"Sat. aft. My Beloved—Your telegram came—a thousand thanks—"

There is a literary version of this letter, document .0523777, record 99839.

"My Darling—I find when I am with you that I can't say the things that are in my heart, but when these days are over I want you to know as much as I can tell you of what you have given me. I want to tell you very quietly, very simply, so that you will know it is the exact truth."

Nick Griffin noted that this letter was probably written in Buxton, at the Cat and Fiddle, sometime between 20-30 April 1918. BR's pocket diary appears to narrow the dates to 22-24 April 1918.

Two typed versions of this letter were prepared: document .052378, record 99840 which is a condensed literary version, and document .052380, record 99842, pp. 1-2.

"Tuesday My Beloved—I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I am bound to have to be parted from you for a time—that is the only thing I really mind."

A literary version was prepared with the date changed to 1 May 1918: document .052379, record 99841.

There is also a typed transcription, document .052380a, record 116224, pp. 2-3.

"Shaving stick found all love B"

"My Heart's Comrade ... this time together ... long enough for me to have a share in your work. Our times at the cottage have been divine."

There is typed transcription of this letter, document .052380b, record 116225, p. 3.

This letter contains messages for Lydia Smith, Wildon Carr, A.N. Whitehead, Constance Malleson (called G.J.), Ottoline Morrell, Eva Kyle, Philip Jourdain, Dorothy Mackenzie, Miles Malleson. Message to Jourdain: "Is he going to print 2 of my logic lectures in July and 2 each subsequent quarter? I hope so. And can he guess how much money I shall get from them during the present year?"

Separate records have been recreated for the message to Constance Malleson, record 116563 and for that to Ottoline Morrell, record 119455.

This original letter has typed transcriptions as follows: ribbon copy (document .201168, record 116561), carbon (document .200299b, record 19327). Condensed transcription, typed carbon, document .054843, record 2635.

Two extracts have been typed as a part of a longer mimeo containing three letters in all: document .201205b, record 116562. Photocopies of this mimeo can be found in Rec. Acq. 399.

The letter as published in SLBR has some transcription errors.

"Mirabeau to Sophie de Monier (copy) il te faut apprendre, ma chérie, a employer les livres comme moi je les emploie."

A typed copy was prepared for a literary collection of their letters, document .052384-.052385, no. 38, pp. 52–3, record 99847.

This letter was probably written in very early June.

"Lettre de Buzot a Madame Roland (copie: J. Guillaume, p. 395) je crains, ma bien-aimée, que la derniere lettre que je vous ai envoyée n'est pas arrivée, car je pense que j'aurais eu une reponse."

This is a letter from Russell to Colette, disguised as being copied from a book. A typed copy was made for a literary collection of their letters as no. 39 (.052386, pp. 54–5, record 99849). Seven words were inked out of the copy.

The date has been assigned based on document 200304, record 19310, in which BR writes that he has seen her message in The Times of 27 May. The false page number in this communication is earlier than the one in document 200304, plus in this letter he says he has not yet heard from her.

"Letter from Buzot to Madame Roland, James Guillaume, p. 408 (copy) (G.J.) savez-vous, ma bien-aimée, combien le manque d'action contribue à clarifier les idées?"

Date: written the day of or shortly after the Times classified message of 27 May 1918.

Russell used the device of pretending to copy from a book of letters in order to evade prison regulations when in fact he composed this letter.

There is a typed carbon copy of this letter, document .052387, pp. 56–7, record 99851; that version contains an annotation about Boismaison in Russell’s hand.

"Je ne saurais te peindre, ma douce amie, l'impatience qui me rouge."

There is no salutation or signature. The false identities of Mirabeau and Buzot are not included.

There is a transcription, document .052415, record 99876. Although the date of May has been assigned to this document, it possibly was written in early June.

"Friday 21st It is unbelievable how constantly and with what yearning I think about Boismaison and all that it stands for."

This is the first extant letter from prison written directly to Colette in English. On the verso is another letter, document 200306a, record 19334.

Two typed transcriptions have been made of this letter: document .052417, record 99878; document 201120, record 115669. In both of these documents some code words, e.g. Boismaison, have been changed to real words, e.g. Ashford. One sentence was omitted from both transcriptions.

"Sat June 22. When we meet I do not know how to make the most of the time—either to learn all I want to be told or to show all I feel."

There are two typed transcriptions of this letter: document .052409, record 99871; document 201114, record 116324. The latter has been annotated by Colette.

"Tuesday evg. Beloved, My Heart, Refuge, Tomorrow I shall see you—I shall see love in your dear dear eyes—"

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052413, record 99874; document .201155, record 116240.

There is also a literary version, no. 44, page 63, document .052391, record 99856.

The date assigned to this letter comes from references in the letter to the Cambridge Magazine and Lewes platform.

"Monday" "The state of the world and its prospects are always in my thoughts, though they are too gloomy to write about."

There is also a typed transcription of this letter, No. 42, document .052389, record 99854. It has one variant: "Cambridge" has been changed, in an unknown hand, to "a university."

"Tuesday evg. My Beloved, I have had such a terrible longing to be with you these last days—it has made it very hard to be patient—"

Date is tentative. Colette's letter of 26 June indicates that she will see him that day. Yet at the end of this letter, Russell writes that he is counting the days till they can be together.

There is a literary version, no. 45, containing part of one paragraph from this letter, p. 65, signed "L": document .052392, record 99857.

"Thursday All the letters I have ever had were less wonderful than this one, my heart's comrade, my beloved—"

One word "songs" is missing because of a cigarette burn to the paper, but can be found in the two condensed typed transcriptions of this letter: document .052414, record 99875; document .201156, record 116327. Facsimile of this letter appears in Sheila Turcon, "Like a Shattered Vase: Russell's 1918 Prison Letters", Russell n.s. 30 (winter 2010–11): 101–25 at 114.

Unfortunately the other missing words do not appear in the transcriptions.

"Beloved I do long for you—I keep on thinking of all the wonderful things we will do together—"

At the bottom of this handwritten letter Colette added: "(Note: It is from this letter that the last five lines are taken: published in my autobiography. C.M.)". The sentence is typed; her initials are handwritten.

The sentence appears in After Ten Years, p. 126. She has grouped this sentence with sentences from two other letters: document 200317, record 19321, and document 200339, record 19350. She also prints the sentence in her essay in Bertrand Russell: Philosopher of the Century.

There are several typescripts of this letter:

Literary version: document .052390, record 99855.
Autobiography version: document .007052fm, record 93479.
Typed transcription: document 201117, record 116239.

"Thursday" "O My Dear, My Dearest, Your letters are so wonderful—I can't tell you what they are to me."

Letter is not signed.

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052416, record 99877; document .201118, record 116328.

They have been condensed, removing references to Miles Malleson, as well as other text. Document ..201118 has been annotated by Colette.

"Saturday—My Darling—In a learned work I was reading I came upon this passage: 'Darwin giebtan, dass Australier, Papuaneger, Fidschi-insulaner, Maoris, Taiti- und Somalineger, Eskimos und die alten Japaner keinen Kuss kennen.'"

This letter consists of document .200315 as well as document .200320, represented in record 19323.

There are two typed transcriptions of page 1 of this letter: document .052418, record 99879; document .201119, record 116329.
Both transcriptions lack the last paragraph of the original letter.

There are no transcriptions of page two of this letter (document .200320).

"Sat. My Darling, My Heart's Love, I do so understand that you dare not let your imagination dwell on things that bring impatience."

"After the war is over, I should like to spend some months travelling, and then divide my year into 2 parts: in winter, unofficial teaching at Cambridge and in London, and writing on social questions; in summer, work on philosophy."

Date is based on his reference to "The Avenue" and on suggested dates by Colette in document .200316.

The sentences beginning with "I want to stand" to the end of the paragraph are published in After Ten Years, p. 146, grouped with sentences from two other letters: document .200313, record 19318, and document. 200339, record 19350.

There are three other versions of this letter:
Literary condensed version, no. 46: document .052393, record 99858.
Typed transcription: document .052424, record 99885.
Typed transcription: document .201157, record 116241.

"Sunday My Beloved, I don't suppose you will ever have time to read all I write, but it is a comfort to write—"

There are two transcriptions (different typings; same text) of this letter. In both cases the text has been edited from the original with regard to what has been written about Miles Malleson; there are other changes as well.
Document .052412, record 99873; document .201116, record 116325.

"Saturday (2nd sheet). Still more about plans!" This is not a letter on its own; it is page two of document .200315, record 19320. See that record for further information.

There are no typescripts of this letter unlike other prison letters for which there are multiple typescripts, possibly for the reason that it only deals with practical plans.

"Monday. My Darling, My Colette, I feel you are unhappy, and I don't know how I can bring you back to joy."

The Letter is not signed.

There are three typed versions of this letter:
Transcription, document .052419, record 99880.
Transcription, document .201121, record 116268.
Both transcriptions lack the last sentence from the first paragraph. Document .201121 has been annotated by Colette.

There is also a literary version, number 47, which contains only a few scattered sentences from the original. Literary version, document .052394, record 99859.

This document is regarded by the editors of BR's Brixton Letters as a composite. In its place they chose the source records 16361 and 131599 .

"My Dear Lovely Darling, It was dreadful seeing you so sad—I did want to put my arms round you and kiss your eyes and say words of love, and let your tears come."

A separate typed note in the file indicates that the original letter is missing. Typewritten extracts are all that remain.

There are two other typed versions which match each other in text:

Document .052420, record 99881.
Document .201122, record 116361.

Their text varies from this one.

Moved from the Transcription field:

BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [24 JULY 1918?]
BRACERS 19325. TL. McMaster

<Brixton Prison>1

My dear lovely Darling,

It was dreadful seeing you so sad — I did want to put my arms round you and kiss your eyes and say words of love, and let your tears come. It is dreadful when you suffer. I will do so much, so much, to make up to you when I come out — Beloved, I am grateful for your letter2 — I have hated not knowing what was happening to you — The first thing that strikes me is how extraordinarily you keep growing. Yes, it makes one very lonely having the sort of power you wrote of — I seek out those few women who are not subservient — quite instinctively. Those whom one dominates cease to count; and yet one can’t help trying to dominate — it is a queer contradiction. — O my Dear I love you love you — I feel so deeply intimate. As you grow I become more intimate, more at home with you.

I seem to live in the depths of your instincts. All that you say in your letter is so natural to me. There are times when I feel like your little child, and want your arms to keep me warm and safe against the night — and there are other times when I feel I have just managed to leap across a fearful chasm that you too must cross, and I want to tell you where and how to leap. I feel such misery when I think of all the pain you have ahead of you — in our earliest days I hardly dared touch you because I knew if I did I must introduce you to the Pain of the World <paper torn and words missing>3

Goodnight Beloved — my arms are round you, my lips are on your dear dear eyes — I am murmuring “my lovely one, my Darling, my Heart’s Joy”.  O love me my Heart for all my being is yours —

Business Let the Attic4 if you can — we could never be happy there —

• 1

  [document] A typed note that came to McMaster with the letter indicates that although the original letter is missing, it was written on a “‘Wed. evg.’, probably on or abt 24 July 1918.”

• 2

  grateful for your letter Her letter contains remarks about power and Maurice Elvey. It may be one she wrote on 18 July (document .104579HA, record 113143), but it must always be kept in mind that letters in the “Letters to Bertrand Russell from Constance Malleson, 1916–1969” typescript underwent editing. About Maurice she wrote: “He turned up at Brighton ... having now thought it over, I daresay I wasn’t sympathetic enough about his various worries ... whenever there’s been anything I could do for him in any (worldly) way, I’ve done it.” With regard to power, BR may be referring to Colette writing: “It’s only quite lately I’ve noticed what an impact the combination of vitality and will is apt to have on people. You make a very strong impact on people — quite apart from unusual qualities of mind and wit — which only add to it, of course.” But the letter also contains information about meeting, at a luncheon hosted by her mother at Claridges, the American Colonel who was to ignite such jealousy in BR. She told BR that “the Colonel is the sort of person one gets to know instantly. So I dined with him that evening.” Certainly reading this would have set off red flags for BR, but he wrote nothing about it.

• 3

  <paper torn and words missing> This and two following remarks were added by Colette in full caps when she made the transcription. A typed note indicates that the original is missing and “the following extracts are all that remain of it.”

• 4

  the Attic The flat at 6 Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1, rented by Colette and her husband, Miles.

"Dear Miss Rinder—Many thanks for your letter, which was full of just the things I wished to know." BR forgot to tell Frank Russell that his letters must not be circulated to any one with the messages left in.

The letter contains messages to Constance Malleson (using 4 identities: giver of the green vase, her stage initials, G.J., and Percy), Ottoline Morrell, Elizabeth Russell, Ernest H. Hunter.

There are three transcriptions of this letter:

Document .201172, record 116600.
Document .200299c, the carbon, record 19328.
Document .054844, record 79638 (condensed).
There is also an extract in mimeo .080038af, record 117607.

A separate record, 116591, has been created for the messages to Constance Malleson, and another record, 131543, for the message to Ottoline Morrell.

This is the carbon of typed transcription document .201168, record 116561, with annotations in Colette's hand. The original letter for both of these is document .200299, record 19307. See that record for all the information about this letter.

"Dear Miss Rinder, Many thanks for your letter which was full of just the things I wished to know."

A typed carbon transcription of document .200299a, record 19326.
The ribbon copy is document .201172, record 11660.

Both versions have corrections and other mark-up by Constance Malleson. Both typed by Alex. McLachlan, Literary Typing Specialist, St. Leonards on Sea.

"Dear Miss Rinder, Thanks for letter." The original letter is not extant. This is from the same typing as document .054845, record 79639; this carbon is fainter and fuzzier. Both documents have corrections in Rinder's hand.

There is another set of typed transcriptions: document .200299dd, record 116690, and document .201118, record 116691.

There is also a typed extract of the letter in a document titled "Extracts from letters written by the Hon. Bertrand Russell in Brixton Prison, August 1918", in Rec. Acq. 71e, record 52371.

"Dear Miss Rinder, Your letter has not yet arrived, but I will begin with various odds and ends." This is a condensed version of a letter that is no longer extant. The excisions are indicated by ellipses. The ribbon copy of this version is document .201183, record 116692.

There are two other transcriptions:

Document .054846, record 79640 (the earliest typed version) and its carbon, document .200299f, record 19331.

An even shorter extract (the paragraph about the canary and the ourang-outang has been removed) appears in "Extracts from Letters Written by the Hon. Bertrand Russell in Brixton Prison, August 1918", sent to Gilbert Murray and located in Rec. Acq. 71e, record 52372.

There is also a typed version, document .080040f, record 117621, with the remark about the canary annotated in BR's hand.

"Dear Miss Rinder, your letter has not yet arrived, but I will begin with various odds and ends." This is a condensed version of a letter no longer extant. The excisions are indicated by ellipses. The ribbon copy of this version is document .054845, record 79640. Corrections are in Rinder's hand, but it has fewer of them than the ribbon copy; e.g., it lacks the correction of "aimees" to "annees".

There are two other transcriptions: document .201183, record 116692, and its carbon, document .200299e, record 19330.

A shorter extract (the paragraph about the canary and the ourang-outang has been removed) appears in "Extracts from Letters Written by the Hon. Bertrand Russell in Brixton Prison, August 1918", sent to Gilbert Murray and located in Rec. Acq. 71e, record 52372.

There is another typed version, document .080040f, record 117621, with the remark about the canary annotated in BR's hand.

"Many thanks for Spectator review."

This is a letter to "all and sundry". In the letter, document .200324, record 19337, BR writes: "There is a letter to Miss Rinder somewhere and some general moralizing about Spectator review. Please pass on both after reading. The general moralizing is addressed to all and sundry." The original of this letter is not extant.

There are three other typed copies:

Document .200299h, record 19333.
Document .007052fp (folio 579), record 93482.
Document .201179 (the ribbon copy of .200299g), record 116687.

"Many thanks for Spectator review."

This is a letter to "all and sundry". In letter, document .200324, record 19337, BR writes: "There is a letter to Miss Rinder somewhere and some general moralizing about Spectator review. Please pass on both after reading. The general moralizing is addressed to all and sundry." The original of this letter is not extant.

There are three other typed copies:

Document .200299g, record 19332.
Document .007052fp (folio 579), record 93482.
Document .201179 (the ribbon of .200299g), record 116687.

"Tuesday" "The newspaper today gave me the greatest joy." This letter is written on the verso of document 200306.

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052410, record 99872; document 201115, record 116238; with annotations.

There is also a literary version: document .052388, no. 41, record 99853.

Two sentences were published in After Ten Years.

"Monday". Needs room for 1500 books at flat.

Written on the same sheet as the letter, which was written on the Friday, document 200313, record 19318.

There are two typed condensed versions of this letter: document .007052fm, p. 574, record 116540 and document 201117a, record 116539.

"Friday July 26," "Beloved, Your letter has made such a difference to me—it has made me much happier."

This is a fragment of a letter only—there are seven lines on both the recto and verso of the sheet. The paper has been cut at line 6 removing words.

There are two typed transcriptions of a few of the sentences on the dated side of this letter, ending "not in themselves." The second paragraph opening sentence in the typescripts is similar to what appears here. However the remainder of the text in the typescripts, the second part of which was written on Wednesday [31 July], has not been matched to any extant letter in the 200 series.

Document .052423, record 99884.
Document .201124, record 116363.

"Monday"

There are two condensed transcriptions of this letter:
Document .201126, record 116364.
Document .052425, record 99886.
The latter has even less text than the former.

"I have started an autobiography, for want of anything better to do. Another time I may send you bits of it, if you wish."

"There is ... some general moralizing about the Spectator review. The general moralizing is addressed to all and sundry."
There are four transcriptions of this:
Document .200299g, record 19332.
Document .200299h, record 19333.
Document .00705fb, record 93482.
Document .201179, record 116687.

"Near the end [of the book in which correspondence was hidden to smuggle out of prison] you will find some moral problems upon which I want light from Salter's subtle brain." [Probably document .201180, record 116688, which begins "I have been thinking out some casuistical conundrums...." It concerns the NCF of which Salter was a member. It is addressed to "W.G.R.", i.e. Gladys Rinder.]

"Wed. July 31." "My Darling—Thank you for your letter."

There are two condensed transcriptions of this letter:

Document .052427, record 99889.
Document .201127, record 116366.

"Thursday morning. My Heart's Joy, I am sorry I wrote such a worried letter—I didn't know you need not answer Mr. Cubitt."

There are two transcriptions of this letter:

Document .052421, record 99882.
Document .201123, record 116362.

Although both are condensed, they both contain an extra sentence about living at Gordon Square.

"I wonder how you will like me working; you have never seen me thinking about philosophy. I become rather subdued, because my energies are turned inwards—a little vague and absent-minded, seeing nothing—often worried for lack of success, and then so excited and elated that I don't know how to contain myself—"

No typed transcription of this letter has been found.

"Thursday Aug. 8 '18" "My Dearest Darling—You are gone and I have read your dear letter—such a wonderful letter—"

Page 1 of this letter is document .200328; page 2 is document .200329. On Page 1 Colette wrote: "P.1 in ans[wer] to Colette's of 7 August 1918." On Page 2 Colette wrote: "P.2 In ans.[wer] to Colette's letter of 7 Aug. 1918".

Various transcriptions exist.
For document .200328:
Document .052429 (partial), record 99892.
Document .201128 (full), record 116367.
For document .200329:
Document .052431 (full), record 99894.
Document .201129 (full), record 116269.
Document .201160, literary letter no. 50, record 116278, last few sentences but one (ribbon).
Document .052397, literary letter no. 50, record 98863, last few sentences but one (carbon).

The published version lacks three sentences.

"There is no good life of my Grandfather [Lord John Russell], and there couldn't be, because he was such a dull dog."

The letter discusses the Bible; "a queer work". There are three paragraphs on the Bible — Abraham, Moses, St. Paul, "better to marry than to burn."

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .201130, record 116386; document .007052fn, pp. 575-6, record 93480 (the latter was the text used for publication with the first two sentences omitted). There are also a few minor differences between this text and the one that appeared in the Autobiography.

"1st sheet" "My Darling, Your letter last time was such a joy—"

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052432, record 99869; document .201131, record 116368. Both versions have "the Portman Rooms Convention" added before "Canuto's".

"Wed. mg. My Dearest Darling—I am longing for a letter from you and hoping there will be one today—"

There are two transcriptions of this letter, both lacking the third paragraph: document .052426, record 99888; document .201125, record 116365.

"Thurs." "My Dearest—It was a great relief to get your letter today—" [Dated by BR "Thurs. 16.8.16"; however the 16th was a Friday in 1918.]

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document 201132, record 116387; document .007052-f6, pp. 577-8, record 93480; the reference to the "Rinders" has been changed to "Winchelsea".

Only an extract from the transcription appears in the Auto.

"Friday Oh if I could only have one hour with you in freedom—"

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052433, record 99897; document .201133, record 116369.

In each, the first paragraph of the transcription matches the original letter. The second and third paragraphs contain text from a letter which appears not to be extant. Also, the last line of the second paragraph is the last line of the original letter. The original letter was cut and a backing strip of paper pasted on the bottom, on which was posted what is assumed to be a later sentence in the original letter.

"My Darling—I have recovered my sanity and no longer feel the impulse to quarrel with you." "I want to be an intellectual power in Europe and I can be if I can put forth enough vitality."

There are two condensed transcriptions of this letter: document .052434, record 99899; document .201134, record 116370.

Both transcriptions lack the sentence about the Ropers and its following sentence, as well as the closing phrase.

"Wed. evg." My Beloved, My Heart's Joy, Forgive me that I gave you pain—" "To think that I have never seen you act!"

There are two transcriptions with text differences. See either record for the differences as they are the same: Document .052435, record 99901; document .201135, record 116371.

[Letter continues "Thursday mg."] This part of the letter, written sideways on the bottom of page 2, appears in transcriptions of document .200338, record 19349: document .201136, record 116372 (some omissions); document .052436, record 99904, first part of first page only (same omissions as above).

"Thursday night"

"When I was in love with Ottoline I couldn't write her half such good letters as I write now. I am best when I am impersonal, and when one loves one wants to be personal."

There are two transcriptions of this letter with some text changes: document .052436, record 99904;  document .201137, record 116373. Both begin with the section of document .200337, record 19348 written on Thursday morning. Both transcriptions vary from the text of this letter in the same way: the words "Sinn Fein" do not appear; "unrestrained sexual competition" becomes "unrestrained freedom" and several words after that change are omitted. The latter transcription contains one annotation in Colette's hand.

BR encloses (not present) "an abstract discussion" on the passions. C19.04.

"Sat. evg." "Reading [philosophy context] is difficult to me, because my attention keeps wandering; prison is good for reading, and has been useful in that way."

"The Single Tax" (little essay).

There are four transcriptions of this letter (documents .052437,  record 99910 and .201138, record 116281; documents .201162 (ribbon) record 116280 and .052399 (carbon) record 99865 -- literary letter no. 52, page 73). The first two are the most complete, although some sentences have been deleted and new ones added; these transcriptions are different typings, although they contain the same text. The latter two contain fragments of the last part of the letter with some re-working of the text. A sentence typed in both has been struck out of document . 201162. The sentences about "rim of the world" and "Heraclitus" are in After Ten Years, p. 126, grouped with sentences from document .200313, record 18318; and document .200317, record 19321. They also appear in Malleson's essay "Fifty Years: 1916-1966" in Bertrand Russell, Philosopher of the Century, p. 21. The paragraph is similar to After Ten Years but some text has been removed.

According to Malleson this paragraph has been published in 3 books. [Source for this remark?] The source of her remark  on publication and the third book have not been located as of 23 November 2017.
 

"Sunday My Beloved—Don't think, please, because I have moments of violent impulse, that my tenderness towards you is not very real and great—it really is."

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052438, record 99911; document .201139, record 116374. Both of these versions have "Blackpool" changed to "bad time" and both are missing a few sentences. The latter version has slightly more omitted text than the former.

"Wed. My Darling—Your dear letter this afternoon was a great happiness." "History has in it a wonderful alchemy for what is hot and violent in passion."

There are four typed versions of this letter:

Document .052439, record 99912.
Document .201140, record 116051.
Document .052401, record 99867.
Document .201164, record 116052.

The first two are similar in text, missing the same two sentences. However, the second one also contains the text of the first paragraph of document .200343, record 19354. The latter two are literary versions, contain much less text, and are signed with BR's pseudonym initial "L". Both are from the same typing — .200164 is the ribbon copy and .052401 is the carbon. Both are numbered 54, pages 76-7.

BR thanks Hodes for sending his book ms., which he will "seek to read". The book, published in 1968, was Dialogue with Ishmael: Israel's Future in the Middle East.

For the carbon copy see record 88624.

"Thursday 29.8.18 Dearest Love, Your letter from the sea was so full of sadness—the deep-down sadness that is hard to overcome—" [continues] "Fri." [30 August 1918]. Most of the letter was written on the Friday.

Transcriptions of this letter: Thursday section: document .052440, record 99913; document .201140, record 116051, the last paragraph only of this document, text from document .200341, record 19352 preceding it.

Friday section: document .052441, record 99914, lacking some sentences; document .201141, record 116323, lacking the same sentences as document .052441.

There is also a literary version of this letter: ribbon copy, document .201165, record 116322; carbon copy, document .052402, record 99868. Both documents are numbered 55, p. 78 and signed with Russell's pseudonym initial "L". The letter contains only a few sentences from the first paragraph of the Friday section.

"O My Dearest I am wanting you so much—it is so difficult to forget the horror of the world."

There are three typed versions of this letter.

Transcriptions of 1 September text: documents .052443, record 9916; and .201145, record 116134 (different typings).

Literary version, numbered 56, page 79, signed "L": document .052403, record 99869; and document .201166, record 116133 (ribbon copy and carbon). This literary version is much fuller than most of the other literary letters.

For archival purposes, since the letter on the verso was written a day later, a separate number .200344a was assigned to it. There are no transcriptions of it. It does not have its own BRACERS record.

"I told Gladys [Rinder] to assure you of my 'unalterable esteem' and I very nearly added, to show what I meant by 'esteem', a reference to the song of Solomon, chap 4, verses 1 and following."

There are two transcriptions with the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph omitted: document .052444, record 99918; document .201146, record 116375. These transcriptions also change "Gladys" to "Miss Rinder".

"Tuesday tomorrow, blessed day when I see my darling—".

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052445, record 99920; document .201147, record 116376.

"My Beautiful, My Darling, It was heaven seeing you today, and feeling the touch of your dear hands."

There are three sets of transcriptions of this letter. Each set is dated differently, although the original letter contains only one date. The first set (document .052446, record 99921; and document .201148, record 116377) contains the first two paragraphs of the letter. The third paragraph has not been transcribed. The set is dated with the same date as the original letter.

The second set (document .052447, record 99924; and document 201149, record 116378) contains the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the letter. The set is dated "Thursday 5th". A phrase "to amuse you" is omitted.

The third set (document .052448, record 99925; and document 201150, record 116379) contains the remainder of the letter. The set is dated "Friday 6th".

"Sat. mg. My Dearest Darling—Your last letter seemed somehow more filled with love than almost any you have ever written me—at least it brought your love wonderfully near me, and has made me very happy."

There are two condensed transcriptions of this letter: document .052449, record 99926; document .201151, record 116380.

There are two holes in this page. On the top side of the sheet the missing text cannot be obtained from the transcriptions as the text has been reworked. On the reverse side of the sheet, the missing text can be obtained from the transcriptions. Some sentences were omitted from the transcriptions.

"Sunday evg" "I want to write a book on ethics to embody what I believe about freedom."

"Politics have ceased to interest me much since the collapse of the Russian revolution".

There are two transcriptions of this letter: document .052450, record 99927; document .201152, record 116381. Both of these contain an abbreviated version of document .200349A, record 19373.

"Wed evg." "Henceforth I will be less reckless: it is time to gather the fruit. I have had experience of various kinds, and I have believed in various creeds; now I feel I have got to what suits my nature, and I must think more of giving out what I have learnt than of learning more. Otherwise I shall be dead before I have expressed what is in me.... I see the way clear before me to the realization of a great ambition, the ambition to create and express a well-rounded whole of philosophy, theoretical and practical, in a form interesting to all sorts of people, and with really important bearings on politics and how to live."

There are three transcriptions of this letter:

Document .052451, record 99928. Document .201153, record 116384. These transcriptions are condensed with several sentences left out from the main body of the letter. The sentences written the next morning, Thursday, have not been transcribed either.
Extracts enclosed with cover letter from Malleson to Clifford Allen, 13 September 1918, Rec. Acq. 18, record 116382 (cover letter) and record 116383 (extracts).

"Friday My Dearest Darling—You wrote me such a lovely letter this week—" "I read every day at least 100 pages of philosophy in English or 50 in German, unless I am out of books."

There are two transcriptions of the letter: document .052452, record 99929; document .201154, record 116385 (second sheet is missing). In the first transcription the phrase "my new work" was changed to "emphatic particulars". The second missing sheet would have contained the phrase.

"Sunday My Darling—Your second little letter reached me yesterday—a very dear letter."

"Arrive Waterloo 1:40 will telephone from station."

"Tuesday mg. Beloved, Believe me I have hated to give you pain."

"My Dearest—I cannot clip your wings and put you in a cage."

The letter as published in SLBR has transcription errors.

"Have reserved rooms and will meet train as desired Cove Hotel"

"Beloved—I managed to get an envelope at the station so I am writing after all—"

[Letter is pmk. "High Wycombe".]

"Beloved—This has been to me one of our great and wonderful days—"

"Il n'existe pas la moindre raison pour votre désespoir—"

[Letter is not signed.]

"Beloved—Last night was wonderful—as wonderful as any time we have ever had."

[Letter is postmarked "Abinger Common".]

"Beloved—A thousand thanks for telegram yesterday and lovely letter today."

"Monday mg. Your letter last Wed. has been the greatest joy to me—I have read it over and over again."

This letter is written sideways at the end of document .200349, record 19360, and is dated a day later.

There are two condensed transcriptions of this letter. They appear at the end of the transcriptions of document .200349: document .052450, record 99927; document .201152, record 116381.

"Friday Beloved—Your dear tiny letter is just come—such a joy."

"Many happy returns and all happiness".

"Beloved—Your letter came by 2nd post—I was glad—I had been thinking there would be none."

"Friday mg. My Dear Dear Love—Your letter by 1st post was very dear."

"Evening. Beloved, My Soul's Life, My Heart's Comrade, Your telegram was given me at the P.O. this evening when I went to post my letter to you."

[Letter is not signed.]

"Friday night. My Heart's Love, I am feeling so full of love to you that it is an ache—I long to be with you every moment I keep thinking 'oh if Colette were in my arms'."

[Letter is not signed.]

"Sat. mg. My Dear Dear Love—Your letter this morning still tells no more than your wire except that the Dr. is pleased with you, which I am glad of."

[Letter is not signed.]

"9 p.m. My Beloved—You were wonderful to me today, so full of love and tenderness—"

"Sunday mg." "I finished the index [of Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy] last night and made the fair copy for printing this morning."

"I shall lunch with Wrinch and make her help me to concoct an answer to Jourdain."

"(All Saints' day—no day for the likes of us) My Lovely Darling—I do miss you dreadfully when night comes—but we had a lovely time today—you are so kind to me."

"My Dearest Darling Only one word, to say I love you—you have such heavenly ways of love—"

[Letter is not signed.]

"Sunday My Darling—I am sorry I was so depressed yesterday—it is purely subjective and merely means that something or other is gone wrong with me physically."

"Beloved—Forgive me for saying things as if I was fighting today—it is so difficult to say things quietly."

[Letter is not signed.]

"My Dearest Darling—It was a most heavenly time and has left me feeling very very happy—much happier than I have been at any time since I came out of Brixton 2 months ago today."

[Letter is pmk. "High Wycombe".]

"My Darling All the forgiveness wanted is the other way—"

"Monday". BR sends her an advance copy of Roads to Freedom.

"Tuesday My Darling Love—Your letter this morning was so lovely that I couldn't talk about it at G.S. in everybody's hearing—"

"Wed. mg." "I may be lecturing on philosophy in London after Xmas—I should love that."

[His last time at the "Studio".]

"Monday" "It has been the most heavenly and wonderful time my heart's darling—full of beauty and deep deep happiness—"

[Letter is pmk. "High Wycombe".]

[Letter is not signed; it is a draft letter for C. Malleson to send under her own signature and was enclosed with document .200385, record 19395.]

"Wed. My Dearest Darling—Your dear little letter has just come."

"Thursday My Dearest Love—Never mind about the boarding-house."

"Thursday My Darling Love—I was glad to get your letter today and to know you had seen Billy and he had been encouraging."

"Tuesday My Dearest Darling—It was a joy to get your little line this morning—such a very dear little line—it was good of you to write it."

"My Dearest Darling—Your dear letter has come, but no telegram."

The letter as published in SLBR has some transcription errors.

"Friday. My Dearest Darling—I got your dear letter and telegram this morning—I telegraphed at once to the address you gave but the telegram came back 'not known' so I sent it again."

"Monday mg. Beloved—It was blessed to get your letter this morning written after it was all over—I was happy—thank heaven—"

"Monday evg. My Beloved—It was a joy to see you today, so comparatively well, and to feel the whole thing over."