Eton College - ECH looks forward to seeing WW and Cordelia Whewell on the 18th of May. If Lord John Russell is not careful with regard to his investigations concerning the University, he will 'excite a spirit of extreme dislike to his government in a Body of very great and very just influence in this country'. ECH is delighted to hear that Sir James Stephen's lectures are so popular. He has just received a paper outlining a series of charges against JS's opinions on several mysterious points. 'Stephen is the best of men, and it is nothing but his boundless love for all that is good among men of various sects and opinions that has led him to assume a latitudinarianism in his Essays which, I believe, greatly exceed his private convictions'.
Eton College - Thanks WW for his translations ['Verse Translations from the German, including Lenore, Schiller's Song of the Bell', 1847] which he read with great pleasure. ECH is not really qualified to comment on WW's view of Aristotle but agrees with what WW has said. The Times - 'that clever but unprincipled favourer of the majority in Power' - has made ECH fear Lord John Russell's projected plan for the University: 'But it is better not to anticipate evil, which will come soon enough'.
Thinks he is sufficiently acquainted with Mr Horton for them to travel together, pleased he is to go to Naples and Sicily, Tom [ ] regrets not taking a degree but has the post of attaché, appointment of J B Sumner to the see of Canterbury " a blow to the church", Lord John Russell has attempted to unite the low church and radicals, met the Bishops of Madras and Antigua collegting for the SPG
RJ has received a letter from Lord John Russell referring to a letter he sent on Saturday with his opinion (RJ did not receive the letter). RJ has asked Russell's office to see if he can get it. He has received a letter from James Graham 'warmly joining in the views of the subject propounded in the draft but arguing against the address and attempting to shew that the Archbishop is invincible if quite quiet and magnifying his defensive strength -- he promises aid in parliament and says he shall be more useful there if he is not committed to a foregone conclusion -- I differ with him much -- because, (I say it with real sorrow,) I do not think the Archbishop quite as strong in his actual position as he (Graham) believes -- so too you will observe thinks the Bishop of Lincoln'. RJ deems it advisable to suspend the actual signing till perhaps parliament reassembles. 'In the mean time it is surely quite clear that a mere low-church address by itself would do harm. Pray exert any influence you have with Carus [William Carus] to keep them back for a time -- a forward move in line may still be recognized as desirable when the members of the legislature have met and talked together'.
Lord John Russell promised RJ he would do what he could for his future. RJ's friends such as Hodges and Edward Ryan are confident he will secure something. They have begun helping RJ without waiting for WW or the Archbishop of York to return. News concerning WW's private business - dividends from his railway investment.
Latest news is that Lord John Russell cannot form a government, the Irish question was the difficulty
Thinks Lord Stanley's refusal to form a government a scheme of Lord John Russell
Conservative Club rumours suggest that Lord Stanley has again failed to form an administration, Lord Clarendon sent for from Ireland, Peelites are willing to serve under Clarendon, certain that Lord John Russell cannot be Prime Minister again
Generally believed that the bulk of Lord John Russell's cabinet will stay in place, thought that he will give up the Papal Agression Bill
Lord John Russell remodelling his cabinet, Daily News notice of CJM's book is fair
Lord John Russell has told a meeting of his supporters his intention of carrying on a government, Irish members implored him to exclude Ireland from the Tithes bill but he did not consent to this
66 Marina, St Leonards. Instructions in preparing to sit for the Bell Scholarship, fall of Lord John Russell's Government, heard that H M Butler has distinguished himself in examinations.
Germany - WW and Cordelia Whewell have 10,000 pounds of their marriage trust money payable on August 16 from the Lancaster and [Preston?] Railway. The company want to know if they would reinvest for another three or five years at four percent. What does RJ think? WW has heard nothing more from the Cambridge University Commission: 'I should suppose we may meet it in such a way as to incur no needless danger; but I confess I have a strong persuasion that Lord John [John Russell] will not be satisfied till his move has ended in something being done as to the distribution of funds, and I do not see how anything of that kind can be done without a more perilous infraction of our corporate rights'. WW forgets whether he directed to RJ a copy of his paper in the Cambridge Philosophical Transactions on certain algebraical ways to treat political economy ['Mathematical Exposition of Some Doctrines of Political Economy: Third Memoir', Camb. Phil. Trans., 1850]: 'the paper really does contain a refutation of certain vaunted theorems of John S. Mill on international trade; shown them to be true, even on their mathematical assumptions, within very narrow limits'. WW gives his solution to the cause and measure of the different value of money in different countries: 'The main point of my solution comes to this, that the value of money is high in a country which has the (money) balance of trade shading in its favour, and of course, low where the balance is against the country'.
Trinity Lodge - WW is 'afraid that the hope from St. Paul's is extinguished. I see in the newspaper that a Mr Champneys is appointed'. However WW hopes that all the applications made from so many quarters on RJ's behalf to Lord John Russell will produce an affect upon him which will show itself. WW hopes RJ would get a pension on account of his health. He has been reading RJ's lectures: 'I hope you will now have health and time to weave them and your other speculations on the like subjects into a connected scheme. Such a scientific exposition of the subject may be of use when men become sane on such subjects'.
43 is a facsimile.
Letters relating to leave given by H M Butler to his sons at Harrow to attend the wedding of Lord Amberley.
[agrees to send Harrow a copy of his speeches]
Eton College - ECH will prepare for WW a number of introductory letters for his forthcoming trip to Paris. ECH is 'afraid Lord John Russell, who began with the best wishes of his majority of the Church has, by his want of moral fear, which poor Sydney Smith so well described, has roused a storm which he will not easily allay.
14 Gt. Queen St., Westminster - TEB is pleased that WW agrees with his conjecture regarding Airy [see TEB to WW, 22 Feb. 1832: Airy's approbation of Lieut. Drummond's principle for working out the boundary changes in the 1832 Reform Bill]. Since the subject will be heard again in the House of Lords, TEB will calculate a list of 100 boroughs along his own plan. Lord John Russell believes that Airy and Herschel think nothing can be devised as good as Drummond's whole system. D's 'mistake is strengthened by another inapplicable principle that the whole is the sum of the parts. This is true of abstract qualities but not of the bulk occupied jointly and separately by real substances', which Drummond places in juxtaposition. He assumes a direct ratio of wealth and population. TEB tries to prove that this is wrong with an algebraic demonstration.
Reports that he is in 'a rustic inn in the Harz', and has been walking that day. Relates some of his experiences at 'a giant meeting of German "Philologues, Schoolmasters and Orientalists" ', which he attended in Brunswick with Professor Herrig. Reports having seen 'two or three celebrated men', including Ewald and Döderlein. Remarks on the 'universally good speaking in the discussions'. Claims, however, that the essays delivered were not very good, but that he heard 'a really splendid translation of Oedipus Tyrannus excellently read by the translator.' Remarks that German is a better language for translating Greek than English.
Claims to have enjoyed his stay in Berlin very much. Passes on greetings from Professor Herrig , the Director and Professor Ranke to Benson, and remarks on the kindness shown to him by Herrig. Comments on 'What a rum little old boy' Ranke is, and relays a story told by Ranke of being compared to Lord John Russell Refers to a portrait of the Director in the 'Berlin Exhibition of pictures'. Relates that he was present at three of four ' "Stunden" ' in his school, and remarks that politics and coffee at Stehely's [café]' 'formed a very pleasant item in the order of the day.'
Claims to be very slow in learning to speak German. Announces that he is now proceeding to the Rhine, where he intends to spend about ten days, after which he plans to return to England. Hopes to spend a night with Benson on his way to Cambridge to recount his experiences, 'and to see the young prince [his nephew].' Hopes that all is going on well. Presumes that Benson has begun work again, and hopes to hear a good account of the prospective chapel also. Concludes the letter at Göttingen, where he has been to pay a visit to Professor Benfey. The latter, he believes, has 'a European reputation in the Semitic languages.' Refers to the many erroneous notions current in England about the German universities of Göttingen, which he declares to be a dull town. Asks him to forward 'the enclosed' [not included].
32 Harley Street - JH, Ryan [Edward Ryan?], J. S. Lefevre, T. L. Hodges and JH have concluded that 'a letter drawn up by Lefevre on a full knowledge of all the circumstances should be signed by some of Jones' friends and handed in to Lord J. Russell personally by Mr. Hodges [concerning RJ's work on the Tithe Commission?].
[Sent from Dresden]:- Reports that he has concluded his stay in Berlin. Declares that he shall return to Germany when he wants to 'learn humility and contentment'. Has 'dropped over to Dresden to see Ada [Benson] and renew [his] acquaintance with the town and pictures.' Reports that Ada seemed very well and happy, 'tho' decidedly thinner', and 'declared herself charmed with the town, with her studies, with the Hauptmann and his wife with whom she lives'. Reports that the previous day he saw Mr and Mrs Dale, whose baby is 'a fine solid little fellow'. On Tuesday he goes with Professor Herrig to a 'Versammlung of Philologs' at Brunswick.
Hopes that Minnie will soon be strong enough to write to him. Went to the theatre with Ada and her hosts 'to see the famous Emil Devrient act.' Explains that going to the theatre in Germany is 'one of the most approved methods of learning the spoken language'. Remarks that his mother has not told him of her plans for the winter, except that she does not see any chance of settling down until the spring. Does not suppose that she will stay at Wellington College until Christmas. Invites her to stay at lodgings in Cambridge for the autumn. Announces that he will not return to England until 'the 20th', as he wishes to do some travelling. Will be at Brunswick until 29 September, 'then in about a week at Frankfurt Am Main, then in about a week at Bonn.' Sends his love to Edward. Recounts a story about Lord John Russell in Berlin told to him by Professor Ranke. The latter is engaged in a work on English history, and 'spoke with great regret of Macaulay whom he admires excessively, tho' so opposed to him in opinion'.
Everingham, nr York. - Invitation for next week; wishes Cardinal Wiseman were in England to meet them; Lord John Russell hopes to annihilate him but persecution merely adds glory to the Church; hopes Milnes will get Everingham if confiscated 'and finish off Barnes's 34'. Marcia begs Milnes to come and be converted.