BRACERS Notes

Record no. Notes, topics or text
130901

Hook describes his plans for his trip to see the Bertrand Russell Archives. 

130902

"I have in my possession the only tape of my discussion—debate with Bertrand Russell over the BBC in the Fall of 1953. I describe the way in which this exchange took place, and the pleasant post-lude in a forthcoming chapter of my autobiography (Chapter title: Bertrand Russell: Portrait from Memory). The chapter may be published in Encounter this Fall."

"I am writing to enquire whether the Bertrand Russell Archives is interested in acquiring the tape."

130903

"The only recording referred to in the exchange of letters you enclosed was to Russell's recording of his commemorative address on the Warsaw Ghetto uprising delivered in April 1953. Was something omitted from what you sent me? Has Lady Russell's recording been transcribed? If it is Patricia who recorded would it be possible to see a transcript."

Hook mentions that he has completed the draft of his chapter on BR, "Portrait from Memory".

130904

"I made a passing reference to Santayana's anti-Semitism on the basis of a remark he made in his volume in the Library of Living Philosophy. ... Enclosed is the article in which my remark appears. There is correspondence about this in the January 1977 issue of American Scholar."

130905

"I finished some time ago a first draft of the chapter 'Bertrand Russell: Portrait from Memory" ... I have not yet decided what to do with it—I have so much on my dish ... and have not yet read the three new biographies on Russell."

"If I send you a copy of my draft would you be willing to look at it and correct it for errors ... I shall make acknowledgements of course ... Some of it is highly personal stuff ... I have not quoted from any letters of Russell—they are scattered between here, NY and Vermont. And I have a photograph of Russell and me taken at Amsterdam at the International Congress of Philosophy 1948."

130906

"I am not at all surprised that Russell spoke as you report he did at the 10th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. (Is a copy available?) It doesn't gainsay the fact that his personal feeling about Jews was what Leonard Woolf and others report about him. Nor would it alter matters if he could say (which to the best of my knowledge wasn't the case) 'Some of my best friends are Jews....'"

130907

This letter was not sent.

Hook annotates the letter: "Not sent. Upon advice of friends, I decided not to dignify Berman's piece with a reply. Russell once told me that he would never engage in another debate with Louis Fisher, (I believe it was on British policy in India) because Fisher was so abusive. Another anecdote. He said that when he lectured on foreign policy and was asked about England's treatment of Indians he always began by asking: 'Which Indians? Ours at least, are alive!'"

130908

"As I recall Russell did mention that he was thinking of writing a book on Democracy. The only thing of his I saw was a pamphlet published by some group in London after World War II. This was during his anti-Stalinist-Communist phase."

"Actually most of the material I have on Russell is in my head—and I hope some day to get it down before my memories fade. Russell had a remarkably accurate memory. He once told me of an article by the Archbishop of Canterbury written in Mind who claimed that the source of Plato's theory of Ideas was in his pederasty. 'Wasn't that a peculiar article for a future Archbishop to write?' he asked. ... I found the article and when I told him I had and was surprised at his accuracy he expressed surprise that I should have doubted his memory."

"He was completely unbuttoned with me puzzled only by the fact that although so close to Dewey I should take his side against Barnes. He used to say 'What I like about you, Hook, is that we contrast to others who help and offer to help me—you don't expect anything from me'—which was quite true."

130909

"My account of the relationship between Dewey and Russell is based on my memory of what Dewey told me with considerable reluctance since he very rarely gossiped."

"When I publish my 'Portrait from Memory: Bertrand Russell' (a chapter in my political autobiography), there will be some interesting details about Russell's life and experiences in the United States that will in no way affect Russell's philosophical stature but that will give a complete view of him, despite his faults, as a remarkable human being."

130910

Tylor thanks BR for his cheque for £50 and has sent the cheque to Maw "... with a letter informing him that you found it very difficult to make the payment."

130911

BR describes Dora's behaviour while John and Kate were visiting him for the holidays. "I think this behaviour ought to be brought to the notice of the Court in connection with the alimony suit, and that a condition of the alimony should be that she does not stay in the immediate neighbourhood of this house."

130912

"I agree with you that it is intolerable that Mrs. Dora Russell should spoil the children's stay with you, but I am afraid that the Court which deals with Maintenance will not impose any obligation upon her in this respect."

Tylor encloses a copy of the letter he sent to F.G. Maw (see record 130913).

130913

"I write this letter feeling that you will be in full agreement with me, and I have no hesitation in asking for an assurance on Lady Russell's behalf that she will do her best to avoid all such incidents in the future."

130914

"At the first hearing your Counsel impressed upon the Registrar the argument that the heavy expenditure entailed by living at Telegraph House should be taken into account, having regard to the fact that the Lease was taken for the benefit of, and at the request of the Petitioner, and that you have already been forced to realise capital to meet the expenses."

130915

"I am very disappointed to have to tell you that it has been necessary to postpone the hearing of the Maintenance Application until the beginning of next Term, which begins on June the 9th."

130916

"I am satisfied that every possible point in your favour was made by your Counsel, but to deal first with the other side's case, the burden of the argument was that you were a successful man of letters, who had earned a large income in the past, and could confidently expect to maintain his earnings at their previous level, while Dora had virtually no source of income, other than a School which could not be expected to yield any profit for some years to come. In those circumstances it was said that the Petitioner was entitled to a substantial sum, a considerable portion of which, having regard to your investments and your reversionary interest, ought to be secured."

130917

"I have just received a statement from Mr. Maw stating the amount of the arrears due to Dora which I will send to you as soon as I have checked it."

130918

"Maw has told me that Dora's grievance is that she is not satisfied with Dartington, and that failing satisfactory agreement as to the children's education, she may resort to the Chancery Court for directions."

130919

"With a view to discussion at the earliest possible moment, I wish to make clear my position in regard to John and Kate."

130920

"With regard to Dora Russell's letter of July 17, my reply to its various points is as follows." BR discusses Dora's claims regarding the children. See record 130919 for Dora's letter to Maw.

130921

"I return your letter which I have ventured to modify in certain respects." (See record 130920). "You will appreciate that in suggesting the alterations, I have had in mind that your letter may be read in the Chancery Court."

130922

BR's reply to Dora's letter on their children, John and Kate.

130923

"I shall be back on the 2nd and shall be interested to hear about the interview with Maw."

130924

"I pointed out to Sir John Withers that in fact there was no reason why the whole of the purchase money should not be paid over to you because the War Stock already held by him is amply sufficient to enable him to purchase an annuity should there be a deficiency."

130925

"As to the children's Passports, I enclose a copy of a letter and its enclosure, which I have received from the Chief Passport Officer, together with a copy of my reply."

130926

"I saw Mr. Maw last night. He began by saying that we were perfectly right in going to the Passport Authorities after Dora's refusal to give an Undertaking that she would not take the children out of the country without your consent. He said that she now regretted her refusal, and was willing to give such an Undertaking. This being so she had suggested that Mr. Maw and I should try to make some arrangement whereby the children would be able to leave the country without reference to the Court."

There is a note in BR's hand on the letter: "My children John and Kate were wards in Chancery and it was illegal to take them abroad without the Court's consent. Dora nevertheless did so."

130927

"I have not overlooked the matter, and as I think you already know Dora has refused to take any steps towards procuring an alteration of the Birth Certificate. The difficulty is that neither father nor mother can give any evidence of non-access which would have the effect of bastardising the issue of the marriage...."

130928

"I have heard from the Passport Office as follows...."

130929

"With reference to your letter of the 20th instant, I think that the Court would allow the children to visit you in America in the event of your being appointed to a Professorship in that Country, but should the occasion arise I think that it would be desirable to obtain Dora's approval as she might raise troublesome difficulties."

130930

"Appointment of Guardian by Bertrand Arthur William Earl Russell."

130931

"Mr. Maw has telephoned to us this morning that he is seeing Dora on Friday for the purpose of discussing the question of maintenance."

130932

"This now brings me to maintenance. Dora has refused to negotiate and I am told that we shall receive her reasons in the next day or so."

130933

"After speaking to you on Tuesday last, I wrote to Maw informing him that you had no objection to the children going to France with Dora provided that you were not called upon to pay any part of the cost of the holiday or the costs which would be incurred in making the necessary application to the Court. I also reminded him that Kate had originally planned to go to France with a party from the School."

130934

"After careful consideration, O'Malley and I are of the opinion that if you cannot afford to pay the full maintenance next month, you should, as a tactical move, pay only £35. ... Maw tells me that Dora is not making any profits, but I see from the New Statesman that she is acquiring substantial property in the West of England, so that it will be essential to put her to strict proof of her financial position."

130935

"The following is a gist of a telephone conversation which I had with Meynell yesterday morning. Point 1. I told Meynell that you agreed that when the children attained the age of 16 their wishes as to which parent they should live with should be consulted. Point 2. Meynell some time ago told me that Dora was complaining that you had sold Telegraph House on the ground that you had originally willed it to John. ... Point 3. Meynell said that Dora objected to my appointment, but it was realised that it was final."

130936

"I enclose your draft Petition...." (see record 130937).

"You will see that owing to the fact that Countess Mollie is able to recover a substantial sum from the Revenue in respect of income tax, the sum which you will have to pay Withers to make up the annuity to £400 a year, free of tax, is just under £100 per annum. ... Accordingly taking your gross income at about £1,500, it would clearly appear that you are entitled to have the maintenance reduced by a considerable sum."

130937

A draft petition by BR providing financial details. The trustee of Mollie, Countess Russell sold Telegraph House on 29 September 1937 for £5,468.10.9. Amberley House in Oxford cost £1,800, including a mortgage of £1,000 at 4.5%. BR got the mortgage from the trustee of Mollie, Countess Russell. BR's obligations to her under the 1929 agreement for Telegraph House were not over. There is a discussion of BR making up the difference between the trust's investment income following the sale of Telegraph House and the original £400 a year.

Details of BR's income from 1934 to 1937 are provided. His earned income from 1934–5 was £1,680.14.11. From 1935–6 his earned income was £1,336.19.6 and from 1936–7 his earned income was £942.18.3. "That your Petitioner's earnings are steadily diminishing and are likely still further to diminish."

130938

"As I explained to you yesterday when speaking on the telephone, the difficulty has been that Dora has neglected to sign the form of Authority required by the Bank to enable the Trust Accounts to be transferred out of the names of the old Trustees into the name of myself and the names of the three Trustees who remain in office."

130939

"With reference to my telephone conversation of yesterday, I enclose a copy of Lady Russell's Memorandum."

130940

This letter was enclosed with Tylor's letter to Lloyd (see record 130939). 

"You will see that I have said on Lord Russell's behalf that he is willing to meet Lady Russell for the purpose of discussing questions of policy affecting the children."

"I hope that Lady Russell will take this letter, which you will no doubt put before her, as representing Lord Russell's attitude in the matter, which is in complete agreement with my own, and as an answer to her Memorandum, although it is in form a letter from me to you."

130941

This letter was enclosed with Tylor's letter to Lloyd (see record 130939). 

"I have been trying, since 1932, to maintain the position, now, I am happy to say, in part conceded, that the children's parents must endeavour to act jointly for the children. For this reason I did not wish Lord Russell's withdrawal, which in fact is not a real withdrawal, since he cannot possibly withdraw himself from a profound interest in his children's affairs."

130942

This letter was enclosed with Tylor's letter to Lloyd (see record 130939). 

"I have to-day received a letter from my client a copy of which I enclose as it seems to me admirably to express her point of view. I also enclose the school cheques and accounts which are sent to you on the terms of the enclosed letter."

130943

This letter was enclosed with Tylor's letter to Lloyd (see record 130939). 

"I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by going in detail through the points touched on in the Memorandum; but Lady Russell may rest assured that Lord Russell is as anxious for the children's welfare as she is herself, that he agrees that questions of policy ought if possible to be decided by their parents, and that he will afford every reasonable opportunity for meeting with her to discuss these questions when occasion arises."

130944

This memorandum was enclosed with Tylor's letter to Lloyd (see record 130939). 

"I have objected to Mr. Tylor's appointment as a Trustee on two grounds, the first that on the whole I think it preferable that a member of the legal profession should be restricted to acting in a legal capacity for his client, and should not deal with the lives and interests of two young people of whose development he knows nothing, and is not qualified as an educator or parent to know. ... The second ground is that he is deeply involved in the disputes, and his appointment will tend to perpetuate them, rather than to set the children free from them."

130945

"I presume that you are now taking steps to give provisional notice to Dartington, and will see whether you can find a suitable Day School in the vicinity of Oxford."

130946

"I enclose a draft of my reply to Maw's letter of the 4th instant" (see record 130947).

"We are now asking Dora to accept the reduced maintenance until the 1st October 1938 on the footing that you will pay the full rate for a year from that date."

130947

"The children have expressed strong opposition to the proposal that they should leave Dartington, and in these circumstances Lord Russell is not able to agree that the children should leave Dartington before the Summer of next year."

Enclosed is a copy of Maw's letter to Tylor. There are notes in BR's hand on the letter. Maw outlined Dora's views and BR notes that he does not agree with her statement that the children may not be the best judge in matters of their education at Dartington.

130948

"Maw has also sent me the cheques signed by Dora. Dora is, however, still agitating about changing schools, and I enclose an extract from a letter from her to Maw which he has asked me to send on to you."

"You will see that Dora wishes to arrange for the children to visit a School called Kingswood School for a weekend during the present term. My feeling is that in view of your decision that the children are to remain at Dartington for the next year, it would be invidious for them to visit another School...."

130949

Tylor encloses a draft reply to Maw's letter (also enclosed).

"Throughout Lord Russell has taken up the standpoint that he is not prepared to take any step during the next year towards changing Schools, if a change would be against the children's wishes. The children have expressed in no uncertain terms their wish that they should remain at Dartington. In these circumstances, when Lady Russell asked whether he had any objection to their visiting Kingswood School, he naturally submitted the request to the children. Both of them, as you know, have written to him saying very definitely that they do not want to go and see Kingswood."

130950

"I think that Dora's conduct is monstrous, especially her underhand way of getting at the children. ... I have had a word with Maw, and I think I can fairly say that his sympathies are with you." BR underlined "Maw" and wrote "Dora's lawyer" in the margin of the letter.

130951

"I have had rather an unsatisfactory letter from Maw reading as follows...." Tylor quotes Maw's letter.

"Before answering it, I should like to speak to you by telephone. I propose to telephone to you about 8 p.m. tomorrow evening."

130952

"A decree nisi was granted in the Divorce Court to-day to Countess (Dora Winifred) Russell, of Telegraph House, Harting, near Petersfield, Hants."

"She petitioned for divorce from Bertrand Arthur William Earl Russell, on the ground of his alleged misconduct with a Miss Marjorie Spence, since the beginning of 1933."

130953

"I received your letter of the 3rd with the valuable letter from Randall which however would lead to something more valuable if we could obtain a statement from the acquaintance of a friend of his at whose house Dora committed adultery in the summer of last year. Would Randall be willing to give us any names and addresses to enable us to pursue the enquiry?"

130954

"With reference to my letter to you of yesterday about Randall's letter, the words at the end 'to pursue the enquiry' should not be stressed. If the names and addresses are now available, and it would not upset Randall for you to ask him to give them to you, I think it would be worthwhile to ask him, but it probably would be wise to let him know that what he said could be substantiated in case of need, and that at present you were not intending to take any steps."

130955

"The children are now Wards of Court, and apparently must remain so unless the Court sees fit expressly to discharge them from its care. But although they are Wards of Court, the Common Law custody by the father remains until it is varied by some Order."

130956

BR requested changes to be made to the insurance policies: "... and of the two changes in the Contents Policy which stands in your own name, namely, that the cover of £2,250 in respect of your own furniture and effects will be increased to £3,000, while the entry as to School Furniture to the sum of £30 will be deleted. The Policy for £800 on the structure of Telegraph House Cottage will remain unaltered."

130957

On the price for Telegraph House.

"The price which the other Agents have been instructed to quote for the freehold is £10,500."

"Alternatively, the property might be offered on lease at a rent of £300 per annum, or furnished for a short tenancy at twelve guineas per week."

130958

"In the meantime you do not refer to the fact that I sent you the cheque for the children's school fees on the 20th December with a letter of which I received no acknowledgement an omission probably due to the approach of the holidays."

130959

"Yes, the cheque for the school fees was sent by you with your letter of the 20th December, and as I had left on holiday that day, I am afraid no acknowledgement was sent to you."

130960

"Thank you for your letter of yesterday's date and for the enclosed cheque in favour of Lady Russell for £100 (for which please treat this letter as a formal receipt) together with the Dartington accounts and cheque in favour of the school for £90 which has been signed and is enclosed with the accounts."

130961

"Lady Russell finds your costs and mine a great deal higher than she ever anticipated even on the reduced basis and deprecates the impoverishment of the funds."

130962

"I have not heard from Russell since he left for the Canary Islands for a holiday."

"You may be aware that Russell is in a very stringent position with regard to money as his income from investments amounts to about only £300 and the market for his writings had been declining, as well as his capacity for writing for the market. He is weighed down by the extravagant rent of £400 which he has to pay for Telegraph House under the Lease, which he took to enable Dora to carry on the School...."

130963

"I note what you say about the shrinking of Bertie's income. It would be a great pity if the amount of alimony has to be revised so soon after decisions adverse to Dora, and Lloyd and I, who are parties to the series of agreements and understandings of which this is one portion, would of course have to be satisfied that a downward revision was necessary before we could with a clear conscience feel able to justify it to Dora."

130964

"I heard from Buckland that Miss Otter had told him that she wished that her ashes could be scattered at Telegraph House where Frank's were scattered. He wished me to ask whether you would have any objection, and whether some arrangement could be made with you."

130965

"I enclose a form of letter to Maw, and shall be glad to hear from you on Monday morning whether you approve of it being sent" (see record 130966).

130966

A draft letter to Maw. Davies asks for BR's approval before he sends it.

130967

"I am bearing in mind anxiously your financial position, and am distressed at the efforts which you have to make to earn money...."

Enclosed is a copy of a letter from Meynell to Davies (see record 130968), Davies' reply (see record 130970) and a letter from Vandercom Stanton & Co. about Miss Otter (see record 130969).

130968

"Bertie the other day asked me to put pressure on Dora to resign from the Trusteeship of the children's fund on the ground that by not doing so she was violating one point of the concordat."

130969

"We have in this office certain items of silver which were left by the late Miss Otter to Bertrand Earl Russell and there is also a large applewood chair which belonged to the late Earl Russell which was also left under the late Miss Otter's Will and this is at the premises of Messrs. Johnson Dymond & Co. of Kingsway...."

130970

"I do not know whether the last paragraph of your letter was written to give me any news or to elicit any comment or suggestion. It conveys no surprising news to anyone who knows Dora. It is her nature to be wholly dissatisfied with any situation, which is not wholly to her liking, and with a continuance of any relations which are tolerable to the other party."

130971

"I have your letter of yesterday, and however Noah's-Arky and silly-birdy it may be, I will review once more the flood of disappointment and difference in the hope of descrying ground of confidence and a green olive leaf of agreement. My state of mind may reek of anachronistic metaphysic, but yours has a whiff of Mid-Victorian spinsterliness, with its fussy underlining over-emphasis of forcing and cannoting, which gives only a sham bloom of importance and precision to those futile and faded bouquets of speech."

130972

"The phrases which after my first reading stick in my mind are your more or less accurately quoted description of yourself as 'an obscurantist and litigious person'—which was doubtless put in to make me feel small...."

130973

"The main objective is the Decree Absolute. There is only about a month to go. Meanwhile there is nothing acute or urgent. Let us eschew tactics nakedly designed to corner the enemy or force him to capitulate. We discredit and weaken ourselves by attempting to play Dora's game."

130974

"If you take any step with the obvious intention of fixing Dora into some position or forcing her to act in some way, she re-acts contrariwise. ... She has at present, so far as we know, no motive for not making the Decree Absolute. ... If you withhold the costs, you supply such a motive; which she would be all the more ready to act on, because the withholding of the costs would not involve her own detriment. She would be in the happy position of being able to spite your face without cutting off her own nose."

130975

"May we trouble you to refer to the correspondence which began with a letter to Sir John Withers from our Mr. Llewelyn Davies dated 13th July 1933 and ended with a letter from Sir John dated 26th February 1934, with which was enclosed a copy of a letter to Sir John from the Duke of Bedford saying that Sir Odo Russell would go through Lady Agatha's papers and look for the case containing letters written by Lady Agatha, her two brothers and Lord and Lady John to Lord and Lady Amberley, which belonged to Lord Russell. ... Lord Russell is engaged on writing a Memoir of his parents, and these missing letters leave an awkward gap."

130976

"The Decree Nisi was made on Thursday, the 22nd November 1934. Application cannot be made for the Decree Absolute until after the expiration of six months, which would be on Wednesday, the 22nd May 1935."

130977

"I have heard from Buckland that Miss Otter's ashes are to be scattered next Monday, and that of the articles left to you he has sent some to Rogate Station, and is taking others to you in a bag, and that he has arranged with you about the transfer of the Venezuelan Shares."

130978

"I enclose the cheque for the school fees, which has been signed by Dora. Will you sign it and return it to me to send to Meynell and Lloyd for signature?"

"I found that according to legal arithmetic the first day on which papers could be lodged applying for the Decree Absolute was yesterday, Thursday, the 23rd May."

130979

"I enclose a copy of a letter of yesterday's date from Withers about the letters which belong to you, but were in Lady Agatha's keeping when she died" (see record 130980).

BR has underlined "Withers" and in the margins, notes: "Duke's lawyer and M.P. for Cambridge University. My Aunt Lady Agatha had left letters (from my parents) to me but the Duke destroyed them."

130980

"Referring to your letter of the 15th instant we have to-day heard from the Duke of Bedford, informing us that his Grace had looked through all Lady Agatha Russell's letters, but amongst them none appear as the property of Lord Russell and lent by him to Lady Agatha Russell."

"He also informed us that he had come to the conclusion, that all letters ought to be destroyed, and this had been done."

130981

"The Decree of Divorce was made Absolute to-day. The Deed of Separation has ceased to have effect."

"... Dora was still harbouring a grievance that she was not seeing enough of the children, and that she was in difficulties with her present School, not being able to get a sufficient number of elder children, and that it was likely that she would have to close it, in which case she would be in serious financial embarrassment."

Enclosed is a letter from Davies to Meynell (see record 130982).

130982

"I have now heard from Mr. Maw that Lady Russell agrees to the sale of securities sufficient to provide for his and my agreed charges in the Chancery Proceedings."

130983

"I received your cheque for £100 and sent it on to Maw; also your notes about your financial prospects and my pencilled note."

130984

"Maw came to-day. I shewed to him your figures, 

£460 unearned

676 earned

----------

£1, 136

Rent of Telegraph House 400

----------

736

Income Tax 165

----------

3) 571

----------

£190."

"He said Dora had no income. She may not be able to continue the School, and there is a rent of £250 payable for two more years, and no doubt other debts."

130985

On the rent of Telegraph House. 

"It is possible to say that the whole rent of Telegraph House is an obligation previously incurred by you (and so incurred at the time for the joint benefit of Dora and yourself), for which you are now getting no advantage. From this point of view it might be argued that the expense involved in living at Telegraph House and keeping it up is so great as to wipe out all the advantage of having it free as a residence, and that therefore you ought to be allowed to deduct the whole of the rent from your income without per contra adding anything for the cost of residing elsewhere. On the other hand, it might be answered that living somewhere else would cost you something, and indeed so much that its expense would not be swamped by the unnecessary expense of living at Telegraph House. I expect that Maw would be prepared to allow some deduction for the rent of Telegraph House as an unprofitable charge...."

130986

"The comparison of expense of living at Telegraph House and elsewhere seems to prove that the whole of the £400 rent is an onerous charge on your income, and I will so represent it in any further communication with Maw."

"At present there is no sign of any further move on their part, and I think we may well acquiesce in the matter being deferred, especially in view of the report that Barry is in funds and wishes to marry Dora." BR has underlined "Barry" and notes in the margin: "father of Dora's younger children".

130987

"You will remember that it was necessary to provide by means of sales of securities the sum of £223.7.10, which, with the sum of £258.8.8 standing on the Trustees' Account as at the 28th ultimo, makes the total of £481.16.6 for payment of the costs of the Chancery proceedings."

130988

"You will remember that the Brokers suggested putting the balance of the proceeds of sale of the New Zealand Stock from Kate Russell's Trust in the Bournemouth Gas & Water Co. 7% Maximum Ordinary Stock. By the time I had received all the Trustees' instructions, the Stock on offer in the Stock Exchange had been sold, and the Brokers have since been unable to obtain any of it."

130989

"I spoke to Maw, saying that, to help Dora out of her present difficulties, and at a further sacrifice of your already diminished capital, you would pay £400 less her tax liability for two years, if she would agree thenceforward to £200 a year for her life or until re-marriage, and would herself write a letter to you to that effect."

130990

"You may like to have this letter which records that we have obtained and put in our Storage Room for you an officially certified copy of the original Decree Absolute by which the President on the 1st July 1935 by final decree pronounced and declared your marriage with Dora to be dissolved."

130991

"I am sorry that I was not at the telephone to speak to you this morning, and more than sorry that you should have been troubled by the clerical slip in my letter to you of the 29th instant. Of course it should have been for your life, or until her re-marriage."

130992

"As regards the publicity re Harriet, I can understand the publicity-mongers taking their stand upon the entry of the birth at the official registry at Somerset House. I do not know whether, and if so how, any change in that record can be made. ... I am all for putting you right, and putting Dora wrong in this as in all other matters, but I do not wish at the present moment to raise the matter by way of formal complaint."

130993

"For the rest, whenever one or two are gathered together with Dora it is certain that her own personal interests will bulk more largely than any other topic. Besides other unforeseeable grievances, her lack of pence will be emphasised, and the disaster which has overtaken her school, and the sad prospects of her lonely life."

130994

"I saw Maw last evening. He said that Dora's animosity seemed to be abating and that relations may be easier. I do not know whether this is because she hopes to get everything she wants out of you. She is going on with her School. She is not likely to marry Barry. He has not yet put to her your final proposal about alimony."

130995

"I do, of course, bear in mind your desire to avoid being obliged to set aside investments to secure an income to Lady Russell for your joint lives, or to enter into a covenant to leave her part of your estate by your Will, but the position is that Maw is determined to proceed with the Petition for Maintenance, and we must make every effort to resist any such Order being made."

130996

"Order John return Dartington next term work for scholarship and that he spend Christmas holidays Dora. Liberty to either party to apply further directions".

130997

"In the letter setting out your wishes and the reasons, could you not state your objection to the domestic and scholastic influence of Dora, and exhibit the several letters which are in our strong room."

130998

"I enclose a Note setting out the principles on which the Court deals with the question of what maintenance should be allowed to a wife whose Petition has succeeded."

130999

"I have sent to you to-day by separate registered post a parcel containing the following, which I have just received from Mr. Maw's office:

1. The gold watch with its chain.

2. The piece of brown paper in which it was wrapped up when posted to Telegraph House.

3. A small white cardboard box in which the watch with its chain was apparently placed wrapped up in tissue paper."

"You will see that there is a registration label on the wrapping, which would appear to indicate that the parcel was posted by someone in London to Telegraph House in the first instance. It was then forwarded from Telegraph House to Dora Russell, who subsequently took it to Mr. Maw's office."

131000

"I forwarded your letter about the gold watch to the Guardian Insurance Company, who have replied that the Policies at present held by you are only Fire Policies, and do not cover burglary or theft, so that if the gold watch has in fact been lost you will not receive any compensation from the Company."