2110-2-5-1

Sunday Jan. 4 1910

70, ELM PARK ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W.

My dear Buchan,

On first reading your flattering letter I exclaimed to myself 'The laddie is in a creel' - an expression I often heard my old Scottish Grandmother apply to myself - but after a second perusal Vanity led me to say - 'But what if the laddie should happen to be right' - A third perusal brought me to my senses & I feel I cannot accept all you say as more than an expression of friendship & goodwill.

I am too old now to worry about my little books, although I admit at intervals of 5 years I can re-read them with pleasure. As for the "learning"

you impute to me I sometimes wonder as I read how I came to know as much as apparently I once did. Disraeli, now I suppose one of the Gods of your idolatry, was once discovered by a friend reading one of his own novels - 'What are you doing that for,' asked the friend. 'For Information replied the Author without raising his eyes from the page.

It is quite true we never meet & it is a pity. I must get my old friend Harold Baker (now recovering from a serious operation) to ask us to dinner at Q. Annes Gate. In the mean time

Your half convinced friend -

Augustine Birrell [ST: writer]

John Buchan Esq.