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12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - If Trevelyan is in Edinburgh in autumn or early winter, the Griersons would always be glad if he stayed with them for a day or two. Has been 'burdened with the duty' of collecting essays and studies by members of the English Association; finds this difficult, as he does not have a 'very wide literary acquaintance', having lived so far from London. Several younger men have promised him articles, but they 'are all rather comers-on than established names' and he has been 'ignored' by the older ones he approached on the Secretary's advice. Realised last night that he should ask Trevelyan whether he would be willing to offer the article on Metre which he read aloud to them, or another; asks him to reply at least since 'M.L. James [sic: M. R. James?] and other Olympians... have not deemed a poor Scottish Professor worth even of that'. Hopes Trevelyan is having a good holiday. He himself lectured eight hours a week at Heidelberg till the end of July, and since then has been busy with 'Scott letters and Carlyle and students' theses' and so on: thinks he needs to get away. Thinks [Donald] Tovey will be in Germany in September; the Griersons had hopes he would come to Heidelberg when they were there and help him entertain his friends; they gave a reception at the Hotel but 'had to rely on Janet for the music'. This went off well, however, and everyone was very kind; Grierson 'struck up quite a friendship with [Friedrich] Gundolf'. Sends regards to Trevelyan's wife and son. Dined with the Dutch poet Boutens on the way home and had a 'great evening'. Notes in a postscript that he had a 'pleasant lunch' in Cambridge with [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson in June.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for his letter of 13 September; is glad Bessie is enjoying Bob's reading of the book ["Windfalls" ?] to her. Pleased that Bob feels he should write further in the 'general style of "Notes on Poetry and Prose"; thought that section 'very good indeed... a method of criticism and appreciation peculiar to [Bob himself]', and based on much more real 'scholarship... thought... and love... than in usual in literary criticism'.

Authors' Club, 2 Whitehall Court, SW1. - Sir Barry Jackson will be pleased to give him 'three weeks release' to play Prometheus [in Trevelyan's translation of Aeschylus' play]. Has written to tell [Terence] Gray [the producer]. Asks if Trevelyan got the 'copy of Nessus & Dianeira" Toyne sent him, and whether it might be 'suitable or acceptable'.

52 Tavistock Square. - Read Bob's stories 'with great enjoyment'; perhaps liked 'the unchristened one on Love best'. Thinks they are 'full of interesting and subtle things and beautifully smooth and finished'; knows her doubt about the 'dialogue form' comes from her 'novelists [sic] prejudice', since when characters are brought in she wants to 'know quantities of things about them' but in Bob's method of using them here they are 'kept severely to the rails'; with, as she also used to feel about Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'s dialogues, 'something too restricted, too formed'. She does however appreciated the 'subtlety of the thought, and the melody of the expression', and is 'puzzled' as to what other form could 'carry the idea'. Always wants Bob to 'break through into a less formed, more natural medium', and wishes he could 'dismiss the dead, who inevitably silence so much and deal with Monday and Tuesday': the present, perhaps in a 'dialogue between the different parts of yourself'. She and Leonard are 'just off to tour in Ireland'.

The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking :- The weather has deteriorated recently and it is 'alternatively rainy and sultry'. Saw George briefly in London yesterday; he seemed 'very well and cheerful', except that he and Janet are 'distressed' about the health of her uncle [William Thomas Arnold], which Robert's father has 'doubtless' heard of. George was 'beginning the last chapter of his history [England Under the Stuarts].

Bessie is well; her friend Miss [Laetitia] Ede is visiting for a few days, 'having just passed her final medical examination'. They have 'signed the agreement with the V[aughan] Williamses [for the lease of land on which to build a house]' but there are still delays, since both their and the Vaughan Williamses' architects think they should 'try to get a cheaper tender from other builders'; this is 'very tiresome', but at least it does not seem to be the Vaughan Williamses' fault this time, and Robert and Elizabeth will be sure they are getting their 'full money's worth'. Does not expect the delays will be longer than a few weeks, so the roof should still be on before Christmas and they should be able to move in next spring.

Saw Murray's translation of Hippolytus acted in London yesterday [at the Lyric Theatre, produced by Harley Granville-Barker], but thought it so poor a performance that he 'could not stay till the end. No one could act well, or even make themselves heard properly, though there was plenty of ranting, and the beautiful choruses were drowned out in an intolerably affected and ineffective manner'. The play is 'very fine... and well suited for the modern style, and the translation has many unusual merits': it is a 'great pity that these abortive efforts should be made, as it only makes the intelligent public more and more sceptical as to the possibility of acting poetical drama finely, and yet it is perfectly possible, if only they would go about it in the right way'. At least they should not use 'quite incompetent actors'. Yet some papers have said it was 'very successful'.

They both send love to Robert's father and mother; Bessie will write soon.

Asks for pocket-money to buy a leaving-book for his friend Worcester

Letters from 1899 include correspondence on the birth and death of Mary Babington Smith.
Letters from 1909 include condolences on the death of Lady Constance Mary Bruce, Countess of Elgin.
Letters from 1917 include condolences on the death of Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin, and correspondence relating to the death of Hon. Alexander Bruce.

Writes to express her sympathy, 'as an old Newnham student', with Nora on the death of Henry Sidgwick, and to let her know how she and others feel 'this great loss'. Claims that most of what has been the best in their lives has come from their having been at Newnham. Says that they owe so much to Henry, and that 'the memory of his personal character will always give a standard and makes human nature appear as so much higher and nobler [a] thing'.

Apologises for having caused so much trouble, suspects he will have to come up himself.

R. M. Academy, Woolwich - TSD is planning a mathematical work with Mr Potts [Robert Potts] of Trinity College. They cannot afford the expense of publication and there really is no market for such a book. It therefore must depend upon the sympathy of men of science like WW to help. Mr Potts claims 'that it is not usual, nor considered in etiquette, to ask subscriptions of this kind in the university'. Nevertheless TSD hopes WW understands him asking for support.

Written from Downing Street.

Thanks JCH for his corrections of WW's translation of Goethe's Hermann and Dorothea. WW gives a brief explanation for the choice in words he used.

13 Old Square, Linc : Inn - Thanks him for the little Renan book ['Quatre témoignages sur Anatole France], and discusses Greek indifference to picturesqueness; is awaiting further disclosures about the Zinoviev dispatch, thinks [Ramsay MacDonald] is dishonest if it is genuine, and also an incompetent Foreign Secretary if it is not.

Castle Howard. - [Milnes?] declares he has given up being of use in the world; Howard wishes more of those who still profess the aim had his generosity and kindness.