Letter from C M Grieve to James Leatham

Title

Letter from C M Grieve to James Leatham

Identifier

RAD173

Description

This letter to Leatham is from Christopher Murray Grieve, better known as the writer Hugh McDermaid, who at this time was a Scottish Nationalist. The letter reads:

Postponed sending p.o. [postal order] with intention of visiting you - but alas! Too often when I do that things get "snowed under". In any case - what could I have said? You and I are at opposite poles in most things: we are even "Socialists" for diametrically opposed reasons. But I read all your pamphlets with interest, and there are others I want once I get time to send you a note of the titles. My philosophy holds that there are two irreconciliably opposed types of mind - or principles - which are indispensable to each other - and that whoever would try to reconcile them or to abate their opposition to each other, is a traitor to life. Whatever opinions I hold and express therefore, I always account it good if these evoke autogenesis.
How do I think it impossible to hold two or more diametrically opposed opinions on matters simultaneously – or immoral to indulge all of these in succession – so, however strongly I may combat other peoples’ ideas for tactical purposes, I am really never sufficiently one-sided to oppose them – at least altogether – in reality, and certainly never bear any ill-will although I often make a point of writing as if I did.

With every good wish

Yours sincerely

C.M. Grieve

Date

created on 20th June 1928

Creator

Christopher Murray Grieve, aka Hugh MacDiarmid

Source

manuscript letter

Rights

University of Aberdeen

UUID

d471c857-54aa-49ad-b84a-1d9afa9f6d53

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