Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0025 (400)

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[Alexandria] 31 May 1883

My dear Constantine,
     I am much obliged for your nice letter 20th. Enclosed you will find the English translation asked for. In reply to your questions: ― Mr. Moss is always very kind to me: we pass our Sundays together in Ramleh as of old. Mrs. Zervudachi was not at home when we visited her. ―
     A new English paper will be shortly started here under the name of Egypt: mainly conducted by Chapman and Royle, and edited by one called Goodrich, an Oxford M.A. I shall send you the first copy of the journal, as a curiosity.
     Major Baring is appointed to occupy the position lately held by Dufferin in Egypt. This new official is at present somewhere in India and will go to England before coming out here. ― Of course you have heard of the proposal to make a new Canal; today’s telegram states that negotiations à ce sujet have already commenced with Lesseps.
     The french sentence: “L’histoire n’était qu’une suite de mémoires redigées par orgueil de race”, I would render thus: (’tis really a difficult phrase to put into English) ―
     History was nothing more than a collection of continuous family records prompted by vanity
of lineage. ―
     With best love
          I am, dear Constantine
               Yours ever
                    John.

[Alexandria] 31 May 1883

My dear Constantine,
     I am much obliged for your nice letter 20th. Enclosed you will find the English translation asked for. In reply to your questions: ― Mr. Moss is always very kind to me: we pass our Sundays together in Ramleh as of old. Mrs. Zervudachi was not at home when we visited her. ―
     A new English paper will be shortly started here under the name of Egypt: mainly conducted by Chapman and Royle, and edited by one called Goodrich, an Oxford M.A. I shall send you the first copy of the journal, as a curiosity.
     Major Baring is appointed to occupy the position lately held by Dufferin in Egypt. This new official is at present somewhere in India and will go to England before coming out here. ― Of course you have heard of the proposal to make a new Canal; today’s telegram states that negotiations à ce sujet have already commenced with Lesseps.
     The french sentence: “L’histoire n’était qu’une suite de mémoires redigées par orgueil de race”, I would render thus: (’tis really a difficult phrase to put into English) ―
     History was nothing more than a collection of continuous family records prompted by vanity
of lineage. ―
     With best love
          I am, dear Constantine
               Yours ever
                    John.

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DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0025 (400)

TITLE:

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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31/5/1883

LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION:

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Item

EXTENT AND MEDIUM:

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27 x 22 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F52_Φ1-31

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 a letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. He announces the impending publication of a new newspaper and refers to the political developments in Egypt.

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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Mainly English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co Alexandria.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Literary annotation, providing additional information on the digital object.

John translates an excerpt from French into English, upon the request of C. P. Cavafy.