2110-1-1-6

Junior Common Room. Brasenose College, Oxford.

Nov: 10: '95

Dear Mr. Murray

This is Sunday and I am writing letters so the spirit has moved me to write to you. I have just been to hear Gore preach in St. Mary's and thought him very fine. I had never heard him before. Sunday here is a very curious day; an unwonted stillness reigns even among the rowdies, and everybody wears unnecessary black coats. It depresses my spirits dreadfully, so I

have taken to the dissipation of writing articles in the common room to the annoyance of those who wish to use the ink.

I have seen a good deal of the old Glasgow men who are up here. Bell seems to be getting reconciled to the place. It was a very great surprise that he did not get the Clark. I feel very sorry for him.

I think I am improving a little in the classics for I can give my time to them more than before. I have risen from the region of the unclassed in my proses to

the exalted place of β. I find Demosthenes rather a grind, but the Theocritus is delightful. I am writing for the Stanhope Essay and working at the original authorities in the Bodleian, so my mind at present is little better than a jumble of old Memoirs and court papers. I have got it nearly half finished. - (the Stanhope, not my mind).

I am beginning to like the people here very much. I met a very nice Westminister boy, who said he knew you. His name was Fisher, and I think he was a brother of Fisher, the don at New. I am playing golf a little

with Fox, my tutor, but I have scarcely time for much of it.

My little story is selling, I believe, pretty well and being tolerably fairly reviewed. I have had practically two offers through A. P. Watt for my big novel, so I am working hard at it just now, and expect to finish it by April.

I hope you are enjoying your work this year in Glasgow. Bell told me that you had a tandem bicycle and were riding it for relaxation. Have you made any further arrangements about Caerlyon?

With kind regards

Believe me,

Yours very sincerely

John Buchan