27 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.1. - Thanks him for his letter, says his nomination as Honorary Bencher was not solely due to his influence; invites the Frazers to lunch the first Sunday after his election.
Newnham Cottage, Queen's Road, Cambridge - Cannot accept the invitation to dine and meet Painlevé, as he will be at the Royal Society of Medicine that day; is glad Painlevé is getting an honorary degree.
Short obituary, by 'a correspondent' [Frazer].
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has looked through three volumes of the "Yellow Book" and agrees with Robert that there is 'a certain collective energy and enthusiasm' which makes all the contributors 'do more vigourously [sic], or at any rate more oddly, what they regard as their ideal'; [Henry] James's two stories are very strong; [Walter] Sickert's illustrations 'most curious - in a way better than Beardsley's. The Charles Adamses, 'a pleasant couple', are staying; he is enthusiastic about going on to Flodden; he is seventy one, and his great grandfather [John Adams] was 'deeply interested in the world' up till the age of ninety. Charles Adams has seen bigger battles than Flodden, and was 'asleep in his saddle during Pickins's [sic: Pickett's Charge] at Gettysburg'. The 'Cambo folk' [Charles and Mary] are coming for lunch, with the [Malcolm?] Macnaghtens and 'all the babies'. In a postscript, notes that he has had another letter from [Theodore] Roosevelt, with 'three new spellings'.
Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi. - Has not heard from Fry for a while: hopes Helen and Julian are well. Description of 'a Julian at the hotel': Julian Cotton of the Indian Civil Service, honeymooning with his Neapolitan wife [neé Gigia Riccardi Arlotta]. Other guests are Kershaw and his friend Perry, an ex-actor; 'the Lapchinski', who luckily only came for a week; and [William] Wyse of Trinity, an Apostle who has been forced by ill health to give up work for a year. Goes every day to the Cimbrone, passing Fry's old studio, and has overheard prayers there as if to 'rid the room of... some devil who has...haunted there since you painted him in your picture of St Antony'. Taking tea today with Mrs Read [sic: Mrs Reid, widow of Francis Nevile Reid of Villa Rufolo]. Bessie is learning Latin and Trevelyan is rewriting the old play 'which sent [Fry] and Helen to sleep once'. Has heard nothing from Johnson about "Polyphemus" and only seen two reviews. Bridges wrote him an appreciative letter, though he did not like the Faun's song or make much of the irregular metres. Will probably stay at Berenson's on the way north; asks if he and Fry might meet around Florence. Fry should read Defoe's "Moll Flanders", which is the best novel in English. Bessie is now reading "Robinson Crusoe" to him as a 'shaving book', which is also excellent.
Birmingham - thanks John for unsuccessful application for job as Organiser for Educational Work in the Workers' Educational Association, returns testimonials.
32 and 34 Bloomsbury Street, W.C.1. - Printed message inside: 'With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year from TIME and TIDE". Hand written message on the back page of the card, saying Bob's was a 'lovely [emphasised] Christmas Card' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?]; this card is a 'most unworthy' reply. Quite understands about the review: expects everything he writes is 'booked well in advance by editors', but asks to be remembered for a translation or poem if possible. Sends Christmas greetings to both Trevelyans. Hopes Bob's operation [on the prostate, see 4/246?] will 'not be too uncomfortable; and is very sorry about it.
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Thanks him for his article on The Merchant of Venice. Is sorry that the British Council have disappointed him. Suggests that he might get supervision work in Cambridge. Is excited that [Godfrey] Lienhardt is interested in the Church. Term is nearly over. Urges Smith to finish his article on Twelfth Night. Was interested by C. S. Lewis’s British Academy lecture on Hamlet and enjoyed the revised preface to his Pilgrim’s Regress. Recommends Does God Exist? by A. L. Taylor.
Bolt Court. Will bring the books this evening
'Rapport sur l'irrigation de la Mésopotamie... traduit par Gaston Legrand'
Only heard of Henry's serious illness the previous day, when she was in Cambridge for the afternoon; would like to send her sympathy to Nora now. Hopes that his operation has proved successful. Is sorry for the Cambridge students who will miss Henry's university lectures; believes that he was the most just critic she has ever heard, and remarks that in Moral Science 'people seem particularly apt to be impatient of the opinions of others.' Is sure that she is only one of many Cambridge students who remember with gratitude the time and trouble which Henry spent upon his classes and the help which he was always ready to give to individuals. Will be eager for news of Henry's progress, but hopes that some Newnham students will keep her up to date.
Describes the men in an enclosed photograph [no longer present].
Refers to a concept in Greek that they had been discussing, and states that 'there is a curious contrast between the [constant] mention of it as a danger, and the rarity of its actual occurrence'. Gives examples of some passages: the '[Heliactic] oath in Demosthenes against Aristocrates'; another passage [some Greek quoted], which 'specially alludes to it as a danger [about the middle of the speech]'. States that the case of Leontini is a practical case, 'but even here it was stopped'; 'points to the rest of argument used for it. New citizens were enrolled, and then came the demand.' Tells Sidgwick that he will inform him when he finds more. Refers to the death of the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin; 'a very leading public figure in Ireland. It is most fortunate that this govt. is not....' [Incomplete]
Thanks WW for the papers: 'I am thankful we are not as those Germans'. He invites both William and Cordelia Whewell to come and stay with them in the country.
40 Weymouth Street - congratulations to George Blakesley on his success at Eton, quarrels only with the clergy
King's Head Hotel, Cirencester. Dated 22 April 1915 - Returns the proof of the preface; Lilly needs a thorough rest, has been unwell for months.
Eastwood, Bairnsdale, Victoria. Dated 16 January 1904 - His book ['The Native Tribes of South East Australia'] is finished, with [Lorimer] Fison's help; he and his daughter [Mary?] are going to Lake Tigers [Lake Tyers?] to get some photos of some old Kumai [Kurnai] men; Fison is in poor health; does not wish to burden Frazer with having to read the proofs of his book, as previously suggested.
Woodend, Perth Road, Dundee - Congratulates the Frazers on their 25th wedding anniversary.
Trinity College - WW is resolved to get away from Cambridge and visit RJ - 'if there is no other way of having a series of talks with you - I will then judge as well as I can about the matters speculative and practical that we have to do with'. There is so much electioneering and politics currently in Cambridge that he cannot think.
9 [?] St James Sq. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton; ventures to write a note of recommendation for a young man who is 'the son of M. and Mad. Favre who saw Lady Houghton at Geneva...' as Houghton may 'like to be kind to people who took such a friendship for her on so short an acquaintance'; he can easily write that he is out of town if it is an inconvenience.