Describes the snowy weather. Updates him on Bob and Mildred's travels. Describes a visit to see Constance's new baby. Tells him about her morning plans. Hopes that he has shelter where he is located. Discusses the affects the weather is having on agriculture.
Describes the weather and her morning journey into town with Clare. Tells him about her visit to the tax collector. Discusses the progress of the war. Hopes she won't catch German measles. Describes Clare's personality. Asks him about his location, the lost document and Mr Lithgow. Thanks him for writing her letters when he is busy.
Discusses cutting down on wheat flour. Describes a walk to gather primroses and tells him about how Clare enjoyed it. Tells him about an intended visit from Mary and about Mary's miscarriage scare. Expresses her wish to have a boy. Asks him what he thinks about.
‘Herschel House, Cambridge’ [Letterhead]
Full Transcript
Tuesday the 3rd [March]
My dearest George,
I was very glad to find that The California did not sail after all till Saturday morning. I suppose it was because the weather was so stormy.
I am afraid I am going to do the one thing you told me not to and use a ton of coal straight away. We are under thick snow here. Some fell on Saturday night but on Sunday night there as a heavy fall and yesterday was a glorious sunny day. The children played at making snow men in the afternoon in the garden and had a lovely time. It was thawing most of the day and when I went to bed but it froze later in the night and was freezing hard this morning.
Blunt has again not come so I have rung up Mrs Salter and he is well so I have taken his address and written to him.
Nellie, the new cook is so far very satisfactory. She seems very nice and cooks well.
Frances Wills is coming here tomorrow for five days. I shall enjoy that. We are both going to dine with the Cranages on Thursday before the lecture. So far I seem nearly as full of engagements as I was before you left. People are being most awfully kind and nice. Really I think more friendly than they were at Godalming.
Mrs Cranage rang Vi up to find our when I was coming home that she might meet me with her car. Vi didn’t know, but it was most awfully kind of her.
At Bletchley I got into the same carriage as John Chaister [?]. He was coming to Cambridge to stay with David for the Greek play. So I saw him again in the evening.
I enjoyed seeing the Greek play quite a lot, the dresses were very good and the colour scheme pretty. As I did not understand it there did seem a lot of standing still and spouting at the audience. But I expect if I had understood it I should not have felt that so much.
I am so sorry you left your dressing gown behind. I am sending it to Bombay [Mumbai] and then addressed to Darjeeling in case it misses you.
Wednesday
I see that the California left Gibraltar on the 4th. So now you are in the Mediterranean. I hope it is warm and nice. I am getting rather worried about the garden. If the weather goes on being so cold I shall not possibly be able to get the necessary seed sowing done before I go away. If I can’t do it I think I shall come back for a few days of solid gardening in April.
I hoped to do a lot of greenhouse seed sowing today but I can’t get the seed boxes. The fishmonger promised them but he has not sent them.
I went to the Quay Village performance last night. It was quite good and very well arranged. There was no scenery so there were no long pauses as there so often are in amateur theatricals. I think the whale show was a great credit to Mrs Salter.
The young man we picked up at St. Neots came round yesterday just as we were starting nursery tea so I asked him up and he was quite pleasant and jolly and evidently enjoyed seeing the children. Clare was in an appallingly talkative mood all day yesterday. Nothing would stop her tongue and at tea time she had her fling. I found her this morning before breakfast engaged in writing out thirteen times table. She has determined to write out and learn all the difficult ones up to 19 times she days. Mrs Reade came to lunch yesterday. I took her after lunch to see the new Sidney Sussex chapel and we met Mani Forbes there and they had a long talk about the chapel etc which Mrs Reade evidently enjoyed very much.
I don’t think I was very good company. My period had just come and I wasn’t at all on the spot. I have just fallen down from ladder and all trying to get the climbing things into the loft. Luckily I did not hurt myself at all.
I have heard from Mr Raxworthy. My bank balance is overdrawn £823 and your £112 that is £935 in all. He suggests we sell of our £500 Vickers 4% which would bring in £400 and £400 National War Bond for £420. If we get £2500 for the Holt we need only sell the Vickers I think so I will tell him only to do that for the present.
Dearest one I do hope you are happy and having a good voyage. I am keeping quite cheerful and happy but I do miss you a lot. I think I want your companionship even more than I used to. I know I have rather often been cross and not nice and I am very sorry but the bottom reason has nearly always been because I was unhappy at getting so little of you. I know it is pretty stupid to spoil the times I do have you for those when I don’t.
Very very much love to you my dear one.
Your Loving,
Ruth
Letter from Mary Brooke, Mallory's sister written from Colombo. This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.
Full Transcript
Ap. 12th
Steelback Lodge
Galle Face
Columbo
My dearest George
I hope you have been getting the weather reports all right – it will be very interesting to hear whether you can trace a connection with our weather & how long afterwards. Since sending you the observatory report yesterday we have had the most terrific storm – gale of wind from S.W. – torrents of rain & thunder – we had noticed very heavy clouds at the sunset & it looked as if something were approaching, but the storm didn’t break till about 1 a.m. last night. It was most violent for nearly three hours so if you get the same you had better be on the look out – I wonder how far you have got now – I do hope you are getting on well & making good time. We were very disappointed not getting up to Diyatalawa last Monday, we were all packed up & everything planned when a wire came from the C.C. postponing the whole move & in a furious temper that he hadn’t been told some little minor details that no one thought he would want to know. I believe there were some very heated telegrams between him & our Colonel but of course it didn’t alter things & we have just had to wait here in the heat & packed & angry! There is hardly anyone left down here now, but I believe we really shall get off on Monday & are much looking forward to getting up to the hills & a cooler atmosphere. Ralph is going off for a week’s shooting on Thursday – he & another man & they ought to have quite a good time & see a lot of interesting country. They are going to camp out & I believe try for panther & bears at night as it will be full moon. When he gets back we expect Wynyard for a few days on his way home from Shanghai. This place is getting rather gay now with the flamboyant trees & others all coming into flower – I am afraid we shall miss them at their best. We took the children to the museum the other evening. really most interesting – besides all the Ceylon animals, birds insects, precious stones etc they had a very interesting room of the native handicrafts – pottery etc some of it most attractive – I believe you get the best things of that sort at Kandy & we must certainly make an expedition there when we get back here.
With much love & let me have a line when you can
Your loving sister
Mary
Letter from Stella, believed to be Stella Cobden-Sanderson. Postmarked 2 April. Mallory used the envelope to note down the code numbers and pressures of five oxygen cylinders.
This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.
Full Transcript
Forum Club,
6, Grosvenor Place,
Hyde Park Corner,
S.W.I.
[Address has been crossed out and replaced with ’23 Hertford Street. W,]
Dear George,
Just after writing to you last week, I saw in The Times that the expedition had started from Darjeeling – And now you are really on the march. I think of you so often & try to imagine what you are doing. What is the weather doing? Is it terribly hot?
I am so longing for sun & warmth that today I have definitely decided to go to my friends near Cannes for about a month from the middle of May – It won't be fashionable but a great great joy to get to the south. The flowers will be heavenly then.
My alternative was to do a round of visits in England. For a long time I was tempted to do this because I love my friends & making new ones. But I suddenly had such a desire for the south & peace. And now I am glad to have decided this.
I expect to go to Paris for Easter with the Macmillans then join the Shears & other American friends in Paris until middle of May. So I shall start with a gay time.
Last night I saw Shaws St Joan” I was very much moved & impressed with it. And I do think that its wonderful of Shaw at his age to write without exaggerating his mannerisms. Some of the dialogues are far too long – But its wonderfully written & without the desire to show his own personality too much. The acting is excellent & its most beautiful to look upon.
I had lunch with Mrss Graies yesterday at her club – Sissie is in Italy & she pressed me to go saying she was lonely & had a great many things she wanted to discuss with me. But these consisted of abuse of Macdonald because she had not seen him, that Ishbel's head had been turned, & that Macdonald had treated Sissie badly. In between this, improper stories. And all this shouted at the top of her voice in a public room. My answers having to be made equally loud down a speaking tube! Poor Sissie, I am really sorry for her.
London with the strikes has been very exhausting & terrible for the wretched daily workers. It’s amazing how good natured is an English crowd.
On Saturday the day of the boat race my brother is expecting nearly 200 as their garden goes down to the river at Hammersmith. Mother & I are not going as we have too many old associations of my father.
I am longing to hear from you since your arrival.
My love to you dear
Your affectionate
Stella
April 2
Wednesday 3 Jan. evening - Tells him about making him a lining for his sleep sack. Discusses buying a higher fence for the garden at the Holt. Describes a visit to Mrs Irvine and discusses the troubles she has had with her nurse. Expresses her thoughts and worries about coping with a new baby. Hopes that the new baby will be a boy.
Thursday 4 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letter and is glad he hadreceived his parcels.
Tuesday 9 Jan. evening - Describes in detail the trouble she had at the station with the signal man. Informs him that she will visit Aunt Rosamond. Updates him on her symptoms. Discusses the weather and the progress of the war.
Wednesday 10 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letters and discusses whether she might be pregnant. Asks him if he will ride with the colonel. Expresses her wish for their children to learn to ride. Hopes that he will see Trafford. Asks him about Mr Bell and Mr Lithgow. Discusses the progress of the war.
Tuesday 16 Jan. evening - Expresses her love for him. Tells him she is on the house furnishing committee. Updates him on her symptoms.
Wednesday 17 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letter. Expresses her thoughts about him being taught to make fires. Describes her morning activities and the parcels she is sending him. Describes a letter from Mary and Ralph discussing a move to Camberly.
Describes her visit to the Mother Welcome meeting. Updates him on her father's health. Discusses the book she is reading Geoffrey Hamlyn by Charles Kingsley. Expresses her concern for his welfare. Tells him about Marjorie's job and how she is coming home. Updates him on how she is feeling.
Updates him about her father's health. Describes in detail a letter from Avie. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him about how she is feeling lazy and unorganised. Informs him that Ursula is coming to stay.
Updates him on her father's health and the new nurse for him. Discusses in detail the contents of his letters regarding his work and the people he is talking to. Asks him to be more clear about his location and movements. Tells him about seeing Mrs Irvine. Asks him about his description of being shelled.
Updates him on her pregnancy sickness. Expresses her love for him. Describes the weather. Discusses the progress of the war. Hopes that the war will end soon.
Asks to hear from him as it has been two days since she has. Informs him that Clare is feeling ill. Describes her search for a launderess. Tells him about attending the study circle and having tea with Constance Mussen. Describes the domestic troubles Mary Anne is facing. Expresses her wish for him to be there to help her.
[printed form completed by hand]
General Post Office London
Revd Bursar Magd College for John Briggs
1778
Jan 5 [St Thomas?] thro to April 5 - £0 14s 6d
Received April 1778 William Gregory
Revd above is your account which please to pay to Mr W. Gregory or Order & you will oblige your most obedient servant
John Briggs
[Printed form completed by hand].
From the office of the Corporation of the Royal Exchange Assurance of houses and goods from loss or damage by fire, on the Royal Exchange, London.
No. 23819
The second day of March 1778 received of the Bursar of Magdalene College the sum of £3 15s 6d.
Payment of assurance of £3000 from 2 March 1778 to 2 March 1779 by the Corporation of the Royal Exchange Assurance aforesaid.
Thomas Paris
Cambridge Agent
Handwritten notes by Dr Hyam on the history of Wentworth House.
£27 13s 1½d paid to Mr Stanley by Revd Mr Buck for:
Materials –
Oak, battens, nails, screws, deals [1], pitch, large rising joints
Work done around College –
Coal house and stairs back court
Jobs in Master’s Lodge and the buildings in the back court
Work to the bell wheel
Seat on the high walk stairs going up to the presidents bath house window
Work done to Dr Warring’s coal house door etc
Taking down the hall doors
[1] deal = timber
"Magdlen Colidge" to Peter Spencely
1795
Feb 9 – for new felt and clack to wort pump = £0 5s 9d
Feb 25 – for a new bucket and leathers to pump in Butler’s seller = £0 7s 6d
For new box and clack = £0 4s 6d
June 8 – for mending wheel of the Chapel bell = £0 2s 0d
For time taking down iron work and hanger bell = £0 5s 0d
Total = £1 4s 9d
Received July 16 1795 by Peter Spencely
[initialled R.B. – Revd Richard Buck, Bursar]
The Revd Mr Buck to Thomas Fisher for "Magdalen College"
1794
Jan 19 – 4 ½ yards huckaback [1] 3s 6d = £0 15s 9d
Feb 14 – 8 yards of huckaback 3s 6d = £1 8s 0d
Total = £2 3s 9d
Rec'd July 13 1795 of the Revd Mr Buck Two pounds 3/9 for Goods
[1] a stout linen fabric, with the weft threads thrown alternately up so as to form a rough surface, used for towelling
1795 Midsummer quarter "Magdalen Coll" to R. Painter & Son
For work done by order of the Revd Mr Buck Bursar
May 12 – The Masters Lodge
A new bucket and leather and box and clacks to the pump
The Butlers Room
6 feet of old glass repaired at 2d ft 4 crown squares 9 by 8 measured 2 ft at 18d / feet
May 16 – The Masters Lodge
For work to the pump
May 22 – The Combination
Cleaning of 2 pair sashes
May 30 – The Butlers Room
1 crown square 10 by 8
June 8 – The Clock Cupola
7 feet of old glass repaired at 2d ft 7 common squares 9 by 6 measured 2 ft 7 [?] at 10d
2 of putty
¼ of a days work 1 man and nails 2d
Total = £0 17s 3d
October 28 1795 Received the above Robert Painter & Son
[initialled R.B. – Revd Richard Buck, Bursar]
1794 Michaelmas to Christmas Quarter "Magdalen Coll" to Robert Painter
For work done by order of the Revd Mr Buck Bursar
Aug 6 - 5 ft of old glass new leaded
6 squares of glass
Sep 8 - Staircase in the cloister
3 ft of old glass repaired
2 crown squares
Sep 26 - 3 crown squares
Oct 7 - The Butlers Room
4 ft of old glass repaired
2 crown squares
Cleaning of windows
The Kitchen
3 squares of glass
Oct 22 - The Masters Lodge
Cleaning of two pair of sashes
2 crown squares
Nov 8 - The Buttress
Cleaning of windows
Nov 19 - The Masters Lodge
A days work two men cleaning two windows
Nov 20 - 3/4 days work two men cleaning windows
4 crown squares
Nov 21 - The Combination Room
Cleaning of two pair of sashes
Nov 25 - Masters Lodge
14 foot of old glass new leaded
18 squares of glass
Nov 27 - At Mr Hulls
6 crown squares
Total = £2 8s 4½d
[initialled R.B. – Revd Richard Buck, Bursar]
Received of the Revd Mr Buck Burser the sum of £2 8s 4d as for bill annexed for two quarters viz michaelmas to Christmas 1794
Robert Painter Junior
[1] Staircase
[2] Cloister
Smiths work done for "Magdalaen Colledge" by J. Fuller
Oct 6 - repairing the steel yard and cleaning the kitchen
Oiling the smock jack [1]
laying a poker
Oct 28 - 3 new bars for the copper
Nov 3 - Cleaning the Combination fire iron and fender
laying a poker
cleaning a horse
Nov 12 - grinding knives and cleaves
mending the jack chains
repairing a lock of a door in the kitchen
Dec 3 - grinding a chopper and two knives
laying a poker
an iron for a door port in the back yard
½ staples and nails and staple to another
straightening of bars of the kitchen range
[initialled R.B. – Revd Richard Buck, Bursar]
Total = £1 7s 5d
Dec 26 1794 received the contents J. Fuller
[1] a machine for roasting meat on a spit driven by hot gas rising from the fire
The Master & Fellows of "Magd Colledge" to Revd Richard B. Gillam
Workmen - William Covill
Materials - hods [1] of brick mortar, hair mortar [2], Ely bricks, blew bricks, tiles, ridge tiles, oak laths, nails, "1 Hod of fine stuff", Dutch tiles,
Work done around College:
work done at the kitchen range
mending the tiling and slating about the College
mending and tiling and slating over the Chapel and round the first Court etc
mending some tiling at the Master's Lodge and repairing the College kitchen copper
stopping some rat holes in the kitchen
cleaning the oven and mending the brick work and pointing up the brick work in the kitchen
Total = £5 16 2½d
[initialled R.B. – Revd Richard Buck, Bursar]
Received of Revd Mr Buck the sum of five pounds six shillings and two pence half being the contents of this bill
Richard Gillam
[1] hod = open receptacle for carrying mortar, bricks or stones
[2] hair mortar = potentially meaning lime mortar which was commonly mixed with hair