Item 45 - Letter from Helen Gladstone to Nora Sidgwick

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States that they do still very much want Nora's paper, but assures her that she would never have dreamed to suggest that Nora bring it up to date. Reminds her that it was Mrs Marshall who told them of it, 'and made the suggestion....' Declares that what Minnie and she now want is that Nora should arrange to come, 'having the question open for the present of whether [she does] actually read [them] the paper.'

Sends a letter that Henry Sidgwick wrote to her at the time of her Holloway invitation [to be the first principal of Royal Holloway College, not included], and declares that they seem characteristic of 'one of the most striking things in Dr. Sidgwick, that he saw a hundred sides to everything, and yet acted practically and decidedly.' Quotes two passages from the letter. Remarks also that Henry 'had no scorn in him for those who were not clever, nor even for those who were ignorant, provided they were not pretentious and conceited', and that he was much easier to talk to than many other people, who were not as intelligent as he.

Adds that they are thinking of getting Mr Graham W[alker] to give them an account of the London Bill, and reports that he gave them 'great pleasure by his unexpected speech at [their] Annual Meeting....' States that she is pleased about Frances Gray.