DLA019-0225  Transcription  

Robertson & Bruce, Ltd.

Fine Art Dealers.

Panmure Salon.

90. Commercial Street.

Dundee

6th October, 1932

Philip A. de Laszlo Esq., M.V.O.,

at Hotel des Indres,

The Hague,

Holland.

Dear Mr. de Laszlo,

Many thanks for your most kind and very interesting letter of the 3rd October. I was very glad indeed to learn that you both enjoyed your stay in Germany and that you are feeling very much better, which is very pleasing indeed.

I am delighted to know that you will both be with us late on Thursday afternoon, the 13th October, and as you do not mention in your letter where you will stay, I have taken the liberty of getting in touch with Colonel Carnegy of Lour, who, along with Mrs. Carnegy, will be charmed to have Mrs. de Laszlo and yourself as their guests during your stay.^[1] They are both eagerly looking forward to meeting you again. If you will be kind enough to let me what time you will arrive in Dundee from Glasgow on the 13th, I shall get in touch by telephone and let Colonel Carnegy know, in order that he may have his car at the Station to meet Mrs. de Laszlo and you.

I am very pleased indeed that the Exhibition has been such a success, and

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and that Mrs. de Laszlo and you are pleased with the catalogue, menu card and all the other arrangements.^[2]

I am quite sure of one thing, and that is that your sons are too modest to let you know how well they did at the Exhibition, and how splendid an impression they made on all the guests. Many of the most important people in the district have made reference to Mr. Paul’s speech, and mentioned how remarkably well he spoke.^[3]

At your request, I have much pleasure in sending to-day a catalogue to each of the lenders I have also sent a catalogue and menu card per registered post, in order to ensure their safe arrival, to your oldest friend, the Duke of Gramont, 42 Bis Avenue Henri Martin, Paris, and trust they will reach him safely.^[4] I have sent to your London address a few catalogues and menu cards.

I had rather an interesting letter from Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Ramsay Macdonald’s friend, in reply to my invitation to the Opening Ceremony and Luncheon. He was very sorry that he could not get North at that time, but expressed the wish to meet you. I thought it very nice.

On my last visit to London, I discussed the matter of the Premier’s portrait, and Mr. Blackwood said he thought he might have the opportunity of having a few words with Mr. Macdonald, at the wedding of the Premier’s daughters, when he would pt the matter of the portrait before him, should the opportunity occur. When I was leaving his office in London, he said: “Leave the matter to me”. Now, when you come North, we might discuss the matter regarding meeting Mr. Blackwood. You may remember, when we first discussed this matter, that I mentioned Mr. Blackwood was writing the

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The Life and Romance of Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, and I arranged for a portrait etching of Mr. Macdonald to be done by Mr. Muirhead Bone for an Edition de Luxe of the book. I am merely writing this to let you understand Mr. Blackwood’s connection with Mr. Macdonald. He frequently stays with him and on a recent visit to Lossiemouth, Mr. Blackwood stayed with Mr. Macdonald for a few days. The Prime Minister has stayed with Mr. Blackwood at his home for a week-end now and again.

I had also a nice reply from the Premier, in which he stated he was very sorry he could not accept my kind invitation to be present at the Luncheon, as he found it impossible to leave London on that day.

We may be able to discuss this more fully when I have a few minutes with you on your visit here I would be very pleased to come to London when it would be suitable for you and Mr. Blackwood to meet. He is a charming gentleman. It was his brother who proposed my health at the Luncheon. Mr. Blackwood has been a friend of mine from 35 to 40 years, and

I may say he is very much interested in the Fine Arts.

I am sending this letter by air mail in order that you may get it with the least possible delay.

With our united greetings to you both, | I am, | Yours sincerely,

John Robertson

P.S. The Countess of Airlie^[5] called just as I had finished your letter, and asked if I would show her round the Galleries, which I had much pleasure doing. She was very much interested in the Exhibition, and thought it the finest she had ever seen. I had the opportunity of telling Her Ladyship that I had just received a letter from you, and that you were coming to see the Exhibition on the 14th. I asked her Ladyship if she thought Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of York would honour us  by visiting the Exhibition, and the Countess seemed to think, should her engagements permit, that she

Would do so. The Countess is to telephone the Duchess and explain what I said about your desire.

JR

SMDL

01/07/2018