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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Norman Mudd
Au Cadran Bleu Chelles, Seine et Marne France
May 23 [1924]
My beloved son,
I feel it impossible not to compare my present situation with that of the Summer of 1911 when I did such miraculous work.
Leah [Leah Hirsig] was away for the best part of the first day and I began to sprout in every direction. I probably need (1) something like being prevented from having any one to talk to and (2) as likely as not, a new girl.
In 1911 Condition (1) was filled by L.W.'s [Leila Waddell] having to practice several hours a day and thus driving all animated beings far from the accursed spot. Alostrael [Leah Hirsig] wants a typewriter which might do nearly as well. As to Condition (2) I have an adorable purple plum from Martinique but of course the Fates at present are keeping us separate.
Most of the above is bloody balls. But—you may divine a secret sorrow somewhere. For one thing I need Bismuth.
Now to strict business.
Our finances should be settled (on this first alleged victory) within 48 hours at the outside; and we shall be able to tell on Tuesday with fair accuracy how long they will hold out. The idea is to leave me completely free for creative work, and you for vindication.
The point is that we should be able to send you a date before which the vindication is to be accomplished. I have struck a very good Literary Agent here (Paris). Hunt [Carl de Vidal Hunt], 1 rue du Helder, who can, I think handle my work very much better than any English Agent as soon as I have knocked out of his head that nothing is ever published but Sunday Stories and dime novels. (What is so appallingly unreasonable is that he blames Frank Harris bitterly for having defiled his memories with just the sort of stuff that he is anxious for me to put into mine.)
There is much of my work which can be handled from Paris in any case better than from London. Hunt seems to think that there will be no difficulty whatever in handling my stuff advantageously the moment the vindication is accomplished. Of course, too, we can take the offensive at once in many ways—for example we can make Collins [the publisher] look extremely sick and probably pay up heavily for breach of contract. Every one will see how disgusting his conduct has been, in view of the fact that he wrote that he knew the stories were nonsense, and sympathized.
It is then for you to show some of that bull-dog courage of the Englishman of which we hear so much and see so little. You may have to snitch James Douglas a snapper in the snoot—but no time should be lost. For even when the victory is assured it will take a little while to rake in cash on contracts.
(Grant Richards knows a good deal of my work and is interested. He is a very queer fish but since 1922 he may have prospered and become honest. The above remark deserves meditation. Our grandfathers were right in associating poverty with dishonesty and only wrong in their definition of virtue. I am slowly being forced to the conclusion that a poor man who is not dishonest should be hanged by the neck until he is dead the Judge pointedly omitting the remark "May the Lord have mercy on your soul".)
A great deal might be done in the meanwhile by inducing young men and women such as A.I. [Eddie Saayman] and Jean to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Saint in the Summer. (Directions gratis etc. on separate paper) Something in the nature of a Missionary Campaign in Darkest England will have to be started pretty soon and though we have not got III-39 ready there is no harm in preparing a number of young people to aid in the distribution when the time comes. In fact there must be some such preparation, or all sorts of mistakes would come about. You will see from Russell's [C. F. Russell] paper (enclosed) that the sexual ethics of the Law are already being expanded by people who know nothing of the Law. Our advantage is priority and a scripture. I say priority because though Free Love has long been advocated, the fundamental principles "There is no bond ———" has (so far as I know) never been stated. Free Love advocates in the past, in their zeal of revolution, have actually objected to permanent unions. Though these are obviously fitting for certain types of such as the unimaginative, and are, as a rule, the final fate of the veriest Don Juan, unless he be both rich* and morose, because of the sheer practicality of the arrangement for people of say over 50.
However this is a secondary matter. The Vindication is the one supremely important thing. I want to hear news as soon as possible.
It may help you to learn that if M [Mary Butts] & Maitland [Cecil Maitland] are wanted by the Sunday Express as witnesses of the horrible orgies at Cefalù, their address will probably be the South Pole. I have been giving them a very uncomfortable time for the last 3 weeks. I told Maitland quite a few things about himself which any 16th of a tailor would have resented. But—he is Maitland.
Yours
666.
P.S. In your letter of Apr 5, you say that A.H. said that I was a moral wreck from the abuse of H[eroin] etc. Please mail details by return.
Were others present and will they swear to the words used? I have written Jarvis [Dr. Charles Jarvis] anticipating a point-blank denial of making any such statement. If witnesses lack, try and arrange for A.H. to repeat his statement in the presence of some quite independent person. I propose to hint this hare until jugged.
I may point out that it is now many weeks since Jarvis's last prescription ran out. There is not the slightest wish to take it. On the contrary, an experiment with a small supply prescribed by another Dr. at another time produced a distinct feeling of revulsion. The one puzzle is why the spasms persisted at odd times for a few weeks after the operation. I presume because the vagus had acquired the habit of spasms. There has been no trace of any return since Apr. 30 when there was complete freedom.
666.
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