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Robert's place in class, with masters' comments, for Latin, French, English, Divinity, History, Geography and Arithmetic, with comments on Music, Drawing and General Conduct. Date for the beginning of the holidays given.

Paris, 40 Rue de Villejust. - Miss [Natalie Clifford] Barney has showed him the letter which Trevelyan was kind enough to write to her about M. Teste [in Valéry's "La Soirée avec M. Teste"]; he was very flattered by the terms in which Trevelyan spoke of that work of his youth, which contains, in caricature, a figure resembling Valéry himself at that blessed time full of the torments of the will and clumsiness of first energy'. Does not know why he has taken the fancy to see this 'sketch' translated into English. Miss Barney has taken on the 'thankless task'; the text is difficult, and she has done her best to make it acceptable to an English reader. Discusses the problems of translation, particularly of 'pure literature'. Thanks Trevelyan for taking an interest and giving Miss Barney 'such precise and precious advice'. Did not know, when Trevelyan gave him such pleasure by reading those 'admirable verses by Keats', that he would give in response the 'torment' of M. Teste. Hopes to see Trevelyan if he travels again through Paris.

After a second visit to the show, his feeling that Julian had 'made a great advance, and come nearer than ever before to the kind of painting [he is] aiming at' was confirmed: could enjoy some pictures, such as the "Fox" and the river scenes with no reservations. All well here except for the 'usual domestic difficulties', and Bessie seems so used to these that she minds them less now.

Glad to receive Robert's book ["The Bride of Dionysus"]: has been a 'little ill' in bed and so had chance to read it all and get an 'oversight'; thinks it might be nice for Robert to be able to do so and 'forget the labour'. The poems make a 'grand effect'. Has seen several of the songs, as [Julius] Röntgen has been busy composing them and setting them to music; when he read them aloud in a 'compassionate tone' they made a 'great impression' on her. Röntgen has 'very musically translated' one of Robert's "Dirges"; thinks his 'own heart sang [emphasised] it with you, in remembrance of his own escaped bird' [perhaps his first wife and daughter]. She tried yesterday to read the poems while 'mending the stockings of the whole household', but found these tasks 'rather hard to unite'. Has been thinking a great deal about Robert, Bessy, the child [Julian] and the Shiffolds; keeps composing letters in her head but not writing them, and she never seems to finish the 'little presents for Bessie' . They are 'without patients' in the house for the first time, but she has much to 'learn... and do'; was reading a book by Novalis yesterday in which he compared Goethe to [Josiah] Wedgwood, which made her think of Robert's 'friends and neighbours in your solitude' [perhaps the Vaughan Williamses, relations of the Wedgwoods?]. Asks to him to greet them from her and 'Doorty, "Little Dorrit"', who wants to greet them though she 'doesn't even know whom I mean'. Hopes Bessie will translate this letter; does not think it is 'pure English'. Will have to visit the Trevelyans again. Is making a collar for Julian, which perhaps she will send for Bessie's birthday. Their 'house & hands are still full' of the Trevelyans' presents, which serve as constant reminders. It will be beautiful at the Shiffolds and in the woods now, as the spring is 'more beautiful than ever before'. There is no trace of the 'difficulties of the becoming' of Robert's book in it now; switches into Dutch. Discusses the type, says goodbye to her 'beste broeder & sister; mentions the Enticknaps

Copies of her memos on the scheme, Board of Inland Revenue's memo no. 10 on Liberal Party scheme and others association with it including Rhys Williams, Conservative Parliamentary Finance Committee brief on financial and economic situation

Delay of the announcement of tripos results, CJM can ask for money from his tutor, role of assistant tutors, JHM attacked by The Times

(Perhaps originally part of a letter to Greg. Marked at the head in pencil, ‘From Tucker Brooke’.)

Collingwood - JH is having problems finding a publisher for his translation of Homer's 'Iliad'. JH has used WW's name in order to send Matthew Arnold - whom he does not know personally - books one and two, but fears they have different notions of English hexameters. Bella [Isabella] and Amelia enjoyed their stay at WW's. JH is feeling very old. He is pleased WW thinks Jevons [William Stanley Jevons] has taken too gloomy a view of the coal question, although JH cannot help thinking that 'there is course for very serious thoughts of our national future'. When coal supplies run out 'our civilisation will then have to fall'.

Edinburgh - Further to an enquiry WW made relative to the origin of the oblique arch, JDF has seen a reference to its origins in the 'Civil Engineer' journal for 1842, vol.v, p. 39: 'it is ascribed to Chapman in 1787; who it is stated claims it for himself in the article oblique arch in Rees's Cyclopaedia'.

Written from Bonn.

1 Westbourne St., Hyde Park Garden W. - Thanks WW for his 'little volume of Plato'. C. Kingsley told how indebted he was to RWB for introducing him to the study of Plato, 'which had contributed more than any other to his habits of accurate thought'.

WHT thanks WW for a final copy of his Platonic Dialogues ['The Platonic Dialogues for English Readers', 1860-61].

RJ sent WW the Bond and would like to know if WW got it [see RJ to WW, 5 Dec. 1848]. It is as well that they did not take fresh Great Western Bonds since it is not looking a good investment. RJ has a letter from the Archbishop 'telling me a commission of 5 is to issue to enquire into the mode of managing church property with a view of rendering it most conducive to the interests of the church and the people. RJ is to pick two of the commission and would like to appoint WW.

Announces that he would like to hold a dinner party, to which he would invite Temple, [Jex-]Blake, Scott, Wilson, Kitchener, Philpotts, [Lee?] Warner, or some of them. States that she may leave the 'other matter' until he comes. Explains that he does not want [Robert] Williams asked as his friend, as he has only just met him, and believes it to be quite strange 'to make that sort of advances to men'. Undertakes to entertain the man if he is asked entirely on his mother's and William's account. States that he will come on Friday at 7.

Reports having 'read and re-read' Sidgwick's essay on casuistry, which, he believes, will give 'true direction to many perplexed consciences among the clergy, and valuable suggestions of reform to laymen who are earnest in ecclesiastical affairs.' Is certain that their Committee will adopt it. While acknowledging that HS has successfully proved 'the incompatibility of a fixed liturgy with an unrelaxed clerical sincerity', Martineau doubts 'whether the former is worth retaining at the cost of the latter', and owns to be shaken in his nationalism by Sidgwick's paper. Refers to the free prayer of Scotland and the Continental Protestant Churches, which 'affords no protection to the congregation against the idiosyncracies of the minister.' Stresses the importance of ministerial sincerity, and claims it to be more important even than doctrinal protection. Refers to the suppression of clerical pre-thought, which arises in part 'from fear of ecclesiastical consequences'. Believes that if Sidgwick's rule of 'frank confession of divergence were acted on, the gain to the conscience of the teacher would be countervailed...by inevitable forfeiture of religious power.' Claims that the sacrifice incurred for the sake of Nationalism 'would drive all the popular fervour and much of the spiritual purity of the country into voluntary organisations, which, at least for a time, would give them freer scope and firmer trust.' States the published casuistry must be 'the ruin of any Church.' Refers to the theological struggles of the clergyman. Questions Sidgwick's view on 'the deviations of individual opinion from the prescribed standards of worship'. Puts forward a scenario involving a 'simple groundwork of Christian Theism', but fears that 'it is too late for such a revolution. Sends back the MS [not included].

40 Weymouth Street - Oxford Reformers of 1498, prefers Erasmus to Luther and St Jerome to St Augustine - "Augustine and Luther seem to have plunged the scriptures into a tub of vitriol", will have to look for a cheaper house

Typed pages containing Gow's notes and [Laurence's?] corrections. Accompanied by a typescript letter from Gow to Philip Gaskell [Librarian of Trinity College Library] dated 16 June 1968 and an undated four page letter from Peter [F. L. Lucas] to Gow about the poems at the back.

embossed notepaper for The Grange, Alresford. - 'If you take this I think it will do your business'. Postscript: would like the recently published novel Lui [by Louise Colet].