[Sir Edward Marsh.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eddie Marsh') to Mrs Strutt, with an Autograph Letter Signed to him from Lady Wimborne ('Alice'), regarding an invitation for Strutt to join the 'CMS [Chamber Music Society]' at Wimborne House.

Married to one of the richest men in England, Lady Wimborne was lover and patron of the young Sir William Walton (1902-1983). She was, according to Stephen Lloyd ('William Walton: Muse of Fire'), 'extremely musical and Wimborne House in London became home to many musical soirées, including the private subscription concerts of the Quartet Society and even a chamber orchestra conducted by Hyam Greenabum'. Both items in very good condition, with light signs of age. ONE: Marsh to Strutt. 2pp., 12mo. With envelope addressed by him to 'Mrs Edward Strutt | 12 Somers Place | Hyde Park | W2.' He begins: 'My dear Mrs Strutt (or can we after all these years drop Mrs & Sir?!) Here is a long letter from Alice Wimborne wh[ich] please tear up, she is evidently much perturbed at being thought to have been careless'. He explains that he has told her that he 'used the word "rejoin" loosely, having always thought of the "CMS" [i.e. Chamber Music Society] more as a revival of the "Q.S." [i.e. Quartet Society] than as an entirely new Society, which it seems it was. Anyhow all is well that ends well'. He considers the 'programme for the new Season [...] very promising', and is happy she is 'coming in'. TWO: Wimborne to Marsh. 4pp., 8vo. Addressed to 'My dear Eddie' and signed 'Alice'. She begins by informing him that 'The invitation to Mrs. Strutt to join our C.M.S. has just gone' and that she is 'delighted at the prospect of a nice member. The Lytteltons are going to Australia & do not rejoin & as always there will be others for the name & other reasons'. She was 'somewhat mystified' when Marsh drew her attention 'to the fact that Mrs. Strutt had not been asked to rejoin! You may remember we disbanded the Quartet Society & reformed an entirely new one 4 years ago! But for the nucleus of personal friends the membership was completely altered'. The letter continues with a discussion of the history of the two Society's, and of Mrs Strutt's position ('A scrutiny of the Q.S. books revealed that she was a member of that society for a season & ½ - I did not know her personally'). She points out that she attends to 'every detail of the organisation' herself, 'relying on no one else', and explains the reason for 'this screede [sic]' is 'to defend us from any imputation of carelessness!'