Item 1 - Photocopy of a letter from A. E. Housman to G. C. A. Jackson, 17 Dec. 1926

6 sheets

(With a photocopy of an envelope.)

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Transcript

Trinity College | Cambridge
17 Dec. 1926

My dear Gerald,

I have got your letter of Oct. 11 and am glad to hear of your doings, but the earlier letter which you speak of did not find its way to me. I expect it was eaten by a lion, as you may have been by this time.

If I remember right, you were here in May just before I went off to Venice to see my gondolier. I found him better than I expected, as hot weather suits him, and he is still alive, but he’s just gone into hospital with hemorrhage. I stayed there only a few days, and then spent a week or so in Paris. In July and August I was at my old home and other haunts of childhood in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. At Woodchester, once my grandfather’s parish, there is a Roman pavement, the finest in England, which is uncovered and shown from time to time, and this year was one of those occasions: I spent a week in the place, which I should have enjoyed more if I had not been dragged in to make explanatory speeches to the visitors, owing to the lack of persons in the village who could do it. Then I made a short motoring tour in Derbyshire, to see the most picturesque spots.

I heard from your mother not long ago, but I need not tell you any of her news. I am glad that Africa is geologically a good continent, and I hope its Christmas weather is not too hot.

Your affectionate godfather
A. E. Housman.

[Direction on envelope:] Gerald Jackson Esq. | R.C.B.C. Ltd. | N’Changa | Via N’Dola | N. Rhodesia | S. Africa

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The envelope, which has been marked ‘Answered 24/3/27’, was postmarked at Cambridge at 10.45 p.m.(?) on 17 December. The postage stamp has been torn off.