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Letter from Gertrude Bell to her father, Sir Hugh Bell

Summary
Brief letter in which Bell describes the opening of the Assembly, and confirms the election of Muhsin Beg as President. She includes an illustration of the spectators boxes at the House of Assembly, noting that the King's speech was met with enthusiasm by the crowd. The letter ends abruptly as Bell notes that the post is leaving, and that she cannot continue writing at present.
Reference code
GB/1/1/2/1/20/12
Recipient
Bell, Sir Thomas Hugh Lowthian
Creator
Bell, Gertrude Margaret Lowthian
Person(s) mentioned
Hussein, Feisal bin al-
Eskell, Sassoon
Dobbs, Henry
Creation Date
Extent and medium
1 letter, paper
Language
English
Location
Iraq ยป Baghdad

33.315241, 44.3660671

March 27 Dearest Father. It was all over at 11 a.m. and here I am to tell you about it. Lionel Smith and I went together - the town all decorated, great excitement in the air. Streets lined with boy scouts. The House of Assembly is the old Women's Hospital where you went to tea with the nuns. There are 3 boxes for spectators - it's like this [illustration]. The boxes hold about 100 in all. H.E. had in his the Air Marshal and the new man, Higgins, Sasun and all of us and a lot of notables of consuls. The advisers sat in (2) with notables and a lot of notables in the Press box.
The post goes, I can't go on. The King in Arab dress made an admirable speech. He was very nervous. Also he was received with enthusiasm. Then they elected Muhsin Beg President - tense excitement. Then they came to loggerheads and adjourned. Gertrude

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