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This collection of Sidgwick's papers consists mostly of correspondence covering the period 1859 to 1900, the major correspondents being Mary Sidgwick, Mary Benson (nee Sidgwick), F W H Myers and Eleanor Sidgwick. There is also some biographical material, obituary notices and papers relating to the memoir of Sidgwick published by Eleanor and Arthur Sidgwick.

These papers are catalogued within the additional manuscript series 'c' and are catalogued as Add.Ms.c.93-106; Add.MS.b.68-71 and Add.MS.d.64-71 also comprise material by or relating to Sidgwick.

Also includes:
99/193 - letter from Isabel Sidgwick (Apr 1901) to her sister-in-law Nora Sidgwick, enclosing Henry Sidgwick's wedding buttonhole flowers
99/204-205 - two letters from Mary Sidgwick to her son Henry (1859).

Explains that having used all his leave of absence in a visit to America, and being compelled to stay in residence [in Oxford] until July 1, he will be unable to dine with the [ ] [ ] that summer.

He and Nora have been very busy; otherwise he would have written sooner. Refers to her direction to him in her last letter to write to William instead of her. Is glad that everything is going well. Reports that Nora wishes her to send the marmalade, in order to stop his grumbling 'at the stuff she buys'. Assures her that Nora will write soon, but explains that she is very busy with housekeeping, visitors, dinner parties, her own mathematics, and the mathematics of Newnham Hall.

Believes that the Ad Eundem is to be in Oxford on 10 [June], and asks if she could take them in then. They would like to come and see her and William, but he fears that it will very likely be an inconvenient time.

With handwritten commentary by J.F. Stephen.

Note on first page by E[leanor] M[ildred] Sidgwick explaining that Methods of Ethics was being revised when Henry Sidgwick died, and that the 'additions etc are in his handwriting and have been bound [she thinks] by Miss E. C[onstance] Jones who helped him with the revision and completed it after his death'.

Marked in red crayon A, B, C, F and J, with accompanying explanatory pages. Lectures contain emendations, annotations and amendments. Lecture on Coriolanus accompanied by a letter dated 22 November 1909 from A.W. Verrall to Mrs Sidgwick. Lectures and notes are accompanied by an envelope labelled 'Henry Sidgwick Shakespearean Lectures', with notes on lectures A-J inclusive. With envelope.

Admits to being a very bad correspondent; asks whether Henry has written to Mary. Reports that he is very busy with lectures and with organising the women's lectures 'and seeing that everybody gets taught what they want to learn'; he is also writing an essay for Mind. She is working at mathematics again with Mr Ferrers, and enjoying it very much; she is to have one or two pupils from Newnham Hall for Algebra. Reports that Miss Clough and several students at Newnham and their servants have become ill, probably from eating some unwholesome fish, but the doctor says that they will recover. Ellen Crofts has come back to the college, and Charlotte's sister Edith is also there. Edward Benson is coming to Cambridge on the following Friday, as he has to preach the commemoration sermon on the Sunday. Discusses Dr Slade and his seances, and the suspicions surrounding him, and refers to Professor Lankaster's evidence, which 'remains very strong in support of the trickery thing.'

Note from Henry Sidgwick to his mother, saying that both he and Nora 'have both been a good deal fussed about different matters', but that everything is sorted out now. Could almost believe that he had lived years in his house, which is exactly the sort of home they wanted. It is unlike what he thought of whenever he thought of living domestically in Cambridge; that he had always imagined himself 'in a semi-detached villa on the road to the railway station, exactly like twelve other semi-detached villas', but that the great feature of his present home is 'its Individuality.' Undertakes to send his own letter the following day.

Certificate, 9 February 1884, awarding Sidgwick an honorary doctorate of the University of St Andrews [item 2]. Certificate, 29 April 1897, commemorating the election of Sidgwick as a fellow of the Royal Society of Sciences, Copenhagen, on 9 April [item 1].

Certificate, 14 December 1898, recording the nomination of Sidgwick as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Naples, Academy of Moral and Political Sciences [Item 3]. Notice from the Italian Ministry of Public Education, 23 January 1899, approving Sidgwick's election, according to a royal decree of 18 December 1898 [item 4]. Letter dated 29 January 1899 from the Secretary of the Academy, Luigi Nizaghia [?], informing Sidgwick of his election to a fellowship [item 5].

Refers to a geometrical interpretation of the symbol �-1 by De Morgan, and to Maxwell's elementary manual on matter and motion.

Miscellaneous quotations and epigrams from various sources, including Alexander von Humboldt and Lord Rayleigh.

Includes the words that Henry would like to have said over his grave 'if it is decided not to have the Church of England service': 'Let us commend to the love of God with silent prayer the soul of a sinful man who partly tried to do his duty. It is by his wish that I say over his grave these words and no more'. Note that this was 'written down May 17 1900'.

Verses 'adopted by Henry Sidgwick. from Tennyson's Palace of Art when he left the Church of England in 1869', beginning with the lines: 'Yet pull not down my minster towers that were/So gravely gloriously wrought'. Page headed 'Henry's Texts', including [biblical] quotations.

Page headed 'Re new edition of Ethics'. Henry's desire is that, if he is not able to finish the revision, The Methods of Ethics 'be put through the press by Miss [E..E. C.] Jones without excerpts [he has] clearly indicated in the book itself or [his] MS notes of lectures that an alteration is required'. Suggests also the addition of a brief explanatory preface.

Additional notes relate to his works and the possibility of their publication. Believes that some of his philosophical works in which he attempts to define the scope of philosophy and its relation to, for example, psychology, logic, history and sociology, are most suitable for publication and study. Refers to a course of lectures on Kant, Green and Spencer 'which will be [more] easily brought out'. Refers also to a course of lectures on epistemology, which was delivered with Sigwart's Logic as a text book, and believes that part of it might be worth publishing. Suggests that [James] Ward might recommend someone who would read these works in order to select the portions he thought worth publishing. Insists, however, that Ward should not spend time on the matter that could be more profitably devoted to his own work. Discusses the difficulties that might be encountered in the publishing of his philosophical lectures, and refers to the part concerned with the relation of metaphysics and epistemology. Refers also to 'a discussion of Külpe's use of the terms and another discussion on idealism and realism, 'which will be found in the bundle relating to Külpe. List of some of Henry's works.

In Nora Sidgwick's hand. Declares his aim: to give an account of his life - mainly his inner intellectual life - 'as shall render the central and fundamental aims that partially at least determined its course when apparently most fitful and erratic, as clear and intelligible as [he] can.' Refers to biographical information in 'the Life of Edward Benson' [by A. C. Benson], in which he noted 'the great change that took place about the middle of [his] undergraduate time', which was triggered by his becoming a member of the discussion society known as the Apostles. Refers to a description of the latter in the late Dean Merivale's autobiography. Describes the spirit of the society as that of 'the pursuit of truth with absolute devotion and unreserved by a group of intimate friends, who were perfectly frank with each other and indulgent in any amount of humourous [sic] sarcasm and playful banter....' Emphasises the importance of sincerity, but not necessarily of gravity in its discussions. Had at first been reluctant to join the society, as he believed that it would interfere with his work for his two triposes, but came to feel that no part of his life at Cambridge was so real to him as the Saturday evenings he spent at the meetings at which Apostolic debates were held.

It was many years before he was to embrace the study of philosophy as his life's work: the reasons for this were partly financial. He had to accept the Classical lectureship that was offered to him on October 1859, and therefore had to devote a considerable amount of time to classical study. He also allowed himself 'to be seduced into private tuition as a means of increasing [his] income.' Adds that Cambridge vacations being long, he had a good deal of spare time, and he began a systematic study of philosophy, reading J.S. Mill's works. Discusses the influence that the latter had on him, but adds that he was 'by no means [then] disposed to acquiesce in negative or agnostic answers', and hat he had not in any way broken with the orthodox Christianity in which he had been brought up, though he had been sceptical of it.

Refers also to his study of theology and political economy. In 1862 he was very impressed by Renan's Essai [Études] d'histoire religieuse, and derived from that work that it was 'impossible really to understand at first hand Christianity as a historical religion without penetrating more deeply the mind of the Hebrews and of the Semitic stock from which they sprang.' This led him to devote much time to studying Arabic and Hebrew. Refers to an article he wrote on [J. R. Seeley's] Ecce Homo in the Westminster Review of July 1863, in which he reveals the provisional conclusions that he had formed with regard to Christianity. Says he found some relief from the great internal debate on the subjects of Christianity, Scepticism and Agnosticism in the renewal of his linguistic studies. His study of Arabic and Hebrew literature and history led him to think that he might secure one of the two professorships in Arabic at Cambridge. Believed that the inclusion of theology in the remit of the single chair of Moral Philosophy made it unlikely that he would attain this, since he was neither a clergyman nor orthodox.

Began to realise that the study of Arabic and Hebrew were drawing him away from 'the central problems which constituted [his] deepest interest', and the study of philosophy and theology began again to occupy more of his time. He accepted the examinership in the Moral Sciences Tripos, and was later offered a lectureship in Moral Science in exchange for his classical lectureship, and accepted. Determined to throw himself into the work of making a philosophical school in Cambridge. Had meanwhile been led back to the study of philosophy 'by a quite different line [of thought]', which led him to question whether he should keep his fellowship or not. Refers to his work The Methods of Ethics, and thoughts systematised therein. Note here by Nora Sidgwick refers to remarks made by Henry in relation to the 'miraculous birth' [of Jesus], the Resurrection and Ascension.

Also refers to psychical research, and his desire to attain direct proof of continual individual existence, 'which he regarded as necessary from an ethical point of view.' In relation to the education of women, states that he took up this cause 'as a piece of practically useful work for mankind', and that he turned his thoughts towards it after he had given up his fellowship.

Nora adds that the above information was written down from recollection 'not immediately after he said it.' Envelope accompanies 105/46-50. Addressed to Nora Sidgwick at Newnham College. Label "some MS notes, including 'Autobiographical Fragment', and 'Henry's instructions about his unfinished work etc.'"

In Nora Sidgwick's hand. Refers to his lectures on philosophical subjects, some of which he believes should be published. Suggests that a young man might be employed to work on some of them and that [James] Ward might read the proofs through 'and give advice on any point of difficulty.' Refers also to a number of lectures that he had intended to make into a book on Kant and Kantism in England, and also to works on [T. H. ] Green, agnosticism and relativism and two lectures on [Herbert] Spencer. Does not believe that the lectures on Epistemology 'in connection with [Christoph von] Sigwart' are worth publishing as a continuous whole, but thinks certain parts of them might be published as fragments. Suggests Ward's involvement, so long as he would not undertake too much work.

Refers also to his articles on ethics, printed and unprinted. Expresses his wish that the question of 'the usefulness to mankind' be the '[ ] principle for deciding on publication', and that the volume of the labour required should be taken into account also. Would like lectures that are not published to be handed over to anyone who may be lecturing on that particular subject, and mentions in particular some fragmentary lectures on his book on The Elements of Politics, which he would like to be offered to Th[ ] or Dickinson or divided between them.

Has done a good deal of reading for a book, The Development of European Polity, for which the plan is sketched 'in the first lecture of a pamphlet containing 3 printed lectures.' Has been his view 'more and more of late years that a three fold treatment of Political Science is desirable for [ ]', and lays out his theory. Would like the teachers of Political Science to be consulted on the possibility of working out his plans with the aid of his material. Again suggests that a young man might be paid to work on this matter. Expresses concern over expense, and states that he believes his work to be 'too sketchy and amateurish for it to be desirable to use it otherwise than as material.' Was comtemplating giving up the idea of publication so long as he held his chair 'feeling that the time and labour required to make it an adequately scholarly work would not be given [ ]' with his duty as a Professor of Moral Philosophy.'

Writes on the occasion of Robertson's marriage, referring to the 'two wonders' produced by getting married in one's middle age: the question of how one existed so long unmarried, 'and 'how this strange mingling of lives ever came about.' MS copy of 'part of a letter' in Nora Sidgwick's hand, with note that Mrs James Robertson showed her the letter on 11 October 1908, when she brought her youngest son [Dennis Holme Robertson] to make her acquaintance on his entering Trinity College.

MS copy of 'part of letter' in Nora Sidgwick's hand. States that he wishes he could see the election contest well that year. Declares that it is 'in every way the most interesting crisis there has been for some time'. Believes that if the Liberals come in the following year 'they will not only settle the Irish Church but dispose of education without particular regard for the ecclesiastical obstacles that are generally in the way.' In relation to the English Church establishment is that 'it is only a question of time'. Believes that if the Liberals win the election it will be the I[rish] C[hurch] which will go first, 'then the Scotch, then, in a few years the English.' Declares that if the Conservatives win 'the United Church of Great Britain at [ ] will go at the [ ] reaction.' With regard to the somewhat melancholy way' in which Dakyns speaks of his [places], refers to the relative unimportance of each individual in the scheme of the universe, and declares that 'the only thing to do is to f[ ] some p[lace] in the interest of the human race, calculated on the ordinary chances of human life, and carry it not for one's own good and comfort....'

Letter from Sidgwick to Patterson, referring to an enclosed letter [from James Bryce, see below], which will show Patterson that 'the article on Civil Marriage on Hungary is launched on its course'. Reports that he tried to have it published in the Pall Mall Gazette, but the sub-editor wrote to him 'that it was too "ancient history" for a daily newspaper.' States that on closer inspection Sidgwick perceived that 'it proclaimed a triumph of the "Liberal Party" in Hungary', from which he inferred that it was 'not really suited to a Conservative organ, and so handed it on to Bryce'. Perceives that 'a division of labour is desirable in placing [Patterson's] article before an English public', States that 'those that relate to the claims of nationalities are likely to suit a Conservative taste, but those that relate to the claims of religious denominations must be allotted to Liberal editors.' Hopes that Patterson is in better health.

Letter from Bryce to Sidgwick, stating that the Speaker will insert Patterson's article next week. Hopes that the latter's health is, 'if no better, at any rate no worse'.

Copy of letter. Writes to express his sympathy to her on the death of her husband. Claims that he has been thinking of the latter and of the early years of their friendship, when they 'talked and wrote to each other, in the eagerness of youth, on all things in Heaven and Earth.' States that he believes that although Noel 'was keenly disappointed by the world's inadequae recognition of his genius he did his work in life none the less resolutely, and brought out his great gifts, and remained nobly true to his ideal.' Regrets that in later years he [HS] 'often vexed him somewhat by unsympathetic criticism of his [Behe] work', but states that he is glad to think that this never made any division between them. Adds how much he admired Noel as a poet, and hopes that she will always rely on him if the occasion should arise on which he could be of any service to her or to her children.

Refers to a conversation they had about Arthur having been offered a teaching post in Glasgow, and whether he should take it or not. Were he in Arthur's position he would not go, but is inclined to think that Arthur should: his experience of teaching would make him 'peculiarly fitted for the work', and the 'long summer leisure' would give him more time to write than he would have if he stays in Oxford. Jebb's assumes that the annual salary for the position is £1,200, and [G. G.?] Ramsay shares that view of its value. They possible somewhat underrate the effect of the movement in education against compulsory Greek, but supposes that candidates for the Ministry 'must always supply a solid nucleus of Hellenists.'