Item 35 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to his mother

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[From Göttingen]:- Indicates his address in Göttingen, where he expects to stay until the end of August. Reports that he is staying with the family of Professor Benfey, who is a professor of Sanskrit, whom he had met three years previously at an 'assembly of philologers' in Brunswick. Reports that he has private lessons in Arabic twice a week 'from the laborious Profr. Wüstenfeld', and attends Professor Ewald's lectures. Describes the family with which he stays: the Professor, his wife, and their three daughters. The Professor says he was offered a post at Rugby 'in Dr Arnold's time'. Intends to propose a language exchange for an hour or so per day with the eldest daughter [Meta] whom he describes as 'intelligent, enthusiastic, and not ugly' and speaking English very well, because he believes that his German has suffered from want of use. Describes the town of Göttingen, Announces that both his professors are probably going away in September, and he himself intends to 'go eastward in search of Arabians, to Dresden, Halle or Leipsic [sic]. Reports that he stayed three days in Ostend, where he walked along the shore and read Arabian Nights; says it was 'not a bad place for hayfever'. Asks her if Arthur is with her, and asks her to send him 'the enclosed' [not included].

Part transcription in Sidgwick, Arthur, and Sidgwick, E. M, 'Henry Sidgwick'. London: Macmillan, 1906, pp 109-111