[ Sir Henry Newbolt, poet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Newbolt') to 'Simpson' [ Dr Henry Simpson ], giving his reasons for resigning the presidentship of the Poets' Club.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He begins by stating his great appreciation of 'the kindness of the Committee – I have had a long and sympathetic experience of the Club and the relationship has been to me a happy one from first to last'. Were he able to 'fulfil the duties of the President's office' he would be 'strongly tempted to accept their generous inviation and stand for re-election. But war-work has change my habits – after a strenuous experience of three public Offices I have undertaken work for a fourth – the Board of Education – and I am also undertaking the Foreign Secretaryship of the Royal Society of Literature under pressure from my former department'. As a consequence he has 'no time or energy left over for other societies', and feels that he 'must lay down the honour of my position in the Poets Club, but I hope I may be allowed to remain your colleague as an ordinary member'. Newbolt's entry in the Oxford DNB gives an indication of his busy career outside literature: 'During the First World War Newbolt served at the Admiralty and the Foreign Office, […] He was conscientious in honorary service: he served on many commissions and committees, and on bodies such as the Royal Literary Fund and the Royal Society of Literature. He was a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 1928 to 1937. In 1915 he was knighted and appointed CH in 1922.'