THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

[29 March 1925]

My Dear M^cEwen¹

I was so much touched by your suggestion about my “Shepherds” – both the fact of your offer & the way you made it.²
But I do not think I ought to accept it – For one thing I think it quite possible that a publisher might accept it in the ordinary course of business – only I am too lazy & too busy to make the necessary effort to approach one.  Also I feel that I ought to be able (if necessary) to do this myself out of the ill-gotten gains of such sins of my youth as “Linden Lea” which becomes every year more horribly popular
But all this does not prevent my feeling grateful to you for such a testimony of friendship and interest.
Yrs very sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Robert Finnie McEwen of Marchmont, Berwickshire, VW had stayed with Mr and Mrs McEwen in 1923.
2. McEwen had offered to finance the publication of the Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains, Catalogue of Works 1922/6. See VWL580.