Showing 172 results

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Very interesting to hear about Mr Tovey [see 8/147, letter from Duncan Crookes Tovey to Robert]; suspects that Macaulay was quoting Pope directly. Glad to have Robert's account of the [Apostles'] dinner, and that he spoke; thoughts on preparing for speeches and speaking ex tempore. His finger is improving. Gave Robert's message to Aunt Annie [Philips], who is well and looking forward to her tour of Italy and Sicily. Glad Bessie likes his "Greek War" ["An Ancient Greek War", a piece in his "Interludes in Verse and Prose"]; at least the 'extreme elaboration' of the piece differentiates it from the rest of the considerable literature on those times. Pleased to hear of a measure condemning Boriell's [?] Bill at a large meeting at Smithfield being defeated 'by an enormous majority' after an 'excellent speech by Mr Harper'

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Looking forward to seeing Robert and Elizabeth at Wallington. Robert must be having a good time with [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson 'in such scenery and circumstances'. Glad about 'the Water-lane'. Charles and Mary will be at Cambo for a good part of their visit. Must read [Aristophanes's] "Thesmophoriazusae" again; remembers [Charles] Vaughan saying 'how much he liked the three female comedies'. Is entering Macaulay's marks in his favourite Cicero speeches in the Dolphin [edition]; has already done this for the Terence. Miss Richardson has again got 'three County Council scholarships... not bad for a school of 60 children'.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S. W. [London] :- Thanks his parents for their last letter; they are in town again, as Bessie needs to go to rehearsals for her last concert [with Arnold Dolmetsch] on Wednesday. The concerts have 'gone of very well so far', though Robert was unable to attend the last one since it was on the 'evening of the [Apostles?] dinner'. Henry Jackson made a 'very nice speech', as did 'Judge Lushington, who was the oldest of those present'.

They lunched at North Street last week and thought Charles and Molly looked 'very happy, and their house very nice'. They went to Harrow last Saturday to see the [F. E.?] Marshalls and had a 'very pleasant time there'; they went to the 'Speech room' in the evening 'to hear the final reading for the reading prize' which was 'very amusing', though they 'did not think the standard very high'. 'Young [James?] Butler, who must be about 15 or 16, was promising' though did not yet have 'sufficient command of his voice'; he is said to be 'quite a good scholar, and looks a nice boy'. The winner read Joy for his chosen piece. The Lower School had to read the 'description of William at the Boyne [from Macaulay]; but they did not make much of it'. Also saw Sir Arthur Hort, who is 'mainly responsible for [the] first fifteen boys'; believes he is 'doing very well', and there have certainly been more scholarships awarded to Harrow boys over the last few years. Very sad they have 'thought it necessary to dry up the Grove pond'; supposes it was a 'great nuisance and expense'.

They hope to see Sir George before long, and also that Caroline will come to Dorking around the end of the month.

Friends War Victims Relief Committee, A.P.O., S.5., B.E.F., France. - Thanks Julian for the Christmas card, notebook and poem, also 'trust[s] a few months will see [him] home'. Sends a coloured photograph of a Watteau painting as a Christmas card. Hopes Julian is having a good holiday with his mother and the Moores; wishes he could be there, and that Julian could 'fly over in an aeroplane' and see him 'folding up parcels of books', which he is very clumsy at, and his way of 'making an index of the library'. Will write to Elizabeth tomorrow, is sending a program for her of a concert he went to. Wonders whether Julian is 'eating Sumph for breakfast, or Sue perhaps [pigs?]', and how the rabbits are doing. Hears that Mr Moore is reading Captain Cook's voyages to Julian, Dan and Riette. It is wet, the river Seine is very full and muddy, and 'rushes along like the yellow Tiber in "Horatius" [by Macaulay]'

[Sent from Dresden]:- Reports that he has concluded his stay in Berlin. Declares that he shall return to Germany when he wants to 'learn humility and contentment'. Has 'dropped over to Dresden to see Ada [Benson] and renew [his] acquaintance with the town and pictures.' Reports that Ada seemed very well and happy, 'tho' decidedly thinner', and 'declared herself charmed with the town, with her studies, with the Hauptmann and his wife with whom she lives'. Reports that the previous day he saw Mr and Mrs Dale, whose baby is 'a fine solid little fellow'. On Tuesday he goes with Professor Herrig to a 'Versammlung of Philologs' at Brunswick.

Hopes that Minnie will soon be strong enough to write to him. Went to the theatre with Ada and her hosts 'to see the famous Emil Devrient act.' Explains that going to the theatre in Germany is 'one of the most approved methods of learning the spoken language'. Remarks that his mother has not told him of her plans for the winter, except that she does not see any chance of settling down until the spring. Does not suppose that she will stay at Wellington College until Christmas. Invites her to stay at lodgings in Cambridge for the autumn. Announces that he will not return to England until 'the 20th', as he wishes to do some travelling. Will be at Brunswick until 29 September, 'then in about a week at Frankfurt Am Main, then in about a week at Bonn.' Sends his love to Edward. Recounts a story about Lord John Russell in Berlin told to him by Professor Ranke. The latter is engaged in a work on English history, and 'spoke with great regret of Macaulay whom he admires excessively, tho' so opposed to him in opinion'.

Robert addresses Aunt Maria as 'Mijn beste tanteke' then continues the letter in English'; wishes her happy birthday and hopes she feels well despite the cold, which must be much greater there than he and Bessie have; it has been 'much warmer' [in Ravello] for the last couple of days, though not enough yet for the butterflies, lizards and crocuses to come out as they usually do all winter here. They are alone at the hotel except for a 'funny old gentleman' who is 'rather dull, though quite nice' and wears formal dress clothes for dinner even when alone. They have visited Mrs Reid and her friend Miss Allen, whom they like very much, and in whose garden they spend much of their time. Describes drinking half a bottle of Episcopio Spumante with Bessie yesterday evening (the hotel is the 'original bishop's palace... so the wine made at the hotel is called Episcopio') which led them into a conversation with the 'tedious old gentleman'; when they 'retired in some confusion' to their room he jokingly says they left the old man with the sense he had been with 'two persons of great mental powers'. They 'composed' themselves 'by reading some very serious moral poetry' and remembered that they had sent some of the same wine to Alphonse Grandmont last year which 'made a somewhat similar impression on his sober household'. Bessie says that she will take her thimble to measure out the wine this evening. Hopes that Uncle Paul and Tuttie [Hubrecht] are well; asks her to send them his love.

Bessie then writes two pages to her aunt, in Dutch; gives an account of their days, including her studies of Macaulay's "History of England", their walks; the other guest Mr Kershaw always sitting in the dining room. Asks her aunt to thank her uncle for [?]. Was very happy to hear that Julius [Röntgen] had had success in the Ceciliaconcert; [her sister] Mien must be happy.

Mattishall - whole family have been suffering with scarlet fever, is to be published by the UKS, Mattishall no place to spend winter, well served by the library at Norwich, Vipan's travels in Europe, cousin Manning rusticated for shooting an air-gun in the College, such a practice was done by Humphrey of Caius, claimed that FitzGerald had taken the position of Chief of Police in Suffolk

Mill House, Westcott, Dorking :- He and Bessie were glad they went Holly Lodge last week: the ceremony [for the unveiling of a ceremonial tablet to Lord Macaulay, see 10/40] was a 'great success', and Lord Rosebery's speech was 'perfect'. Mrs Winkworth was not 'looking at all well'; hopes she was not too tired by the event. Charles' speech 'seemed to please everyone'.

Finished [his father's book] The American Revolution yesterday, delayed only by 'various interruptions', for his interest 'never flagged from first to last'. Did not find the last chapter about the clergy too long, as the Times reviewer suggested; thinks that a 'history on this scale it is important to enlarge a good deal' on subjects like Wesley's relations with the soldiers, to 'give an atmosphere and a setting to the narrative'. The last three chapters 'will serve admirably to lead up to the continued narrative', which everyone is hoping will follow.

As his father says, it is 'curious' that the 'Tory press seem to accept the principles implied' in the book's 'criticism of events', even though they recently 'failed so completely to act upon them' or to see that they applied; however, 'men, especially Tories, even when they are wise in theory, are very fond of forgetting their principles' when it is time to put them into practice. Still thinks the book 'should do good in its way, and comes opportunely'; praises it highly, though points out one possible misprint.. Glad it is being 'so well received': it is 'one of the rare histories, after George's heart, that are based on science and fact' so that the reader can have confidence in the truth of the narrative, and yet 'are morally convincing and satisfy the imagination'.

Thinks George's article 'looks very well in print'. He and Bessie have nearly reached a settlement about the house', and the solicitors have sent them a draft of the agreement; this is satisfactory in general but they want a 'few small alterations'. They will not go abroad until it is settled 'and the plans of the house quite ready'. Bessie is well, and sends love to Robert's parents.

Too ill to travel, has met Miss and Mrs Holmes, made a member of the Gaol Committee, Macaulay's Lays Of Ancient Rome, prefers Macaulay's view of Roman history to Arnold's. denouncement of hydropathy

Edinburgh - Thanks WW for his second round of comments on JDF's paper ['The Danger of Superficial Knowledge; an Introductory Lecture to the Course of Natural Philosophy in the University of Education', delivered on November 1 and 2, 1848: See JDF to WW, 19 Oct. 1848]. He is particularly grateful for WW exposing the obscurity of some of his arguments. However, 'whilst you justly convict me in one instance of using Macaulay's terms of profundity and shallowness as applied to the attainments of great men in different ages, my thesis is exactly that which you so well state that 'the knowledge of later times is more advanced, more extended: but not more profound, necessarily, except in more profound minds'. You add that you doubt whether I shall easily allow this; but it indeed expresses my very meaning'. 'Lord Brougham is a perfect index to the grand distinction between knowledge and wisdom' and personifies 'the very beau-ideal of Macaulay's 19th Century man'.

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno:- Thanks his father for his letter [12/57[, and the enclosure from Professor Murray which he now returns; this 'raises some interesting and very debateable [sic] questions about the Greek Drama' which everyone answers differently 'according to his temperament'. Confesses that '[Euripides'] "shameslessness" in the matter of bad conventions, such as the prologues' does not appeal to him as it does to Murray; Murray's 'explanations of such offences may be true enough', but Robert does not think they are 'excuses'. Judges that Murray, going by what he writes in 'this book [his translation of Hippolytus and Bacchae] and his [History of Ancient] Greek Literature has an 'amiable weakness for Euripides' which Robert 'cannot share', despite admiring 'half a dozen of his plays'.

Expects this 'admiration' has stood Murray 'in good stead as a translator', since 'translating Euripides, not as he really is, but as he imagines him, or would like to imagine him to be, [Murray] gives a much more interesting result than a real translation would be'. Looks on Murray's translations 'more as original poems than translations of Euripides,' since 'the atmosphere is so different, so romantic instead of severely intellectual as almost always in the original'; the use of verse couplets instead of blank verse gives 'a totally different effect, which is accentuated by [Murray's] fluid, Swinburnian, if almost too flabby use of the metre', greatly contrasting with Euripides' 'clear-cut style'. That said, the Hippolytus especially is a 'fine piece of work';

Robert may be 'a little prejudiced' in knowing the Bacchae 'very much better in the original, and so being more exacting'. Liked the preface, but wonders whether Murray does not also there 'idealize his Euripides, and read into him a great deal more than the bare text of his plays justifies from a strict historical point of view'. For example Murray's translation of Bacchae 430-431 [given first in ancient Greek] is 'The simple nameless herd of Humanity / Hath deeds and faith that are truth enough for me': these are 'charming lines, and really admirable sentiments', but Robert is sure that 'the modern idea of Humanity with a big H. was never really present in Euripides' mind when writing such lines as these; though no doubt he, if anybody at the time, would be in sympathy'. Also cites Murray's translation of Bacchae 1005 as being 'far more elaborate and modern' than the original. However, he will not complain further as both Murray's translation and 'idea of Euripides' are 'very charming'.

Thinks he sympathises with Murray and Macaulay about the writers of [Greek] New Comedy, as far as he can judge from Wight's selection of fragments: would have thought their merits were those of 'very good prose rather than of poetry - Addison, in fact, rather than The Merchant of Venice'. Terence, however, may have chosen to adapt plays now lost, with 'more charm and tenderness than the fragments that remain'; he may 'have developed these qualities' and perhaps added much of his own, since he is 'certainly less purely intellectual, and more tender and human than the Greek Comedians seem to have been'.

Bessie says she has read Cicero's De Senectute and much admired it, so Sir George has 'an eminent classical authority' to support his opinion; he himself has not read it, but is sure he would also like it. Bessie is well. Some very nice people are now staying at the hotel whom they have befriended: a Mr Hardy, an actuary, and his wife and her sister. The weather has been very bad recently. They have not had news yet of the Liverpool election [the West Derby by-election], but should today; supposes there is little hope of [the Liberals] winning the seat. He and Bessie send love to his parents; hopes his father's book [the next volume of The American Revolution] is almost finished now.

Aberdour by Burntisland, N.B. - Thanks WW for his 'frank and candid' comments on his essay ['The Danger of Superficial Knowledge; an Introductory Lecture to the Course of Natural Philosophy in the University of Education', delivered on November 1 and 2, 1848], but is disappointed that WW 'should dissuade me from expecting or attempting to influence a wider public than that to which my discourse may be addressed, yet I am a little consoled by finding that you admit that Macaulay has set us a puzzle by a few sentences...which surely cannot be unworthy of a refutation, even if an indirect one' [Macaulay's thesis on the absurdity surrounding fears on the danger of superficial learning]. JDF recognises that WW may have reservations about coming into conflict with 'so expert a fencer as Macaulay. This would not in itself greatly influence me, had you been satisfied of my reply being based on right grounds, and stated in an effective manner'. JDF hopes WW will write something on 'this important subject...for it really does appear to me to be in some degree a new theme, particularly worthy of being attended to in universities' [WW, 'On Mr. Macaulay's Praise of Superficial Knowledge', Frazers Magazine, August 1849]. JDF gives his distinction between wisdom and knowledge: 'a wise man will make a little knowledge go further than another who possesses more knowledge'.

Grand Hotel de la Cloche, Dijon. - Glad to hear from Robert about [Henry] Jackson and Vernon Lushington, and about the reading at Harrow; good that it 'is so much out of Macaulay'. Has just finished Cicero's "Tusculan Disputations", and likes him increasingly; he 'supplies a need' which, at Sir George's current age, no-one else does. Liked Robert's article in the "Review'. Had a very interesting evening at Geneva: always thinks that the 'most wonderful combination of young genius... without an atom of pretention' was when Byron, Shelley, Mary Godwin, and [Claire Clairemont] were living on Lake Geneva [in 1816]; mentions 'amusing' letters from Byron to Hobhouse; he and Caroline were allowed to see all over the Villa Diodati since the occupants were away; Caroline has sketched both the Villa and Shelley's house nearby. It was as interesting as Keats's and the Brawnes' villa at Hampstead, but much more beautiful. Will be home on Saturday.

Shulbrede Priory, Lynchmere, Haslemere. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'most useful letter', particularly since he is compiling a second volume of English [diaries] as well as the 'Scotch and Irish' [both books were published in 1927; Ponsonby's first volume on "English Diaries" in 1923]. Would be grateful if Trevelyan could lend him Zachary Macaulay's book; has got [George] Crabbe now, as well as Dorothy Wordsworth, his 'only really bad miss'; will look up [William?] Allingham and Thelwall. Think 'slightyness' certainly ought to be 'flightyness'; would have liked to have it corrected for the second edition but is too late; is happy with the other reading for which Trevelyan suggests a correction. Asks Trevelyan to let him know if he thinks of any more diaries; has found many good ones he missed before, and 'some quite amusing MSS are coming in'. They [he and his wife Dolly?] have just been to visit Logan [Pearsall Smith] at Chilling, which is a 'perfectly delightful place'; Logan seemed very well.

With a note by Isaac Todhunter, "Printed August 1849 in Fraser or Blackwood".

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague:- It seems that there has been a 'misunderstanding' about the amount of Miss van der Hoeven's contribution to her and Robert's future household; hopes that Mr Hubrecht's letter [46/77] will put this right. Explains how it happened (a mistake over English idiom); 'only natural' that his father made a mistake, especially since Mr Hubrecht's hand writing is 'none of the clearest, and as foreign writing is often difficult for us to read'. Hubrecht was 'much distressed about it'; though it is a 'most unfortunate misunderstanding', perhaps he 'magnified its importance', as he is 'very scrupulous and honourable in such matters'. He himself would have been surprised if Miss van der Hoeven had been able to contribute three hundred pounds per year, as he had never thought she had so much a year in income, and knew that by 'her parents' desire' only a part was to be contributed to her household on marriage. The same proportion, as Mr Hubrecht said, was agreed as annual contribution when Elizabeth's sister married Mr Röntgen. Thinks nine hundred pounds a year will be enough for their household: he is 'not extravagant, and she is still less so; not to mention her own separate money'. Hopes Mr Hubrecht's letter will satisfy his father.

Asks him to thank his mother for her letter, which reached him this morning; will write to her again before he sets off for Italy. Has had a 'very happy week' since his return from Brussels, though 'a busy one'; has been 'very favourably impressed by her relations and friends, who called in great numbers last Saturday'. 'One family friend, Mr Pearson... [sic: Nicolaas Pierson]' was the Minister of Finance, and 'very interesting', who had known Bagehot and was an 'admirer of his writing' as well as of Sir George's life of Macaulay; Pierson said he 'always read a speech of Macaulay's before making an important speech himself'.

Bessie has 'shown great good sense and character in everything' through this fortnight which has been 'so eventful for her'; thinks she will 'easily adapt herself' to Robert's family and their friends. She is the 'sort of person whom people almost always like at once, but whom it sometimes takes a little time to know completely', though he does not want to suggest she is 'reserved'. Thanks his father again for the 'sympathy and kindness' which his parents have shown him.