The Mill House. - Continues the explanation of his sonnet from the last letter [9/116]; after jokingly describing the poem as 'terse, weighty, thrilling, magnificent, Dante-Baudelaire-Rossetti lines', he confesses that he does not think much of it, and wishes they [the "Speaker"] had published the translations they have returned. Is getting on 'fairly well' with the new plan of his play. Has only seen the Frys once since Sunday; he is 'very busy'. Is going to see Sanger in London on Monday before he starts [for Greece]. [George?] Moore has invited to join him, MacCarthy and another on their 'wonted Easter exhibition', this year to the Lizard in Cornwall; has been the last two years and liked it, but will decide nearer the time. Suggests that she might use the library as her study while he keeps the little room; noise does travel from the kitchen, but a baize or felt door would improve matters, and the Enticknaps are 'very quiet people'. Gussie is at school all day; he has in the past been 'a little noisy' in the evening, but is improving. Sophie has asked what books he would like [as a wedding present], suggesting an edition of Thackeray, or Browning (which he has); Thackeray would be good but perhaps he prefers Meredith. Has a Goethe and Heine; has read some "Faust" and means to do more; gets on quite well with a translation and dictionary, but very slowly.
Dargwen, Kings Road, Lancing, Sussex. - Very kind of Trevelyan to send him a copy of "From the Shiffolds" for 1948; is 'delighted by the fluency of diction & hopefulness of thought' in the poem to [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson, in which Trevelyan seems to have 'broken through the iron bands that sometimes restrain' him 'under stress of strong emotion'. Knows exactly what Trevelyan means in his "To Know And Not To Feel", but can also trace the opposite tendency in himself: the 'magic [emphasised] of things has declined', but he gains increased enjoyment from his eyes, and he now 'especially rejoice[s] in stereoscopic [emphasised] vision': he may perhaps say that his 'attitude has advanced from the savage to the infantile'. Sends best wishes for the New Year.
7 Selwood Place, S. W.7. - Kind of Trevelyan to send them his poems for Christmas [his "Collected Works"?]; is 'very ashamed' not to have written to thank him before, but had little time during the holidays to write letters. She has now found a cook 'at last'. They have just sold their cottage: this is sad but they want to retire to Oxford eventually so it is 'no use getting too fond of Pollingford'. Hopes to see Trevelyan before they move in April.
Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Understands how difficult it must be to arrange to send her boys [Charlie and Bobbie] from Ireland on different days, and has 'real pleasure' in acceding to her request; he supposes that if a 'satisfactory escort should offer itself the right day' she would let Bobbie come. They do 'care very much' about this matter, as cases like this are 'often used as a precedent' by people who have no real reason to delay return. Since, by preparing everything in advance, the school can usually begin work the day after the boys arrive, 'Bobbie will lose rather more lessons' than Mrs Trevelyan imagined; however, they will 'make the best of that' and hopes he will catch up soon. Glad to hear that Bobbie has been 'well and happy' and that she speaks 'happily of his general progress'. They have been 'truly concerned about the Booths' trouble [Tom Booth's ringworm; see 45/116], of which Mrs Arnold has just informed Mrs Trevelyan, and hopes they will soon have good news from Bobbie 'on that score'. Sends best wishes for the new year.
Postmarked Haslemere; addressed to Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Trevelyan for "Mallow and Asphodel"; congratulates him on "Juno's Peacock" and the "Quern-ladies".
Postmarked Chelsea. - Janet has had appendicitis; had a 'very successful operation this afternoon'; 'all is well'.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - She will already have received his telegram [46/118] and know that 'everything [the birth of his son Paul] went off well'. Bessie is 'doing very well, and had a fairly easy time, it seems'. The baby is 'quite strong and healthy, and seems a good size'. Doctor Clark arrived at about 7.15 pm and the baby arrived around 8pm. It was 'very good' of his mother to offer to come back if they wanted; luckily this was not necessary. Her staying for such a long time was a 'great help and comfort for Bessie'. Is glad to hear his father is well.; will write to him. Since it is 'rather late', will go to bed now.
110 Banbury Road, Oxford.—Has been settling down to the new term since returning from Italy. At Florence he met Bottrall, whose appointment to the British Institute is apparently part of a plot to get rid of Goad. ‘They are building the façade of grandeur in Italy (see the press accounts of Hitler’s visit), but there’s not much but aeroplanes behind it.’ Parma shows signs of poverty, while Florence relies on the sale of bric-à-brac. Many in the Basilicata are said to have returned from Abyssinia with admiration for the valour of the blacks, and many others from the same parts are [fighting] in Spain. Sends a snap of Rodo [his son]. Plans to come to Cambridge when terms ends to look for Enea Vico prints in the Fitzwilliam.
Delighted to hearButler is moving back to Cambridge, compliments him having read 'Passing of the Great Reform Bill'.
Will attend at Buckingham Palace at the time advised (see 3/111), and will come to the Privy Council Office the day before to rehearse the ceremony.
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Nothing matters to her but him, though she is deeply affected by the Prime Minister’s unhappiness and encourages Montagu to help him. Is sorry to be leaving at this time, and depressed at the prospect of ‘Lady N’s sickly folly’ (the hospital at Wimereux). Urges him to write to her frequently.
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Transcript
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.
May 24th 1915
My most darling
I’m afraid I added to your sadness by what I said about the P.M, but I want you to remember that nothing really matters to me but you.
It would be absurd to pretend that his unhappiness doesnt affect me very deeply, how could it not, for 3 years he has been to me the most the most wonderful friend and companion, and to see him just now made wretched by me, is, and should be if I pretend to any heart at all, a real sorrow.
I want you to see him if he wants to, to help him and protect him, not only for his sake but for mine. I know you will.
Its horrible leaving you now & my heart rather sinks at Lady N’s sickly folly, but once there I shant see much of her.
Write me as much as you can be bothered to of all your doings.
Dont omit any “I said to him” “He replied” {1} etc etc. I love it all.
You have been too wonderful to me, your generosity and unselfishness almost frighten me. How bad you’ll be for my character!
Goodbye my darling
Always your loving
Venetia
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{1} Closing inverted commas supplied.
Wolseley Bridge. Encloses item to be sent to Mr Dean [wanting], enquires whether his frank is good.
Press cuttings on change of Viceroys in India, general articles on Indian religion and villages, activities of Montagu Butler in Isle of Man including T.T. races, garden party, Tynwald, celebrations on coronation of King George VI, Montague Butler as Mayor of Cambridge, reports of functions etc.; family matters including RAB's speeches on India, Baldwin at Stanstead Hall fete, obituaries of Cyril Kendall Butler and Spencer Harcourt Butler; oddments including programme for rededication of Haileybury College Chapel
Herstmonceux - Notwithstanding all that WW has kindly said to him with with regard to entertaining vain hopes of gaining the Professorship in Theology [see JCH to WW, 31 October 1849], JCH 'cannot quite bring myself at once to give up the desire I had been led to cherish of doing something in my latter years in the service of the University to which I owe so much love & gratitude. Nor was there any one, among the candidates whom you mentioned, whose success would comfort me, as Trench's [Richard C. Trench] would, under my own disappointment'.
Asks Sidgwick to add his name [as one who supports the setting up of a Syndicate to inquire into the issue of allowing of alternatives for one of the classical languages in the Previous Examination] to his list. States that he has just received Sidgwick's letter, but had already read it with much interest in that morning's Standard.
Hügel, Anatole Andreas Aloys von (1854-1928) Baron Von Hügel, archaeologist and anthropologistBelieves that Jebb, Myers and Maitland 'are desirable names.' Refers to the 'originators of the scheme who objected to having more than a few [and] when [Stephens] suggested Maitland doubted.' Announces his intention of sending to him at once and asking him to send on to Myers. Believes them to have a good set of names, and announces that he shall propose Maitland when he meets his collaborators. States that he is amused by the caution of Balfour and Lord Rosebery, who, he says, have both learnt to be afraid of commiting themselves to his creed. Thanks Sidgwick for his note.
Stephen, Sir Leslie (1832-1904), knight, author and literary criticOne of 48 notebooks, Add.MS.c.113-150, used for Powell's edition of Thucydides published in 1942. Collation of Vindob. hist. gr. 33.
Powell, John Enoch (1912-1998), politician7 Camden St. & Town - De Morgan admits all Whewell urges against his 'loose expression - which probably conveyed the idea that I meant a cusp must be a defunct loop - what I ought to have said is, show me a cusp - and I show you its curve as an individual of one family in which a loop dies at the cusp. But then I can show it you as an individual of an infinite number of other families - some of which have that cusp permanently'. You may be able to explain the deviation of a cusp in one family but the difficulty may remain in another. The same thing is applicable with a conjugate point. De Morgan has been 'trying to ascertain that 'from and after' and also 'after' in old English includes the day from which reckoning is made - in opposition to lawyers and others'.