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Wishes that he could drop in on her, 'like William can, and see the [ ] lodge' for himself. Reports that their mother, 'after an ominous silence', sent him 'a laudatory but vague sentence about her.' Claims that he is 'a Galley Slave' that term, with a lecture at nine o'clock on Monday morning. Reports that he saw [Henry Weston] Eve the other day, 'but he looked more like Cambridge than Wellington College.' Reports that he has nearly got through the Old Testament, and shall have done all but Ezekiel by the time he goes down. Claims that the finest passages of the translation [from Hebrew to English] 'are destroyed by the barbarous fidelity of a ruthless German commentator.'

Reports that they have been having 'a violent university contest', and refers to Joe Mayor, who has lost his professorship [of political economy] by ten votes. Claims that the 'Bald-headed People in the university are confounded to find that the young men have elected a blind Radical [Henry Fawcett]'. States that he voted against Joe, 'purely on public grounds'. Announces that he is to dine with the Master on Monday, and is sure that he shall meet Miss Grote [Mayor's fiancée?] there.

Reports that Arthur is not well, and is 'plagued with the grandfather of all boils' on his finger. Reports that he saw Henry Bramley that day, and wonders whether he himself 'shall ever have so big a beard.' States that Oriental Studies 'are at a standstill [in Cambridge University] as [their] Hebrew Professor [Thomas Jarrett] is temporarily insane, and there is no one who can teach Hebrew or Sanscrit', and that besides him they have 'an Arabic Reader who never lectures except to at least two undergraduates...'

Asks her if she has seen any literature. Reports that there is 'a poetess who calls herself "Jean Ingelow" who is estimable', and that the 'Reviews have discovered that Woolners Poem [My Beautful Lady] is a swan', and does not think it 'a goose' himself. Asks how the house is getting on, and asks after Edward. Inquires as to whether the boys say the beer is bitter.

Writes to express her and her husband's [J.B. Mayor's] sympathy to Nora on the death of Henry Sidgwick. Says that they have been sad to know that the end was approaching, and have felt very much for Nora. Declares that her husband 'grieves sorely over the loss to Cambridge and to the world besides this private loss to himself of a friend on whose kindness and judgment he was even now relying with regard to the publication of [her] uncle's new vol[ume] [John Grote's Exploratio Philosophica: Part II], and that he intends to write to her himself.

Condolences on the death of Alexandrina Jessie Mayor: Arundel Gardens

With a description of the marriage of Alexandrina Jessie Grote to Joseph Bickersteth Mayor.

Explains that her husband, [Professor J.B. Mayor], has been very busy since he received Nora's letter [104/67], and is hoping to write to her soon. Relates that Nora's letter led her and her husband to talk over 'the memories of old times', and that he suggested that she should write down one or two of them for Nora. Recalls that the meetings 'used to be in turn at one or other room in Cambridge and at Trumpington vicarage', and that they always used to be announced to her as 'a "sabia conversazion" '. States that the meetings were always at 'T[rumpington] V[icarage]', as her uncle [Professor Grote] had altogether given up going out to dinner or in the evenings, and that those attending used to dine and at first after dinner she used to sit in the drawing room alone. One day, however, her uncle announced that she was to be admitted a member of the 'S.C.', and they would come into the drawing room after dinner, for the discussion. Recalls that at first the members consisted of Henry Sidgwick, Mayor, Somerset and Venn. Believes that Henry got to know her uncle at his Fellowship Examination, and states that her uncle used to have two or three of those in whom he had taken a special interest over to dine; recalls Henry and his future brother-in-law Edward Benson being first introduced in that way. In relation to the dialogue that took place, states that her husband will write more, and, in the meantime, assures her that 'it was a real discussion' at Trumpington.

Forgot to mention in her last letter [104/69] that Mr Aldis Wright was the other member of the original group making up the Philosophical Society [later the Grote Society]. States that her husband will write to her when he arrives home.

Thanks her for the pleasant visit he had to Newnham. Remarks on the rapport that exists 'in the spiritual atmosphere of Cambridge'. Reports that he is staying with F.C. Hodgson [in Twickenham], and that the Dakynses are also there; the [J.B?.] Mayors and Tawney came to lunch the previous day. There was much conversation about Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir, and refers to some of the comments made about it. States that none of them had seen the review of the book in the previous week's Academy. [Graham] Dakyns spoke to him about 'McTaggart's book, which he had read with great pleasure.' Reports that he was very busy up to the previous Tuesday evening 'preparing a lecture on the emperor Justinian'.