|
T. E. Lawrence to his family
Beyrout
Jan. 2nd, 1912
In case of doubt, this is my third
letter: previous ones from Damascus and Aleppo. I will repeat my money
request once more. Please wire £15 at least, if possible £20, to Cook
in Cairo, for me. I have borrowed from Miss Holmes £5, from Mr. Fontana
£10, and spent it all. I will be very short my first weeks with Petrie.
Mrs. Rieder has come here with me from Jebail. I went up there on Sunday
afternoon, and left yesterday for here so I only had one night. My
steamer goes at 5 p.m. today. Miss Holmes has had pneumonia and is ill
still: it began about 3 weeks ago. She sent regards to all and
everybody, and is writing to your herself when better. Noel is much
better this year. That nervous trouble has disappeared- I got two
letters from you, Arnie and yourself on Dec. 7. I forgot the slides: if
you have given them to Mr. Hogarth, and they can go with the stores, all
well: but if too late for that, please send direct to Beyrout for me -
or rather, if not yet gone, send c/o Fontana H.B.M. Consul Aleppo. I don't
want them till the digs start, but then immediately: so Mr. Hogarth must
not bring them out when he comes in April.
M. Roberts is deteriorating
in ingenuity.
Arnie
Greeks don't write a bit like us: all their letters
now a days are joined like this Kufr a.b.c. I
don't know: it's the same as Arabic, only more primitive.
Will ask
for Russia P.O. on return.
Also letter Mother Will Father Dec. 13.
Parcel of course not yet arrived. Photos. all well. I hope at his house
you saw Mr. Hogarth's rugs. House plan not really needed. Am feeling
exceedingly well now: much better and stronger: have no spare time now
for wauri's, and Thomson's cartridges no use without a gun! Glad rug
good. Miss Fareedah away. Masefield's Ev. Mercy I've read: good
certainly. Will you enquire at Blackwell's for the last novel (Spanish)
of [word_illegible] and send it to Mrs. Rieder. She doesn't know its title, but it is the last: he's dead
now, last year only I think.
Great rumours of wars and annexations:-
not to be believed yet, but such a smash in coming out here.
Go to
Ashmolean and see my new seals: am sending them today to D.G.H. Also
strigil for Will: send this to Young for
preservation.
N.
|
