BR TO LOUIS COUTURAT, 25 AUG. 1905
BRACERS 53264. ALS(X). La Chaux-de-Fonds Bib., Suisse. Russell–Couturat 1: #180
Translator unknown

??
Bagley Wood
25 August 1905

Dear Sir,

Here I am back home at last (since winter). We have both had to travel a great deal recently. First, my wife has gone to Brittany with a sick friend whom she is trying to take care of: I cannot accompany her because she must be alone with her friend, and also because I do want to leave my work. Since I have been in Ireland, and then in London and in Normandy with the brother of a friend who recently died. I would like to see you, but it is impossible to leave my companion, who has suffered insupportable sorrow. I hope that your health is better since the heat ended, and that you are happy with the conference of Esper?? at Boulogne. As regards the article by Pierre Boutroux, I don’t find ideas in it which are of great value. I am thinking for my reply, of adding a note by Whitehead, who is very unhappy with the one made of his remarks. He thinks that it is a conversation where he has to ?? something to a young man who, obviously, does not completely understand the ideas being put forward. In such a conversation, one searches for intelligible phrases, rather than exact statements. In effect; the young man is very ??. He says: mathematics evolves, therefore it does not deal with ??. It confuses mathematics with what we know of it. A child might say: the number of letters in the alphabet is not ??, since I learn a new one every day. And the idea that the thing of functions (in the technical sense) ??, gives difficulties for us is neither true nor even probable. I hope that you have found the writings of M. ?? ; it is sad when a penetrating and profound mind does not leave a worthy monument to the world. I wish you good health, and send my cordial greetings.

Bertrand Russell