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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Wilfred Talbot Smith
c/o Dennes and Co. Clifford's Inn.
16 Dec [1940]
C∴F∴
93
Yours of Nov 6. Did I answer yours of Aug 29 with copy of excellent letter to Priestly ? Can't remember: since sending you the Word [of the Equinox] I have been ill in bed, quite seriously, till a fortnight ago.
Many thanks for sending the Yi paraphrase so promptly. It's arrival helped a lot in my recovery!
Things here are O.K. though we are worried to some extent about the U-boats and the night bombed [sic]. The collapse of France was not foreseen, and it has made a lot of difference. Gamelin's long inaction sapped the morale of his armies; and, personally, I suspect Leopold of very deep and long-planned treachery. This is not confirmed by those who were round him at the time; but may-be he's a good actor. The Wops are about finished, in any case. Before you get this letter, may be, there will be a revolution, and all Europe catch the flame.
Metternich (was it?) or Talleyrand said that the one thing you couldn't do with bayonets was to sit on them.
Don't believe any stories about our being starved out. There is some muddle and delay, but that's the worst of it. Damage by bombs amounts, at a guess, to one square mile in 50,000. It takes about ten tons of High Explosive to kill a baby. Probably it would have died in any case.
About my coming out to you, which I want more than anything, it depends greatly on you. You have just got to do some Magick. Funds are needed: you could arrange for my passage at your end. And you have got to show legally urgent business reasons for my journey. You will have to see a lawyer about this.
Love to you all, and a happy and prosperous New Year.
93 93/93
F∴[raternal]ly
666
Aleister Crowley
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