Baghdad Oct 15 Darling Mother. What a time you had with your Free Traders, hadn't you. But your entertainments sound as if they had been very successful. I do hope Ken Cornwallis went to Rounton but the arrival of Zaid on the one hand, and the elections on the other may have interfered with the plan. It's rather a comfort, I should think, that the election crisis is to be such a short one. Oh dear, I wonder what will happen! It does seem to me to have been bad tactics to turn them out when they weren't strong enough to get into mischief and were really conducting affairs very well.
I am deep in Babylonian history in my odd moments - mainly in the Cambridge Ancient History, a wonderful monument of learning and immensely interesting. I think I will write the historical sketch for my guide book while I'm about it. It's quite amazing how much more we know about the oldest history in this country than we did 10 years ago, and the excavations this year may make further revelations. The Mackays, who are working at Kish, have come back. They dine with me tomorrow and go down to Kish on Friday. I have not yet heard of Mr Woolley's return, but he will probably be here towards the end of the month.

I have finished the Mosul [Mawsil, Al] town part of the guide book but before it gets into final shape I shall have to go to Mosul and check some points and also see if I can't get a little more material myself. That would be great fun to do if only I could get a clear week.

Now I must go up to the King. Goodbye dearest. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude.