Item 222 - Letter from E. E. Bowen to Caroline Trevelyan

1 doc

Tells her to 'keep Bobby on bread & water for a fortnight, lest he show devilish Pride!' but then to 'give him cakes & jam, to reward Genius'. Then he can come to Harrow 'in a proper frame of mind for learning subjunctive mood & cricket'. 'How delighted' Robert will be 'at seeing his name in print in the Times today': 'his father can't have [?] more than that!'. George Hamilton's son [Ronald] was 'in [for the Harrow scholarship], but got turned out (only just) the first day'.

Is sending a 'Laundry circular & bills'; after this all her letters 'will have to go into [his] "parent-killer" [??]" : thinks he explains that to her once, if not he will do so next time she comes to Harrow. Asks her to send Robert to school with '2 pairs of sheets & pillow cases and some towels [?] for his outfit'. There will three other new boys in the house, perhaps four.

Describes himself as 'also a gloomy disbeliever in Home Rule, in spite of every effort to get roused [?]'; it is 'dreadfully unpleasant for a humble non-politician' to feel himself 'on the wrong side, and in company with all the marquises and bankers', but thinks it clear that 'no big sudden scheme ever succeeds or ought to succeed with us. Even [the abolition of?] slavery didn't'. Suits the English to 'work bit by bit' and 'wrangle... as one goes on'; suggests that change [in Ireland] should begin 'with local Boards & let them develop', with '10 acre farms, & let bigger ones get transferred as they can'.

Is going to stay with [James?] Bryce, and after that to Freshwater; gives his address for the Isle of Wight.