Autograph letter signed : The Reform Club [London], to "my dear Emily & my dear George", 1911 Dec. 25.

Describing his Christmas morning saying "Your sweet little cable-message comes to me as I sit here 'doing letters', as we say, this still soft Xmas morning, & touches me with its faithful remembrance. London presents its usual (at this moment) vast vacancy & quietude; the whole population...flies to the country & abroad & the result for those who artfully stay still, is delightful in respect to peace & ease;" telling them he is in much better health than when they last saw him "this was the particular medicine of which I was in want & which has now been supplied me in ample doses -- which have acted like a charm. I hibernate no more, & shall never again hibernate, at Rye -- I treated myself for [illegible] to too much of that -- which meant an excess of solitude & confinement. Here I can circulate as well as brood...My point is simply that I feel you must recognize that nature unadorned gives way -- as our power to bear with her does under the icy iron heel of these weeks, or rather months;" referring to the upcoming wedding of "dear Bill's [James] nuptials with Alice Runnells; an event which yields me the greatest pleasure, so much do I like & admire the grand mild maiden... I am very sorry not to be there, but his Mother & brothers will do much more than speak for me. I have begged them -- Bill & Bride -- to come & occupy Lamb House in this absence of my own from it, & they have delightfully accepted (for the end of January &c) & they will bring me vivid news of you;" saying in closing "Let me tell you again that the timeliness of your soft memento has been exquisite to the hour & the very minute."