2110-1-2-13

Innerleithen Peebleshire N.B.

July: 16: 96

My dear Taffy,

Many thanks for your letter. I am grieved to hear of that wretched bicycle -man's perfidy. I had a letter from old Milne. It read like an extract from the Book of Job. What can that ancient man be doing with himself?

I wish you joy in Germany. I hope that New. Coll. man may not be a raging maniac and cut your throat. I distrust New Coll.

I had a very gay time in town, but I could not stand it long, and came off after three days. I met all sorts of people from awful New Women, who drank whisky & soda and smoked cigars to John Murray, the publisher, who is a sort of incarnation of respectability. I never was in so many theatres & restaurants in my life. I met Mrs Meynell, & lunched with Mrs Henniker, (Lord Crewe's sister), and got a card for a reception at Stafford House. I nearly died of exhaustion.

I have been having a very good time here in Peebleshire, fishing and walking. I

I had a great day with the fly on Glendean's loch last Saturday. I had thirteen trout, of which about six weighed over one lb. each. My face is scorched brown with sun and wind. I shall be somewhere hereabouts for the next month. Then I shall be golfing in Fife, and then I hope to have our great tour - if you return safe from Germany.

I got a copy of my Essays this morning. Both it & my fishing book are lying ready in the publisher's hands, but the trade is so bad that he is afraid to bring them out just now. I expect he will wait till the

beginning of September. Cameron's etchings are perfectly wonderful. I shall send you a copy, when the book is definitely published.

I am busy preparing a violent article for the Yellow Book on Modern Criticism, in which I am having a drive at all my betes-noires, from the Kailyard school to Socialism. By the by in looking up an old Heraldry book I came on "Bolter" arms. I shall copy them down & send them to you.

If you write to me, write to my Glasgow address, as my movements are more than uncertain. With kind regards

Ever yours

John Buchan

Consitt House

17 Decr 1956

Dear Lady Tweedsmuir,

I've just come across this letter, exactly 60 years old. I may interest you for a moment. In the Long Vac of 1896 I went with H.F. Fox to Germany with a reading party. The "New Coll man" was A.P. Oppé, now an Authority on the pictures at Windsor. He was here a year or two ago: so old!

Bacon's Essays were, I think the first of his works which he donated to me. The D.Y. Cameron etchings are in Musa Piscatrix.

I don't want to keep this letter.

With all good wishes

Yours sincerely

B.C. Boulter