T. E. Lawrence to C. M. Doughty

18.8.23.

Dear Mr. Doughty

I believe that tomorrow you become eighty years old. That's magnificent, for I hope that you are faced with leisure for the moment: Mansoul finished very honourably, Arabia famous (after forty years), Merriecroft comfortable. It sounds to me like a satisfactory eighty years in retrospect: at least I'd be content to look back so. I hope your health is good: inland air isn't always easy after long use of sea air: I hope also that Mrs. Doughty is glad.

Yours sincerely

T E Lawrence