Strathaven 3241

12 Stonehouse Road
Sandford
Strathaven
Lanarkshire

5.iv.72

Dear Mr van Thal

At long long last I can get around to writing you - and to saying how very much I have enjoyed 'The tops of the mulberry trees'. I haven't been able to read it before this - firstly as I had the Bax manuscript back from Dent again with instructions to take 30,000 words out of it! - and secondly because my wife snaffled the book and wouldn't lay it down.
But I have now had time to read it thoroughly, and it greatly delighted me. Especially those Rackham-cum-Dulac'ish youthful days. How evocative these names are. You set us also to look out all those boxes of pebbles and shells we had culled from the beaches of Tiree and Campbeltown -

I was very gratified at your footnote about Farrow. And of course set to at once to dig out my pile of Farrowiana. I re-read your many letters and my notes from reading those enchanting books in the National Library. I have never been fortunate enough to find the two I most want - Wallypug in the Moon and Wallypug in Fogland. I had some correspondence with Dorothy Hassall who gave me an autograph letter of Farrow's written to her father (She was Dorothy Do little Dumpsey Dot in 'Don't Tell' - I wonder what GEF would have made of Imogen?) I re-read also The Missing Prince and chuckled again at that wonderful poem about the cat who ate the clockwork mouse 'its works behaved revolvingly and hurt like anything'.

And I appreciated your wry comments on the profession of accountancy, which as a banker I heartily endorse!

And yet more - the Powys's - and le Fanu - and Hugh Walpole, whose Cathedral and Inquisitor I devoured at an early age (having been told by my father not to read him as such books weren't suitable!) - and Rackham. I once visited a marvellous bookshop in Brighton in some little byway, where I happily blued my entire monthly salary (I was then in the Army, and the Bank paid me my salary or as much of it as made up my army pay!) on several fine Rackhams, (amongst them Midsummer Nights Dream, the only one I still have alas) and a particularly exciting Charles Robinson, a Caley Robinson (The Blue Bird), and another Midsummer Night's Dream, this time by Heath Robinson, without covers, which I had to rebind in ¼ leather. I too have the collector's instinct - but had to part with much in my impecunious days - things I very much regret now.

Anyhow, all I can say is thank you - I look forward as eagerly to our meeting some day. Heaven knows when I shall be in London again, but I will certainly lay better plane on the next occasion.

16, Tavistock Mansions,
Tavistock Place,
W. C. 1.

21st August, 1939.

Mrs. Selous,
Lydwell,
Buxton Road,
Weymouth.

Dear Madam,

I am writing a sketch of your Mother, Miss Braddon, and Mr. Henry Maxwell very kindly gave me your address.

I was wondering if I could take the liberty of coming to see you as Mr. Maxwell tells me that he is certain that you would be able to help me.

Lord Lytton has helped me greatly by giving me various letters and the late W. B. Maxwell's TIME GATHERED has been invaluable but there are of course still gaps which badly need filling in.

Would there be any possibility of my seeing you in about a fortnight's time when I could be in your district?

Yours very truly,

21st August, 1939.

Mrs. Bruce Siebenhaar,
Benham House,
Heene Road,
West Worthing,
Sussex.

Dear Madam,

Thank you so very much indeed for your
letter about Miss Braddon.

You mention her son, Mr. Maxwell, is still
alive - surely you do not mean Mr. W. B. Maxwell the
novelist who unfortunately is now dead.

I have communicated with her Grandson and
I hope to be able to visit her only surviving Daughter
but I do not know Gerald or Edward Maxwell - I should
be so very grateful if you could tell me whether they are
still alive and whether you know them.

Yours very truly,