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116: photocopy of original letter, 4 Feb 1899, with later note by Bernard Babington Smith.

18 Queen's Gardens, St. Andrews, Fife - Is happy to have her father's name listed, is sending her subscription and will give the book to Newnham; read about the Drapers' Company gift with pleasure.

"Hochried", Murnau/Staffelsee - Thanks him for the letter, and for personally supervising the 'Fasti' when the time comes, is pleased to hear they are to live in the Temple.

Ryton, Saturday. - Sends what he thinks must be the key to Bessie's trunk. The Abercrombies children are well; a "probationer nurse maid" has been hired for the baby [Ralph]. Has just read [Wordsworth's] "Peter Bell" and joins in Bob's praise of it; cannot think how [William] James failed to mention it in "Varieties of Religious Experience". Now reading [Giovanni Battisti Guarini's] "Il Pastor Fido": 'unreality has a peculiar value these days'.

Broome House, Didsbury, Manchester. - Their first communication since the peace: Dickinson shares his relief, and 'venture[s]' to wish Bessie a happy new year. The peace seems certain to be 'bad & unjust' since a victory was won, but he hopes Wilson will be able to ensure a foundation for a better international order. Is scathing about LL. G. [Lloyd George]. Hopes 'hard facts' will prevent a 'permanent enslavement of Germany'. Asks if Bob will now come home; it must be interesting to be in Paris at the moment. Hopes Julian likes school.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will visit on Monday and look forward to both Trevelyans coming on Wednesday. Does not have H.E. volume VI [?]

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad that Elizabeth has got home safely and that Julian is happy. Encloses a cheque from Sir George to settle their account [for the stay at Eastbourne]. Annie [Philips] and Robin [Price] have been here this afternoon; they came to the crematorium at Golders Green [for the cremation of her sister Margaret Price] and have just left for Pen Moel. Annie says it is 'dreadful to have 2 days!' and has promised not to go to Tibberton for the funeral tomorrow. Good of Charles and George to go this morning, as well as Morton [Philips], two of the Gregs, Annie Thompson and Betty Bostock [?]. Sir George is well, and she feels better; they had a 'quiet walk in Kensington Gardens' yesterday and today, and she has started taking a tonic. Looks forward to seeing Elizabeth on Friday.

Fourways, Gomshall. - Has now read Trevelyan's poem ["The Dream"] and thanks him for 'such a lovely Christmas gift'. The philosophy of the poem reminds her of William Blake, who repeatedly 'affirms that Man is the only God', and in the "Marriage of Heaven and Hell" shows that 'the rebel Lucifer is inherently one with the Saviour Christ'. Quotes Henry Nevinson as often saying 'Pity is a rebel passion'. Everyone enjoyed Trevelyan's visit last Sunday; the others will also enjoy reading the poem and want her to express thanks on their behalf.

Peterborough. Birthday congratulations.

Reserve Trenches. Flooded out of the trenches, dug-out untenable, found shelter in J R M Butler's dug-out, has been made temporarily Brigade Machine Gun Officer.

In verse: 'Thanks for the wondrous ballad...'. Enclosing 'A Rhyme of the year 1916 (in 17 verse)' [to Henry Babington Smith, 6-7 Jun 1916, copy by Lady Elizabeth Babington Smith; another copy, SMIH/6/14).

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Thanks her for her instructions about Bobbie's journey [home]. He 'looks much better now than he did and his work shows a corresponding improvement'. Bobbie is 'very industrious' and willing to learn 'grammar and the like'; he 'fails most in applying his knowledge' in translating, but Arnold expects this will improve in time. In general they have 'every reason to be well satisfied with him, and he deserves a most happy holiday'.

It has also snowed at Wixenford, though much more lightly than in the North. He and Mrs Arnold both send regards. Adds a postscript saying that 'Little Tom Booth is flourishing', and they hope to see his father and sister in 'our little crowd on the 12th'.

29 Keppel Street - CB wants his family to enjoy a little sea air while he works on WW's magnetic observatory. Since he has borne the costs for the apparatus so far on behalf of WW, he is finding it 'somewhat burdensome to my limited means'. Since CB's promised renumeration will shortly be before the Government, could WW inform Prince Albert [as Chancellor] of his views respecting the importance of automatic registration in understanding the 'relations of terrestrial magnetism, and requesting him to use his influence in my behalf'.

2 Raymond Buildings, Gray's Inn - CL was annoyed that WW had good reason not to put forth 'your strength for the Q. R.' A similar experience happened to CL: 'I felt as you do that one cannot write if uncertain that your work will see the light'. CL knows that Lockhart [John Gibson Lockhart] liked his review of CL's first volume ['Principles of Geology']: 'it was pronounced your best product in point of style'. He sends WW a few sheets from volume two of his 'Principles of Geology'. CL would like WW not to 'say anything about our failures at King's College'.

Thanks WW for the copy of his work [possibly WW's The Elements of Morality, Including Polity, 2 vols., 1845].

Confirms that 29 October suits him as a date for giving the lecture. Reports that his health has improved of late. Discusses the topic of the lecture, and suggests 'an answer to Martineau [ ] who told [him] that [he is] logically bound to believe in the absurd doctrine that goodness produces happiness to the doer thereof.' Comments that such a topic "means another disquisition about morality in general and the 'Methods of Ethics'." Offers to think of a more practical topic if Sidgwick so wishes. Suggests as a title 'Optimism and Morality'. Reports that he only made two speeches in the [NS] and that 'the thermometer was not generally much above 80.'