Accompanied by a letter from Franz Bretano to Jackson dated 5 May 1912.
Thanks her for thinking of her and writing to her 'in these times'. Confirms that 'the Durham business' is over, but declares that she cannot help feeling sorry for the Dean for 'the lost chances.' States that she suggested putting out as a feeler a small anonymous prize, 'just to test the possible desire for historical studies at Durham', and says that the Dean likes the idea, but is doubtful. The list of history students [at Newnham?] for the following year looks hopeful; thinks that 'it will be nice if the Alice Hopkinson scholar takes Political Economy.' Was away for the previous Sunday and intends to go to her brother Ernest for the following weekend; will come back [to Cambridge] on the following Monday.
Expresses her sympathy with Nora and Henry; wishes Nora had been able to bring him to Cambridge. Is glad that they both can feel a little comfort in the grateful affection of the many whose lives they have made happier and better. As she looks back over the past she realises more and more what she personally owes to Henry; even before she came up to Cambridge twenty-two years previously, she had heard so much about him from her mother, and had read some of his writings. He set her to work when she came up, 'and listened patiently to [her] crude notions as to how [her] education should be carried on', and helped her throughout her career. Cannot think of her life as it would have been had she never known Nora or Henry. However dear Nora has been to them before, she will be dearer still after Henry's illness. Reports that she see Miss F[reund] 'pretty often', who is of course always thinking about Nora. Adds that the new treatment is exhausting, but may do her good.
Also printed draft with handwritten emendations.
Asks for Sidgwick's opinion on 'the character of the papers set in Political Science' in that year, and on those set for the previous year's Historical Tripos. Also asks him whether he thinks that those who wish to retain 'that subject in the compulsory portion of the Tripos should feel satisfied with the knowledge tested in the above papers and in the instruction provided. Maintains that those who are likely to score highest in such papers should be encouraged to take the tripos, but contends that 'the paper of questions in Political Science should be such as to test substantial knowledge rather than powers of vague generalization - often on very scanty data.' Refers to the apparent inconsistency between the curriculum set out for the revised Historical Tripos, and the questions set in the papers for that examination. Maintains that some of the questions on that and the previous years' papers, 'in order to be answered at all adequately demand far more knowledge than it would be reasonable to expect the candidates to possess.' Admits being 'inclined to agree in part with the opinion of Mrs Langlois in the Historical Review for April on the uselessness of historical comparisons that are not close and definite.' Holds that the answers to several of the questions set in the papers are likely to be based on inaccurate knowledge 'eked out with ingenuity in concealing ignorance', and that the University ought not to encourage this practice.
Refers to having mentioned to Nora her brother 'P[ercy]'s relation with Mr. Sidgwick', and to Nora having asked her if she had any letter 'giving impressions as to his teaching.' Reports that she spoke to her brother on this subject, and that the latter sent to her 'the enclosed' [see 103/44]. With reference to one sentence in it in relation to Henry's treatment of 'the undergraduates who came to the lectures', states that she is certain that her brother did not mean that HS did not pay them enough attention, and that he thought that 'discussion with a quite young man, at that time a very enthusiastic Kantian, might be as good for them as the reception of his own more matured ideas.'
Declares that it strikes her 'that the action mentioned' by her brother Percy [see 103/44] 'is all the more generous in that P.G. must have been one of the very few Mor[al] Science men who were not in any way pupils of Dr S[idgwick.' Percy 'went down just after taking his classical degree... and read Philosophy a good deal alone and then with some coaching from Seeley's brother [perhaps Leonard Benton Seeley?] in London'. Declares that Dr Sidgwick showed 'peculiar generosity in this case.'
Says that she has often felt lately as if she were very lazy 'doing nothing but move about under a real Italian sky, looking at interesting things' while Nora is 'enveloped in work'. Refers to Edith Sharpley, from whom she presumes Nora has heard news of Gardner's visit to Italy. Reports that she had 'a delightful visit to Pompeii', and that her sister and one of her nieces have been there [in Rome] with her for the last week.
States that her brother [Percy Gardner's] lectures are very well attended, but laments the state of the British School in Rome. Expresses her gratitude for the copy of Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir., which she enjoyed reading it very much, and which Percy is reading it now. Would very much like to write a review of it, but fears that she does not have enough influence with any editor to secure its publication. Declares that one feeling that the book inspired in her was the desire for more. Remarks that some of Henry's traits, which were very noticeable to those who knew him less well, seem to be 'kept too much in the background': gives as an example the manner in which he tried to ignore his stammer. Refers also to 'his freedom from conventionality in small things.' Claims that the above all belonged to the characteristic that 'is made, in the Memoir, the key to his whole life: his persistent preference in all things for perfect truthfulness.'
Recalls the 'rather critical occasions' in her life when she had a private talk with Henry, 'which helped in determining [her] subsequent course'. Includes in these occasions her first arrival at Newnham, and recalls that it was Henry who interviewed her and 'who interpreted [her] desire as for the study of Kulturgeschichte', and also when she was unsure whether she should leave Bedford College to come to Newnham. Refers also to having, at Nora's suggestion, consulted him as to whether she should write about John the Scot. Adds that she would have to write at much greater length if she wanted to say in what ways both his teaching and his life as Nora records it are among the greatest possessions she [Gardner] has.
Includes Professor Maitland's speech at the memorial meeting for Henry Sidgwick; obituary by Miss E.E.C. Jones, which appeared in the Journal of Education for October 1900; 'Dr Keynes in the Economic Journal of Dec 1900', references to Sidgwick made by Professor Sorley, quoted from a letter of 2 September 1900, and from the International Journal of Ethics for January 1901; reference to Sidgwick made by Alice Gardner in a letter of 24 August 1900; 'Mr C.F.G. Masterman in the Commonwealth for November 1900'; 'From the Cambridge Letter of 1900 of the Newnham College Club'; 'A.T. Lyttelton [Bishop of Southampton] in a letter of Sept. 21, 1900'; 'Sir F. Pollock in a letter of Aug.30.1900'; 'Mrs Sanger [A.D. Pease] in a letter of Sept.23.1900'; 'Mr C. Cooper who took his degree in 1874 in a letter to Dr Ward' from October 1900; 'Professor Mandello, Professor of Law and Political Science at Pressbourg in a letter of Oct. 14, 1900'; 'Miss Agnes Mason in a letter of Nov 16. 1900'; 'Mrs McLeod [E. Stevenson] in a letter of Oct.24.1900'; 'Miss A.M. Jackson in a letter of June 9.1900'; 'Miss Alice Woods in a letter of Sept.2 1900'; 'Miss Amy Sharpe in a letter of Sept.3.1900'; 'Miss Emma Brooke in a letter of Sept.29.1900'; 'Miss Susan Cunnington in a letter of March 9.1902'. Some MS explanatory notes, amendments and emendations included.