2110-4-4-14

Ken: 5501

[Lady Mary Minto]

June 23/ 24

48, Chelsea Park Gardens S.W.3

My dear Mr Buchan

I found your very kind letter on my return, enclosing the Preface. I think you have been much too kind about me, & it is awfully generous of you to say that I was able to help a little - & I feel very touched & elated at my Indian Journal receiving such high praise.

I am so glad you have made such a charming allusion to Arthur and I am sure Lady Hutton will be greatly pleased at being mentioned. With my total lack of education I don't quite

understand 'imponderabilia" & felt humbled when I met it before in the pages of the life.

Of course leave out the Gladstone quotation - as you think it is unworthy, why not add a short sentence of your own as a little tribute - he received rather rough handling from Minto's journal throughout, & I think he was anxious to be fair to him, altho he cd. never forgive him for his foreign policy.

I quite agree about the title I much prefer "Lord Minto a Memoir" please don't think me vulgar. I only meant for the sake of the future

2.

KEN: 5501 48, Chelsea Park Gardens S.W.3.

generations it is necessary to be explicit - which this is all that is required on, or opposite the title page. I shd. almost add "Gilbert John 4th E. of M. K.G. &c &c but you will know best. I looked up the staff at Hydon - it would be invidious to mention any names, as those left out would be offended - so it is better left alone. I really feel you will hate the sight of my writing & my postscripts have been so numerous I am quite ashamed. I do hope you will forgive me for the letter I wrote from Hydon re creed,

you have just spoilt me by encouraging me to speak out quite frankly to you, & you must realize that I have always told you exactly what was in my heart. I should be dreadully depressed if I thought our friendship could come to end. Surely it has been built on too solid a foundation for that. I know that you have learnt my inner thoughts during every phase of my life, so that must be a strong link between us, & I hope you will allow it to endure.

I must say again that you have been too generous to me - any thing I was able to do was such a privilege, &

-3-

if I have helped you to give Mintos character in its true colours. I feel that my lonely years without him have not been spent in vain.

I have nothing that I could possibly criticise in the preface except your long word! & if I dare say so I prefer the last sentence without the two words I have marked, but I expect I am quite wrong. - The other photos go to you on Wed[nesda]y

Yours very sincerely & gratefully

Mary Minto