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Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Rouen, France

He was on the way. He couldn’t say much as he didn’t know where to go to get the letter censored. Would know tomorrow where they were going to be posted. He had done some sight seeing that day. St Marelon was the most beautiful church and the most perfect architecturally he had ever seen.

The party was splitting up and tomorrow he would be on his own but he was happy as he hadn’t liked the waiting. It was sad he hadn’t received a letter from her before starting and now he would have to wait at least another two days.

Hoped she wasn’t feeling anxious. He would tell her all there was to feel anxious about and hopes it won’t be very much.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from 'A dilapidated old town in France'

He had received no letters from her and he wanted to hear from her very much. He seemed to have lived ever so long in observation and emotion since they parted and he had hardly told her anything of what he had thought and experienced in the last 10 days. He wanted to describe to her how he was living.

He was living in a cottage in the middle of a straight street which could have been described as a slum except for green trees looking over a garden wall. Running water at one end of the street with meadows, trees and farmsteads. At the other end was a half ruined church. They occupied 10 or 12 houses in a section of the street. His bedroom was on the ground floor at one end with the Officer’s Mess at the other end. These rooms had elegant furniture in them.

The Officers in this mess were very decent lot of fellows. [Lieutenant] Bell was very studious that evening sitting up at the table, while he sat in an arm chair, translating the famous passage in Pascal’s Pensees. He sees practically no one else so its lucky he likes the man. He had now met three men who started in the Gunners at the age of 14 or 15 and taken Commissions during the war and all were quiet observing men with a marked refinement of feeling and living in harmony with life. All three were competent and easy going. Bell hadn’t any of the hard driving manner associated with school masters, Prussians and ordinary soldiers. He didn’t shout or swear or drill the men but they knew keenly what to do. They would be gently but firmly admonished if they didn’t.

He was learning from this example but hadn’t too much to do so far. He was in command of No. 4 gun detachment under Bell’s supervision. He had inspected gas helmets that day and would see the guard tonight. Had spent the time finding how everything worked and where it was. Had spent some time in an observation post. Nothing to be seen of the Germans. He had played the game of shell dodging on the way to the observation post. You could hear them coming and had time to get out of the way. Danger was of a battery being spotted by an aeroplane.

He would describe the garden in his next letter and asks her to send seedlings if she think they would survive. Asks her to send plum cake if its not too heavy.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from the Officers' Mess, Red Slum, France

Still hadn’t received a letter from her. Wants to know what she is doing and thinking. What had she decided about letting Violet go to munitions? Thinks she wouldn’t decide anything about that before her next period.

If the Germans were going to be so short of food next year it would be pointless for him to fight through another winter. The French had been expecting and hoping the war would end that summer or autumn.

Things had been fairly lively the last two days. Yesterday was wet so they had done no shooting but there was plenty going on and they took care to keep out of the way of the whizbangs. That morning he was awoken early by a tremendous dim – neighbouring anti-aircraft batteries pounding away. It was a bright morning and there was plenty of aircraft about so they took care to slink around out of sight in the shadows. They were shooting both morning and afternoon that day. The system was first one and then the other is on duty for a week. Next week he would take command of the guns.

The men had planted a variety of vegetables in the garden and there was plenty of space for flowers and they would do quite well for fruit.

He had to write a letter to Arthur Benson as he had seen that his sister had recently died and another letter to Mother.

Asks her to send the proofs of the photos.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

They had chopped down the pear tree, white cherry tree and black cherry tree which filled him with the burning sense of sin, shame and horror.

Had been out with the working party last night and had carried six successive sandbags full of bricks on his back for half a mile of rough walking. The authorities were pressing them to hurry but they couldn't build very fast with one whole brick to every twenty fragments. The heat had been unbearably oppressive and he had welcomed the thunderstorm but he had skidded in the rain on the motorbike and broken the glass in his watch. Asks her to send any kind of cover for it.

They had cut the trees down to make room for two new gun positions. Asks her to thank Mother for the excellent pencil.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written 'On the road'

Describes their move south, temporarily to a hot point of the line. Reassures her and asks her to be brave. It was a great adventure and a rich experience and she would love him more for it when they meet again.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Describes their new position on a chalk hillside with woods behind and the struggle they had to get the guns up the valley into position using teams of horses and with the help of a company of Infantry. Problem was ammunition they were given 900 rounds and had used 600 already. Object of the move was to support an Infantry attack. Describes his dug out and that he suspected a rat. Asks her to send ‘Liverpool Virus’ in large quantities. Weather was fine at the moment but there were some unhealthy spots which they would have to inhabit if it rained. Reassures her. Gives his new address as 40th Siege Battery, 15th H.A.G. IV Corps Heavy Artillery, B.E.F.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

They had a busy three days but things were settling down. Describes his duties of setting the men to work and checking on them. He was in charge of the guns for the first week, and had to see to ammunition. Asks her to send ‘Liverpool Virus’ as soon as possible to deal with the rats. The wild strawberries were delicious. Describes some of his companions - didn’t like two young subs but did like Lithgow, Bell and the Captain of the other half battery. Next week he would be doing O.P. work [observation post]. Cakes and soup tablets were most welcome.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Describes hardships of digging in the rain and getting wet without prospect of drying out. Difficulty getting supplies like pit props, timber, iron nails, sandbags and wire netting as the demand was greater than supply. Had searched for bread and potatoes but here was no bread as bakers couldn’t get flour and mills couldn’t get corn. Had ration bread but it was difficult to eat. Had got 3 kilos of potatoes, French beans and a bottle of red wine. Describes difficulties of feeding men when you arrive in a new place. Had eaten well in Mess on haggis and plum pudding thanks to Captain Lithgow. Describes the cook who caused the worst of their discomforts. Hoped another half battery would arrive soon with their cook. Asks her to send more tea.

Comments on her letters. Likes to think of her seeing friends in London.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Had been on duty all night. Describes the sound and sight of the guns firing on the German lines.

Feared the spiritual side of life did not have a good chance out there – not the intellectual or aesthetic part and the chance to read Clutton-Brock’s book had a revivifying effect.

Receipt addressed from "St James’s ", signed “C.J. Fox” and “Andrew Basilico” for expenses incurred by Basilico during his duties as the “Messenger to the Foreign Department” (also known as the “King’s Messenger”, a position Basilico held from 1782-1813).

Autograph letter, signed, to the Marchioness Wellesley. Bulwer-Lytton presents his compliments and expresses gratitude for Her Ladyship’s kindness. He had hoped to prolong his stay in Dublin to wait on Her Ladyship, however he was unable to on this occasion.

Autograph letter in French to unidentified recipient.

Autograph letter in French to “Bates”.

Autograph letter, signed, to Gerald Wellesley. Lamb invites Wellesley to dine with him the next day.
An MS annotation at the foot of the letter reads: “Lord Melbourne to Gerald Wellesley”.

Autograph fragment excised from a document, signed.

Autograph fragment excised from a document, signed, pasted onto a backing paper with MS inscription “Presented by J. Bays, 25th March 1826”.

Autograph page from a manuscript of A Tour on the Prairies. Page numbered 202 begins “a beautiful grove, watered by a fine spring and rivulet. Our journey had been about fourteen miles”.