Bologna. - Notes that letters should be send to 2 Cheyne Gardens, as they will be forwarded. Is thinking of Bob and Bessie, and 'waiting to hear good news' [Bessie is due to give birth]. Will be in Rome soon, which he always enjoys; finds it strange that in Italy he always 'feel[s] a kind of dissatisfaction' until he is there, however much he is enjoying himself elsewhere. Will spend a fortnight in Naples in March, which 'will be an effort'; fortunately he will be able to stay with 'one of the Huxley youths [Julian], a grandson of the [emphasised, i.e. Thomas]', Jan's cousin who is working at the marine biological station there. Huxley is 'a clever fellow and very nice and a good liberal... curious how much one cares about that nowadays'. Janet will let him know [when the baby is born]: is anxious to spare Bob and Bessie trouble so they need not telegraph him or write. in a postscript, sends love to Caroline if she is with them.
26 Colville Road (Bayswater).—Discusses a paper on rectilinear motion. Huxley is preparing to lecture on Spinoza. Suggests that legal measures should be taken against mediums.
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Transcript
26 Colville Road
Oct 4/75
My dear Fred
My letters disappeared for a week because the servant was let in to light a fire and chose to make the study “tidy.” I see I shall never be allowed to become a correspondent.
The marked passages are all right, but the case is even stronger. Tchebichef thought he had proved rectilinear motion impossible with five bars, and was on his way to prove it impossible with any number. Peaucellier accomplished it with seven, but Hart has since done it with five. Magnis componere parva {1}, I am on the point of finishing the enumeration of types of compound statement with four terms (the premises of a syllogism make one type with 3 terms) which Jevons said would employ thousands of men many lifetimes or something to that effect {2}.
The passage of Spinoza is Ethic. part iii prop 2. I find that Huxley (we went to see them last night) is preparing to hold forth on Spinoza with special reference to this doctrine. I told him to read your article & he said Morley had already put him up to it. There is to be a bicentenary in ’77, and the Dutch have taken Holland to hold it in.
Is not a contract to find treasure by magic punishable as [an] attempt to obtain money on false pretences? If this clearly applied to the fee of a medium and all such matters, the moral effect would be splendid. Thine W.K.C.
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{1} 'To compare great things with little things.'
{2} See Clifford's paper on the subject, 1877.
Contains notes from Joseph Some Problems of Ethics (cont), Osborne Philosophy of Value, Laird Study in Moral Theory, Harrod Utilitarianism Revised, Ross Foundations of Ethics, The Philosophy of G E Moore, Jackson Butler's Refutation of Psychological Hedonism and Practical Reason, Huxley Evolutionary Ethics, Joseph Lectures on Plato's Republic and Purposive Action, Ross Aristotle's Ethics
Is 'out of reach of the bulk of [his] books, not to mention the Athenaeum and the London Library' but says there is 'a good deal about the Metaphysical Society up and down various recent memoirs': mentions Leslie Stephen's life of James Fitzjames Stephen and Wilfrid Ward's book about his father W.G. Ward. Sees no reason why Sir James Knowles, who has the minute book of the society, should not be willing to let Nora see it. States that Shadworth Hodgson is about the only living person who was an active member before he [Pollock] joined the society. Does not think that there is much relevant information on it in Huxley's biography, but suggests that it would be worthwhile to look. States that Dr Martineau was the last chairman of the society.
Remarks that it was surprising that its members stayed together for so long, and states that the Synthetic Society is 'a kind of modified revival of it.' Does not believe that Henry Sidgwick came to the society's meetings often during Pollock's time, but states that he had many better opportunities for discussion with him outside the society. Relates that at one time Knowles 'thought or preferred to think the [society] was going to define the fundamental terms of philosophy and prepare the way for a general agreement', and states that the members certainly were not up to such a task. Refers also to a plan that he and Henry had around 1897 to set up 'a smaller speculative club or brother-hood with enough common tendency to hold it together but no dogmas', but it came to nothing. Is glad that Nora liked his review [of Henry's The Development of European Polity]; states that he was especially impressed by 'the excellence of the medieval part.' Adds that 'the Society was intended to satisfy Tennyson concerning the immortality of the soul', and states that he believes that the latter attended one meeting.
Magd[alene] Coll[ege], Cambridge. - Huxley has confirmed that a Royal Commission ['on Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science'] is to be convened with himself as a member; would Houghton mention Newton's name to Mr. Forster? Would accept Secretaryship if members already appointed.
Accepts invitation to Harrow speech day.
Thanks his mother for her letter, which arrived on the 11th or 12th [February]; sends love to all. Fifteen boys have 'the plague, ie chickenpox' including Hicks, Lid, Lawson, Barnaby, Law, O'Brien, Booth, Rumbold, Davenport, Clive, Clerk, Van de Weyer mi[nor] and Lenox. It 'is awful fun, there are such a few of us'. Is sleeping in Sac[k]ville West's room, as all his usual room-mates are ill, and likes it 'very much'. The first [form] are 'doing Physiography instead of geography, the book is by Huxl[e]y, and it is very interesting indeed. Hopes his father is well.
Continues with a letter to [his brother] Georgie, wishing him 'many happy returns of the day' as he thinks tomorrow is his birthday; Georgie should 'count that purse as [Robert's] present. Hopes he is getting on well with Latin, and that his leg is better. Sends his love to Booa [Mary Prestwich] and hopes she is well.
Series of sketches on the back page showing the misfortunes of a man attempting to shoot a 'bun[n]y': '1 He misses. 2 He hits his hat He goes over [a cliff] 3 He is shot while revenging himself 4 He goes in [to the sea or other body of water].
Belfast.—Refers to a visit to Lucy’s parents and to his activities at the British Association meeting. Fred’s letter has been praised. Sends sympathy to Fred’s legs.
(With an envelope.)
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Belfast—Sunday
My dear Georgie
I am ashamed to have taken so long to thank you for your very kind letter and Fred’s. Just before I came here to the Brit. Ass. {1} we went to see our parents {2} who are staying at Worthing. I broke the matter gently to the papa after dinner by lifting a glass of wine and saying cheerfully “Well, here’s to our closer relationship.” He was however fond of billiards, and I have regretted ever since that I did not get on to that subject and say “By the way, talking of hazards, I understand that I am going to marry your daughter.” I must now get engaged to some other girl whose father is fond of billiards, in order to say that to him. Lucy says I have never properly proposed yet, so I am going to do it the day before; she says she will say no, which of course is immaterial; for if you begin by letting your wife have a will of her own in important questions of that sort, there is no knowing where you will stop. I shewed Fred’s letter to Tyndall, & Spencer, who passed it on to Huxley, and they were all delighted. This morning Corfield, Atchison & I went to Section 4, to hear Prof. Jellett preach; {3} it was the first time I had been in such a building since your wedding. Atchison nearly killed us by wanting to know if we could not go on the platform with our tickets (general committee, marked red). It was the only place where there was any room. Now I must go and post this or the Reception Room will be closed. Give my best love to Fred and my sympathies to his legs; and believe me
Yours always
Willi
[Direction on envelope:] Mrs Pollock | Gill’s Fernery {4} | Lynton | Barnstaple | Devon
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The envelope was postmarked at Belfast on 24 August 1874.
{1} A meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science was held at Belfast between 19 and 26 August 1874. See The Times.
{2} i.e. Lucy’s parents.
{3} Section 4 was probably the Section for Mathematical and Physical Science, over which Jellett had presided on previous days. See The Times.
{4} A fern nursery established by Edmund Gill in 1858.
Explains that Sidgwick's note was forwarded to him, and hopes that he understands the delay. Discusses the 'passable candidates' for a post referred to by Sidgwick. Claims that because of the size of the remuneration, he would get 'the pick of all the scientific men who have not any Professorship or similar appointment, provided other conditions suited.' Believes that the multiplicity of subjects to be taught could cause problems. Lays down who he believes are the actual classes of men 'who might become candidates'; [assistants] to professors, especially to [professors] of chemistry; medical men who have made a special study of some branch of science; '[G]eologists who have been educated at the school of [mines] and either are or have been employed on the Geological Survey'; Oxford and Cambridge men. Refers to academical degrees and claims that 'the only ones of any value in this respect are German degrees and the Science degrees of the University of London.' Discusses the difference between a B.Sc. and a D.Sc. Claims that he could mention individuals 'who have only lately got appointments elsewhere and who would have jumped at [the] office a short time ago'.
Believes that 'any one of the great scientific men who lives by his [ ] would have thought himself very lucky to get such a place [by] the age of 30, eg. Huxley, Tyndall etc.' Predicts that if Sidgwick advertises the post he will be certain to get a great many applications 'unless some great names should be put forward.' Thinks that Geology 'will be the rarest accomplishment as it is really rather a pursuit than a science or at any rate, it is the application of several sciences.' Thanks Sidgwick for sending Swinburne, and declares that he is glad Sidgwick's weight 'is on the side of the party who can admire even while holding their noses.'
Payne, Joseph Frank (1840-1910) physicianSt John’s College, Cambridge.—Discusses Pollock’s review of Morris (Part III of The Earthly Paradise). Huxley has been at Cambridge, stirring up the young Christian men. The Society voted against the extension of the ‘Cont. dis.’(?) Acts last night. Suggests that divorce should be made as easy as marriage, and that polyandry should be made respectable.
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Transcript
St John’s College, Cambridge
Sunday Mar 28/70
My dear Fred—You see I am an emigrant at last: I came to the conclusion that Trinity was played out, that John’s was to be miles a head† in both Triposes, that the chapel was much nicer, and generally that my doll is stuffed wi sawdust and I would like to go into a nunnery; {1} on all which accounts I have come here, and—as you will readily imagine—it was just the trouble and bustle and anxiety of migrating that caused my long and (under any other circumstances) disgraceful silence. I have here adopted an entirely new pen, in the hope of writing smaller (’ίδετε πηλίκοις γράμμασιν κ.τ.λ. {2}—Μεγα Βιβλιον, μ. κ.) and saying more. In particular I want to congratulate you and thank you extremely for reviewing Morris; I got a Spectator in the union, and was never so pleased, I think, with a periodical. {3} Crotch, who has read the other review, says you are the only person that has spotted the great beauty of the gradual realization in the Land East of the Sun. Only I think I like both that and the man who never laughed again rather better than you do: though this is rather for the truth of that universal story than for the beauty of its presentment. One hates interpretations, of course; but I think it means this. That a future more perfect state of mind, elysium compared with the present, is always being elaborated in the unconscious part of the brain. That sometimes this crops up into consciousness, and we live in the next century for a season, to our great and endless comfort. Then it drops back again into the great workshop, where nature goes on perfecting it until the appointed time, which may be in our day or in our childrens’, poco mi importo. {4} Only the first vision is mostly so shadowy, that we know it only by our sympathy with those who have seen it, until we are in the position of the wanderer toiling towards the final resolution.
Huxley has been here stirring up the Xtian young men. He did it very well, explaining that he was an old Pagan who could not take the trouble to affirm or deny their Xtian idea, but nevertheless was not going so perpendicularly downwards as they seemed to suppose. The Society all but unanimously voted against the extension of the Cont. dis. Acts {5} last night. I have at last got a definite line to take up: divorce must be made as easy as marriage, and polyandry respectable. Herein I speak not as a legislator but only as a prophet. Thine ever
W.K.C.
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{1} A similar phrase occurs at the end of Louisa May Alcott’s story ‘Debby’s Debut’, first published in the Atlantic Monthly, August 1863: ‘Grandma, the world is hollow; my doll is stuffed with sawdust; and I should like to go into a convent, if you please.’ But the expression may be proverbial.
{2} Cf. Galatians vi. 11: ‘Ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί’ (‘Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand’).
{3} The reference is to Pollock’s unsigned review of the third part of William Morris's Earthly Paradise (1870), in the Spectator, No. 2176 (w/e 12 March 1870), pp. 332–4. The following extract (p. 333) will explain some of the subsequent allusions:
'Certainly the path Mr. Morris has chosen has dangers as well as delights peculiar to itself; it is difficult in avoiding sharpness, excess of speed, and concentration, not to fall at times into a strain that wearies by very softness. We confess to certain misgivings about “The Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon.” It is a region almost too dreamy and misty for living men to walk in; we lose ourselves in rambling melodies, and are oppressed with the vagueness of everlasting twilight. Yet Mr. Morris has to a great extent foreseen and disarmed this objection; for with a true instinct he has set forth this tale, and this alone, in the fashion of a dream; so that what might have been otherwise reproached as extravagant becomes in this place just and artistic. Whether or not this visionary show is exactly what we like best, we must admit that it is what we had to expect. A gradual change in the dream is finely conceived; the sleeper twice wakes and sleeps again, and whereas he began with dreaming of the tale as told by another, he dreams next that he is telling it himself, and in his third sleep it is no more a tale, but his own life. A singularly beautiful Christmas Carol is introduced (p. 86), and pleasantly relieves the rather monotonous flow of the story. It is too long to extract, and moreover we have no mind to save readers the trouble, or rather deprive them of the pleasure, of looking for it in the book. We know not if the shepherds’ “news of a fair and a marvellous thing” has been retold by any modern poet with such a sweet antique simplicity.
Another comparatively weak portion of this volume is the story of “The Man who never laughed again.” It fails to satisfy us much in the same way as the dream-piece; there is a similar want of substance and variety; a strange feeling, after we have heard the story out, that we cannot tell what it was all about. It is curious that the themes of these two poems are very much alike, though they seem to have come from sources widely apart, and differ in local colouring and catastrophe. In each case we have a dweller on the earth born away to a cloudland of love and pleasure, and driven back to the common world, and losing his love, by his own perversity; and in each case we grow rather impatient of his selfish longings. Mr. Morris’s characters, as we have said, are not capable of enlisting any strong or exclusive personal sympathy; rather it is essential to his method to prevent them from doing so. These solitary transports of desire and despair, relieved by no other interest, are too much for a shadow, and too little for a living soul.'
{4} ‘It matters little to me’ (Italian).
{5} ‘Cont. dis.’: reading and meaning uncertain.
† Sic.
2 Tobernea Terrace, Seapoint, Dublin. - Her husband Walter Noel Hartley has applied for the Chair of Chemistry at South Kensington; now fears Sir Henry Roscoe will give it to his friend Odling; Roscoe is using radical influence of Thomas Bayley Potter and Professor Huxley to further his ends; quotes Roscoe's refutation of promotion on merit; they will be ruined if the Nationalists and Jesuits manage to close the Dublin College of Science; will Houghton intercede with Lord Carlingford on her husband's behalf? Lady Cloncurry and Miss [Emily?] Lawless; her own current books: 'I have a novel creeping on - something in the style of Miss Ferrand'.
States that he would like to alter the testimonial 'in two points', if Myers would send it to him. Hopes that he is 'coming up' [to Cambridge]. Reports that he is 'suffering from much depression of spirits from various causes...' Refers to Myers' statements on philanthropy. Believes that 'what are called the Rights of Conscience are being caricatured to a strange degree', and declares that 'it is a relief to find Huxley avowing that he does not accept "the modern doctrine of intention".' Refers to the Pall Mall Gazette and Saturday Review, stating that 'it is ridiculous for these journals to give themselves airs as if they had argued and the women merely declaimed - the reverse is much more true.' States that his idea of philanthropy is that 'it is a noble profession or career rather than a Virtue.' Would like to know Myers' opinion of Octavia Hill if he ever gets a chance to meet her.
(Funchal, Madeira.)—Entrusts the education of his children to Pollock and Huxley, desiring them to be brought up without any knowledge of ‘theological hypotheses’. Expresses his love for his wife, and sends love to members of the Pollock family.
(With envelope. Undated. According to Fisher Dilke, this letter was written ‘twenty minutes or so’ before Clifford’s death.)
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Transcript
My dearest Fred
I am told this must be written before I get dazed, as I may not get clear enough again. No words can say what a friend you have been to me. {1} I who have had so many and so good ones, must always count you the best and the truest. I have nothing to leave you but my children; the education of which I entrust to you and Huxley; I want them brought up without any knowledge of theological—that last syllable {2}—hypotheses at all, but if the nursery {3} should teach anything of the sort, it should be set aside with the simple argument suited to the form it is presented in. For the rest of their education, which I should probably spoil, {4} I must trust you. I like them to stay with the Roberts’s, whose kindness in this regard has been boundless, but if my most beloved and devoted wife Lucy, who is the best and best loved that ever lived, should survive the shock of my death, she will of course take care of such things herself.
Give my love to Sir Frederic & my Lady, {4} to my dearest Georgie and your kids, to the Walters and Jack and to all that have it.
Yours always
Willi
[Direction on envelope:] Fred
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Written in pencil, in a very shaky hand.
{1} Full stop supplied, in place of a comma.
{2} The writer had made several attempts to write the last two letters of ‘theological’. The following dash has been supplied.
{3} Reading uncertain.
{4} Comma supplied.
Announces that he will come down with Arthur on the 22nd [December]. States that William talks of coming to see him for two days 'on the Saturday'. Declares that his work is over, and that he is 'grinding' at Arabic and ethnology. His friends are 'all coming up from the different schools and it is very jolly'. Replies that she should not get him a ticket for the concert since he does not know if he shall come until the evening. Intends to bring his Arabic home with him. Reports that he has read Prehistoric Man [by Daniel Wilson?], but wasn't very impressed with it, and announces that there are 'some interesting scientific books expected by Lyall and Huxley, bearing on Primæval Man'. States that he looks forward to seeing Miss [Lucy?] Brown.
Strafford House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Dated 29/3/16 - Was only in London for the day of the lecture and saw only Moncrieff and Dr Sutherland Black, will be back to see Mrs Holman Hunt at the weekend; glad to hear he is giving the Huxley Lecture, it was 'worth being born to have known him'; takes refuge from the awful war in the calm pages of great thinkers.
Pitlochry, N.B. - JDF 'heard that Huxley's [Thomas Huxley] attack on the Bishop of Oxford in re Darwin [Charles Darwin]', at the BAAS meeting in Oxford, 'was most indecent'. What is JDF to do regarding John Tyndall's recently published book on glaciers? JT has implied that JDF suppressed Rendu's glacier theory in a way which 'is so cunningly constructed to mislead that I fear it will be inevitable for me to notice it'.
(Place of writing not indicated.)—Has been working with Lockyer on molecules and talking metaphysics with Huxley. Refers to his (own) talk on ‘the right and wrong of admitting the results of the scientific method in certain ground which it has already occupied’.
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Transcript
Dear Fred—Very sorry I can’t come to be wound up on Wednesday but we are going to the play. I am so tired, having spent the day at work with Lockyer at a paper on molecules, and the evening in talking metaphysics with Huxley. I think we have got out satisfactorily that the force between 2 molecules cannot be entirely in the line joining their centres as everybody has hitherto supposed, and this suits admirably my guess that they are small magnets.
As to my sermon, {1} I suppose it may be called so because the tag {2} dealt with the right and wrong of admitting the results of the scientific method in certain ground which it has already occupied. Now this point, that it is right to use the scientific method even on this ground, and that it is wrong to resist the evidence because the results are unpleasing, is to me a point of infinitely more importance to get people to feel, than without that to make them gently believe any amount of unorthodox doctrine. A question of right and wrong knows neither time, place, nor expediency. I think we have made a mistake in our laissez faire. It is not an intellectual revolution that has to be accomplished. The opinion of cultivated people goes of itself at an enormous rate; but the control of the feelings of the masses is falling more and more into the hands of the medicine-man, and he is awake to his true vocation and preaches social sedition. I am afraid for my civilization if we do not make an effort to discredit him, and to get people to recognize what they have hitherto acted on, that the right is an affair of plain open dealing and not of ghosts and conjuring tricks. They can be talked out of that here and now as they have been before in other places; and the clergy of all denominations are doing their worst with no small success.
Thine ever
Willi.
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{1} Possibly 'Right and Wrong’ or ‘The Ethics of Belief’.