Aleister Crowley Diary Entry

Wednesday, 26 March 1941

[I Ching Hexagram] 43.

Letter from FitzG. [Edward Noel Fitzgerald]—he has been X-rayed. Wrote back.

Composed my famous letter to Walker’s lawyers. See end of diary.*

Hellish wet day till about 2.30.

Chess v.[ersus] Roberts 7-2. Lost the first game by not settling down; the last game through culmination of rage at the dotard babblings of the unsoaped subsimian non-player at the next table. I couldn't stand it, broke off play.

Got my oilskins at last—to “Encounter the rain.”

*[Hooper & Walker.]

Without prejudice/ E & OE FOB

 

Gents.

 

I was called away something suddenly & am therefore unable to surrender the keys of the fortress in my nightshirt with a halter round my neck as is proper.

     

I regret that the cleaning has not been done to my satisfaction, but it seems impossible, presumably ‘.’ of the war, to find a reputable firm of solicitors to undertake the work, & I am sure that Mr. Walker would not have liked me to entrust it to “the lesser breeds without law” or only just within it.

     

Per contra, I have left certain supplies—kitchen stores, money, coal, wood, empty bottles, paper k.t.l., etc. u.s.w.—as a Free Gift. They must not be regarded as bribery, tribute, or squeeze; but in the light of largesse, backsheesh, or cumshaw(?).

     

I leave to Mr. W.’s conscience the matter of the cutlery presumably stolen from the W.M.S. & the obscene literature which (except for a small dicty & an old Torquay Directory) apparently form his sole mental pablum.

     

My action for damages against him must await the formulation of the A. . . . of Claim by my solicitors. I am etc.]

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