Clapham common
S.W.
I had been wondering when you & Edw. Gailliard were going to come & now I get your letter by which I am led to think you have abandoned the idea.
I cannot see the slightest chance of Mr. V.d.H's getting anything to do here. We are overstocked with French & Germans, and as regards Flemish there is but seldom anything - occasionally Cyril gets employment as a corrector of the press of Books written in S. Africa that are sent to London to be printed. He had recently a volume of poetry which made me think of you; the pieces were very pretty.
Perhaps a competent man might get entrusted with the cataloguing of the Flemish & Dutch manuscripts at the British Museum, but this would require special knowledge of literature, dialects &c & also would have to be written in English. I am sorry to have no better reply to give.
My house is at present a sort of hospital. M. Magdalene is out of health, Sibyl has ricked her knee, & Frances is laid up with the influenza which is very prevalent: Cyril's wife is also ill with it & her 5 children have the whooping cough.
Rose & Harry are both very well, we are expecting the latter home from Downside[1] on Friday. Bernard has left Australia & is now in New Zealand. He seems to like the colonies but has I fear a hard life; he is I think very steady, but dont forget him in your prayers. My wife desires her very kind regards & best wishes for Christmas & the New Year in which I heartily join.