Item 79 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to his mother

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[Sent from St. Leonards-on-Sea]:- Reports that he found Cambridge 'full of friends and social gatherings, in spite of it's [sic] being vacation'. Declares that his friend Cowell looked better when he saw him on the previous Thursday, but that he has since caught a cold and is lying in bed 'absolutely exhausted, unable to eat or talk.' Claims that they all have colds, and fears that the reputation of St. Leonards will be ruined by another winter like the one they are experiencing. Confirms that the wind is extremely cold, and laments the fact that due to his not having brought his skates, he is 'simply reduced to a state of dull discontent.'

Mentions that all his friends have subscribed to the Jamaica Committee, and declares that he cannot make up his mind on the issue. Reports that two or three friends of his are there, so that his visit is interesting, but declares that it is a very unfortunate time for 'poor Cowell', whom he fears he excites too much with talking. Adds that also there is Cowell's father, for whom he feels much sympathy, and who he describes as 'this poor old man'. States that he himself is suffering from a sore throat. Reports that his two philosophic friends at Cambridge have both got engaged to be married within the previous three months; the last a 'man on whom [Henry] especially relied'. Supposes that if he stays on at Cambridge he will eventually get past the time of 'these disagreeable surprises', and that in ten years most of his friends 'will be either married or happy bachelors'. Realises this is 'the language of a bear', but says it is not their fault that at Cambridge they 'are thrown... into antagonism with the great interests of human life'.

Part transcription in Sidgwick, Arthur, and Sidgwick, E. M, 'Henry Sidgwick'. London: Macmillan, 1906, p 161.