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(Carbon copy of a typed original. The subscription and the date were added by hand.)

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CORRESPONDENCE OF DAWSON TURNER. Esq. F.R.S.

The correspondence contained in these 83 volumes consists of the letters received by Mr Dawson Turner between the years 1790 and 1851.

Mr Turner was originally entered at Pembroke College of which his uncle, Dr Joseph Turner, afterwards Dean of Norwich, was then Master, but after a year’s residence, owing to the illness of his father, James Turner, he left the University for the Banking house of Messrs Gurneys and Co, Great Yarmouth, in which his father was a partner.

Mr Turner became a Fellow of the Royal Society and of other learned societies. He corresponded with scientific men and foreign botanists from whom various letters will be found especially in the early volumes.

The collection is indexed throughout following the names of the writers.

Private letters from members of his family and others have been removed from the collection though they are referred to in the Index.

These volumes were presented to the Library of Trinity College in 1890 by Mr Turner’s last surviving daughter, Mrs Jacobson, widow of Dr Jacobson, formerly Bishop of Chester, and this statement is written by Mr Turner’s grandson,

R. H. Inglis Palgrave. 11 Feby. 1895.

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Belton. Gt Yarmouth.
11 Feby 1895.

My dear Wright,

I enclose the statement {1} now, I hope, in a complete form. Should you wish anything else to be said or any alteration made only let me know. The collection will supply curious bits of information to future historians—if they will work it over.—& I am much obliged to you for arranging so kindly that it should have an honourable resting place in your fine College Library.

I am glad you can give a good report of yourself this arctic weather.

Yours very truly
R H Inglis Palgrave

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{1} O.13.1, No. 4.

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Belton. | Gt Yarmouth.
14 Novr 1890.

My dear Wright,

I have heard from Mrs Jacobson who is very glad that her Fathers correspondence should rest within your Walls, & will willingly present it to the College.

The collection is at my home, here, I will have it properly packed & seen to, but as I have to be away next week for a few days on business it will have to wait for my return—But I will attend to it as soon as I can, & I will write you word again before it is sent off to Cambridge.

Yours very truly
R H Inglis Palgrave

Transcript

Belton. | Gt Yarmouth.
27 Sepr 1890.

My dear Wright,

You will remember my speaking to you here about the correspondence of my Grandfather the late Dawson Turner. He was in the habit of binding the letters addressed to him, & hence accumulated during a long & active life a considerable number of letters, some from persons of mark in their way, & curious also as illustrative of life & habits from, roughly 1790 to 1850. He was in early life, much devoted to botany, & there are among the letters a good many from botanists on the Continent which Joseph Hooker tells me illustrate the early progress of the Science. Afterwards Mr Turner directed more attention to archaeology—& there are letters on this subject also.

I have taken out of the volumes all the private letters, & those from members of his Family.—this however does not detract from the interest of those which remain.

My question to you was—Will your College Library give an acceptance permanently to these 50 to 60 Volumes. If you say—yes—I will ask Mrs Jacobson, who is the present owner to consent to this arrangement.

Mrs Jacobson is now an old Lady—& as I am constantly reminded of the miserable lapse of time—I shall be glad to settle this matter. Will you kindly assist me.

I am sorry we have not seen more of each other—or rather that I have not seen more of you this year—but I hope we shall do better in the future.

Yours very truly
R H Inglis Palgrave

Draft MS letter. Announces that he will answer Wallace's letter frankly, and gives his permission to him to communicate anything in it confidentially 'to the other electors.' States that if he had to decide the election [of the Drummond Professor of Political Economy] the choice would be between Edgeworth and [Langford?] Price, and that he would find it hard to choose.

States that despite Palgrave's credentials in the world of banking, and his talent as a statistician and economist, it would be unwise to introduce 'a man of his age into academic work'. In relation to [Lancelot?] Phelps, does not believe that he is known as an economist outside Oxford. Comments that if the chair were 'Economic History', Ashley would be a good candidate, but believes that 'he would be the first to disclaim any interest in, or faculty of dealing with economic theory...' Of [ ] Smith, states that he only knows his paper in '[Book's] [ ] ["East London [Librar] is [nearly] the title]', which is 'both acute and careful: but it cannot be said to give much evidence of the qualifications required for fitting a chair of Political Economy with real success.'

Maintains that both Price and Edgeworth 'have written enough to show that they have a thorough grasp of economic method, and would if elected advance the subject by good work in books and articles as well as by teaching.' Believes that of the two Edgeworth is the most original, but does not feel sure that he would succeed 'in inspiring a general interest in his line of work in Oxford - where mathematical interest is understood to be confined to a few.' Discusses his manner also. Of Price, states that he is 'a thoroughly safe man...', and that 'he is sure to throw himself into his subject and write and teach in a thoroughly competent way.' Believes, however, that there is a danger of him being 'a little dull.' With emendations.

Writes to express his deep sympathy with her in her 'great sorrow' on the death of Henry Sidgwick. Declares that the latter's gifts 'both of mind and of heart were so unusually high and the combination of both in one man so rare.' Refers to his kindness in helping him in his work on the Dictionary [of Political Economy]. States that he had kept several things in his mind about which he had hoped to speak with Henry, in the hope of seeing him again in the following autumn.

Reports that he received Sidgwick's note that morning. Fears that he has been in 'a fool's paradise of laziness and self-indulgence for years past.' Discusses human interaction, and expresses his happiness he feels at the sight of Sidgwick's writing. Refers to his work, and repeats that he has been 'intensely lazy and self-pleasing for years past'. Of the rest of his life he says 'everything is very nice', and declares it 'a great piece of luck' to be within reach of Sidgwick's brother [William?] and sister. Reports that he dined with them on Wednesday and Friday, and that the last time [Henry Weston?] Eve was there also. Relates that '[t]he boys came Thursday', and that he stayed in town a day longer than he intended to 'in order to spend an evening with Temple at Palgrave's.' Claims to have been very impressed by the former. Refers to his '[ ] personal influence at Rugby', and observes that he has 'an antique simplicity and directness about him'. Reports that Eve 'has brought himself to a state in which he can be perfectly unconscious and yet apparently devout the whole time.' Recounts that on week days they are about forty-five minutes in Chapel, and on Sundays about two hours, and claims that on the day of writing he took the Communion, but 'came away with a stronger conviction than ever that this pale reflection of the bloody rites of antiquity is quite out of date, and has no longer any meaning at all for a generation which is rapidly learning science and forgetting the meaning of the word sin.' Discusses his colleagues, including Fisher, Carr, Griffith, Penny, Stanwell, Spurling and Collet. Of Eve he says that '[i]t is absolutely a byword against him that he reads Miles.' Informs Sidgwick that the Modern School has been remodelled, and that he [Payne] is second Master in it, having now severed the last link that bound him to Classics. Declares that Sidgwick's brother-in-law [Edward White Benson] 'is more a ritualist' than he had thought, and that 'his whole [Wesen] reminds [him] a good deal of Kingsbury, in spite of the obvious differences.' Declares that he never believes a doctrine is dead because it ought to be, and that he agrees with Mill about the English Dictionary. Asks Sidgwick to remember him 'to the assembled brethren', and remember him in private very affectionately to Jackson. Would like the latter to write him 'a gossipy letter'. Claims to be very curious to see Jebb's article, and asks Sidgwick for another letter soon.

(The salutation is ‘My own dear Ellen & Harriette’. There is a brief passage addressed to ‘My own dear Inglie & Reggie’ near the end.)

Reports that he made the enquiry of which they spoke 'from the [ ] of the Colonial Office respecting Government by Companies', and encloses his reply [not included], which reached him on the day on which he writes. Remarks it to be 'a curious thing that after [England] has, as many thought entirely shaken itself clear of this form of dual [Govt.] after the E[ast] I[ndia] Co. had been made an end of - that it should have slid back again into this old [favour] and sanctioned the establishment of so many new companies of the old plan.' Asks Sidgwick to return the 'Gazette copy of the [ ] [Borneo] [Charter]' and Meade's letter when he has finished with them. States that he has written to thank the latter. Asks Sidgwick to write a short article 'on the subject' for his Dictionary [of Political Economy]. Claims that when he has had to write on any special subject that 'requires care', he has never minded writing a short article on it first, 'as the doing so seems to help to clear one's mind'. Refers to his meeting with Sidgwick in Cambridge, and invites him and Mrs Sidgwick to visit himself and his wife during the summer.