Item 85 - Letter from Sir George Trevelyan to R. C. Trevelyan

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that the hard part of the move is done; very eager to see Elizabeth and Robert's new house, terrace, and view. They are 'in an artistic atmosphere', with 'the old smell of oil-colours in the hall' since Mrs Collingwood, friend and pupil of Ruskin, has painted one of the vacant panels 'most lovelily' with sweet peas. [Edward] Keith has won a great prize for his sweet peas, so they 'are immortalised just at the right point'. Tells Robert to read the 'composite autobiography of Gibbon', put together by Miss Holroyd [relative of John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield?], which is 'six times better than the six genuine ones'; almost wishes they had never appeared. Is taking a week's holiday after finishing the first two hundred pages of his new volume [of "The American Revolution"] and having 'disposed of' General Burgoyne; will show Robert two chapters and a 'most beautiful map of [his] own composition'. Will be glad to see Elizabeth and Robert here. Takes note about Stopford Brooke.. Comments in a postscript that it is his birthday today, and he turns sixty-seven.