Revere discusses rare books. He asks for Osler's opinion on which books to purchase.
Edward Osler [Featherstone's brother] remarks that Mr. Atkinson answered all of Featherstone's professional questions [see CUS417/59.32]. Their father's health has improved. He draws Featherstone's attention to the congressional magazine of October, which includes a thundering attack upon him.
Revere thanks Jacobs for sending a gift of stamps and expresses his disappointment that the Jacobs's will not visit England in the coming summer.
Revere thanks Jacobs for the stamps. Revere reports that his father is having a fine time in Egypt and wishes he could be there with him.
Revere is thankful for the book Jacobs sent, for it has some of the best reproductions of insects he has ever seen. He spent an enjoyable Christmas with quite a large congregation of the family.
Revere sends Jacobs photos of the wall-carvings at St. Mark's and of the staircase of the palace of the Doges.
Revere thanks Jacobs for the tie clasp. He goes back to work on the following day, but will return to Oxford in March to write his exams, which he took and failed in December. He writes of fishing.
Revere spent a happy Christmas with his parents. His father bought him a first edition of Dr. Walton's life of Herbert, about which he is overjoyed. He hopes Jacobs will come to England and join him on a fishing expedition.
(Cable). Revere is delighted (by his offer to join the McGill Unit). Asks Birkett what training advisable. In meantime, he will remain in the Officers Training Corps in Oxford until they come.
Revere thanks Jacobs for the gift of an Isaac Walton medal. He fears that the bibliomania has taken hold of him, for his appetite for catalogues is insatiable. He will soon leave for France with the McGill Hospital as Colonel Burkett's orderly officer. Revere is very happy with this post, as it spared him from having to enlist in the army.
Revere reports that the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital recently ceased to function as a hospital and is now a "turbid mud hole, rank with unrest and discontent." He delivers a seething report of how the authorities closed down the hospital, sent the staff and patients to a temporary shelter, and proceeded to leave them there for 5 weeks living in tents and fighting the elements. He describes the living conditions in great detail and writes of his companions Bill and Campbell Howard, Dr. Russell, and Dr. Little. He managed to obtain a week's leave, during which he accepted a new position as quartermaster in a Canadian field ambulance, much to his parents delight.
Revere writes of a trip to the dump and describes the desolation he witnessed at the front. He writes that the death and destruction caused by the war inspires the novice at war, like himself, with more that mere horror; it inspires complete depression.
Revere describes the scene at the front, his observation post, and his fellow officers. He asks his father not send any more books, as he has no time to read and can only carry with him the bare necessities.
Revere writes of his observations of the battlefield and reports on the activities of his battery.
Revere reports on his observations and experiences at the front and on the activities of his battery.
Revere reports on the activities of his battery and how they are surviving through the war. He has put a bid on several books, which he hopes will soon reach his parent's home at Oxford.
Revere describes how he and his battery celebrated Christmas on the battlefield. He thanks his mother for all the provisions she has sent to him and his fellow soldiers. He reports that his senior officer was recently killed in action, but they managed to find a parson and have a decent burial for him.
Revere reports on his activities at the front. He looks forward to reading the birthday letters he just received from both parents. He expects to be off the battlefield by January and to be given two months rest, during which time he could spend a few days at home in Oxford. He writes that he never knew how much he loved his family and Oxford before he left them behind to join the war effort.
Revere writes that he was unexpectedly sent for to do a 48-hour liaison with a different battalion. He describes the battalion's facilities and the men's activities in the trenches. He looks forward to returning home to Oxford and reuniting with his family. Includes a partially completed letter to Grace Revere Osler, dated December 30th.
Revere and the other men in his battery have enjoyed the mince pies Grace had sent to the trenches. He describes the two days he spent away from his battery with the infantry men.
Revere's battery has been in action on the battlefield for months, and now they are resting only to prepare to return to the front. He hopes to soon be able to spend a few days at home after the past four nightmarish months. His father has been sending him book catalogues, as well as sale catalogues from Sotheby's, from which Revere has ordered some books.