Item 21 - Letter from F. Warre Cornish to Nora Sidgwick

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Says how interested and moved he was by Henry Sidgwick: a Memoir, and claims that to write about it is like reviewing all his life since 1858, when he first met Henry. States that although he was not in contact with him as much as he would have liked, 'he was never far away....' Recalls the last kindness 'among so many' done by Sidgwick for him was his bringing him into the Synthetic Society, which brought the two of them into touch 'in those last two years'. Refers to Sidgwick's repudiation of agnosticism, and to his belief in 'an Orderer as well as an Order, and in the permanence of Spirit ....' Refers also to 'the passages in which he speaks of In Memoriam and pronounces in favour of hope'. Claims that, having read the book, he seems to realise better 'that the persistence of the idea of faith and hope, in all the forms of religion, is a witness to the truth of religion.' Believes that for justice to be done to Henry, something of the essence of his conversation should be included in the book, but admits that its rare quality 'could hardly be described'. States that he would like to come and see her if he can come to Cambridge again.