Pièce 339 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

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The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for sending back the Maupassants [see 46/338], and also for the Saturday Review. He and Bessie were very much interested in his father's letter 'as a delightful bit of biography and autobiography', as was his 'chapter in the Life of Dr Butler [The Harrow Life of Henry Montagu Butler]'. Wonders where the quote about 'Gladstone rising to make his reply to Disraeli' came from;: 'perhaps from Morley's Life [of Gladstone]'.

The only time he himself 'ever saw or heard Disraeli' was when his mother took him, he thinks 'as a boy of seven or eight... into the Ladies' Gallery [at the House of Commons]'; of course he has 'only a very dim recollection of him', especially since his short-sightedness meant he 'could not see him distinctly'.

'[B]eautiful Spring weather here today', with the leaves 'coming out everywhere, though not on the oaks yet'. Has 'just been assisting Julian to shave himself'; he now has to shave 'twice or even three times a week'.