Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Elses Farm, The Weald, Kent. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/43
The Weald
Sevenoaks-

19.ix.05

My dear Gordon
I don't know why it
should be possible for you to think I might
take offence at the perfectly clear objection
to my coming with Helen. Of course, I
don't. Whether I can come alone, I
dare not say; but I will try, & it is
quite possible. Let me know when
you can, what date will suit you best.
Meantime, Helen will probably go away
on Monday & deposit the children in
various places.
Also pardon me for saying you
forced yourself. I though I was echoing
you when I said it, so I was but
inaccurately. I ought to have known better,
especially as I am never myself so conscious
of growth as to be able to say 'that is
of yesterday', far less to feel that
I am actually pretending to be 23.
I don't believe I am. And aren't you -
little harsh about the 'form'? Except
that my things are nowadays always

I have to go to town to an 'Academy' dinner -
a bright thought of the editor's 'for discussing
what is about to appear' in the paper.
I can't discuss, because I want to suppress
the greater part & to be better paid. Freeman
& I are, however, getting in a lot
of impressionism amongst the
heavy stuff & make a point of
refuting other contributions time after time
under cover of a review. I wish
you could join. By the way,
would you write a review now & then i
a book were sent to you? I can't
promise but I think I might get
something from the 'Academy' if you
let me know what sort of thing you would
prefer or, if possible, the names of
books coming.
In haste, for it is evening &
I always expect to do something in the
evenings when they are still. With Helen's
love & mine.
Ever yours
Edward Thomas