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Correspondence from Frank Harris to Aleister Crowley
Nice [France]
25 March 1924.
My dear Crowley,
A thousand thanks for your letter of the 22nd; but I've come to grief. Partly because of Cohn's lies, partly owing to definite promises of monies not being realised I had to come away and leave the "Paris Evening Telegram" as a derelict. I've seen Cohn twice here, or rather in Cannes, and he said he'll ruin me and cash the promissory note of a friend which I too backed for 100,000 francs and gave him; he, Cohn, said there were no debts but I found there was 30,000 francs as an overdraft and Hatchetts bill for 20,000 more and—I chucked it and came down here and unless Cohn plays fairly I'll bring an action against him for fraud and so I hope recover my friend's bill and the few thousands of loose francs I lost senselessly. Naturally I'd have given you work at once, if I had been going on; but as it is I don't know how I'm placed.
One thing's clear Cohn doesn't know that he's up against: in all our negotiations I had Hunt with me as an important witness and so he may lose tho' he thinks he can't.
Thee other day I heard from Harrison—Austin [Austin Harrison] of that ilk: he wrote very kindly about you which pleased me intimately.
Now I must write to Hunt at all costs and ask him to begin an action for obtaining money under false pretences against Cohn; that'll hold up the civil action for at least a year, meanwhile everything I hear about you increases my admiration for you—except your illness—please get well at once.
Ever Yours Affectionately,
Frank Harris.
[Aleister Crowley to Norman Mudd on back of above letter]
Observe! My one line of retreat cut off had I been looking for one, which I wasn't. So I have taken this to mean that F.[rank] H.[arris] is to advance with us. And I direct you to write him (with my letter herewith) a compelling thesis. If possible, lay down a skeleton plan of action for him. (Don't get his goat, a tactless one!) Perhaps he should sell everything he has to raise a little capital and come to London to conduct the battle from his point of vantage. (a mere suggestion—perhaps likely to be ill received). The real point is to convince him of my mission—show that it cuts deeper than my poetry even. Also, his idea of my character is wrong, like your's and everyone's. I behave mostly so as to please or impress.
666.
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