To N. E. S. Hamilton, Miss E. M. Forster, R. M. Theobald and the Master of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge [N. M. Ferrers]
Encloses Heffer's cheque [not included] for the books; 'those of Dr. [Norman?] Ferrers that were of no use for the Library and some 30 or 40 Nat. Sci. books condemned by Miss Freund.' Reports that she was at Newnham College the previous day and heard that Nora was away. Hopes that she is having a nice time. Relates that Mr and Mrs Lamb are very deliberately making up their minds to send another daughter [Dorothy; to Newnham] in October', and states that she has told them to write to Nora. Reports that there is no news of S[ingcha] H[ushoo], but that she has written to ask for some. Adds that her Uncle Henry Cunningham, her mother and her Aunt Carry have all read, or are in the process of reading it, and all find it very interesting.
Stephen, Katharine (1856-1924) college head, pseudonym Sarah BrookAdmits 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.
Sidgwick, Eleanor Mildred (1845-1936), college head