Baghdad Sep 30 Darling Father. You being on the sea, there was no letter from you last mail, but I hope to hear from you on Saturday.
Well, we've sampled another member of the Govt in Lord Thomson. I didn't really see much of him for he was mostly flying all over the country, but what I saw I liked. The evening he arrived (Thursday) there was an official dinner at the Residency. He at once greeted me as Moll's sister and after dinner he came and talked. Sasun and Lionel Smith also joined us. Lord Thomson is certainly very pleasant socially. Next day the King asked me to tea to interpret for him, but there was a circle of Ministers sitting round and the talk was quite on the surface. On Saturday Lord T. flew to Mosul [Mawsil, Al], Sunday all round the N. Frontier, Arbil [(Hawler)] and Kirkuk where he spent the night. On Monday he flew to Sulaimani [Sulaymaniyah, As], had two hours there, flew back to Baghdad and was at the Residency at lunch. Wonderful isn't it! In the evening there was a state banquet at the Palace - it was amusing, as much as such things can be. The King had his talk afterwards in the garden; Sasun interpreted. Sir Henry told me that Lord T. had been very sympathetic. I think he has learnt a great deal, and his secretary, Mr Bullock, who is as clever as a bagful of monkeys, has learnt a great deal too. Lord T. had a tremendous reception at Sulaimani. All the Kurdish chiefs came in to see him with hundreds of followers, skirted in ammunition Bellts with revolvers and daggers sticking out from them. The procession was so long that before they had finished the round of the town they were treading on their own tail - a difficult question of precedence arose! Lord T. said he felt like a minor Roman emperor and was conscious that there should have been a man riding by his side to remind him that he must some day die. He flew away this morning.

The King has acquired an estate near Khanaqin and in the middle of dinner he invited me to motor up with him today as he wanted to choose a site for a shooting cottage. We are very shorthanded in the office and this is mail week, so that I couldn't possibly get away today, but finally I have arranged with Sir Henry to go up by tonight's train arriving about 6 a.m., spend the day with H.M. and return by tomorrow night's train, getting back to the office on Thursday morning. I shall like having a day out of doors - H.M. is in tents - and today for the first time for a month there's a little north wind. I really think the weather may be going to cool down. It has been a very hot, still September.

Our war is still going on in the north, but the Turks are confining their attentions to the Assyrians and the Assyrians, after a preliminary stampede, are holding their own. Still all the villages in the extreme north are burnt out and we have 6000 refugees in Amadiyah [(Amedi)]. Isn't it horrible to have to begin all that business of relief and resettlement once again! Just when they had built up their villages, too, and were getting quite onto their feet.

What a silly, tiresome business about Sir Alexander Grant and the motor car! I'm sorry for the P.M. but how could he be so tactless? Lord Thomson was dreadfully worried; he said it would lose the P.M. two elections - it's the very stuff with which to pelt a man.

I've reverted now to a regular Sunday dinner party and bridge. Nigel and Major Yetts and Air Commodore Longmore were the party this week - all very nice and cheerful. Nigel leaves for good on the 12th; I shall miss him. He has been such an angel of kindness to me all this summer. Mr Channing Pearce leaves this week and as Bernard isn't expected back till the middle of November there will be no one in the office but Sir Henry, his private secretary, me, Mr Sturges and the Consular and Financial Secretaries. It is rather tiresome that this time should coincide with the visit of my family for I expect I shall be able to get away very little. But George I shall send up to Mosul with Lionel Smith the week before the Richmonds come. The A.V.M. is going to fly Herbert all round the frontiers and I shall show Elsa and George, and Herbert when he is here, the local sights. Lionel likes the idea of taking George to Mosul very much and I couldn't wish for a more delightful companion for George - except myself!

I lunched with the Joyces on Sunday - they are nice people, but my hat! they are dull. I always feel glad to see them and after the first greetings are over, I wonder why I looked forward to it. They never read a book or think of anything.

To wander into bookland - I'm very much engrossed in the Cambridge Ancient History which certainly is a very remarkable achievement. Its first two volumes have got down to 1000 B.C. It gives one a wonderfully universal idea of the beginnings of history - a fascinating book. I'm writing the Mosul part of my guide book, in and out of my work. I wish I had time to go steadily at it. I've wholely [sic] failed to discover who now publishes Murray's Guides - could you find out for me and put me in touch with the publisher? It is not either Murray or Stanford, so don't try those blind avenues.

I must now superintend Marie's packing, otherwise she will forget either my brush and comb or my sponge. Please thank Mother for her letter of Sep 16. I'll write to her next week. Ever dearest your very affectionate daughter Gertrude