BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 8 DEC. 1944
BRACERS 19824. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

Trinity College
Cambridge1
8.12.44

My dearest Colette

Your letter of Oct. 292 reached me about a fortnight ago. What excites me most in it is that you have applied for a cabin when it becomes possible to sail — it makes it seem not unlikely that we may actually see each other again. I guess that a passage will be possible next autumn. I give up my rooms in College at Christmas and shall then live at Grosvenor Lodge;3 it is rather far to walk, but there is a bus every 12 minutes. — All goes well with us. I have finally won my case against Barnes4 and got the money — quite a sum.5 John6 will go out to the East soon after Xmas but is not likely to be in any fighting, which is comforting. Kate7 is in the Ministry of Information, and likes the work. Conrad8 flourishes and likes his school and our garden. He is a pedant. He got a hollow roll of cardboard and pretended it was a telescope, saying: “This telescope has two advantages over an ordinary <bottom of sheet excised>

I note what you say against sending books; I am sorry.

Events in Greece and Italy9 perturb me. I do not like the prospect of the post-war world. On this subject I find George Trevy,10 the Master, very sympathetic.

I lecture on Philosophy and Politics to the many, and on scientific method to the few.11 Also I do some broadcasting for the B.B.C.12 In America I was overwhelmed with anxiety and too much work, but here I have neither, and am as happy as the state of the world allows.

Very much love, dearest Colette.

Your devoted
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200830.

• 2

  Your letter of Oct. 29 Not extant.

• 3

  Grosvenor Lodge The house he purchased on Babraham Road in Cambridge where Peter and Conrad were already living at the time of this letter.

• 4

  my case against Barnes Albert C. Barnes (1872–1951) made his fortune from pharmaceuticals. In 1922 he set up a foundation in the United States for fine arts and began to acquire paintings and other art-work, mainly European impressionists. BR had a five-year teaching contract with Barnes, who illegally terminated it. BR sued Barnes for the earnings owing under the contract on 18 January 1943. The trial was held on 12 August 1943; the judge’s ruling in BR’s favour was issued on 16 November 1943. A transcript of the trial proceedings is in Rec. Acq. 1,138.

• 5

  got the money — quite a sum It was US$20,000.

• 6

  John John Conrad Russell, born 16 November 1921 to BR and his wife Dora.

• 7

  Kate Katharine Jane Russell, born 29 December 1923 to BR and his wife Dora. Her surname became Tait upon her marriage.

• 8

  Conrad Conrad Sebastian Robert Russell, born 15 April 1937 to BR and his wife Patricia.

• 9

  Events in Greece and Italy Both countries were in turmoil after the defeat and withdrawal of the Nazis. Greece was just entering the first stage of a Civil War in which the Communist (EAM-ELAS) and Royalist forces struggled for control of the government. The situation was somewhat better in Italy where the difficulty was to form a coalition government that would have staying power.

• 10

  George Trevy George Trevelyan (1876–1962), historian and a long-time friend. He was the master of Trinity College from 1940 to 1951.

• 11

  I lecture on Philosophy and Politics to the many, and on scientific method to the few BR had begun a five-year lectureship at Trinity College, Cambridge. “Philosophy and Politics” is not known to have been a course title. Some say the course was based on the still unpublished History of Western Philosophy. “Introduction to Philosophy” is another possible title. His lectures, “Non-Demonstrative Interference”, formed the basis of Human Knowledge: Its Scope and Limits (1948; B&R 83).

• 12

  broadcasting for the B.B.C. BR began to appear on the popular BBC panel show, the Brains Trust, on 31 October 1944. Transcripts of the programmes will appear in Papers 24.