T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 213

To: Dr. G. H. Doughty, 14, Barton Street, S.W.1. G. II. 22. Dear Mr. Doughty, Your letter reached me after a long delay ; for I got so tired of politics during my year with Winston that soon as it ended I lapsed off on a new line, which makes itself master of my time and movements: consequently I have no real address, and go nowhere now. I'm very glad the pension has been notified to you. There were muddles in the giving of it. Normally a memorial is presented to the Prime Minister, signed by influential people, recommending the individual to his attention. In your case the procedure was unnecessary, since your work put you "hors concours". So I suggested to Ll.G. that the pension be awarded just like that - as personally he didn't know your books: but he agreed to it. Everyone he asked said "Of course" ...* and he confessed that it was obviously his duty to read Arabia at once, since everybody spoke so of it. That was in June: and the pension might have been made public in July, only that Poincaré came across two critical days before --- and the new lists were consequently unissued. It didn't make any difference to the pensions Until Mr. Todd as Silvester wrote you in arrear, as from March 31 of the preceding financial year) but it meant that you were left uninformed. I was away and only G.B. (Lt.Col. I.G.W. Clark, O.B.E., ... R.A.M.C.) could that L.G. find out what had happened - indeed I fancy he knew too it was all well. Cockerell and Hogarth meanwhile were getting up a memorial, to supplement my apparent failure. It was decent of H.George to clear it up (by sending you news) as he was going out of office. It makes a good valedictory to a very meritorious term of office. I hope Mansoul is sailing through calm weather; and that you and Mrs. Doughty are feeling well. You mention that you have been in bed lately. I often wish that I was: but out of laziness, not from need; and it is only voluntary bad which is delicious.