Reports that he saw Mr [George] Rankin the previous day, who 'is greatly pleased with the idea of having anything to do with Dr. Sidgwick's papers.' Is anxious now to get Rankin started, and to make a start himself, but states that Miss Bishop has sent nothing as yet; remarks that he thinks Bishop 'very dilatory.' Does not know what remuneration should be offered to Mr. Rankin until Bishop sends him 'at least a fair batch of the lectures.' Copies out part of a letter from C. J. [Charles James?] Cooper, whose essay, found among Henry's college papers, he sent on to him. Cooper states that in reading over the essay he cannot help being 'much moved at the remembrance of the generous trouble [their] dear old friend never grudged talking over [Cooper's] poor productions....' ; he would have written to Nora some time ago to express his sympathy with her on the death of her husband, but that she does not know him personally. Refers to some correspondence in the Spectator which debated the question of whether Henry Sidgwick was 'inspiring ' or not. Ward adds that Cooper took his degree in 1874.
Ward, James (1843-1925), philosopher and psychologistThey too have considered the question in Council, though in view of Chelmsford’s [forthcoming] tour the actual text of the message has not yet been approved. Discusses the four alterations to their proposals suggested by Montagu. (1) They do not agree that a general amnesty should precede the inquiry and synchronise with the Indemnity Bill: Local Government has dealt with the question of remissions quickly, and the handling of convictions by summary courts will also be quick, and as regards minor offences will approximate to an amnesty. There is an important difference between this discretional remission by the head of the province and an indiscrimating amnesty, which would be wrongly ascribed in India to pressure brought to bear on Montagu in England. (2, 3) They agree, with some misgiving, to the inclusion in the scope of reference of an investigation into immediate causes and to the inquiry being public, but if a garbled presentation of details in the press leads to ill-feeling and unrest the chairman should be able to hold part of the inquiry in camera. (4) They should prefer a judge as chairman of the committee, and would have welcomed Lord Dunedin if he had been available, but suggest instead Sir Edward Moon or a non-political peer like Lord Inchcape; they could not accept either Sir Lawrence Jenkins or Sir Walter Lawrence, the two men suggested by Montagu. If a suitable chairman is chosen they will ask Gait to serve [on the committee], as it is essential to have a senior administrative officer with experience of conditions in northern India. As regards a military member, they await Montagu’s suggestion. For a high court judge they recommend Rankin. The three Mohammedans suggested by Montagu—Ameer Ali, Baig, and Abdul Rahim—they consider unsuitable and therefore adhere to their recommendation of Rauf. For a Hindu member they prefer Chandravarkar, but will not object to Setalvad. Their only substantial difference from Montagu is on the matter of an immediate amnesty. Urges him to give definite orders as soon as possible.
(Mechanical copy of typed original.)
S.S. ‘Ranchi’.—Describes his and his wife’s journey by ship from Marseilles as far as Crete.
(Mechanical copy of a typed original. Subjoined is the text of a telegram dated 5 Nov.)
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Transcript
P & O. S. N. Co. | S. S. Ranchi
The last day to Port Said, October 26th, 1[926]
A deep blue sea, with tiny dancing waves is all around the ship as I write. The sun is exceptionally hot for this part of the voyage and the shade temperature has been close on 80º for the last couple of days. The time since we reached Marseilles has passed along very pleas[ant]ly and very rapidly.
The ship did not start till late Friday night so we spent the afternoo[n] of that day walking about in Marseilles in a park by the sea and climbin[g] by the funicular to the golden Virgin on the hill.
All Friday night the mails were coming on board and it was 5 a.m. before we actually left the harbour. But the French coast was still plainly visible when we got up and for some hours afterwards. By midday there was nothing to be seen but ocean.
The first two days of the trip were a bit choppy and the lethargy o[f] the beginning of a voyage with the bromide of the sea made us sleepy and a little headachy; our cabin on the bottom deck with its port hole closed would have been unbearable but for delicious draughts of fresh air that were poured in continuously just over our berths by a special ventilating apparatus.
We speedily found several people we knew on board and made the acquai[n]tance of several more. Curiously enough they are all judges in India. One (Blackwell) has played tennis with me in the Inner Temple, another (Rankin) was at Trinity with me, and is now Chief Justice in Calcutta. Blackwell and his wife are going out to Bombay for the first time and have invited us to stay with them on our return there. They also introduced us to Mr. Justice Crump and his wife with whom we played Bridge last night. Still another Judge, an Indian, Sir C Ghose, is on board with his wife returning after a visit to Europe; he is a friend of Bose, and was in England during the suffragette campaign and attended some of the meetings.
We passed through the Straits of Bonifacio (between Corsica and Sardinia) after dark on Saturday evening and saw nothing but the intermittent lights of the lighthouse. We were more fortunate on Sunday. Two thirty in the afternoon saw us opposite the volcanic island of Stromboli with its crater emitting smoke; quite a large village is gathered at its foot with a population that I am told lives by fishing. Another hour and a half brought us in sight of Sicily and we ran into the narrow Straits of Messina before darkness came upon us. Avoiding the fierce promontory of “Scylla” on the Italian coast, and the treacherous whirlpool of “Charybdis” on the Sicilian side, we steamed on past Messina now fully lighted up, and the wonderful illuminated promenade of Italian Reggio and so out into the open sea once more.
Another 24 hours brought us to the lighthouse on Crete and that on the island of Gaydo just south of the larger island. We are due at Port Said before day-break on Wednesday, October 27th.
We have already had a dance on board and several games; and a sports committee has been formed of which I am a member. After Port Said they will put up more awnings and players will not be subject to the fierce sun. We are due at Bombay on Friday morning November 5th. Our address while in India will be c/o Thos. Cook and Son, Bombay.
F. W. PETHICK-LAWRENCE.
P.S. Cable received from Bombay, 5th. November, 1926, as follows:—
“Arrived safely after a calm journey. Both well. Made several friends and enjoyed the dances on board.”
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The right-hand side of the text has missed the paper. The missing letters have been supplied in square brackets.