Thanks Nora for her letter about Lord Rayleigh's recollections of 'the curtain incident', and remarks that it seems to come to very little as he describes it; believes that he probably has forgotten some of the details. Remembers that there are some documents at Cambridge - probably notes in pencil taken at the time - copies of which she has in her possession. Gives what she believes to be the address of Norman MacColl [one-time editor of the Athenaeum]. Reports that Austin tells her that he is a very nice man, and would be willing to help her in tracing Henry's articles, but that the present editor, Mr Rendall 'is a much less agreeable person'.
Announces that she is collecting the facts for a memoir of Henry Sidgwick, which she and his brother [Arthur Sidgwick] and hope to publish. Is anxious to know to what extent Henry wrote for the Athenaeum when he was young. Explains that she learnt some time ago through Sir Leslie Stephen that MacColl had spoken of Henry's contributions to the Athenaeum under his editorship, and wonders if he would mind telling her about these which she presumes were mostly anonymous reviews. The proposed memoir will probably consist mainly of Henry's own letters, and will be 'to that extent autobiographical', but the letters will need supplementing. With emendations.
Sidgwick, Eleanor Mildred (1845-1936), college headRefers to papers that he had put together [not included; for the purposes of writing Henry Sidgwick's obituary for Mind], and thought that Nora might like to have them. Relates the story of Henry having been asked by MacColl, the editor of the Athenaeum, to write on the subject of Darwinism, taking the opposite view to Dr Gray of the British Museum. Thinks that MacColl would be glad to tell Nora if Sidgwick's contribution to the journal included other topics.
Stephen, Sir Leslie (1832-1904), knight, author and literary critic