[No surviving envelope]

I wanted to write again, before seeing you day after tomorrow, because I was dissatisfied with my last and rather hurried letter before going to Rodmell. If you were dissatisfied too, I have no need to explain why; and if you weren’t, then perhaps I should leave well alone. But my letter was hardly appreciative of yours of the 20th, which was so kind; norSenexet, Woodstock;a3 didChristianityretreat and solitude;c9EH at Senexet;a2 I allude to your anxiety to hear from the Senexet Retreat,1 nor to the darkness of the plunge back into America. But I am always flustered when there is much to say and the time before the post is short.

I have been to Goode’s this morning – that is the best glass and china shop that I know – and have bought three port glasses. But as they had two slightly different port glasses both of which fitted your specifications, I had to choose at a guess, and they may not really match at all. In that case, I must bring another glass back with me, and they must be sent to Miss Sutherland Taylor later. IPerkins, Edith (EH's aunt)TSE's occasional poem for;b6 shall try to get some good cheese, and I shall try tomorrow night to indite the Ode for your aunt.

As for my lecturing – it doesn’t amount to much. I lecture on behalf of some church on the 21st Oct., but I don’t remember where, somewhere in South London I think. And a short talk of a similar nature at some church in Westminster in November, but I must look up the place and date for you.2 AndSpender, StephenTSE chairs his 'free verse' talk;b4 I enclose notices of two occasions on which I shall speechify; and on another occasion I take the chair for Stephen Spender:3 I will give you the dates later, and if there is anything you will do me the honour of listening to, you will let me know.

IWoolfs, theTSE's Bloomsbury weekend with;c3 had rather a crowded weekend at Rodmell: plunged, as I rarely am, in the Bloomsbury that Henry disapproves of.4 TheBell, Vanessahosts TSE and Woolfs at Charleston;a1 WoolfsBell, Cliveduring TSE's Charleston visit;a8 tookBell, Angelicapresent for Charleston visit;a1 meBell, Quentinduring TSE's Charleston visit;a1 toGrant, Duncanat Charleston;a2 dinnerGarnett, David;a2 atBussy, Janeduring TSE's Charleston visit;a3 the house of Virginia’s sister, Vanessa, on Saturday:5 present, Vanessa Bell,6 Clive Bell, their children Quentin and Angelica, Duncan Grant, David Garnett, and Janey Bussy. Also a friend of Angelica’s. The chief item of interest was the appearance of eleven grouse on the table at once, as Vanessa had thought that the allowance was a grouse per person, whereas it is a grouse for two people. After dinner the two girls dressed up and acted in the studio various old songs and ballads. OnKeyneses, thehost TSE and Woolfs in Sussex;a1 SundayLopokova, Lydia (Mrs John Maynard Keynes)seeks return to the stage;a2 night we dined at the house of Maynard Keynes and his wife (Lydia Lopokova). KeynesKeynes, John Maynardwishes to produce TSE's play;a3, who makes a good deal of money, is building a theatre in Cambridge, as Lydia, who is too old now to dance in the ballet, wants to act, though she still speaks English with a very Russian accent – she thinks she can act Ibsen, however. So he wants to produce my next play there, and put it on in London if it is a success. They do not mean to have plays throughout the season, but cinema in between. It is worth considering, when the time comes. (IGough, Revd E. P.;a4 have had a friendly letter from the Revd. Mr. Gough to whom I wrote as I told you). KeynesAbyssinia Crisisdebated by Keynes and Leonard Woolf;a5 andWoolf, Leonardand Keynes discuss Abyssinia;a2 LeonardKeynes, John Maynardand Leonard Woolf discuss Abyssinia;a4 Woolf (whoWoolf, Leonardintimate with Labour Party divisions;a3 isLabour Party, theforeign policy, according to Leonard Woolf;a1 important behind the scenes in the Labour Party) had a discussion about Abyssinia to which I did not contribute much. Keynes is important in the City as well as in Cambridge, hadKeynes, John MaynardThe Economic Consequences of the Peace;a8 aTreaty of VersaillesKeynes's book on;a4 good deal to do with the Treaty of Versailles (on which he wrote a good little book)7 and knows a good few financial and political people. BothMussolini, Benitoand Abyssinia;a2 of them were all for sanctions, and believed that Mussolini would pipe down if firmly met. Keynes says, I do not know on what authority, that the whole of our Mediterranean fleet is massed at Alexandria, and the Atlantic Fleet at Gibraltar, and that the government have allowed this information to reach the Italians quietly. He says there is a provision in the League Statues [sc. Statutes], by which money may be lent to the injured party in any case of aggression of one member against another, and thinks that a loan to Abyssinia to buy machine guns and ammunition would settle the Italians, as they have not the financial resources for any but a short war. Malta, he says, has been almost evacuated. Leonard says – I wonder if he is right – thatCripps, Sir Richard StaffordLeonard Woolf situates within Labour;a1 theLansbury, GeorgeLeonard Woolf situates within Labour;a1 peoplePonsonby, Arthur, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbredeand Labour Party foreign policy;a1 whoAttlee, ClementLeonard Woolf situates within Labour;a1 take the attitude of Cripps,8 and Lansbury9 and Ponsonby10 in the Labour Party are a small minority; and that Cripps has compromised himself badly by taking one position about Manchuria and another about Abyssinia. He says he had a conversation with Cripps and Atlee [sc. Attlee]11 some time ago, when Cripps and Atlee were all for denouncing the League of Nations, and pointed out to them that they could not at the same time advocate Isolation and deprecate national expenditure on armament – the only practical question being between the amount of armament necessary to make the League of Nations effective, and the much greater amount necessary for a policy of Isolation.

MuchLeague of Nationscause of Italian resentment;a2 asMussolini, Benitohis policies;a3 IItalyand the League of Nations;a5 dislike Mussolini and his policies, I do feel that Italy has been badly treated by the League, and the article in this morning’s Times seems to me very sensible and timely.12

DinedRead, Herbert;b4 last night with Herbert Read. LunchChristianityscheme for 'Pro Fide' bookshop;a4 to-dayD'Arcy, Fr Martin;a7 with Martin D’Arcy, after a Pro Fide Bookshop committee, andMorrell, Lady Ottoline;f4 tea with Ottoline, just settled in town again. Nothing tomorrow but the book committee at Fabers’: after the celebrations of last week, which I think I described, I hope we shall have a ‘quiet time’.

TheWoolf, VirginiaTSE treasures but never reads;b9 only ‘Bloomsbury’ individuals who interest me are Virginia, of whom I am very fond in spite of never reading her books (I forgot to ask her how her present work is getting on), andKeynes, John Maynardin TSE's opinion;a5 Keynes who seems to me to have a mind more emancipated than most of his friends. He occasionally has perceptions of something outside the limited ideas of his society. These don’t worry him too much, because his mind is much more developed than his soul. His economic writings are beyond my comprehension, but I feel an excess of mental brilliance over character, which makes him impish, puckish, superior and unreliable. He is clever enough for anything, so far as economics can be settled by the clever. But his domestic life is rather pleasing; IKeyneses, thetheir marriage;a2 think he and Lydia get on very well – he has a great respect for all kinds of artists – andLopokova, Lydia (Mrs John Maynard Keynes)described;a1 she is a chirpy pleasant little creature. The rest of that society are only agreeable as a group, and that only in small doses.

Thank you for your sweetness in speaking of my letters having sometimes in the past been helpful. I am afraid that if I re-read them myself I should find many of them very silly and immature. But you give me a very pure and intense pleasure by saying that I have been of use to you. I love to be assured that I give something, as well as receive. I am aware, whenever I write, of my pride in having this privilege, and of all the use it is to me: it would be ecstatic to feel that writing to you was also a duty! – as well as a privilege.

I hope that you will consent to pose for a few last Campden photographs. I hope that I may be permitted to be in your company on your birthday, as well as on mine: and you are to consider, what stone you want – perhaps dark blue sapphires this time. WeHale, Emilytaken to Timon of Athens;g6 shall see Timon andHale, Emilytaken to Peer Gynt;g7 Peer Gynt and the Group Theatre and anything else there is; and eat some more oysters; and I must give a teaparty or two. Au lendemain,