs. Bertie can get on with his work much better there than in Richmond. They will keep on the London flat and so hope a visit to the Shiffolds will be managed. The Woods have brought good news of Elizabeth; glad she coped with the cold spell. Bertie has been busy recently with the case of Morton Sobell; wonders if Elizabeth saw his letter in the "Manchester Guardian" last Monday [26 March]. The hope is to 'stir up opinion in this country' to force the U.S. authorities to act. The case, and others similar, provide 'a splendid quarry for Communist propaganda' which does 'much harm the world over'. Bertie has been getting letters asking him to take on their own case: a pity 'he is not a hydra and an octopus rolled into one, and with the energy of a hydrogen bomb to boot!'

Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyn Deudraeth, Merioneth. - Glad to hear Elizabeth is feeling stronger. While Alan Wood was in hospital for his operation, Mary's illness worsened, and she was finally diagnosed with benign myalgic encephalomyelitis and taken to hospital; now she is much better and will probably be able to walk again by summer. It does not infect children, or only very mildly, so the two boys are now well. If Elizabeth writes to Alan at 8 Queensgate Place, S.W.7, he can pass letters or messages on to Mary. They are 'wonderfully gallant about it all'. There is a Hungarian painter [Georges Csato?] downstairs painting Russell; Edith expects he will make him look Hungarian, as they 'all make him look like someone of whatever nation their own happens to be!'

Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyn Deudraeth, Merioneth. - Bertie's throat is much improved, he has indeed had several operations under anaesthetic before. The Russells are very glad Elizabeth likes Bertie's BBC literary talks, and that she is well enough to go up to London for the day, even if it is to see the doctor. Wishes they could meet at Julian's Boat Race Party, but the Russells cannot go to town so soon, even if invited, and if Elizabeth is not they will have to make their own party. Had a very nice letter from Mary and Julian. Very good Elizabeth has an 'old companion' to help her to sort letters, which is a 'sad occupation' though she agrees it is 'bearable after a length of time'. Everything in Wales is very beautiful at the moment. Bertie is writing an article against the hydrogen bomb, having just finished a philosophical essay.

Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyn Deudraeth, Merioneth [headed notepaper, but letter seems to be written from London]. - Bertie has had a thorough examination of his throat after weeks of trouble with it, and there is no cause for alarm; everyone is much relieved. Sorry they will not be able to visit the Shiffilds, but Bertie has much work to get done. Distressed that Elizabeth has had a lengthy infection, hopes it is now cleared up, and that they will be able to visit in the spring. The 'poor Woods' have been ill as well, Mary with a mysterious infection and Alan with nasal trouble which requires an operation. They have not seen John; fears he is no better. The grandchildren are very well, 'growing up to be nicer and nicer', and enjoy their new school. The Russells love living in Wales, though they would prefer more sun; the only thing Edith misses about Richmond is the Park. Glad to hear happy news of Mary, Julian, and Elizabeth's grandson; hopes to see them as well when they return to London.

Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyn Deudraeth, Merioneth. - Has been waiting for the BBC to send a list of dates when Bertie will be wanted for broadcasting to reply to Elizabeth, as they plan to call on her at the Shiffolds on the way back from London; they have heard nothing from the BBC but no plan to come towards the end of the month or the beginning of October, after the children have gone to their new school. Difficulties with selling their Richmond house. The children have being 'angels' this summer, unlike 'last summer's devilments'. Bertie is working on a new book, which she is glad of: philosophy serves as a 'counter-irritant to the perfect horrors in the political world': finds the 'war whoops' of the British government, supported by Gaitskell [over Suez] astounding; supposes the matter will go to the U.N.; she 'can hardly bear regarding Dulles as a dove of peace'. The Russells were very interested to hear about the Waleys. Likes to think of Mary and Julian enjoying the sunshine in Italy: there is so much rain in Wales they 'are rapidly developing fins and scales'.

41 Queen's Road, Richmond, Surrey. - Wishes they could come to the Shiffolds, but 'as usual' they are too busy for the next few weeks; they are selling the house and preparing to move to North Wales, and also to put the children into a new school nearer there. They do hope to come and visit before they leave, hiring a car and also calling on Flora Russell at Albury. Have received a card for Mary [Fedden's] show at the Redfern Gallery and hope to get to it: have not seen her or Julian since the boatrace, and have never seen many of their paintings. Have not seen the Woods [Alan and Mary] since returning from Wales; is afraid they have had a difficult time but hope things are going better for them now. Encloses a blurb of a book of Bertie's ["Portraits from Memory and Other Essays"?] which she thinks may interest Elizabeth.