Item 307 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

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The Shiffolds. - They are glad to hear his father is 'beginning to get about', and has even been out on the terrace; the weather here is now 'delightful', and he hopes the same is true for his father, so that he will be able to 'get out each day'. Bessie and Julian went this afternoon on 'a long expedition to Ewhurst Hill, the second hill west of our Leith Hill', where the view is 'even better... if possible'. The heather is in full bloom; expects the leaves will begin to fall before long. Many of their oaks 'seem blighted this year'.

Has been reading [Macaulay's Battle of Lake] Regillus with Julian, as well as Macbeth and Henry IV part 2; they read the first part last year which 'seems rather the better of the two, both in the comic and serious parts', though there is not much between them. He and Julian have also read the fables of Phaedrus; yesterday they did the first two stanzas of 'Vides ut alta stet nive candidum' [Horace Odes 1.9], which Julian 'has nearly learnt by heart'. But their current 'chief business is the irregular verbs'.

Sends love to his mother, and to George and Janet if they are still visiting. Is reading Diogenes Laertius' 'gossip about philosophers. It is full of interesting things, also of really silly ones'. Is going to 'try Athenaeus next'.