Item 91 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Julian Trevelyan

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He and Bessie were both made very happy by the news [of Julian's engagement to Ursula Darwin] in his letter this morning; it is not a complete surprise, but even if they had known nothing about Ursula they would have had 'confidence in [Julian] doing the right and wise thing'; as it is, they both 'know and like' her - Bessie more than Bob, but he is still sure that 'in every way she deserves [their] affection - and he is sure that she and Julian are 'just the sort of persons who ought to make each other happy'. Also good that they 'know and like [Ursula's] family and relations', and that the marriage may mean Julian returning to live in England though again that is 'relatively unimportant'. Sympathises with the wish to have things arranged 'quietly and without fuss'; they can discuss all that when he comes to England. Ought to write Julian a 'letter in verse (and no doubt an epithalamium)' but is too 'busy writing an Ars poetica in the form of an Epistle to Virginia Woolf', and the epistle he had planned for Julian was to be 'about the difference between generations etc and perhaps about art'. The engagement is 'almost too serious for so frivolous a medium as verse'. Would like to write longer, but must catch the post; sends love and wishes for happiness, and will also write to Ursula to send the same.