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T. E. Lawrence to Nancy Astor
Mount Batten
19.1.30.
Dear Lady Astor,
What an undisciplined person you are!
I was given positive
orders to cease from meeting you, so far as that lay in my power: so I can't come and see you. It would not be fair to the terms on which
I have been in the R.A.F. for the last eight years, and on which
I
hope to serve for five years more.
I haven't got a heart: only the former site of one, with a
monument there to say that it has been removed and the area it occupied
turned into a public garden, in pursuance of the slum-clearance scheme.
I know, respect and like Tom Jones.
I am duty crew here (one week's engrossment in motor boats on the
Sound and Caltewater) so cannot be spared for the Naval Conference. 'Sink the Lot' would be my advice, only alas
I have not been asked it!
I was 'taken' to Flete: the Wing Commander promised in my name,
and asked so warmly that I couldn't (lacking a heart) say 'No'. It
shall not happen again.
I sit very tightly in Camp, working hard to make myself petrol
money for next summer's activities. Next summer, I hope to motor-bike
and speed-boat and fly a bit: the last if I can get Sir John Salmond
(now my lord and master) to relax Trenchard's order against my flying.
I should like to hear Lord Thomson's opinion of my abilities! My
opinion of his character hasn't been asked for, but I'm quite willing
to hand it on through your 'curious but direct' way if you think it
would be wholesome. It is not very kindly.
Alas, I am out of date.
I cannot conceive why Lionel should want
Geoffrey Dawson to see Malcolm McDonald: or why any of them,
backwards or forwards, should want to see another. However cats may
look at kings. Only I mustn't look at you. That proves that you
aren't a king, and me not a cat. That proves that you aren't a cat
and me not a king. I wish I felt as safe, for you, as I do for myself.
You are distinctly unsatisfactory about
[name omitted]: please allow
Mrs. Shaw, who is as wise as 10,000 of you and me, to look at her and
say the right word. I do not trust the judgement of anyone in either
the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
Yours ever
T.E. Shaw
Japanese sunset effect obtainable by underlining the "I" in letters
for your enjoyment and necessary inaction please. You will notice
that I win by three to one.
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