Letters dated July 1901 - May 1915.
Addressed to Trevelyan at The Shiffolds. - Thanks Trevelyan for his and Bessie's letters. Asks him to congratulate C. A., and hopes he may see something of him in the future. Has also had a letter from [Ackroyd?], who has had a 'burst of writing' after years' silence.
Postmarked Egham. - Asks for permission for an alteration [to Act I of "The Bride of Dionysus"]. Jokingly reads 'conk-music' instead of 'conch-music' and asks if the Nereids are singing through their noses.
2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Easy to give Will [Arnold Forster] the letter since he is staying here; harder to stop Bob 'apologising unnecessarily': George himself put 'too much heat into each one of [his] remarks', which provoked Bob's 'outburst'; sure he 'repaid [this] with interest'. Is going to hear Jan Hubrecht give a paper about the Netherlands tomorrow. Likes Geoffrey [Winthrop Young]'s poems ["Freedom"], which is 'natural'; thinks them 'stronger than his first lot ["Wind and Hill"].
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad Elizabeth is enjoying her visit and has seen the [Gilbert?] Murrays; is 'so fond of Mary'. Letters to G[eorge] and J[anet] should be sent to the Wards, staying at Villa Bonaventura, Cadenabbia, who will forward them on. The latest news of them is from Florence; they were 'very happy'. Has had 'such a nice note' from Miss [Mary?] Fletcher, and has asked Imogen to play, since they are coming [to Caroline's party]. Arrangements for meeting; including the concert they are going to together. Encloses an invitation to the party [?] in case Robert would like to ask [Henry] Previté; they should say if there is anyone else they would like to come. She and Sir George liked Mr Howells, and found Mrs Atherton amusing. Very glad Elizabeth found Mrs F [Helen Fry?] better, but it 'does not seem satisfactory'.
22 St Ann's Terrace, London, N.W.8. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for sending her the Hymn to Demeter [his translation in this year's "From the Shiffolds"]. Is reading a lot of ancient Greek at the moment, in translation as she 'never got beyond the definite article', so it 'could not have come more appositely'. Thinks the poem 'most beautiful', and has read it several times, including aloud. Also enjoyed Trevelyan's "Oedipus at Colonus" and "Prometheus Bound": asks if he has translated any other plays. His are the only translations of the many she has tried which have given her 'any feeling of what the original must be like'. Is now starting his Lucretius, which she can 'follow, but not read properly' in Latin. Is very sorry she has had Trevelyan's translation of Montaigne for so long: had hoped Cape would agree to publish it, and 'did not want to hurry him as this is bad strategy'. He considered it carefully and would like to, but it is 'too long for him', but has given her some advice. Asks if she can keep it longer to pursue 'one or two other ideas'.
14 Pelham Crescent, S.W.7. - Logan [Pearsall-Smith] has just read her Robert's poem in the "New Statesman" ]: thought it a 'noble and beautiful tribute to a friend' [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson]. Hopes they can meet soon; suggests lunch next time he is at St Leonard's Terrace.
49 Marina, St Leonards. Sends epigrams by Shilleto.
Thurlby Hall, near Lincoln - EB heard from his brother who intends to return to College immediately and probably reside permanently in College. EB does not think a College life 'prudent or beneficial' for his brother. EB looks forward to the new Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society especially if there is a memoir on the mathematics of Political Economy.
St James' Place - appreciation of Blakesley's commemoration sermon and his letter on the Ecclesiastical Commission, Wordsworth has started for Italy
Claims that he has thought a good deal about what she proposed about the Hortons [see ADD.MS.c/101/180-181]. Discusses the education of the son [Fred] and the possibility of his getting a scholarship to Winchester, and of going on the University education. Believes that if he is 'only ordinarily sharp', that he should probably not go to University, and that the Sidgwicks should help the family 'in some more pressing need.' Also discusses the little girl [Rose]'s future, and agrees with his mother in relation to not taking her away from home. Asks how she liked Paracelsus [by Browning], which he thinks 'has splendid stuff', despite being 'much too difficult and obscure'. Reports that Noel has published a volume of poems, which have been reviewed in the Pall Mall Gazette. Asks after Arthur. Reports that Martineau has written 'a fine pamphlet' for the Free Christian Union.
Thanks him for his 'able and discriminating review' of his book on Kant. Thanks him for reading it. Announces that he is off to shoot partridge, and has 'no time to write new criticisms and emendations', but 'shall not fail to take them into full account as soon as possible.' Thinks that his notes to Kuno Fischer's Commentary on Kant's Critick of the Pure Reason [?] 'might have afforded at least a [presumption]' to Sidgwick that Mahaffy 'understood the analytic'. States that he has been prevented 'by illness, by other literary work and by salmon fishing from doing anything at it yet', but hopes to 'begin with next term'. Informs Sidgwick that he will be asking him his advice 'on some difficult points when the time comes.' Wishes that Sidgwick would explain 'how [one] can get a notion of fractions from time, and how you could teach a child arithmetic from time.' Refers to Kant and his love of symmetry. Apologises for 'this intrusion' and thanks him again.
Explains that she had had no opportunity of seeing him when she was in Cambridge the previous week. Refers to 'that gathering of women' [at the funeral of Anne Clough], and remarks on the influence that they were exercising throughout the country and around the world. Remarks on the 'great work' that Sidgwick and she [Miss Clough] had wrought. Refers with affection and gratitude to the lessons she learnt at Cambridge.
Writes in relation to a statement, for which he claims he was individually responsible, relating to the question of the removal of the obligation to study Greek in order to enter Cambridge University. States that he had thought of sending round 'a quiet fly sheet after the vote, explaining that [the] statement about "no evidence" was not a contradiction of the expression of opinion which Jackson quoted', but he felt that Sidgwick's statement 'that it was a misrepresentation which Jackson had exploded, a complete stop to any public action.' Claims that the statement, which he and others signed 'has been for long a mere common-place on [their] side' and that Dr. Westcott made it in his speech in October 1880. Claims that neither Westcott nor he could find any evidence at able students were excluded because of the requirement of Greek. Assures that the large sheet of paper on which he writes the letter is not an indication of formality. Claims that he is not copying it, and sends it to Sidgwick 'in all friendliness.'
Zonder titelRJ hopes WW received his sheets [see RJ to WW, 1 March 1845]: 'I find no fault with any of your practical views about poor laws - it is your theory of moral duties as obligatory on states in the same manner as on individuals that I can only take with considerable modifications'. RJ left John Herschel a great deal calmer - 'but no one unacquainted with his peculiar temperament' could imagine how much James South agitates him. Herschel 'had not been able even to look over his fathers papers quietly - we went through them and the result was compleatly satisfactory. The discovery by the 40 feet of the 7th satellite in particular is narrated in the original observation book and all the steps from doubt to certainty to triumph committed to paper in a way which was exceedingly interesting even to me and I hope Herschel will some day or other publish them certainly not however to carry out a battle with such a trumpery opponent as South. The letter to the Times was gone before I arrived'.
Letter in a clerk's hand, signed by La Vrillière.
Palace Hotel, Edinburgh. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton.