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Writes to inform her that he shall come on the following Wednesday. Reports that he shall be staying with Mrs Clough from Monday to Wednesday if his cold does not get worse. Claims that he accepted her invitation gladly, as there is a new edition of Clough's Remains passing through the press, and he would like to talk to her about it. Intends to speak to his mother about Mr Horton and other matters on Wednesday evening, 'before Edward and Mary come'.

Asks if she has heard from William, and states that he has not found time to write to him yet. Asks her opinion on Noel's poems. Refers to the review of them in the Athenaeum, and states that Noel has told him that the two great critics of the age, M. Arnold and S[aint] Beuve, 'have both expressed themselves pleased by the book.' Reports that he has 'got rid of' his last pupil and is writing a paper for his philological journal. Reports that Patterson's book on Hungary is very nearly finished, and that he has seen most of it, and thinks that it will be both worth reading and readable.

Thanks her for her letter. Announces that he has just resigned from his assistant tutorship and has informed the authorities that he intends to resign his fellowship very soon. Remarks that it is not impossible that they may appoint him lecturer in spite of his actions, but he does not expect them to do so. Advises her that the matter is a secret. Reports that the Master 'expressed himself very kindly about [Henry] in communicating [his] resignation to the College.' Remarks that everyone is very kind, and believes that if he is not reappointed 'it will not be from want of goodwill, but from a conviction that the interests of the College do not allow it.'. Claims to be happy, and believes that he has done the right thing.

Asks her to tell Arthur that he thinks they had on the whole, successful meetings at the Free Christian Union. States that Paul's sermon was very good, and is misrepresented in the Pall Mall Gazette. Reports that he has been staying with Mrs Clough, whom he likes 'very much' and that 'the new book' [The Poems and Prose Remains of Arthur Hugh Clough] is due out in about two weeks. Announces that he will come down to his mother about the end of the month or the following month. States that if she has Miss [Alice?] Horton staying with her, or if there is any other particular reason, he does not mind coming, however his hay fever is.

Reports that he has been looking at some of Henry Sidgwick's Synthetic Society papers, and fears that, 'though very interesting on [ ] and theological topics' they are not suitable for publication. Believes that they could and should be used 'in any account of Prof. Sidgwick's views.' Apologises for having put Nora to the trouble of writing and explains that he forgot the title of 'the Glasgow lecture'. Declares that he was indebted to her 'for the pleasure of hearing [Mr. Thomas? Farrer's] lecture', which he claims was very interesting. States that [ ] 'enjoyed it immensely'. Adds that he did not know of Mrs Clough's death.

Remarks that he has not heard from her in a long time, and reports that lately he has been lying on his sofa 'from inflammation of the ancle [sic].' States that it is better now. Reports that he found 'a tolerable suitable house' for his young ladies [a hostel for female students]. States that he then went to stay with the [Thomas Fowell?] Buxtons on the borders of Epping Forest, and then to London, where he found 'portentous heat and equally portentous hayfever.' Claims to hate London in heat. Reports that he was introduced to Miss Octavia Hill, whom he has long wanted to meet, ever since he read an article of hers in Macmillan's on her work among the poor in the East of London. Calls her 'a very interesting woman', and vows that if he ever takes 'a vow of asceticism' and gives away all his goods 'to feed the poor', he will give them to her, 'as the person who is likely to make them do - the least harm'. He then went to see Mrs Clough, and made his final arrangements with Miss Clough for their proceedings the following term. Spent 'the suspensive day between the rejection of the Army Bill by the Lords and Gladstone's "coup d'état" [the Royal Warrant on Purchase] ' with Trevelyan. The latter 'had had notice given him privately of what the Ministry was going to do and was in proportionately good spirits.' Reports that he saw his friend Patterson, 'who was also cheerful as a translation of a Hungarian story by him is to appear in the Cornhill.' Since London he has been in Cambridge, 'trying to get a little reading done', but complains that he cannot shake off his laziness. Informs her that [his cousin] Annie 'is passed in P.E' [political economy]. Asks for her news, and whether she will be staying by herself at Rugby during any part of the vacation, as he may come down there.

Announces that he has to be in Cambridge from Monday to Wednesday in the week after Easter, for an examination. Asks her if she will come and stay at Miss Clough's from Saturday in Easter week until the following Wednesday. Explains that Mrs Clough will be there, and he would like them to meet. Asks her to invite Arthur to come also 'if he has nothing else to do. Declares that he shall be 'travelling about till that Saturday.'

Reports that he is settled in Margate for about a fortnight, after which he intends to go to London. Does not intend to go down into the country until the middle of July at the earliest. Is eager to have news about Mary. Presumes that Edward will have made up his mind about his summer travelling before he [Henry] goes to them. Reports that he was not very well in London, but that otherwise the work [superintending the Examination for Women] was 'very pleasant'. Declares that he 'always like staying with Mrs Clough' and refers to her two daughters.

Asks his mother to send him William's address in the Tyrol. Discusses the matter of [his cousin] W.C. Crofts, of which he heard through Myers. The latter 'thinks it by no means improbably that Elliot may take [Henry's] recommendation, but cannot say for certain.' Reports that he has received a letter from his uncle, 'who seems much pleased at the prospect'. Hopes that 'he does not overrate it's [sic] advantages.' Refers to two notebooks that he may have left behind at Rugby, and asks his mother to search for them. Asks about the result of the meeting of the [Rugby School] Board on 21 June.

Reports that she wrote to Mrs [Blanche?] Clough, and that the latter sent it on to her sister-in-law [Anne Jemima Clough]. Mrs Clough tells her that 'through Mr. and Mrs. G. Butler she [her sister-in-law] has succeeded in inducing a Mr. Myers...to undertake to lecture once a week [on Italian history] to [these] schools in Liverpool', and that Mr Hales' services will not therefore be needed. Asks Henry to inform Hales of this development, and also to let him know that a similar scheme may be established in Manchester, where his services may be required. Describes the end of term at Rugby. Reports that Mr [Henry?] Brandreth dined with them the previous day, and that he regretted not having seen very much of Henry. States that they are all well. Does not know when William is coming, and hopes that Henry will be able to come by the time Arthur returns from his visits to London, Clifton and Cheltenham.

Reports that Mrs A.H. Clough called on her that afternoon, and mentioned a proposed scheme for the furtherance of female education, which her sister-in-law, Miss Clough, is very anxious to carry out. She suggested that several schools in a large town could unite and be lectured to by a 'well-educated man from one of the Universities' on a given subject. She asked Mary Sidgwick to mention this scheme to William, having been told by Arthur that there was no such man available at Rugby. Announces that Miss Clough is to go down to Liverpool soon to make enquiries about the schools there.

Reports that Mrs Clough is staying at the Schoolhouse in Rugby, and that she enquired about William, and was anxious to know how Miss Brooks was received at Stone Gappe. Mary Sidgwick passed on news of her, which she had learnt from William Lace. Is glad to hear that William is 'better in spirits', and that his work is not too much for him. Reports that Mrs Acland informed her that Lady Brodie was sending her eldest daughter to the Miss Louis' school near London, to which Miss Cannan sent her 'little charge' Mary [ ]. Adds that one of the Moult[ ]'s 'musical cousins - a Miss Salt' has been giving lessons there....' Reports that Ernest Crofts has been staying at Rugby for a few days, and remarks that he seems really in earnest about his occupation. Reports that Arthur is very well, and that Mrs Symonds has been at Rugby for a few days. [Incomplete].

Typewritten. Thanks her for sending him 'a copy of Clough's Remains'. Explains that he asked for it through [Godfrey?] Lushington because 'to no one, out of the range of his personal friendships, could Clough be an object of more intense individual interest than to' him [Henry]. Declares the great value he places on Clough's poems, and calls him 'the one true disciple of Wordsworth, with a far deeper interest than Wordsworth in the fundamental problems of human life, and a more subtle, more cultivated intellect.' Speaks of Clough's blending of irony and sympathy in his poetry, and his 'judicial fairness in balancing conflicting influences'. States that the volume sent to him will be very precious to him.

MS note by Nora Sidgwick: 'This letter did not reach us till the biography was printed off'.

Typewritten. Regrets that he cannot put into his review [of A. H. Clough's Remains, for the Westminster Review] any notice of Symonds. Explains that the rule he tries to observe in anonymous writing is to write always of people exactly as he should do if he knew nothing of them. Since he hardly speaks of the edition at all, it would not be natural for him even to mention Symonds. In relation to another point that Clough had asked him about, states that he has altered a sentence in which refers to Mr Palgrave's preface to an edition to Clough's poem, and quotes it as it now stands, claiming that it is 'a very mild retort for the poem in the Spectator'. Refers to the death of his friend J.B. Payne. Hopes that Clough's children enjoy themselves on the Tenby sands, where he himself used to play nearly thirty years previously.

MS note by Nora Sidgwick: 'This letter did not reach us till the biography was printed off'.

Typewritten. Thanks Clough for her new year's wishes. Since returning to Cambridge he has been making arrangements for the 'Lectures for Ladies'. Has discovered that it is much more easy to offend women than men. Encloses a programme [not included] which should demonstrate how they are extending their operations. They are now trying to arrange for the accommodation of girls 'who are gradually dropping in or proposing to drop in from other places.'

Refers to her tour, and reports that in September he came to England instead of going back from Switzerland to Germany. In relation to the Franco-Prussian war, his sympathies are thoroughly French, but he cannot join in the attacks on the Germans. Feels profoundly disappointed in Germany, which he had regarded as a nation advanced in morality; it is the liberals with whom he is most indignant, as the German Tories 'know no better'. The German liberals 'swallowed their constitutional principles in 1866...but they have now eaten their international principles too'. Hopes to see her in London, and expresses regret about 'Miss Clough's school'. Asks to be remembered to her, and to Mr and Mrs Smith [her parents?].

MS note by Nora Sidgwick: 'This letter did not reach us till the biography was printed off'.

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.

Reports that he has been very busy with the Moral Science examination; says it 'absorbs one's whole mind', as he 'takes such an interest in the subject' and is 'so anxious to do thorough justice to the men'. Intends to go to Oxford on the following Tuesday for a day, but will stay with a friend, V[ernon] Harcourt, rather than with William. Proposes to bring William back to Cambridge with him for a day or two. Intends to go to Wellington College sometime. Announces that his uncle Robert has asked him to the Raikes, but that he fears that he shall have to decline at present, as he is so busy. Encloses 'a line' [99/77] to his mother about Mrs Clough [see 101/172/1-2] and one to Arthur, which he omitted to send before.

[Sent with 99/76]. Asks her to write to Mrs Clough [see 101/171/1-2] to say that he has ascertained that the best man he knows for the scheme she has in view 'is at present disengaged', and would probably be most willing to assist. State that his name is J. W. Hales; he was the fourth classic in Henry's year, 'and is extremely well read in History and English literature.' States that he took a very strong interest in female and middleclass education when in Cambridge 'and was one of the chief promoters of the girls' examination.' Describes his many qualities, which he believes would make him a good lecturer. Adds that money is of importance to him, as he intends to be married. He has friends in Liverpool, and could get very good testimonials.

Would be very glad to come and stay with her the first week in January. Asks her to tell Arthur that he shall press his motion about Natural Science praelector, and that if Arthur believes in it, he ought to come, but declares that his [Henry's] case is not so strong as he could wish.

Proposes to come to visit her on 29 or 31 December, and to stay until 8 or 9 January. Asks if this suits her, and to answer him by return of post. Asks when Arthur is going. Reports that his motion [proposing the election of a Praelector for the direction of Physical Science studies and other new subjects] was lost at the College meeting. Declares that he is now reading principally philosophy, and that he has much to read. Asks her to tell him about Mary [Minnie] and Edward when she writes. Reports that there are considerable changes going on [at Trinity College], which, he claims, will affect him somewhat, but that he has 'now got so used to being unsettled' that he works 'just as well'. Asks if she wrote to Mrs Clough [see 101/172/1-2).