BRACERS Notes

Record no. Notes, topics or text
131201

"As discussed we are working on the hypothesis that Russell's political activities are too important and urgent to possibly stop for a short period and that therefore we must accept a measure of hostility and positive non-interest (or diminution in price) for the Archives. We trust that the intrinsic value plus hard work will bring us a successful sale."

131202

"With regard to the printed catalogue which will be ready in the near future; I have written to the Librarian of Toronto University giving details thereof, and may I suggest that you consult with him in this respect."

131203

Hvidtfeldt and the Danish National Archives are interested in the Niels Bohr letters in BR's archive.

"The letters to which you refer are contained in Part IV of the catalogue, which details the whole of Bertrand Russell's political activities since 1953. You will understand that to separate the Niels Bohr letters from this section would disturb its unity and continuity."

131204

"Rigsarkivet (the Danish National Archives) has been informed that the papers of Bertrand Russell will be sold through your offices in this month. Among these papers are letters from Niels Bohr, Denmark. Rigsarkivet has a large collection of the private papers of famous Danish men and women throughout the centuries, therefore Niels Bohr's correspondence with Bertrand Russell is of considerable interest to us."

131205

"I do look forward to hearing from you with any notes you might have on possible interested parties in the Archives, such as Cyrus Eaton, etc."

131206

"The University of Toronto is definitely interested in the possibility of purchasing the Russell papers and I have been asked by the Chairman of the committee for our new graduate research Central Library to inquire after the catalogue."

131207

"We would hesitate to give our valuation of Lord Russell's Archives and would be most interested in your thoughts on the value."

131208

"On the 26th July I sent to you, by airmail, a draft of our catalogue. I have had no acknowledgement from you and wonder, therefore, if the parcel arrived safely."

131209

"I delayed acknowledging the draft catalogue of the Bertrand Russell Archives in the hope that I could write you about the next stage in our deliberations. Any decision is still pending, however, while various experts at the University of Toronto examine parts of the catalogue related to their specialties."

131210

"Interested please telephone".

131211

"We believe that you may well be interested in acquiring these archives either with a view to establishing a research centre or to donating them to an institution of learning."

131212

"We have received the first copies of our catalogue of The Archives of Bertrand Russell and will soon be mailing copies to our subscribers in the major universities of Britain, Canada and the U.S."

131213

"Further to my letter of the 28th December, I now write to inform you, as one of those Institutions which have expressed potential interest in Lord Russell's papers, that we have shortly to make our decision as to the repository of the Archives."

131214

"I am obliged to you for your express air mail letter of 12 February, and in reply, I am writing to inform you that we do not intend to put in a firm bid for the Archives of Bertrand Russell."

131215

"... the conclusion has regretfully been reached that there is practically no prospect of financing the purchase of the collection for the British Museum."

131216

On the catalogue of the BR archives.

"This catalog would certainly be of interest to a research library such as ours, but we and our readers using the catalog would need to know the permanent location of the papers and to whom one should apply to see the documents themselves or to obtain photocopies of them."

131217

"I am sorry that I cannot tell you the eventual location of Lord Russell's papers because they have not, as yet, been sold. It is hoped to sell them en bloc, so that when they do reach a permanent location there should be no difficulty in your learning of it."

131218

"We are certainly interested in the fact that the Russell papers are still available for acquisition, and for this reason as well as for its usefulness in the future, we would like you to supply us with a copy of the catalog about which you wrote on November 17."

131219

"I have pleasure in enclosing copy No. 26 of A Detailed Catalogue of the Archives of Bertrand Russell."

131220

Dougan thanks Feinberg for sending a copy of the catalogue.

"This is, as I expected, a large and important archive, and I do not think it is any easier for us than for you to appraise it in terms of money value."

Dougan asks for a possible price range for the purchase of the archive.

131221

"I quite appreciate your difficulty in evaluating the archives and therefore hope that it will be of some assistance to you to know that at this stage we are no longer considering any offers under $500,000."

131222

An invoice and receipt for the purchase of A Detailed Catalogue of the Archives of Bertrand Russell.

131223

Re sale of Russell Archives.
 

131224

"Arrive Westbury Hotel London Sunday March 12th".

131225

"I am seeing Lord Russell, who lives in North Wales on Monday, the 13th and should return to the office on Tuesday the 14th."

131226

"I very much regret to inform you that despite all efforts on my part, both Lord and Lady Russell are not disposed to consider any arrangement in relation to their library at this present juncture."

"If however, you were still to be interested in the Archives, I would look forward to seeing you next week."

131227

"I am awfully sorry that you missed Mr. Felton when you telephoned today and perhaps you would be kind enough to let me know when and where Mr. Felton could get in contact with you as I do know he was interested in making contact with you again."

131228

"Separate file for Feldman". A list regarding Feldman and his interest in the purchase of the archive.

131229

"As promised I enclose a preliminary copy of the catalogue. I have no further news on the Library and, as I pointed out in London, while I have no doubt that it will go with the Archives in the long run, it is a difficult subject at this present time."

131230

"Received 2 letters."

131231

A list of the Ontario universities with some background on their reputation and wealth, as well as some information on BR's relationship with the Ontario universities.

"Russell lectured in Toronto in 1931 on International politics. He also passed through there in 1921 on his way back to England from China and Japan."

131232

Feinberg has contacted Felton and asks Ready to cable him hotel reservation details. Felton confirms he will visit McMaster University on February 20th.

131233

"As you will know from Professor S.P. Rosenbaum of this University, we are most interested in Lord Russell's Archives. During the second week of October I will be in London with Mr. D.G. Lochhead and would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and inspect the archives."

131234

"It will be a great pleasure to meet Mr. Lochhead and yourself in London. Would you be kind enough to telephone me when you arrive so that we can arrange a mutually convenient time for you to come and visit the archives."

131235

"Further to our meeting of the 16th October as discussed we write in confirmation of the following:...." Feinberg lists the points discussed in their meeting.

131236

"I enclose as promised a set of page proofs of our catalogue. These proofs are rather a mixed bag; some being final pages and others early proofs, but all the information is there."

131237

"We are instructed by Bertrand Arthur William Earl Russell and by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation Limited to write to you in respect of a paragraph in the issue of Newsweek dated the 17th April 1967 to which our Clients take the strongest objection. The paragraph we refer to bears the title 'Lord Russell, Texas and the V.C.' and refers to the negotiations for the sale of Lord Russell's collection of private papers ... and alleges quite falsely that Lord Russell has indicated that the proceeds of sale will go to aid the communist forces in Vietnam including the Viet-cong."

131238

"I have to inform you that our connection with Newsweek magazine is very slight and is limited to the transportation of some of their copies from their Slough Printing Works to various London addresses."

131239

The letter is addressed to "The Librarian, McMaster University" and is signed "Mrs. P.H. Spence". She is in possession of BR's letters to her. This is her second letter, and it quotes her first letter. She did not get a reply to her initial letter and requests acknowledgement of receipt. After legal consultation, William Ready sent a reply on 16 December 1970. In the file is a letter of advice dated 30 October 1970 from Richard Robinson, McMaster Library's London lawyer, to K. Blackwell. Also in the file is Ready's letter to Robinson of 16 December 1970, stating that he has sent the letter that Robinson suggested.

 

131240

"We can certainly reassure you that it is our intention to be scrupulous over observing your legal rights and you need have no fears on that score."

She did not reply to this letter. Russell's embargo on her letters (both to, from and concerning her) was observed at least until five years after the date of her death in 2004.

 

131241

Blackwell asserts that the embargo on her correspondence has been maintained. He asks her: How many letters from Russell does she have? Does she possess any of his manuscripts or typescripts? And does she have any of his missing pocket diaries between 1934 and 1946-47?

She did not reply. Russell's embargo on her letters (both to, from and concerning her) was observed at least until five years after the date of her death in 2004.

The Bodleian Library informed the Russell Archives (see record 131242) that in 2001 they received 3 boxes of papers from Patricia Russell. No one is to view their contents during the lives of her son or BR's grandchildren. See the Bodleian communication (record 131242) for complete and precise details.

 

131242

Harris informs Blackwell by email that in 2001 the Bodleian received 3 boxes of documents from  Mrs. P.H. Spence with a signed agreement that they were not to be opened or the contents read until the death of the last surviving child belonging to Bertrand Russell's three children. The grandchildren are named with their birthdates.

Blackwell's initial email is attached. He cited Edith Russell's letter to him of 3 September 1976 saying that Patricia Russell's papers had been given to the Bodleian.

These email printouts are filed with McMaster Library's correspondence with Patricia Russell, Rec. Acq. 1272, record 131239, record 131240, record 131241.

131243

"Thank you for your letter of September 22 and for the enclosed photograph which I have duly enscribed to you and Alickly [sic] in return herewith. I enjoy the thought that it may adorn our embassy in Ethiopia."

131244

BR provides the context to Arthur Russell's letter (see record 120008).

"Adila Aranyi, the subject of the following letter, was the second of three musical sisters, all of whom I came to know well, as they were friends of Ottoline."

"At the time of the following letter, Ottoline was getting letters from Adila saying she had an important secret that she could not reveal. Ottoline was amused, as she knew from me what the secret was."

131245

"I am very glad you have read Alice in Wonderland; have you learnt to balance an eel on the end of your nose, like old father William?"

131246

"Before being so ready to adopt a Balfourian attitude ... if you will descend from your pedestal and life pedagogie [sic] you will see that my attitude is quite logical, and that I did not ignore your contention."

131247

"I have wired Bertie Russell. I cannot give him help have told him my reasons. Letter to you follows. Mother."

131248

"Memorandum for Dorothy on the Wimbledon by-election and Bertrand Russell's candidature."

"And how can he refuse the help of the Political and Social Union if some of them choose to help him, and if they pitch their platform at Wimbledon they will act according to their kind, and will vent their vitriolic language upon the Liberal party which Bertie is too 'superior' to identify himself with."

131249

"Your telegram came about Bertie's candidature, just as I was writing to tell you how delighted I was at his standing. What is the mysterious hindrance to help? ... Anyway it is a great pity he cannot be helped, as I should like to see a good show made against Chaplin!"

131250

"The local Liberal association is not supporting Bertie I hear, and Geoffrey says it is going to be a dreadful fizzle!"

131251

"Geoffrey says that without fail I must correct what I said of him yesterday—I must have been asleep or misunderstood him for he says he 'never said that Bertie's candidature would be a fizzle', on the contrary he (Geoffrey) is full of zest and thinks that you and all ought to help...."

131252

"As to going to Wimbledon—though I should have been excited at going to it had you been wholeheartedly supporting Bertie, I don't care to go where you would not go. I will spend my excitement on hoping that he will get as good a figure at the poll as possible!"

131253

Cantor acknowledges BR's "kind letter" regarding Kant. He mentions that the health of his son, Eric, is improving and that he will be travelling with his wife to Meran soon.The letter is written on the front cover of Cantor's edition, Die Rawley'sche Sammlung von zweiunddreissig Trauergedichten auf Francis Bacon : ein Zeugniss zu Gunsten der Bacon-Shakespeare-theorie (Russell's Library, no. 87).
 

131254

A note clearly meant for BR on the question of who was Shakespeare is written on the cover of Guilelmo Rawley's Confessio fidei Francisci Baconi, baronis de Verulam, vicecomiti Sancti Albani (Russell's Library, no. 88):
 

131255

"Mr. Russell wrote to me and definitely said he was fighting on Suffrage and Free Trade, and he did not mention temperance. ... Moreover Mr. Russell says he has not made up his mind about Disinterested Management, that he does not know enough about it to do so (!) This is extremely odd as his wife has for the last four years been a prominent advocate and public speaker on the question."

"I like Bertie Russell exceedingly, not because he is my nephew, but because he is a man of the rarest quality and of consummate intelligence, but I think the tactics in this Wimbledon fight though honestly meant are not likely to prove useful. ... B. Russell has replied again saying that he is in favour of Local Veto but not promising to put the question as a prominent item in his programme."

131256

"Bertie wrote to me again but I confess that my objection to helping in an election alongside of virulent Tories remains unshaken, and also I do not like these independent candidatures, nor the giving a back-seat to Temperance."

131257

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

Dorothy Henley notes that this letter was written "during a very serious influenza epidemic at Naworth. Both Cecilia and Christopher nearly died."

"There was a little friction between the Cobsons and me yesterday because they would attack the middle classes as being all snobs and having bad manners whereas they lauded to the skies the perfect manners of aristocrats and their unsurpassable charm."

131258

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

"The Sandersons insulted me and he had to be turned out of the house; she stays here with her sick boy; Stella is well. They are very treacherous people, very black hearted but I won't worry you with any of it. He was like a madman with me and she is so, still."

131259

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

"The castle is very still Mrs. Sanderson and her child are hidden from sight and sound in their room and no one knows if they are still here or not, except the maids and we don't ask them. They will flit away noiselessly one of these days: she is a very mad, unnatural monster kind of creature!"

Dorothy Henley notes, "How utterly childish!"

131260

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

"Bertie is coming to tea, but I do hope our rough little boys won't shock him."

131261

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

During Mary's pregnancy with her third child.

"Now to speak of that which overshadows all else. I am so anxious and so deeply troubled at you studying metaphysics during your pregnancy...." Dorothy underlined that sentence and wrote "Quite wonderful."

131262

An extract from a letter enclosed with Dorothy Henley's letter to BR, see record 120093.

"That poor sweet little child Rachel died this morning. She has followed her dear Mother you see; and we must hope that she is living now in a brighter and happier world than this in the presence of God."

"Bertrand came to London yesterday. He is 2 years old. I have not seen him yet."

131263

"I would be simply delighted to meet Bertrand Russell and would so like you to bring him down to Woburn to lunch one day."

131264

"Do please get in touch with me in September—I look forward to hearing from you further."

131265

A business card signed by G. Swann was inserted between pp.144-5 of Meher Baba's God Speaks (Russell's Library, no. 217).

131266

This MS is on a half sheet of paper with the other half missing.

"Given sensation x.

A vector R leads to x from below...."

131267

"I enclose a letter from a prisoner at Pentonville written to Lord Russell in Protest over an article by your Peter Simple. I trust you will find space for it."

The enclosed letter is not present in file.

131268

"If you believe that Bertrand Russell's work for peace is valuable, perhaps you would care to help to support it financially."

"This note is inserted quite unknown to Lord Russell by his secretary."

131269

A Christmas tag in BR's handwriting from Kate to Peter was inserted between the cover and the first leaf of Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond's Des ballons aérostatiques (Russell's Library, no. 617).

In Øystein Hide's "Wittgenstein's Books at the Bertrand Russell Archives ...", this work is regarded as once owned by Ludwig Wittgenstein. The tag likely accompanied a different gift originally.

131270

An excerpt from a postcard to Frank Russell found on page 83 of My Life and Adventures.
 

131271

An excerpt from a letter found in Beatrice Webb's book, My Apprenticeship, on page 90n–91n.

"I don't know whether he [Herbert Spencer] was ever made to realise the implications of the second law of thermodynamics; if so, he might well be upset. The law says that everything tends to uniformity and a dead level, diminishing (not increasing) heterogeneity. Energy is only useful when unevenly concentrated, and the law says that it tends to become evenly diffused. This law used to worry optimists about the time when Spencer was old. On the other hand, his optimism was always groundless, so his pessimism may have been equally so; perhaps the cause of both was physiological".

131272

A scrap of paper was inserted between pp. 150-1 of Alphonse Berget's Ballons, dirigeables et aéroplanes (Russell's Library, no. 198). The book was previously owned by Ludwig Wittgenstein.

The scrap of paper is in German and, though incomplete, notes the death of Émile Erckmann in 1899.

131273

An excerpt from an undated letter found in Jacob Helder's book Greatest Thoughts on Immortality, page 116–17.

"As regards immortality, I see no reason at present to suppose that anything of the ego survives death. I regard the ego as an organization, like a football team; it seems to me as impossible that it should survive the dissolution of the body as that an army should survive demobilisation. But I am prepared to alter this opinion if Psychical Research produces evidence that seems to me convincing, which I do not think it has yet done."

131274

An excerpt from an undated letter found in Twenty-Four Views of Marriage, page xi.

In accepting the invitation of the editor to contribute, BR said, "I am highly honored by the suggestion ... and am very much interested that the Presbyterian Church should be undertaking such a work as you describe. ... I feel inclined to offer my sincerest respects on this account."

The book contains "Christian Ethics", Chapter V from Marriage and Morals.

131275

BR's answers to a questionnaire on religion and theology, found in The Religion of Scientists: Being recent opinions expressed by two hundred Fellows of the Royal Society on the subject of religion and theology, page 32, 46–7.

In answer to the question, "What does the word 'spiritual' mean?", BR responds, "Don't know what this [question] means."

In answer to the question, "Do you consider that man is in some measure responsible for his acts of choice?", BR responds, "Responsible is a concept not capable of precise definition, so that no answer can be given."

131276

An excerpt from an undated letter to Pound written from Beacon Hill School, found in Their Moods and Mine, page 41–2.

"I have never been a complete Pacifist. I think it justifiable to resist invasion; also to fight for certain principles, e.g. the English Civil War, the American ditto, and the War of Independence seem to me justifiable. But most wars, like bitter quarrels between individuals, involve folly on both sides. I tell my children that most wars (not all) come from both sides being silly (not wicked), just as the children are when they get into fights—only Governments have no grown-ups over them to tell them to be sensible. The appeal is to common sense, not to any abstract moral principle."

131277

An excerpt from a letter to Hardy, found in Bertrand Russell and Trinity, page 61.

Hardy says that in BR's letter, BR reserved the right to comment on any "error of fact".

An error of fact did occur: a letter of 20 December 1941 (see record 131278) from BR to Hardy is quoted indirectly, pointing out that the offer of a lectureship referred to in Sceptical Essays took place not in 1915 but in 1910.

131278

BR's letter is quoted indirectly by Hardy and is found in Bertrand Russell and Trinity, page 61.

BR tells Hardy of an error he made regarding the passage from Sceptical Essays. The passage does not refer to the events of 1915 but to the offer of a lectureship in 1910.

131279

An invoice for 15 shillings was inserted between pp. 290-1 of George Santayana's The Life of Reason, Vol. 5 (Russell's Library, no. 364). The connection with BR is unknown.

 

131280

BR's conversation with Malleson is recorded in her book In the North, page 76. The conversation happened in July 1938, when BR was leaving for America and Malleson was leaving for Sweden.

While in the garden of Amberley House, BR said that Conrad was "the living image of my Grandmother Stanley".

Malleson was getting on a train at the Oxford station platform. BR said to her, "It's been too long, this separation; don't let it be so long next time." Malleson replied, "It was my fault. It was my fault!"

131281

An excerpt of a letter from BR to Ushenko, found in Ushenko's book, Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, page 611.

BR tells Ushenko that it was Whitehead who led him, in 1914, "to abandon Newtonian absolute time and space and also particles of matter, substituting systems of events." The philosophy of events "fitted well with Einstein" and "confirmed me in the views I got from Whitehead, but Einstein was not their source for me, and I think not for Whitehead."

131282

This excerpt of a letter from BR to Malleson, sent from Harvard, is found on page 184–5 of Malleson's book, In the North.

"It is impossible to say how overjoyed I was to get a letter from you today. I had been wondering in a worried way what had become of you. In these days one never knows whether people are alive or dead. I have been offered a five years' job ... one lecture a week, on philosophy in relation to culture, from Pythagoras to Dewey. ... Pythagoras said 'There are Gods and men and Pythagoras.' He used mathematics mystically as a means of salvation, by liberation from the lusts of the flesh, especially beans, which he forbade. A queer fish: Einstein and Mrs. Eddy combined. I should like to see England again before I die, but God knows whether I shall, or whether it will be at all like the England I loved. I should like to see you again, and I know you will still be the Colette I loved. You have an unconquerable spirit—which one values more and more in these days when almost everything is shattered. Work remains. I plan a big book, a sort of history of philosophy, irreverent, showing up Plato, dealing with the problem of reconciling individuality with cohesion. One writes nowadays for a distant future, say 1,000 years hence, when the new shackles will have worn thin and the human spirit will again face the world unafraid. I feel it is worth while, and would rather not be dead. I am lecturing my book, which will be called, An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth. I have heard nothing from Desmond. He still writes in the New Statesman, so is still alive, or was lately. Bob is still going strong, translating the classics. His translation of Lucretius was excellent.

Goodbye Colette dear. If this reaches you, write again soon.

Love from B."

 

131283

This excerpt of a letter from BR to Malleson, sent from Malvern, Pennsylvania, is found on page 185 of Malleson's book, In the North.

"Your Xmas letter with nice photograph, which was to have taken five days by air, reached me yesterday, having taken exactly a month. It is curious that I had just had a very vivid dream about you. ... Your photograph makes you look very sad. I have been thinking a great deal about you: hoping you are as safe as one can be in these days, and wondering how you fill your time in the Arctic winter. I hear sometimes from Gilbert Murray. Since I wrote to you last I have had three months at Harvard giving the William James Lectures. Now I have this five years' job. ... We have taken a 200-year old farm house in lovely hilly wooded country, about 25 miles from Philadelphia. ... I have grown more and more interested in history, especially of ideas. At last I am making use of Burnet in my work. I have no plans for after the war—I do not dare to think of such a time.

Write again soon and give me your news...."

131284

A facsimile reproduction of BR's answers to Hutchinson's questionnaire on "The Technique of Creative Thought", in the hand of Doreen Joan, is found in Hutchinson's book, How to Think Creatively, pages 110–12. Further remarks by BR are found on pages 19–20 and 134.

On page 112, BR comments, "In all the creative work that I have done, what has come first is a problem, a puzzle involving discomfort. Then comes concentrated voluntary thought involving great effort. After this a period without conscious thought and finally a solution involving the complete plan of a book. This last stage is usually sudden."

The above passage by Russell also appears on pages 19–20, with the addition after "sudden", "and seems to be the important moment for subsequent achievement."

On page 134, BR says, "The moment of insight is exciting, like quick motoring".

131285

An excerpt from an undated letter from BR is found in Structure, Method and Meaning, edited by Paul Henle, Horace M. Kallen and Suzanne K. Langer (New York: Liberal Arts Press, 1951) (B&R B&R H44.1a). The letter is extracted in Horace M. Kallen's Preface, dated 1 Sept. 1950, p. vi.

On learning of the plan for a book to honour Sheffer, BR wrote in a letter, "I have for a large number of years been a great admirer of his work. In particular, his substitution of one undefined term in place of 'or' and 'not' has rendered possible a simplicity in the logic of propositions which had previously been unattainable. I mention this among many other propositions because it was particularly in my province."

131286

An excerpt from an undated letter, found in Reynold's book, My Life and Crimes, page 102.

Reynolds writes on his conversation with BR on Gandhi and religion. Reynolds writes that BR had made a political observation about the American Navy being a force of peace.

BR wrote to Reynolds after their conversation, saying that he had "enjoyed our apparently argumentative talk" and that he thought they had "underlying agreement". BR hoped that Reynolds would visit Beacon Hill again.

131287

An excerpt "From Bertrand Russell's letter of invitation to participants in the First Pugwash Conference", found in The Pugwash Movement pamphlet, written by Joseph Rotblat, page 3.

"The invitations have been issued on an individual basis. The participants represent only themselves, so that they may put forward their point of view with frankness, and, since the proceedings are private, without the fear that misquotation or partial quotation may distort their true opinions....

"The first step ... must be the lessening of the mutual suspicion which has been rendering all negotiations abortive. It may be hoped that the present co-operation among scientists of diverse nations and diverse opinions will prove the seed from which, gradually, a sense of common human problems will come to replace the present futile competition, from which nothing but catastrophe can result...."

131288

A message by BR, dated July 1961, found in "Lettre ouverte à Mm. Kennedy, Krouchtchev et à tous les dirigeants de l'Est et de l'Ouest", page 1.

"La plupart des gens ne semblant pas s'apercevoir que les gouvernements de l'Est et de l'Ouest préparent les masses à une guerre nucléaire... Une telle guerre effacerait l'Europe et anéantirait les neuf dixièmes des populations de l'URSS et des USA... Il faut agir maintenant ou il sera trop tard..."

131289

An excerpt of a letter from BR, found in Bevington's book, When Found, Make a Verse of, pages 217–18.

BR wrote, "I shall never forget the pleasure of the evening when I first met you. ... I hope you will come to England again before long, and give me a somewhat longer taste of your delightful assemblage of things to be noted and remembered. ... But for you ... I should never have known of Julia's double chin."

131290

Quoted and paraphrased remarks from a conversation between BR and Bevington are found on pages 217–22 of Bevington's book, When Found, Make a Verse of.

On Titus Oates, Bevington paraphrases BR's comments that he was a "terrible scoundrel" and "one of the really evil men of history."

On George Bernard Shaw, she paraphrases BR's comments that he was a "man without conscience" and the "only man he had ever known without a heart."

On T.S. Eliot, she paraphrases BR's comments that he "forsook philosophy for the church".

On David Lloyd George, BR said, "I spent years of my life trying to hate Lloyd George, but without success. He was too lovable, much like Churchill: political scoundrels both, but you could not really dislike them."

On Winston Churchill, BR said, "The first time I saw him I was having my hair cut. The barber pointed to a pink, round-faced Harrow schoolboy in the next chair. 'Do you know who that is?' he asked me. 'That's Randolph Churchill's young cub'."

131291

A torn piece of an information stub that accompanied a paycheque has been inserted between pp. 102-3 of Benedict de Spinoza's Ethic (Russell's Library, no. 1019). The stub seems to concern payment for BR's participation in the "Invitation to Learning" programme devoted to "Lewis Carroll" Alice in Wonderland", which was broadcast by CBS on 21 December 1941.

131292

A "request for review" (folded thrice vertically) has been inserted between pp. 248-9 of Benedict de Spinoza's Ethic (Russell's Library, no. 1019).

131293

An excerpt of a letter from BR to Jelly, found in Joseph Macleod's The Sisters D'Aranyi, page 94. There is a discrepancy between the date of the letter as 1916, as noted in the text, and the date of January 25th and July 29th 1915, as it appears in the endnote on page 297.

"If affection were not very rare ... the war would have stopped long ago."

131294

Patricia Russell had written on the verso of BR's letter to Utley (see record 53980). The letter is found in Freda Utley's Odyssey of a Liberal, page 159. 

"I have been wondering whether or not to reply to Mrs. Shaw saying that I shall be in London one day soon and asking her whether it would be of any use to call for a moment alone to try and unravel the misunderstanding. I do think there seems to be a genuine misunderstanding as well as sheer willfullness and cruelty, and I think there may be a little hope left through Mrs. Shaw. Also, Shaw did seem to find me rather attractive—I think he likes red hair! And perhaps I could weep on him. Don't think this conceited.

I have written in that sense to Mrs. Shaw. The worst that can happen is for him to refuse to see me. Bertie thinks he might be nice to my face and say something contradictory to Maisky afterwards.

It is Conrad's bath time. I am as angry as everyone else, but I would lick the beast's boots if this would help. I think he must be a bit crazy. It is Mrs. Shaw who gives me still a little hope."

131295

Utley records a conversation she had with Patricia Russell in Pennsylvania, found in Freda Utley's Odyssey of a Liberal, page 168. 

Patricia had said, "Do you notice, Freda, that whereas most people say 'they' in referring to the government, Bertie always says, 'we'?"

131296

An excerpt of a letter, found in Freda Utley's Odyssey of a Liberal, page 161. Patricia had enclosed Shaw's letter to her (see record 80259).

Patricia wanted to meet with Shaw for the reason that she "did not want to give up while there was the slightest hope left." Mrs. Shaw had "genuinely misunderstood and had wanted to help, but Shaw must deceive her."

Shaw's letter "makes clear what we suspected, that he chooses to believe that your husband is guilty of some awful crime, and that he never meant to help at all." She calls Shaw "the worst of beasts."

131297

BR's letter to Tiny, when she was gravely ill, is found in Anne Fremantle's Three-Cornered Heart, page 191.

"I have just heard from your daughter the very painful news of your grave illness. It makes me very sad. There is not much one can say. I can imagine your perfect courage.

"So many long ago memories are associated with you—children's parties at your house and Pembroke Lodge and the Burdetts'—your father walking over by Twickenham Ferry on Sundays—his reminiscences of the Metaphysical Society dividing on 'Is there a God?'—the times when I was barely grown up and used to come to York House and listen with admiration while you talked of Kater Murr, Verlaine, Dostoevsky, etc., most of which I bought in consequence. How difficult it is to live in the modern world when that was the world to which one's early habits were adjusted! I do not like exile, particularly because it means not seeing old friends. I hope to return to England in 1945, but that is too late."

131298

Several quoted remarks to Anne and Adam Fremantle, found in Anne Fremantle's Three-Cornered Heart, pages 192–5.

Anne asked BR why he divorced Alys. BR replied, "Because she had madness in her family and I wanted children." She asked BR why he divorced Dora. BR replied, "Because I could not afford the children she had after we married which were not by me."

BR told Adam how unhappy he was in his youth and how the Master of Balliol, Benjamin Jowett, saved his life.

"One night I went to bed determined to commit suicide next day. I dreamed that the Master of Balliol stood at the foot of my bed and told me, 'Don't do it, young man; don't do it; you will live to regret it.' Which was nonsense, of course, but when I woke up I was completely cured. I didn't commit suicide then, and I have never wanted to since."

They turned to talking about BR's children. On John, they discussed how he had been in Washington with the British Admiralty Mission during the war and how he had divorced his wife.

On Kate, "Last time I saw her she had her arm in a sling; she had fallen out of a tree or something. Kate married an American too, Charles Tait, a don, and they live near Harvard."

On Conrad, "He is a tug [scholar] at Eton" studying Classics. "Yes, classics. It is odd; I suppose whatever one is forbidden is what one wants, and if only God had the sense to forbid us to be good, we all would be perfect paragons at once."

On his plane crash in Norway, BR said, "I was sitting in the front part of the plane, and they wouldn't let me smoke. 'I must smoke or I'll die', I said. If I hadn't smoked, I would have died, for I was allowed to smoke at the back of the plane. ... I didn't know until much later that all the people in the front part of the plane were drowned—nineteen in all."

131299

An excerpt of a letter from BR to Mannin, on his attraction to her, found in Mannin's Young in the Twenties, page 62.

BR had told Mannin that talking with her was more exciting than making love with almost anyone else. The "almost" was inserted because BR did not want a lady in America to be offended by the statement, as "her talk also is exciting, less so than yours, but it would be rude to say so in print."

BR said that what she had written had been "quite a considerable event" to him. The only other time he had "such strong delight from praise" was when Einstein wrote a preface to a German translation of one of his books. BR said, "For I do not think you are much in love with me."

131300

This letter is found in Lord Rothschild's book, Random Variables, page 18. For the dictation of this letter, see record 13599.

BR replies to Rothschild's request for the manuscript of "Man's Peril".

"Thank you for your letter of January 28. I should be very glad to give you the manuscript of my broadcast for you to present to Trinity if you have any reason to think that Trinity would like to have it. Have you already ascertained their view about it or do you know what their view is likely to be? 

The broadcast has already been reprinted as a leaflet. I do not know whether you have any suggestions how to forward its object. If you have, I should be very glad to know of them."