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Does not expect to find much that is worth keeping in his letters to Henry Sidgwick, but there may be some cases in which Henry's letter is an answer to one from Sully, and that this 'might make his reply more fully intelligible.' Asks Nora, therefore, to send on to him any letters 'which look as if they might be important in this way'. Is 'deeply absorbed in the reading of Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir: the early part of the life is of great interest to him, since he knew very little of Henry's youth and early adulthood.

Recalls a letter he received while studying in Göttingen in 1867 from an 'undergraduate friend at Trinity in which he spoke enthusiastically of Sidgwick's lectures and of his Aristotelian way of setting out his problems.' Refers to Professor Benfey and his daughters and to 'the walk [Henry] writes of under the [?Suidenbäume]'and to Professor Ewald, whose lectures Sully attended, and at whose house he was often a visitor. There was an interval of two years and three months between their visits. Declares that Henry's life 'seems to have been almost a perfect realization of Aristotle's ideal of the perfect life.' Remarks on his deep insight, and maturity of thought, which were reached at such an early age. Thanks Nora for the pleasure she has given him.

Reports that she has written to [Sampson?] Mordan, asking him to send Henry two or three gold pens to try, and tells him to send back the rest when he has chosen one; Arthur has at last got one that suits him. Reports on her re-arrangement of books, and states that Arthur has 'the wee room over the kitchen as a small sanctum....' Reports that Arthur was very happy with the result of the Dresden expedition that he went on with [F.E.] Kitchener. Refers to the imminent weddings of two of their young masters [at Rugby School]: the marriage of Mr Potts and Miss B[owden] Smith, and Mr Bond and Miss Cram, the sister of Mrs Elsee.

Reports that Ada [Benson] is staying at Rugby, and claims that she is glad to have her and to know her better. Thinks that 'there is much good in her and a great deal of thought', but still believes 'that girls develop better under home influences until past 20....' Refers to Mr and Mrs [Jex-?] Blake and their feelings about Professor and Mrs Benfey and Göttingen.

Refers to Henry's last letter, and discusses the dangers of mental inactivity. Is glad that Henry is to see William, who will tell him about a plan for her to see Switzerland that year. Thinks that Arthur knows of Emilia in England [novel by Meredith, later renamed Sandra Belloni], but undertakes to tell him of it anyway. Asks whether he takes Macmillan's Magazine as he used to, and asks him to send them to her. Offers to send him some orange marmalade. Reports that all is well at Wellington College, and states that she shall be there about the end of May.

Announces that one of Henry's Stone Gappe cousins - Algernon - is preparing to emigrate to British Caffraria [the Cape Colony/South Africa] in a few weeks. Reports that Henry's Aunt is now in a private place 'called the "Retreat" near York, and that his Uncle and Aunt Crofts from Leeds are that week at Brighton.

[From Göttingen]:- Indicates his address in Göttingen, where he expects to stay until the end of August. Reports that he is staying with the family of Professor Benfey, who is a professor of Sanskrit, whom he had met three years previously at an 'assembly of philologers' in Brunswick. Reports that he has private lessons in Arabic twice a week 'from the laborious Profr. Wüstenfeld', and attends Professor Ewald's lectures. Describes the family with which he stays: the Professor, his wife, and their three daughters. The Professor says he was offered a post at Rugby 'in Dr Arnold's time'. Intends to propose a language exchange for an hour or so per day with the eldest daughter [Meta] whom he describes as 'intelligent, enthusiastic, and not ugly' and speaking English very well, because he believes that his German has suffered from want of use. Describes the town of Göttingen, Announces that both his professors are probably going away in September, and he himself intends to 'go eastward in search of Arabians, to Dresden, Halle or Leipsic [sic]. Reports that he stayed three days in Ostend, where he walked along the shore and read Arabian Nights; says it was 'not a bad place for hayfever'. Asks her if Arthur is with her, and asks her to send him 'the enclosed' [not included].

[From Göttingen]: - Fears that he shall have to leave Göttingen - 'this professional paradise' - sooner than he had thought. Reports that he does not think that he is in the 'very best condition for working', and believes that a week in the H[arz] or Thur[ingian] forest will do him good. Relates that he has that day been to a Lutheran service, and praises the quality of sermons in Germany. Reports that he called on Professor Ewald after the service, and conversed with him about German sermons. Relates that both his professors - Ewald and Wüstenfeld - insist on giving him lessons 'gratis'. Speaks of the latter as being 'rich for a German'. Reports that he has not got to know any of the students there, that 'they howl twice a week in a big room opposite' and that every now and then 'one hears of duelling'. Discusses the tradition of duelling in Germany. Declares Meta Benfey [daughter of Professor Benfey, in whose house he lodges] to be 'a charming girl', and wishes that he could devote more time to the improvement of his German by conversation with her. Asks if there is any word in English 'to express the f[ ] of hobbadehoy'. Declares that he has much respect for Professor Benfey, who is 'a great talker'. Asks for 'all the news about everything'.

[Sent from Lille]:- Announces that he has left 'Arcadia [Göttingen]', and is spending the night 'in a country where they chatter a superficial language called French.' Discusses his liking for the German people, who, he believes, 'have attained the end of civilization i.e. intellectual and aesthetic development without the usual concommitent disadvantages of civilization i.e. luxury and ceremony'. Says Professor Ewald has devoted much of his time to him, and has refused to take any payment. Attended a meeting of philologers at Hanover, which was 'not bad fun'; spent his time with the 'Orientalist section, who are a sociable lot'. Objects however to German state dinners, which are very long drawn out because the speeches go on between the courses, and comments on the amount of wine consumed at the dinner he attended.

Reports that he has not learnt very much Arabic. States that Professor Ewald is not complimentary but consoles him by saying that he knows more than most Englishmen; his other Professor [Wüstenfeld] is much politer, 'but then he is at once good natured and shy'.. Praises the German people once again. Mentions that Professor Benfey is one of the founders of Comparative Philology.

Says that the King of Hanover would have asked to be remembered to her 'had he thought of it, as it was he only asked about the state of Hebrew learning in the English Universities'; he was 'on the whole very amiable and seemed to take a pleasure in talking English'. Gives the address of C.K. Paul in Dorsetshire, in case his mother intends to write to him before 18 October. Announces that he is bringing the [German] stamps to her, and mentions that she never sent him the envelope stamps. Remarks that stamp collections are beginning to have a mercantile value 'just like the Dutch tulips'.

Hopes that Arthur will have got his fellowship by the time this letter reaches her, and asks her to ask him what he is going to do about the Club and whether he has communicated his [ ] to W.G. Clark.

Reports that he finds that he shall be unable to come before Friday. States that he has invited Patterson. Hopes that [J. B.?] Payne will come for a few days. Mentions the idea of using [F.E.?] Kitchener's lodgings. States that he is very busy with examinations and college politics, but that he has had an idle term on the whole. Reports that they had a very pleasant dinner on Tuesday, and that Arthur's speech 'gave great satisfaction.' Refers to his mother's question about Browning; states that he doesn't particularly care for the poem in question, and is not sure that he understands all the terms of feeling in it. Undertakes to bring the book with him to show her what he thinks of it. Reports that he could not get a good photograph of Ewald, but that he made Professor Benfey promise to send him one.

Reports that he is in 'a rustic inn in the Harz', and has been walking that day. Relates some of his experiences at 'a giant meeting of German "Philologues, Schoolmasters and Orientalists" ', which he attended in Brunswick with Professor Herrig. Reports having seen 'two or three celebrated men', including Ewald and Döderlein. Remarks on the 'universally good speaking in the discussions'. Claims, however, that the essays delivered were not very good, but that he heard 'a really splendid translation of Oedipus Tyrannus excellently read by the translator.' Remarks that German is a better language for translating Greek than English.

Claims to have enjoyed his stay in Berlin very much. Passes on greetings from Professor Herrig , the Director and Professor Ranke to Benson, and remarks on the kindness shown to him by Herrig. Comments on 'What a rum little old boy' Ranke is, and relays a story told by Ranke of being compared to Lord John Russell Refers to a portrait of the Director in the 'Berlin Exhibition of pictures'. Relates that he was present at three of four ' "Stunden" ' in his school, and remarks that politics and coffee at Stehely's [café]' 'formed a very pleasant item in the order of the day.'

Claims to be very slow in learning to speak German. Announces that he is now proceeding to the Rhine, where he intends to spend about ten days, after which he plans to return to England. Hopes to spend a night with Benson on his way to Cambridge to recount his experiences, 'and to see the young prince [his nephew].' Hopes that all is going on well. Presumes that Benson has begun work again, and hopes to hear a good account of the prospective chapel also. Concludes the letter at Göttingen, where he has been to pay a visit to Professor Benfey. The latter, he believes, has 'a European reputation in the Semitic languages.' Refers to the many erroneous notions current in England about the German universities of Göttingen, which he declares to be a dull town. Asks him to forward 'the enclosed' [not included].