Item 104 - Letter from Edward Renton to R. C. Trevelyan

106 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh. - Feels ashamed that he has not written sooner; got Trevelyan's letter and cheque just before leaving London, and managed not to bring Trevelyan's address with him; then has been caught up in a great 'confusion of arrangements' involving alterations to the programme since Sir Donald [Tovey] could not play and subsequent corrections when he was told the Scottish [Symphony Orchestra] and Reid [Orchestra] had already played works this season. Was also given contradictory information as to whether he was to conduct the whole concert or not; eventually Dr Grierson conducted the first half and he the second; encloses one of the notices [no longer present]. The orchestra misses Sir Donald very much, and there has been a concerning fall in attendance. Sir Donald is 'much better and quite cheerful', but Renton does not think he will be fit enough to return soon, so either Tovey will 'come back too soon and wear himself out', or the 'confusion and lack of direction in the Faculty and in the Orchestra' will become dangerous; Dr Grierson 'does heroic work' but 'cannot be more than a pale shadow of Sir Donald' and there is nobody else. Will stop at Birmingham on his way back to London to see [Victor] Hely Hutchinson about the SA [South Africa?] job, though thinks this is 'no good'; however, has heard from the NBC [National Broadcasting Company?] manager who is 'very hopeful that he can pull off the American job'. Will send further news from London; hopes Trevelyan is having a good time in Italy; here they are 'enveloped in snow and sleet'.