BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [28 AUG. 1911]
BRACERS 19010. ALS. Morrell papers #169A, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

Monday mg.1^, 2

I boasted too soon of freedom from gramophones, there is a particularly fine one playing next door. I don’t think I mind it as much as the alternative, which is the worst singing I ever heard to the accompaniment of an equally bad piano. But I don’t hear either when I am writing. It is raining pitilessly — one would say it was weeping for your departure. However, I suppose Wells will be pleased.

I have only one chapter left to do, the one on Freedom and Necessity. The last chapter will be what was already written. Freedom and necessity is to come before Religion. I hope to get it written today, but it is a duty-chapter. I ceased to believe in free will when I was 14, as soon as I realized that the motions of matter are determined by dynamics, and thoughts are probably determined by motions in the brain. Being thorough in those days, whenever I felt free in any act, I hunted up its causes, and made myself feel unfree. In this way determinism got into my instincts, and I can hardly imagine the state of mind of those who rebel against it. But I see it must be written about.

I wonder what you will be doing all day today. Your tomorrow I can imagine, and your next day pretty well, but I don’t know what you are doing today. I shall write the whole day and then dine at Ipsden.

If you write a line on your journey, and post it at Dover, I shall get it at the Grosvenor Hotel. Don’t write more than a line because you mustn’t tire your eyes.

5 o’clock Thursday in the Postamt. Be kind to yourself till then. Goodbye my dearest Love.

Your
B.

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  [document] Document 000169A. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

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  [envelope] A circled “169A”.