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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.

Thanks him for his last letter, and explains that she could not answer before leaving Rugby for Wellington College. Reports that Arthur went to Cambridge for the Fellowship Examination, the result of which is probably not to be known until the following Friday. States that his chances of success are increased by Mr [Joseph?] Romilly's death. Adds that Mr [J. L.?] Hammond came to Rugby to take his work for the week. Reports that William spent a few days with his Aunt, and then came to Wellington College. Thinks that he is better.

Reports that the family at the College are well, and that Edward is looking 'quite portly', and Minnie 'stout and strong', and the children, Martin, Arthur and the baby [Nellie], healthy also, having benefitted from their time at the sea at Swanage. Announces that she is to stay there longer than she had intended, and that if he decides to go home to Rugby he will find a bed, but will not see her. Suggests that if there was space at Wellington College he could come there.

Expresses her delight at his promise of the stamps of the German states, and states that her little friend will be very pleased. Refers also to the stamped envelopes which Henry wants for Miss [Meta?] Benfey.

14 Oct: Refers to Henry's letter from Lille. Reports that Arthur got his fellowship, as have [Henry] Jackson and [William Knyvet] Wilson, and that she is delighted for Arthur. States that William returns to Oxford that day, and that at Merton there is a fourth tutor, 'which will make the work less hard for him.' Reports that at Rugby they are still in the old house, and may have to wait until the following summer to get Mrs Leicester's house. Refers to the letter that Dr Temple sent to the Masters, and reports that it caused great discussion in Rugby. Discusses the matter, adding that letters 'are often appearing in the Rugby Advertizer recommending a speedy and thorough ventilation of the whole subject.' Explains that doctors and lawyers don't like the mixture of their class with the trades people, and so could not avail themselves of the proposed middle school, and that 'they want to retain the privilege of Foundation, and send their children to the other school free of charge.' Thinks that she may benefit from the fact that houses are not letting so well, and get a cheaper house.

Is grateful for the stamps, and is trying to get those which his friends want. Asks whether she should send the stamps to Fraulein Benfey or to him. Hopes that he will take Professor Ewald's advice and go on with studying Hebrew. Thinks of trying German herself. Hopes that he will come home as soon as he can at the end of term, for otherwise he will not see Arthur. Reports that Edward and Minnie are both plump and well, and that the former is in the midst of his scholarship examinations. Refers also to the children, who 'grow apace'. Reports on the progress of the Master's house in Rugby.

Reports that his Aunt [Lace] has been to Scarborough and is now near York, and that she seems 'so weak in bodily health'. Hopes for a recovery, however, for the sake of her husband and children. Intends to be at Wellington College for about another fortnight, and then will go back to Rugby or to Brighton. Claims to be better than she was, and able to do more and walk more. Asks him to let him know as soon as he gets to Cambridge. Announces that Mr Martin arrives the following day and will stay for a fortnight. Reports that Alfred Sidgwick is now at the Schoolhouse and likes it very much, and that all the 'Elders' of the Sidgwick family were well when she last heard.

[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 Göttingen]: - Reports that his days consist of reading Arabic and speaking German, and that on Sundays he goes for long walks with a Prussian student of Sanskrit; he is 'a most amiable-looking man, and you would take him for an Englishman'. Wishes that he could introduce her to Professor Ewald, as he is sure that she would like him. Believes that Ewald lengthened his lectures half an hour for Henry's sake, and reports that he has promised to give him private lessons during September.

Expects Graham Dakyns to come to spend a few days in the Harz at the end of the week. Announces that he intends to go to a 'Philologer-assembly', like the one he went to three years ago, in Hanover in just over a month's time. States that his health is good, and expects that he shall be quite well at the end of the Long Vacation. Discusses his diet and alcohol consumption: if anyone asks her whether he is turning into a 'beer-drinking German', she can truthfully say he has 'not drunk above three glasses' since arriving here. An English visitor to his host family told them that Henry's brother [William] was a 'distinguished wit... in Oxford'.

Mentions that Arthur had told him of his acceptance of the Rugby mastership, and admits that he has taken 'a prudent, perhaps a wise course'. Is glad that his mother's stay at Rugby will be so much pleasanter and hopes that it will turn out to be 'really not Rheumatic.' Suggests that if it is, she might move for a couple of months at the worst time of the year. Declares that he was much interested by her letter, and that he shall be glad of 'any news that is going.' Asks her to remind Arthur to enquire for him the exact day they go back at Cambridge. Hopes that she will succeed in getting a house. Asks why so many people are leaving, and if it has transpired what the [ ] said to Dr Temple's report. Regrets that she has no better account of his aunt Lace.

[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].