BRACERS Record Detail for 17909
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"Wednesday morning" Wittgenstein to tea. "(Wittgenstein has given me a climbing rose in a pot—most lovely.) Wittgenstein was shocked to hear I am writing on Theory of Knowledge—he thinks it will be like the Shilling Shocker, which he hates. He is a tyrant, if you like."
Reached p. 80 after working until midnight.
"... I have been thinking all morning about the difference between sensation and imagination, arriving at the conclusion that there is none, but only a difference between the sensed and the imagined."
BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [14 MAY 1913]
BRACERS 17909. ALS. Morrell papers #775, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.
My Darling Love
I was very glad of your dear letter this morning — glad to hear J. is better and you are less depressed. I wish I had had your Wed. letter from Paris. I long to see all those dear places with you in their spring beauty — the longing for you is driven underground by work, but it pops up its head whenever I give it the slightest opening. — Yesterday I went up to the Grantchester woods and bathed, which was delicious. Then I had Jourdain, McT and Wittgenstein to tea. (Wittgenstein has given me a climbing rose in a pot — most lovely.) Wittgenstein was shocked to hear I am writing on theory of knowledge — he thinks it will be like the shilling book, which he hates. He is a tyrant, if you like.
I worked till midnight, and reached p. 80 — ten pages ahead of my daily average — but I shall lose what I have gained tomorrow as I have a very full day. I invented an engagement so as to get out of seeing Mildred without hurting her feelings, and now I have been thinking all morning about the difference between sensation and imagination, arriving at last at the conclusion that there is none, but only a difference between the sensed and the imagined. The result of my doubts is that I have written nothing — but I have the whole day free, so I shall get something written later.
I ordered Midshipman Easy for J. I hope it will arrive in time. — What good phrases Conrad has — à propos of the Lake of Geneva he speaks of its “precise, orderly, and well-to-do beauty”. Isn’t it odd that our grandfathers thought it the type of all that is wild and romantic? — Lord Henry has been growing very progressive — one is always seeing his name as supporting some reform. I should have thought he went rather too much on philanthropic lines rather than economic ones, but he must be the best of the Tory members. Massingham is always getting enthusiasms — he used to swear by Winston for a long time. — My head is full of pre-occupation with work and I can’t write more. Goodbye Darling — I love you every moment, and the thought of you is always with me in all I do —
Your
B