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States that he has greatly enjoyed reading Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir. It is right that it should be published: while some eminent men who have written books 'disappoint in their biographies', Henry's books 'did very far from present him fully', and 'the biography gives the charm of his conversation and personality happily.' It makes him feels that he wishes he had known him better than he had. Refers to Henry's position in regard to matters of faith and his fairness of judgment.; would have liked to have known more of Henry's attitude to Christianity. Refers to the 'last months', and declares the letters of that time to be 'especially remarkable even from a literary point of view for sincerity and the perfect expression of true and vivid feeling.' Trusts that [Arthur] Balfour 'will get much good from this short rest.'

Although not wholly unprepared for the news of Henry Sidgwick's death, had always continued to hope he 'might be spared a few years longer'. Declares what a loss he feels it to be that he is no longer with them, and that the world seems to grow smaller without him. Adds that it is some comfort that he had done his work so completely, 'and that he will always live in the memory of those who had the privilege of being taught by him.' Refers to the kindness of Henry's in taking so much trouble on his [Mackenzie's] behalf 'at such a time.' Does not know wha the result of his writing may be, and states that he is 'now in direct communication with Lord [Arthur] Balfour on the subject.' States that his wife joins with him in sending thanks to Nora and in expressing his deep sympathy with her in her great loss.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - They 'rejoice with' Robert at Roger Fry's success [his appointment as Curator of Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York]; glad that Robert will not lose his friend but see so much of him when he comes to England. Thinks Fry's father [Sir Edward] did a 'very fine thing' in returning money [part of his remuneration, to the Metropolitan Water Board] the other day; the 'disinterestedness' it demonstrated has much declined recently. Glad that Campbell-Bannerman's government has taken the step of 'revindicating honesty and public spirit'; was 'disgraceful' of Balfour to reverse the last Liberal government's veto on [ministers] keeping directorships. Agrees with Robert in looking forward to the parliamentary session, especially to the Budget. Sir George and Caroline want to give Robert and Elizabeth a 'minute interest in the Budget' by paying them fifty pounds twice a year instead of making good the income tax on their allowance. Went to the British Museum on Saturday and found a 'Liberal atmosphere' everywhere in London; Welby and Sir Courtenay Ilbert 'seemed to breathe very freely in it'. Has finished Catullus and will read the "[Appendix] Virgiliana" today.

Thanks Nora for her note. Henry's rooms in Trinity College are to be cleared the following morning: he will go down there to see what papers there are. Assures her that everything can be safely left in his own rooms until she has time to give directions about them. Hopes that her fortnight's rest will do her good. Believes her to be 'one of those who realise that the very thing that makes a loss great makes it bearable.' Declares that the two men he has esteemed the most in the world were closely related to her [is the other her brother Arthur Balfour?], and remarks that the memories that she must have will sustain and strengthen her in the work she is still intent upon doing. Is very thankful to have known Henry: in some ways he shall 'miss him at every turn'; in others he feels that he is there.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline agree that it is 'poor work' seeing North Italian cities at the beginning of January; the contrast between the North and South of the Apennines is very great: even so early the Val d'Arno was lovely. Expects the 'quiet life' at Welcombe will soon 'set him up'. Much interested by Robert and Bessie's accounts of the New Year festivities at Aulla [Fortezza della Brunella, home of the Waterfields]; could not find an account of the siege in Gregorovius as he ends in 1527, so must look it up in Sismondi. Parliament has been dissolved [for the general election]; they have a 'very energetic candidate' [Thomas Kincaid-Smith]' at Stratford who 'has canvassed the whole division in a motor' and is 'learning some politics as he goes along'. There are plenty of 'humorous incidents all about', including at Elland [Charles's constituency]. Balfour 'kicked off at the beginning of a football match [at Manchester United] and Sir James Fergusson in the middle' and both were 'hooted'; comments on 'such a function' being given to 'a London swell, born in 1832, who was wounded at Inkerman! [Fergusson]'. Is finishing Bergk [his edition of the Greek lyric poets] with the help of Weir Smith [Herbert Weir Smyth]; an excellent book recommended to him by 'dear Jebb'. Sends love to Bessie; the [new] piano has come and 'looks beautiful'.

He and Nora have been so lazy [on their honeymoon in Paris] that they have nothing to say, 'except that the days are of unclouded blue, and very balmy air - both literally and symbolically'. Nora is educating his taste 'in Plates, Cups, Crockery of all kinds, and other elements of the art of domestic ornamentation'. They intend going to the opera that night, in order that she may educate his musical susceptibility if possible; in return he claims to be directing her studies in political economy. They study architecture and painting together, and that they had a very successful day at Amiens, 'in a really charming hotel.' Hopes that the entertainment went off well, and that this mother was not too tired afterwards; asks whether she did not think Nora looked 'like an angel in her white dress and veil'. Asks her to send the family crest to Arthur Balfour, 'that he may...get it put on some spoons and forks he is giving [them]', and to let them know if she hears of a cook who can really be recommended; adds that they do not mind paying her good wages, but that she will have to do without a kitchen-maid. Remarks how wonderful it is how interested he is getting in domestic matters. Sends Nora's love.

Entitled 'Mr. Balfour's Master'.

Balfour, A.J. 1925
Churchill, W.S., 1932
Declining invitation to give Clark Lectures.
C. J. 1924
Re School of Biochemistry at Cambridge.
Devonshire, 9th Duke. 1925, 1938

10, Downing Street, Whitehall, S.W. Private - Relays Mr Balfour's offer of a Civil List Pension of £200 a year in recognition of his literary attainments and anthropological researches.

Writes to express his sympathy with Nora on the death of Henry. Reports that he heard the news as he was crossing from abroad the previous Friday, and that yesterday he spent some time with Arthur [Sidgwick or Balfour?], who told him more. Declares that Henry's death is the loss of something precious and special, and claims that he was 'a true friend, and an example of justice, and strenuousness, and simplicity, and nobleness.' Prays that God may give her rest and comfort now, and the strength to help her to on. Hopes that they shall meet some day before long.

Written on the occasion of Henry's announcement of his impending marriage. Letter interspersed with 'periodical iambics' in Greek. Wishes blessings upon him, and hopes that he will deserve connubial felicity as much as he does, 'and obtain it more'. Annotation in the hand of Arthur's wife Charlotte: 'I'm not going to read any further, but write C.S.S.' Refers to his reaction to the news, and mentions the fact that he saw Arthur Balfour, 'a young slender blackeyed person of a soothing tendency, outside Eton chapel (or St Georges perhaps) about four years ago', and guesses him to be a brother of Henry's future wife. Asks him to inform him of the details of the wedding and where he proposes to live. Tells him to mark his future wife 'in the old Myerian categories.' Refers to Henry's letter to the Spectator, which, he claims did great good; '[i]t twisted old Plug round again like a bobbin, and made Wilson cease from troubling and [Arthur] at rest.' Observes that 'four times two is eight, and if you add the 6 Bensons and Nevil that equals 15.' Declares that he is glad that Henry is going to be at Symonds'.

8 letters and 2 fragments of letters, from:

• Ramsay Macdonald, 6 Mar. 1914
• James Balfour, 8 Jan. 1920
• Lord Haldane, 4 May 1924
• E. Rutherford, 20 June 1925, accepting congratulations for his Order of Merit
• Albert, the future George VI, 26 Apr. 1926, accepting congratulations on the birth of his daughter Elizabeth
• Lord Cecil, 9 Sept. 1927
• Stanley Baldwin, 30 May 1930
• Lord Halifax, 8 Jan. 1941, will take a letter to Butler's brother, will be happy to see one of the family 'after working with Rab so long'
• two fragments signed by Stanley Baldwin and Lord Grey

Trinity, Cambridge [on Wallington headed notepaper, address crossed through]: - Had a 'very nice time at Oxford, and saw most that is to be seen there'. The play [Aristophanes' Frogs] was 'very good, and quite worth going to see'; the man who played the corpse and Euripides [Arthur Ponsonby] was 'far the best'.

Saw Frank [Dugdale], who was 'not at all well', and will not row in the races next week; Robert thinks it is nothing 'worse than bad neuralgia'; Aunt Alice was going to see him yesterday. They are going to have a game of Harrow football tomorrow, and 'have got footers from Harrow on purpose'. Tom [Macaulay Booth?] 'made a very good speech in the Union tonight against a literary tripos', the 'first he has ever made there'. Charlie is still well.

Asks when the family is going abroad, as he needs to 'settle' when he is going to Welcombe. Sees some of the newspapers 'have mistaken [Arthur?] Balfour's (the Babe's) sister for the sister of the "Heaven-borne"'. Hopes Georgie is well, and does well in the scholarship. There has been snow here this evening: will 'have a nice slush for tomorrow's game'. Hopes his father is well.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Hopes Elizabeth has had a good crossing, and will be 'all the better for her tour'; glad she enjoyed it; they are 'nothing but a sop', like the rest of the world, because of the 'deluge'. Is glad that Charles is 'speaking so boldly and closely on this great question [of tariff reform]' and wishes some of his 'elders' would do the same; the Duke of Devonshire behaved 'honourably, but most stupidly', and the way in which he was 'taken in' by Balfour and Chamberlain was well foreseen; he could have stopped Chamberlain 'capturing the Cabinet' if he had acted promptly and sharply. George went to town today; Charles left yesterday.

Reports that his headmaster 'has commited himself to the teaching of physics' at Eton, and is unable to find anyone to come and teach it there. Asks Sidgwick if he thinks it worthwhile to invite Danby, who is at Trinity, to the school to teach the subject during June and July. States that the post would only be temporary as Hornby 'has an Oxford man in view whom he hopes to appoint.' Claims that his contemporaries at Trinity 'are not so much interested in the enlargement of schooling', and doubts whether they knew Danby by sight. Reports that there are soon to be 'two men resident [at Eton] one professing experimental science the other natural history, [say] botany', and that the mathematical teachers begin that week 'teaching the element of mechanics and astronomy.'

Relates that seven or eight of their classical men will be working [at] French, and that a third French master is to be added to the two existing ones, but cannot be found. Also reports that their German, 'hitherto an extra master, is to teach about thirty volunteers out of the first hundred boys', that the Italian master probably will do the same, and that 'Hornby thinks of absorbing the residue, in logic, himself.' States that 'play hours remain unbroken' however. Announces that he has asked Balfour to let him see the questions Sidgwick set him in philosophy. Expresses the hope of persuading John [Mozley?] 'to do the same in King's'. Reports that a year ago he sent to the latter a schedule of Jowett's and Ilbert's subjects for essays, 'but nothing came of it.'

Assures Sidgwick that Hornby would remunerate Danby 'like any London lecturer such as Rodwell when Browning [tried]', and that he would be 'made comfortable'. Declares that Eton is 'a very pleasant place in summer.'

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Will certainly vote at the Athenaeum this afternoon; would have put his name on Mr Clifton's card if he had known beforehand. He and Caroline were glad to see Bessie and 'much interested in the plans of the house'. Sees the "Times" this morning has started a 'carefully organised and most outspoken propaganda' for Balfour and Chamberlain's news [on tariff reform?]: 'If the Liberal Unionists stand that, they will stand anything'. His proofs [for "The American Revolution"] are all finished, and today he will show Longman the revision of his 'First Part', which will be the first of the three volumes of the 'cheap edition', coming out in eighteen months time.

Two letters dated 28 Dec. 1907 and 20 Mar. 1908, with one reply, accompanied by a printed list of subscribers to de Laszlo's portrait (1914).

Reference to: 'Dr Jackson's Notes and Dr Peiles etc', 'Notes on C[harity] O[rganisation] S[ociety]' and A.J. B[alfour]'s Note for Memoir [Henry Sidgwick, a Memoir]'.

Writes to express his sympathy on the death of Henry Sidgwick, whose demise shocked him in its suddenness. Recalls Henry's appearance at the meetings of the Political Economy Club, and claims to have been 'often struck by the wisdom originality and subtelty [sic] of his remarks.' Know that the Club will 'deeply deplore his loss...'

Thanks Nora for her 'most kindly and valuable support of the petition made to the First Lord of the Treasury [her brother Arthur Balfour, the Prime Minister]' by certain friends of Hales' on his behalf some weeks previously. Remarks on what a consolation it must be to her to see how Henry Sidgwick's name and influence live on 'as his work is more and more fully realized'. Recalls how Professor Seeley once remarked to him of Henry what a king he was amongst his contemporaries in Cambridge. Declares what a different place Cambridge seems without Henry; meeting him was 'like breathing a purer and keener air'. Refers to his eagerness to show an interest in anything that merited interest, and his abiltity to clear up 'any perplexity of any worthy kind.' States that Professor Gardiner, Professor Seeley and Henry 'are the three men who stood out in mind and character above all others....'

Sends their love to Miss Clough, and states that they were sadly grieved to hear of her bereavement [the death of her mother]. Recalls that he owed his first introduction to Miss Clough's mother and aunt to Henry in 1867, when a committee was choosing two lecturers - one from Oxford and one from Cambridge - to undertake courses of English history and literature in the province, and he [Hales] was proposed by Henry 'as the Cambridge man'. Sends his and his wife's kindest regards to Nora.

[10 Downing Street]. "The Irish difficulty has been dealt with".

[10 Downing Street]. Thanks H M Butler for his sermon on Queen Victoria's death, encloses his speech on same (wanting).

10 Downing Street. Feeling of honour at being asked to supply a portrait for the Master's Lodge, with a letter to W Sidgwick concerning the portrait.

With J. R. M. Butler's note on back "Geneva 1921": possibly the conference to negotiate a convention between Germany and Poland.