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18 May 1902
Sunday
Newlands Corner, Merrow, Guildford.
My dear Buchan, Your letters are always welcome.
I have written so little of late as we have been in trouble owing to my father-in-law's long illness and death. When the end came it was however a great relief to my wife as it was a release to him from suffering; and she is now much better.
I entirely agree with
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HE in believing you to have administrative faculties of the highest order and they are so rare when coupled with brain power, character & a saving sense of humour & the avoidance of pedantry that I think you ought to stick to the public service.
As the lawyers say this is advice given against interest and so worth having.
Personally I should like to have you back with me, though I am thankful to say I have got a good helper in Eric Parker. But then I have made him Editor of "The Country Gentleman" - the paper I bought the other day - which is rather a bar. Townsend was very unwell a little time ago but he is better again and may go on for another five years.
If however he collapsed this summer, say next June or July and if I asked you to come & take his place
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at £1,000 a year which is what I have been giving Townsend should you care to come? The prospects would be becoming political Editor if & when I went out of journalism. I should be glad at once to sell you at par £1000 of Spectator Pref & £1000 of Ordinary. As the Ordinary will pay next August 15 per cent (It paid 12 last) this means an increase of income. But I say all this only generally & to indicate the lines on which we could make an agreement.
Now what I want to know is suppose I was able to make this offer and suppose you accepted how soon could you leave Milner. A good deal would depend on that.
Write me your ideas, but dont assume there is any change immediately impending. Townsend may outlast us all.
Yrs ever St Loe Strachey.
