Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from 13 Rusham Road, Balham. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/73
[crossed out THE WEALD Nr SEVENOAKS]

13 Rucham Rd
Balham SW 20.x.06

My dear Gordon,
We got back Last Saturday & my
time has been so packed with work that
I can't try to write to you. Not only the arrears
that had to be attacked, but Belloc who
is now literary editor of the Morning Post
collared me & got me to do some dirty
work under pressure & now my natural
history contributors are emptying their
rubbish on me.
I did like your letter & your
Bournemouth - I should like to
put it in my Natural History? I hope
you will get on & I am glad to have
pleased you with the landscape essay etc.
Now Merfyn interrupts with
three tunes running together like
trefoil & I can't even do what I
start to do. Behold my writing.
Well, we go to the Petersfield
in the 2nd of November I suspect,
which is a Friday. Then by the
9th we ought to be settled down &
we should like to see you. Will you come? Let us known soon -
I shall be here until the 4th or
5th.
I believe now I shall have no
room for Nancy Dawson tho I have
been cutting out already included
classics by the score. If you would
copy out your
"Dairy Maid to Pan' for me without
bothering yourself, I should be grateful,
as my work ahead is terrible in its
variety & bulk. But don't bother
yourself.
My love to the eloping Emily
& I am glad you recovered her.
Yours ever
Edward Thomas