DLA019-0227  Transcription 

Sir Francis Fletcher Vane of Hutton, Bart.,

Little Hickmans,

Fordcombe,

near Tunbridge Wells.

1st December, 1932.

Dear Sir Francis Fletcher Vane,

I am very much disturbed to receive your letter enclosing that of Fohn,^[1] which I now return. Have I made a mistake in thinking the sketch is not mine? I hope not, and yet I would rather have made a mistake than think that Fohn, to whom I also was kind when I met him in Venice, was dishonest. I took him with me for three weeks in the mountains and gave him some lessons and helped him in other ways. I can only say that he impressed me as an honourable man, and I would feel terrible to do him an injustice Will you please, therefore, come up as soon as you are able, and let me have the pleasure of making your acquaintance, and bring the sketch with you so that I may look at it again.

It happened that just last Sunday I was staying with a niece of mine, Mrs. Blandy, who possesses the original picture of that same subject [5771], which I offered for a charity and which she purchased. It would be interesting to compare the two.

Let me know when you can come up, and give us the pleasure of lunching here or come to tea, just as convenient to you, and if possible let me know a few days beforehand.

I am also interested in what you tell me of your experiences of war. If only there had been some humanity at the time when the Peace Treaty was drawn up, so many subsequent calamities and much distress

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at the present time would have been averted.

Hoping to make your acquaintance soon, and with kind regards,

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Sir Francis Fletcher Vane, Bart.,

of  Hutton.

Editorial Note:

Sir Francis Patrick Fletcher Vane, 5th Baronet of Hutton (1861–1934), British Army officer, author and boy scout leader.

SMDL

01/07/2018