Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0064 (439)

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10th July 1885
   My dear Constantine,
     I have yours of 28th June
   and I thank you for yr expressions
   of sympathy and encouragement.
   Some newspapers have it that
   the late change in the English M
   inistry will prove beneficial for
   English interests in Egypt.
   I confess I do not see it. The Con-
   servatives can do but little any-
   where before the next General
   elections, when, according to
   the best reports, the Liberals
   will be once more in power.
   It is only natural to suppose
   that the Liberals will beat
    the Conservatives, as it is but just
    that the newly enfranchised

    citizens should vote for those
    who gave them the enfranchisement.
    You will have
    heard that Sir H. Drummond
    Wolff is coming out to Egypt
    to report on the status quo.
    The Liberals sent out Lord

    Northbrook, and of course the
    Conservatives must send some
    one out also! As if suffi-
    cient Reports had not already
    been made on the country!
    Of Reports, an interminable
    number, but of men to read
    and follow these same Reports,
    never one! Humbug and red-
    tapeism are plausibly the delight
    of Governments, and this mission
    of Wolff’s is nothing but a sub-
    terfuge to gain time and a
    search of “How not to do it”.
    The Conservatives were a very
    fine lot as an Opposition party:
    they talked long and brave, but
    action, I am afraid, is quite
    another pair of sleeves.
    Sir Evelyn Baring has left on
    leave of absence. On the eve
    of his departure, he interviewed
    a Committee of British indem
    nitaires. As usual, the in-
    terview was an empty one:
    Sir E.B. expressed many hopes
    and many “beliefs”: hopes that
    such and such things would
    happen, hopes that such and
    such other things would not
     happen. “I believe, I trust,
    I expect” etc: but actualities,
    positive statements, ― none.
    Amongst his many hopes,
    however, there was one of some
    interest, viz. that Lord
    Salisbury might take into
    favourable consideration the
    proposal to pay, out of the
   British treasury, the claims of
   British indemnitaires. All things    considered, this Indemnity question
   is, slowly but surely, reaching a
   climax and its liquidation
   cannot be very much longer
   prolonged.
     Another winter in Constan-
   tinople! I can well imagine    how disheartened you must feel
   at the prospect of such an
   eventuality. I held it certain
   you would be back this year, ―
   but when did anything happen
   as anticipated?
   Mrs. Moss and the children
    are leaving on the 13th of the
    month by the Thebes for
    Liverpool. Mr Moss may fol-
    low them a fortnight later, via
    Brindisi, but he is very undecided and
    may spend the Summer here.
    Mr. Watson has retired from
    our firm to join his brothers,
    Wm Watson and Co. I rank now
    immediately after Mr. Kneen,
    in the Administration of the
    Office. ― My love to mother,
    Alexander and Paul. Write
    from time to time to
          Your affectionate
               Johannisberg.

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0064 (439)

TITLE:

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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10/7/1885

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Item

EXTENT AND MEDIUM:

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20.5 x 13 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F54_Φ1-25

CONTEXT AREA

NAME OF CREATOR(S):

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Cavafy, John

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on both sides of three letterheads of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Pages 3 to 6 are numbered. John comments extensively on the political developments in Britain and their impact on Egypt. He refers to the matter of the indemnities by the Egyptian Government and to his professional situation. (Alexandria)

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT NOTES:

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English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Writing in ink. Indiscernible watermark. Physical item wear: oxidations.

NOTES AREA

NOTE:

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The transcription and editing of the letters of John Constantine Cavafy addressed to C. P. Cavafy was first carried out by Katerina Ghika; said transcriptions were subsequently uploaded to the official website of the Cavafy Archive.

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SUBJECTS:

Letter

PLACES:

Brindisi (Italy)

Egypt

Istanbul / Constantinople (Turkey)

Liverpool (England)

PERSONS:

Baring, Evelyn (1st Earl of Cromer)

Baring, Thomas George (1st Earl of Northbrook)

Cavafy (Fotiadi), Charikleia

Cavafy, Alexandros P.

Cavafy, C. P.

Cavafy, John Constantine

Cavafy, Paul

Gascoyne-Cecil, Robert Arthur Talbot (3rd Marquis of Salisbury)

Kneen, (?)

Moss, Robert Johnson

Watson, (?)

Wolff, Henry Drummond

CORPORATE BODIES:

W. Watson & Co.

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 10.07.1885. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0064 (439), Onassis Foundation C. P. Cavafy Fonds. From The Digital Collection of the Cavafy Archive, edited by Onassis Foundation, Athens, last modified 01.10.2025. https://doi.org/10.26256/CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0064.