Re Miss Otter.

Re Earl Russell and Miss Otter.

Enclosed with document .133426.

Re lease of the cottage—Telegraph House.

Davies encloses a draft of the lease (not present) sent to him by Withers.

Re Miss Otter and Countess Russell's (Mollie's) settlement.

Re Earl Russell, Countess Mollie's settlement.

Enclosed with document .133429.

Re the loan to Miss Otter and, importantly, BR's final detailed conditions for the loan. BR asked for a copy of his letter.

Enclosed with document .133429.

Re Telegraph House and lands.

Re Telegraph House and lands adjoining, Schedule A, assessment. Enclosed with document .133432.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's trust. Lord Russell and Miss Otter. It is time to prepare a formal agreement between BR and Miss Otter.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's trust.

Buckland worked for Vandercom Stanton & Co.

Re Mollie Countess Russell's trust. Lord Russell and Miss Otter. Re the discrepancy over the war stock valued at £4,365.4.0.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's trust. Lord Russell and Miss Otter. The schedules of the deed of 2 November 1929 are referred to.

Re Telegraph House. Lease of cottage. Re keeping the grass mown.

Re Telegraph House cottage.

Enclosed with document .133434, record 115341.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's trust. Arrangement with Miss Otter. The war loan could be sold by Withers to provide an annuity for Mollie.

She agrees to BR's suggestions. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan dined with her and she gave him BR's message and one of BR's books from Frank Russell's library.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's settlement. Earl Russell and Miss Otter. Death duties.

Coward, Chance & Co. are still in communication re the draft agreement with Vandercom, Stanton & Co.

Enclosed documents are .133435g, .133435h, .133435i and .133435j.

Document .133435g is a statement of financial aid and return, involving Telegraph House, the war loan, Frank Russell's estate and Mollie, Countess Russell.

Document .133435h is a draft agreement with changes typed in red. Document .133435i is a draft agreement with changes handwritten in red.

Document .133435j is a an early draft of the agreement. It describes attached schedules (not present), namely documents dated 1914, 1925 and 1929. The war loan is described as 1929-47 at 5%.

Re lease of Telegraph House cottage.

Withers has sent a note for their costs, totalling £11.5.0.

Davies encloses a draft of agreement (not present) with alterations, shown in red ink, made by Messers. Vandercom. Possibly this is document .133435i.

Re Telegraph House.

Davies has received BR's cheque for a quarter year's rent of £100 at Telegraph House.

Re the affidavit that Lady Agatha "... should make in order to lead to the issue of a writ of summons to you to the House of Lords." Davies now has all of the documents required and wonders about reaching Lady Agatha.

BR confirms Aunt Agatha's address at Hindhead. "... point out to her that in these stirring times I wish to play my part in the affairs of the nation and cannot do so without her help."

"... Mr. Buckland came to see me to-day and it appears that our calculation of the death duties was about right. He has calculated that they will amount to about £2,400, but he is making some enquiries at Somerset House to confirm this."

Mollie is about 75.

"Your letter of October 5th puts me in a certain difficulty. I am not all sure whether it is possible for me to raise an additional £1,000 now."

BR's upcoming lecture tour will yield only about £1,200. He may have to sell investments at a loss to acquire Miss Otter's reversionary interest in Telegraph House.

See document .133435aa, record 115366, for the draft telegram written on this letter.

Davies has written to Glyn Mills asking for a list of BR's investments with current market prices.

See document .133435ra, record 115367, for the draft telegram written on this letter.

Re Mollie, Countess Russell's settlement trust. Lord Russell and Miss Otter.

"As requested we now write to put into more definite shape the proposals we placed before you on Monday."

Itemized calculations show exactly the working of the reversionary interest that BR is acquiring in Mollie's settlement. Miss Otter would transfer to BR her reversionary interest immediately.

"Buckland telephoned to me this afternoon to tell me he had seen Withers, who said he would be willing to agree to anything reasonable."

The draft Davies sent to BR has reached BR. BR would prefer not to pay the final £2,000 to Miss Otter until mid-January 1932.

This is a typed copy of a letter that has two other versions: the original, document .200005, record 19042; and a literary version, document .052353, record 99802.

This copy was originally numbered "7"; it has been crossed out and replaced with "8" in pencil.

It is not dated. The date is taken from the literary version rather than the original. For more details see the original.

This letter has not been matched to an original letter, unlike all other letters in this "C" grouping.

This letter was originally numbered "8"; that is crossed out and replaced with "9". It is described as a copy because all other letters in the file are copies.

In the letter BR writes: "I have read 'Black 'Ell" and think it splendid—". There is an exchange between Russell and Colette in early October 1916 where Miles Malleson's plays are mentioned. He forgot to get them from her before he left for Abinger Common for the weekend.

The date has been assigned based on its sequence in the numbering of this "C" group of letters. However, the sequence numbering is sometimes out of date order. Thus the day of the month is tentative.

This is a typed copy of document .200015, record 19050.

This copy was originally numbered "9"; it has been crossed out and replaced with "10" in pencil.

This is a typed copy of document .200017, record 19052.

This copy was originally numbered "10"; it has been crossed out and replaced with "11" in pencil.

This is a typed copy of document .200018, record 19053.

This copy was originally numbered "11"; it has been crossed out and replaced with "12" in pencil.

This is a typed copy of document .200021, record 19056.

This copy was originally numbered "12"; it is crossed out and replaced with "13" in pencil.

The original letter has the address written on it by Colette; the typed copy uses "Abinger".

There is a notation on BR's letter (document .133435q) stating "Sent wire 7/10/31".
 

There is a notation on Davies' letter (document .133435r) stating "Sent wire 8/10/31".

Davies confirms receiving the approved draft from BR, and has also been in touch with Buckland, who confirmed Withers has approved the draft also.

Enclosed document is .133435w. The extracted document is a letter sent 15th June 1931.

"The present tenancy of Telegraph House expires in 1937. Of course, a great deal may happen between now and then, and, as trustee, it is impossible to bind myself or my successors, but, as far as I can see, there is no reason why I should not renew the lease when the time comes."

"I have received your letter about your new will, and am putting it in hand."

Re the Mollie Countess Russell settlement, Miss Otter and Lord Russell.

Enclosed (not present) is a draft deed of assignment, approved by Vandercom with alterations in red ink.

BR confirms receiving Davies' letter of October 12th.

"There was a clause in the agreement, binding me, in the event of Mollie being alive in 1937, to offer to renew my tenancy at £300 a year until Mollie's death, on condition that I should not be charged for dilapidations."

BR is leaving for America on Sunday. He requests a power of attorney for Dora to use.

Re Badley's mortgage with BR.

Davies encloses (not present) "... a copy of a letter from Vandercoms received this morning, together with the draft of the deed which I sent to you before and in which I have inserted in red ink the amendments and comments now made by Vandercoms on returning the draft with their letter."

"I received this morning the draft of agreement with Miss Otter and the draft of my will. The draft of agreement with Miss Otter is now satisfactory to me."

Lady Mary Murray, who is wealthy, may wish to purchase the portrait of her mother with BR's mother.

BR has executed the will, naming Francis Meynell as his second executor. BR will make a new will upon his return from America.

Davies encloses (not present) engrossment of assignment between BR and Miss Otter for BR's execution.

BR encloses (not present) the deed which has been signed and witnessed, along with a cheque for £950 for Miss Otter. BR mentions that he will be back from America on Christmas day, hoping to have earned £2,000 there.

Davies has placed BR's will into the Coward, Chance & Co. strong room. Davies has informed Buckland that BR approved the draft, and has heard that Miss Otter had executed one part of it.

"Bertie asked me to write to you for the stamp duty £35 which had to be paid upon it."

BR has left for America.

She can come in for a "further talk about the matter on which you last saw me."

Dora encloses a cheque for £35 for the stamp duty.

Re payment of Schedule A Income Tax on North Marden Down, including Telegraph House.

Re Dora's letter of the 17th November.

"... I have been looking through the files and have traced several letters referring to Schedule A. Income Tax, which I now enclose [not present] and which I shall be glad to receive back at your convenience."

Davies has looked into the income tax matter to "... find that previously to January last Schedule A. Income Tax paid by Bertie on the North Marden Down and Telegraph House was deducted from the rent paid to Withers. The tax due in January was not deducted."

Davies thanks Dora for her cheque of £64.15.1 "... in settlement of our charges."

"I have now gone over the correspondence which Mrs. Harrington sent on to you, together with our account books, and I am afraid I am not yet quite clear about the Schedule A. Tax."

Enclosed document is .133435pp, which is a receipt for £7.8.6 paid last January.

Dora has received a demand note for the Down land tax, payable January 1st, 1932 and inquires why it is double the amount from last year.

Note on letter stating, "It is not according to her information to us, a tax paid in 2 installments."

"I write to record the receipt of your letter of the 25th November enclosing $3,000."

Re Dora's letters of the 25th November and 4th December on income tax and insurance.

There is a note on the letter stating, "We expect Bertie Dec. 27 when I will refer various matters to him, but I should think he would consent in the above as to insurance."

Re Telegraph House cottage and insurance.

A demand note from Withers was enclosed (not present).

The Schedule A. Tax, payable in January 1932, will be deducted from March's quarter rent.

Re new insurance of furniture, etc.

There is a notation on the letter stating, "Cheque sent Dec. 28".

The letter thanks Dora for enclosing cheque of yesterday's date, for £4.12.3.

Re Telegraph House and the December quarter's rent.

"I learn to-day that from Feakins that he has sent you a cheque for $3840.44. With luck this should bring in slightly more than the balance due to Miss Otter."

BR confirms that Davies should do as he suggests in his letter to Dora, regarding the Telegraph House cottage's insurance.

BR also inquires when he is to take his seat in the House of Lords.

Davies confirms that he will take the necessary steps for the insurance of the Telegraph House cottage.

Re BR's seat in the House of Lords, "As far as I can gather the only other steps to be taken are to produce, at the appropriate time, the late Earl's letters patent and the certificate by the clerk to the Parliaments that he took his seat.... When these further steps have been taken, you will be in a position to request the Lord Chancellor to summon you to take your seat."

Aunt Agatha made her declaration.

BR does not know where his brother's letters patent are. "Perhaps Miss Otter can find them, but if not, I suppose it will be necessary to ask Withers."

"There is, of course, no violent hurry, as the law thinks that the period of pregnancy is twelve months."

BR has received word that Davies still has not received Feakins' draft for $3840.44, and has asked Davies to cable Feakins.

Davies received Dora's letter of the 6th instant, and encloses a fresh engrossment of her will (not present).

There is a notation on the letter stating, "11/1/32 will sent".

Davies has enclosed the proposal form for the insurance at Telegraph House, from the Guardian Assurance Company, which he requests for BR to sign and complete a description of the cottage (not present).

There is a notation on the letter stating, "Returned proposal form 11/1/32".

"The bank manager was most obliging, and advanced me £600, at 6%, without any time limit. I suggest that as soon as you get the cheque, you send him your cheque for the £600, together with a little note saying that it is to pay off my overdraft."

Davies encloses his "... firm's cheque for £500.8.3 being the balance of the sum of £1,100.8.3 received from Feakins, less £600 for which I have sent a cheque to Messers. Glyn Mills & Co. on your behalf in discharge of the overdraft for that amount recently arranged by you with them."

BR encloses letters "... from and to Ponsonby, who will be my leader when I take my seat" (not present). BR wants the letters returned, "especially [for] the views of my leader on the metaphysics of time".

Davies encloses a letter he received from Miss Otter (not present). "She seems to be doing all she can to dig up these ancestral roots of title, but I do not see as clearly as you do that the duty of an executrix includes this responsibility."

Time again, as quoted from Sophocles' Ajax.

Davies encloses a copy of a note he sent BR in September, "... by which the duties payable on Telegraph House and the war loan in respect of the death of your brother were estimated at £1,901.18.0., and the estate duty in respect of Mollie's death payable on the capital required to provide the annuity of £400 was estimated at £550."

The enclosed note is document .133435b2.

Re Davies' letter of February 2nd, BR thinks the missing documents may be at Child's Bank where Frank Russell banked until it became incorporated with Glyn Mills. BR says if the documents cannot be found they will have to apply for new ones. "I like your quotation from Sophocles' Ajax, but I do not think he can have had any experience of looking for lost papers." No interest runs on the death duties, so BR "can await Mollie's demise calmly."

Davies has heard from Buckland, and the letters patent have been found at Child's Bank.

Sophocles' Ajax is cited again.

BR is glad that the letters have turned up. "I suppose now that the Crown office has all it wants, so perhaps you will let me know what is the earliest date at which I could take my seat."

Davies instructs BR that all that remains for him to do to take his seat in the House of Lords, "... is to obtain a certificate that the late peer took his seat, and to produce evidence that there was no issue of his last marriage."

Davies encloses a draft of declaration (not present) to be made by the Dowager Countess [i.e., Elizabeth Russell, 1866-1941].

BR encloses the draft declaration (not present). "I am glad to see that Elizabeth only has to say she does not think she had any children by my brother. The law apparently considers that she might be honestly mistaken on this point."

BR asks: "Is it usual for a peer to have as much trouble in establishing his right to take his seat?"

In regards to BR asking if it is usual to have so much trouble in establishing a seat in the House of Lords, in his letter of the 13th instant, Davies informs him, "It is because you are not in the direct line of succession that you are called upon to furnish so much evidence. An eldest son by a first marriage would have very little to do to establish his claim to succeed."

Re the House of Lords.

Davies has received a satisfactory answer from Elizabeth. He has also received a requisite certified extract from the House of Lords journals, confirming Frank as having taken his seat.

Davies encloses "... a draft of a letter to be addressed to the Lord Chancellor as soon as we receive the declaration to be made by Countess Russell...." The draft is not present.

BR has enclosed his signed draft of the letter to the Lord Chancellor, but is not sure if it has to be entirely in his own handwriting. If that is the case, he requests that Davies send the letter back to him and he will write it out.

Davies informs BR that the letter to the Lord Chancellor does not have to be in his own handwriting.

"The letters patent have now been lodged at the House of Lords, and I have just been advised by telephone that your claim as been accepted."

There has been a question raised, however, about BR's Christian name. "You are referred to in Lady Agatha's declaration as Bertrand Arthur William, whereas your birth certificate gives only Bertrand. Have you any evidence as to how you came by the extra names?"

Elizabeth Russell would like to see BR take his seat, if he does so in the next fortnight.

Re BR's Christian name.

BR states, "I did not know that on my birth certificate I am merely described as Bertrand.... There is no baptismal certificate, as my parents did not believe in baptism. As soon as I get the summons, I will fix a time for taking my seat."

Johnston thanks Coward & Chance for informing him that BR has not been baptized and is prepared to be summoned under the name, Bertrand, to the House of Lords. A writ of summons has been issued to BR.

Johnston details the exact steps BR is to take at the House of Lords in order to take his seat.

Davies has received BR's letter of March 19, and has had his letters patent deposited at Glyn Mills & Co.

There is also a handwritten notation on the letter stating, "I send their receipt [not present]. Will you place it some suitable place for record—CLD".

Re Telegraph House.

Enclosed is a demand note (not present) for the quarter's rent due on the 25th March, amounting to £100.

Davies is absent. Coward, Chance have received BR's letter and receipt, which has been placed in their strong room with BR's other papers.

She encloses a cheque for £57.8.9, for the quarter's rent at Telegraph House, "... less payments made under Schedule A. Income Tax for £28.7.7 and £14.3.9 (receipts enclosed) [not present]. I am also sending you a cheque for £9.2.3 made payable to the Guardian Assurance Company."

Re Telegraph House. They have received BR's cheques.

BR encloses a cheque for £67.4s.9d in payment of his accounts and a third of the sum for the work on Griffin Barry's case.