"My Darling. The enclosed explains itself."

[Enclosure was published in Papers, 13: #69.]

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Thurs. I was very glad of your letter this morning."

"Tuesday aft. I am sorry your cold keeps on being bad."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Mon. night. My Darling—There seems a good chance the authorities will relent toward me—I am half sorry!"

[Continues] "Tuesday mg."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Sunday." Dictating last lecture ["Political Ideals"] to Miss Kyle "the most perfect secretary who ever existed."

"Tuesday it was a perfectly delightful time at Harrogate—I did love it."

Not a letter but leaflet Why Not Peace Negotiations? by BR enclosed with unknown letter.

"Monday My Darling I was sorry not to hear from you before starting this mg.—I shall be wandering about in the Peak country for 3 days* and I don't know where I shall be."

*With Constance Malleson at Cat & Fiddle Hotel near Buxton, Derbyshire.

"Sat. My Darling Your 2 dear letters came this morning and were a great joy."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"My Darling Love. I don't know why I didn't write a happier letter today for I really feel much happier."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

Bertrand Russell and War Office, Sept. 1916, could not have been enclosed with this letter.

"Wed. My Darling I am on my way back from Chichester—greatly to my surprise there was no approach to a quarrel, in fact everything went off most smoothly."

This is a draft. The actual letter sent is dated 18 Sept. and is in RA1, 710.048427, record 75801.

"Thursday. My Darling—Thank you very much for letter and enclosures—they were most interesting—Crompton's letter wonderful."

"Sat." "I find I can write faster than my typist can keep up with me."

"Friday I got a long vivid letter from Brett, a most excellent letter—it amused and delighted me—please thank her from me for it." The letter in question is that of 15 Sept. 1916 (record 1916 and record 235).

"Monday night I have gone on having a very busy time."

"Friday My Darling I enclose 2 letters from Elizabeth* which please burn when you have read them."

*Russell.

"Sunday My Darling—The date of C.A.'s court martial* is still undecided, but I have got permission to go to it."

*That would be his 2nd court martial.

"Wed. My Darling I was glad of your letter of Monday which I found when I got back from Manchester yesterday—"

"Wed. mg. My Darling—I am sorry you have such an upset."

"Thursday My Darling—First as to plans: Miss Wrinch will arrive Wheatley 4.30 as you suggest—the others are coming from Cambridge and will find their own way out—they arrive 4.27 Oxford l and NW."

"Tuesday My Darling—I was glad of your letter this morning."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Friday My Darling—Your letter came this morning—with the 2 large envelopes!"

"Dearest O—I am very very sorry you are ill—I wish I could come but I really can't—crises keep on arising and I daren't be away from the telephone more than an hour or two at a time—"

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Saturday Dearest O—Thank you so much for your letter—I am immensely glad that you like my book* so much—I hadn't thought it so good till you praised it."

*Possibly Mysticism and Logic.

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Thursday Dearest O.—Are you coming to London during these next days?"

"Saturday Yes, tea Tuesday suits me perfectly." [Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Monday Dearest O—Thank you very much for your letter—I am quite free Sat. and Sunday—I had not meant to go to the Herald reception but I shall love to go with you."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Friday Dearest Ottoline Thank you for your letter and for returning the books."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Monday" "Whitehead is reading at the Aristotelian tonight and I ought to be there."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Friday I was very glad of your letter."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Sat. I am sorry I wrote such an abrupt note yesterday but I had only a moment—Nicod turned up as I was finishing lunch, having escaped the French authorities successfully—and when he left I had only a moment before having to go to the office."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Good Friday 1917. My Darling—Thank you very much for your letter this morning."

"Sat. aftn. My Darling your letter has just come."

"Friday My Darling Thank you thank you for your letter—it gave me very great happiness."

"Museum 2576 My Darling I wrote to Gower Str. Tuesday—I hope my letter reached you."

"Sunday My Darling—Your letter is so wonderful—I cannot tell you the hundredth part of what it makes me feel."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Thursday. My Darling—Your letter of yesterday came this morning."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Feathers Hotel Ludlow. Saturday My Darling—Two letters from you have reached me, and I am very grateful for them both—the second really did say things that help."

"I think I shall stay here long enough to get an answer from you. I like the place, which I came to last year—the castle and the river are delightful, and there are beautiful wooded hill-sides beyond—it is so difficult to get a bed anywhere at August Bank holiday time that one can't go on at hap-hazard from place to place—I long for the sea but may not go to it."

Dating this letter is difficult.  On Saturday, 28 July BR was at the Southgate Brotherhood Church (the site of the mob incident); on Sunday, 29 July he was in Knighton with Constance Malleson; on Monday, 30 July he was at the Feathers Hotel in Ludlow; on 31 July, he was at the house called "The Avenue" in Ashford Carbonell.  The most likely explanation is that the latter was written on Monday rather than Saturday and just before he and Colette found The Avenue and moved there.

There is nothing to indicate that Russell had ever been to Ludlow before. However, he did spend 14-23 June 1916 doing a walking tour of Wales (Papers 13 chronology), and Ludlow is near Wales.  BR returned to the Ludlow area on only two other occasions, March 1918 and April 1919, so this letter cannot date from those years.

BR wrote one further letter to Ottoline but only a fragment survives (letter no. 1466, transcribed as document .053189, records 18653 and 119385), telling her that he had left the Feathers for a farmhouse 3 miles away.

"Sunday I feel I must tell you about the Albert Hall meeting last night, because it was a really wonderful occasion, and you can find out nothing about it from the papers."

[Letter is not signed.]

"My Darling—I got back from Leeds yesterday."

"Thurs. evg. My Darling—Miss Wrinch brought me your letter."

[Sept. 1914 or later that same year] "My Beloved—Your words today gave me a sense of finality which I have never felt before—not what you said about physical things, but what you said of your disgust concerning H.D.*"

*Helen Dudley, who arrived in England on 8 August 1914.

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Saturday My Darling I was glad to get your pencil letter—it is dreadful that you have had such a bad time."

"Friday My Darling S.S. [Siegfried Sassoon] came to see me late last night."

"Enclosed from Graves was brought me from the bomb-shop."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Our talk today left me very unhappy and rather ashamed."

[Letter is not signed; seems to be complete.]

"... Thought it would be best to come to a fixed agreement about money — so much a year — on condition of her not behaving like a pest." [Fragment of letter only; letter no. is not on letter.]

The remainder of this fragment has been transcribed as document .053189, record 119385. The transcription contains the words "July /17" and "Ludlow", but they were written in Ottoline's hand.

BR spent the night of 30 July at the Feathers in Ludlow. On 31 July he was at The Avenue, nicknamed "Boismaison", in Ashford Carbonell. "I have left the Feathers and moved into a farm about 3 miles from Ludlow — it is delicious country. I have been sleeping 10 hours every night, and have grown full of vigour. I have thought very little. I am coming home Friday...." He came home on Friday, 17 August, which would indicate that this was written in August, after Friday, 10 August. 

"I wrote you a horrible letter the other day."

"I got shaken out of the mood of doubt and depression I was in by the events at our meeting this afternoon which was broken up."

"Wed. night. I have been sorry about the letter I wrote you ever since I posted it."

[Letter is not signed; but seems to be complete.]

"Friday. It is horrible that I keep on and on hurting you, when my will is all the other way."

"I can only accept what you say—but I am profoundly unhappy that things should end in such a spirit."

[Letter no. is not on letter. It is not signed but seems to be complete.]

"Friday My Darling—Your letter came this morning."

"Thank you for your letter."

"I shall be glad to see the officer you spoke of—and I will be careful about overwork."

[The letter no. is not on the letter. The printed matter is two issues of The Tribunal. The 15 Nov. 1917 front page has "1473a" marked on it. The 7 March 1918 item could not have been enclosed with this letter.]

"My Dearest O.—Thank you, thank you a thousand times for your letter."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Monday. My Dearest O.—Thank you for your letter—I feel for the moment I have got myself in hand—may it last!"

"Thank you for your letter—I will come on the 28th—I look forward to it very much."

"Dearest Ottoline It was a joy seeing you—I loved our talk."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"New Year's day 1917" [Error in dating by BR. He should have written 1918.] "The year that is just over is the first since I grew up during which I have written nothing to speak of."

"My Dearest Ottoline—Thank you for your telegram."

"Dearest O—Thank you for your 2 letters."

"Monday My Darling—Thank you for your letter this morning, which I was very glad of."

BR has written on the card, "I wonder if Alys was the lady next door?"

"Wed. My Darling Your telegram has just come."

"My Dearest Ottoline Thank you for your letter—it is the sort of letter that really helps one."

"One has three people at a time: one must be my brother*, and probably the other will be Whitehead (not Mrs.)."

[Re visiting him in prison.]

*Frank Russell.

"Monday My Darling—Thank you very much for your letter."

"My Dearest Ottoline I couldn't say all that was in my mind to say today—but I want you to know that I think of you just as I always have thought."

"Monday Dearest O—I do hope your headaches have got better."

"Good Friday 1918. Dearest O—I wish I could see you once more before I go in."

"June 16 (your birthday). Your 2 letters were a great joy."

"July 2. All your many kindnesses to me ever since I have been in here have been so wonderful, and have given me great happiness."

"My Dearest O.—Your letters are a great joy to get."

"I am very sorry to have been unintentionally inconsiderate in asking you to talk to Whitehead. It is unbelievably stupid, I know, but I never realized that Mrs. Whitehead disliked you. She always talked of you to me so very nicely, and had so little reason to dislike you. I suppose it was Roger's doing partly."

[Letter is not signed.]

"25 July. Dearest O—It was most delightful finding your letter—so exciting not knowing whether one has come to the last sheet, going on, and finding another!"

"It was delightful seeing you yesterday, Dearest O., and you wouldn't believe how I loved your letter. I was sorry you had such a dreadful cold — all the Dr’s who ever go at you begin by making you worse, however they may end. — The flowers you brought are glorious — they glow like sunshine, and put off the coming of twilight, they are so bright. I do love bright bright colours — what a comfort it is to have got past the aesthetic days of subdued tints — I loved your bright dress — "

This copy was printed from microfilm 61.

A typescript was made of the last third of the letter, beginning "I am sorry about Rimbaud"—document .201181, record 116689. This typescript also has a carbon, document .201206, record 124999. A different typing was also done, document .201207, record 125000. A photocopy is also in Rec. Acq. 1095, record 61338; it was created from the typing of .201181. This last third of the letter was not printed in SLBR. Instead the remaining section of Russell's letter of 8 August 1918, letter no. 1489g, record 18684, "completed" the letter.

"It is a joy getting your letters, Dearest O., they bring me in touch with your world, and that is most delightful."

[Continues] "Later".

There is a transcription of this letter, document .007052-f6, pp. 582-3, record 93483.

The last part of this letter, beginning "Here is an idea for a book", is published in SLBR 2: #318, as the last third of a letter written on 1 August 1918. (Record 18683.)

"It is quite true what you say, that you have never expressed yourself—but who has that has anything to express?"

[Continues] "Thursday" = 15(?) Aug. 1918.

There is a transcription of this letter, document .007052-f6, pp. 584-5, record 93484.

"Wed. evg." "My Dearest O.—Your letters are such a joy to me—the more you write the better pleased I shall be—I am grateful—for sympathy, and affection, and the atmosphere of friends—yes, I do find prison very difficult—I ought not, but I do."

[Continues] "Thurs."

"My Dearest O.—Your letter this afternoon was such a joy to get."

[Letter is not signed.]

"My Dearest O.—You mustn't think of me as being 'tortured' here—I really am not."

"I have been reading Marsh on Rupert."

There is a transcription of this letter, document .007052-f6, pp. 586-7, record 93485.

"My Dearest O—It was a delight seeing you.—"

A photocopy of this letter with a typed transcription was filed as part of Rec. Acq. 69, box 2.68 (formerly box 16). It was filed chronologically, after letter number 1489l. However, the letter is not at Texas (source of Rec. Acq. 69). The letter never reached Ottoline. According to a note written by Elizabeth Trevelyan on document .053272, record 116694, the letter fell out a book in 1923, a book lent to BR when he was in prison in 1918. Elizabeth Trevelyan is identified as the writer of the note in document .047686, record 75046.

"Dearest O. Your letters are an immense joy and refreshment to me."

There is a transcription of the letter, document .007052-f6, pp. 590-2, record 93487.

"My Dearest O.—You write such wonderful letters—this one especially—you can't think what a joy it is to me."

[Letter is not signed.]

"Friday My Dearest Ottoline—I must have sounded very distant on the telephone just now, but the whole household including my brother was listening."

The letter is no earlier than the day BR was released early from prison on Sept. 14. Monk 1: 541 says they spent Sept. 25 together at Richmond Park, and Jobson-Darroch says they spent the first day at a Bach concert at Wigmore Hall. However, the 14th was a Saturday, so this letter is later than the first day.

"Sunday My Darling—Your telegram came this mg."

"Tuesday. Thank you for your letter, and for S.S.'s* which I am returning."

[*Sassoon.]

"Monday My Dearest O.—I am here till Thursday, and longing to see you."

[Envelope probably doesn't belong as it is pmk. 2 days later.]

"My Dearest O.—I couldn't say much on the phone because everybody was listening—it was a heavenly day yesterday—the way it developed utterly unexpected to me, but it is a great joy to find things so imperishable."

[Letter no. is not on letter.]

"Dearest O.—All goes well with me—I don't quite know when I shall be back, but I am counting on Lulworth on Oct. 22 for as long as you can manage."

"Dearest O—Here is Exiles—I don't really think it very good."

"Lemon's Farm, Abinger Corner, Dorking" "Dearest O.—I am here till Monday, as Gertler has got interested in a picture and can't come."

"My Dearest O.—I have just got your letter—I never at any time thought you 'vain' in the sense you mean—the very reverse—"

[Address is written as "6 Fitzroy Str."]