Item 59 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to Mary "Minnie" Benson

1 doc

Announces that Mrs Offley [Carey] has forgotten to send him a [ghost] story, which she had undertaken to do, and asks Minnie to remind her. To facilitate matters, he sends the story in the form in which it has already been communicated to them [not included], and refers to certain elements for which he desires evidence. Reports that he and Nora have been visiting relations in Yorkshire, and that they received many enquiries in relation to Minnie. Reports that they were all very cordial. They stayed chiefly at the Raikes [home of Robert Hodgson Sidgwick], and also with the Stephen Marshalls, and went over to Riddlesden [home of Sarah Hannah Sidgwick] to dine. Remarks that 'Aunt Sidgwick' was 'much changed (since /71!) but wonderfully well...for her age.'

Hopes that Minnie is enjoying her 'Park'. Sends his and Nora's love to all, and asks Minnie to remind Arthur [Benson?] that he thought he could get some stories for them from the Dean of Windsor. Adds that his uncle informed him of the earliest forms of the name Sidgwick - from 1379. Remarks on the presence of an 'l', as in 'Syggleiswyk', and 'Seglewyk', and states that a version from two centuries later is the one he is thinking of adopting: 'Seeggeswyke'.