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In relation to Easter, states that his plans are uncertain. Is glad that she is interested in [William] Lecky. Gives his thoughts on reading and thinking; believes that 'it is not so easy as people think to choose reading that really sets the mind to work and makes it grow'; however, since everyone is 'always... much "involved in matter' as Aristotle says', the world and our 'little petty interests are "too much with us", and anything that lifts us out of them is a gain'. The ability to be thus lifted is something he much values in people; it is not proportionate to talent - intellect viewed as an instrument'. Arthur Butler has it, and it is one of the things Henry likes in [E. A?]. Scott.

Remarks that his mother has not written to him lately, and that they have 'in a sort of way dropped out of correspondence'. Claims that it was not he who objects to gossip; asserts that he has always maintained that 'it was the only way most people [had] of exercising their minds really, originally, on moral and social questions'. Says he is certainly interested in the Ritchies [the family of William Ritchie]; wishes that his mother could see them 'and ascertain whether the interest is due to [his] very limited acquaintance with (feminine) human nature'; has met many families but 'never... with one that took [his] fancy like this'. Asks what she thinks of Mrs Gretton; thinks that she must be livelier than most Rugby people, but that 'she is to be taken "cum grano" '.

Reports that Macmillan won't say who wrote Ecce Homo [recently published anonymously by J. R. Seeley], but has promised sometime to ask twenty people to dinner including Henry and the author. Reports that Gladstone wrote to Macmillan 'a letter acknowledging a presented copy and calling it a "noble book".' Relates that some of the 'younger men', such as Myers, are 'tremendously stirred by it', but that Henry is 'not quite in the same way'; quotes Carlyle saying that 'man and his universe are eternally divine', and adds that the author of Ecce Homo 'means us to go further and credit what is now to us incredible. He may be right'.

Expresses surprise at Mrs Gretton preferring the eldest Miss Ritchie [Augusta], and declares that he does also, although he does not think most people would. Refers also to the second Miss Ritchie [Blanche], 'Cornish's betrothed', as 'more unworldly perhaps.' Declares that when he comes across girls who interest him he uses his opportunities with considerable eagerness, 'because they are necessarily so few.'

Refers to a letter to the Royal Society from Lord Dillon on behalf of several interested gentlemen, including Arthur Balfour, James Bryce, Lord Acton, HS, Professor Jebb, W.E. Lecky, Leslie Stephen, and others, in relation to the formation of a British Academy.

Also refers to Henry Sidgwick's plan for the the institution of a new academy or section. Lays out plan, including the ways in which the Royal Society might aid in the project. Refers to its proposed scope in terms of subject-related sections. Refers to the participation of the Royal Society in the foundation of an International Association of the principal Scientific and Literary Academies of the world, and to a scheme drawn up for the organisation of the Association, which provides for the division of the Association into two sections - ' "Scientific" ' and ' "Literary" '. Points out that there is no existing institution 'competent to represent the United Kingdom in the Philosophico-Historical [Literary] section', and this fact is used as an argument for the foundation of a new Academy.

Includes proposals 'submitted to the Committee' on ways in which the demand for the representation of Philosophico-Historical studies in an Academy might be dealt with, including the creations of an organisation independent of the Royal Society; the creation of two ' "Academies" ' within the Royal Society; the creation of two or three ' "Sections" ' of the Royal Society; and the creation of twenty-five to fifty Fellows 'representing the Philosophico-Historical subjects, to serve as a nucleus, and creation of three or four committees, similar to those already existing, viz., one for Ethnography and Archaeology, one for Philology, one for Statistics and Political Economy, and one for Psychology...'.

Reports that the above schemes were discussed at an interview with a number of representatives of the Philosophico-Historical Sciences, and that the general opinion of these gentlemen was in favour of the creation of two or three sections of the Royal Society. Refers to the issue of whether the Royal Society 'will be more useful if the area of its interests is enlarged.' Discusses the divisions between the Natural Sciences and the Philosophico-Historical group of sciences, and the manner in which each group is treated in other European countries. Raises the question of Government grants, and suggests that if new subjects were to share in these grants it might have the effect of dividing the Royal Society into sections with comparatively weak common interests. Refers also to the effect of the scheme on expenditure and on the organisation of the staff.

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - They have heard from Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] that she had caught a bad cold, could not work, and decided to go now to Taormina as Bramine [Hubrecht] had proposed she should come and spend a month with them; thinks this is a good thing since she thinks it was parting from Maud [Howard] which upset Tuttie more than the cold; it 'really is a most morbid friendship'; discusses Tuttie's character, and the tension when she and her sister Mien came to live with their uncle and aunt after their mother's death and Tuttie had much of the responsibility of looking after them since 'she was far too young and domineering'. Reflections on the time that children grow up and do not take their relatives for granted, along with the varied nature of her own experience so far. Has to go and prepare as she is going with her uncle and aunt to a dinner party with the vice president of the State Council, a friend of her uncle's. Dreamt last night that she and her sister arranged to share husbands, though she herself was rather reluctant; later she had a still worse dream in which there was no Bob and a man 'like a young Dane I met last summer, a cousin of the Hartmann's' was kissing her 'and I even enjoyed it!!'.

Writes next day that she has received Bob's letter, and the enclosure from his friend [Thomas Tettrell?] Phelps which is charming; remembers what he said about Phelps' 'prophetic jokes' and hopes the one about the Hollanders does not come true; promises she will not get fat as she is 'too bony' and anyway has no figure to lose. Describes the dinner party last night: one of her neighbours at table was from Zeeland and told her stories about the customs of the peasantry there; the host was also from Zeeland and they usually have a very strong feeling for their province. There was some talk of Bob; a 'fat gentleman, the secretary of the Council' seemed to have read nearly all of the Trevelyan family's literature and asked many questions; their host proposed a tost to their engagement. Looks forward to reading 'the Paolo and Francesca play which is so much the rage' [by Ste[hen Phillips]; wonders if she will feel as critical about it as Bob does; will also read "The Merchant of Venice" and re-read "Romeo and Juliet", though she has a lot to read and the Hague is not as quiet as Ravello. Laetita Ede has sent her "The Golden Age" by Kenneth Grahame; asks if Bob knows it. Is glad the weather is better and he has got some work done; the Germans call a bad poet a 'Wasserpoet' or waterpoet; she could call him a 'weather-poet' as he 'can only do good work W[eather] P[ermitting'; apologises for teasing him. Asks what play he is working on; knows it is not the one he showed her a scene of. Now Bob has read Ambro [Hubrecht's] article he is 'clever & scientific again' and can let her go to lectures in peace. Gives a satirical sketch of his character, then says she is cross today, firstly for spilling tea down her new dress and secondly as she had bad dreams again last night.

Continues the letter on Sunday afternoon. Ambro and his wife are coming tonight or tomorrow to spend the week, with their children who are 'sure to make things very lively'; unfortunately the thaw has set in so they will not get much skating, which they love. Has read of the destruction of the Capuccini hotel at Amalfi by a landslip; asks if this is true and whether there has been anything felt at Ravello. Her uncle has written to Lord Reay to ask about necessary formalities for the marriage and has had a reply giving some but not all the answers he requires; Lord Reay has made inquiries about Mr [William Edward Hartpole] Lecky's marriage, as his wife is a Dutchwoman [Elisabeth van Deden] also with some landed property; they held the civil marriage in the Hague in the Town House and at the English Embassy. Hopes this will be enough for them; an 'English church marriage' would be 'very unpleasant in this case'; hopes he feels the same; would like to leave out as much 'conventionality for the world's sake' as possible. If they want the Grandmonts to be there, it will have to be after May, while it will need to be before August for the Röntgens to be present. Her uncle will write to Bob's father as soon as he knows exactly how things stand. Asks how [Pasquale] Palumbo is doing, and whether Bob had a good Christmas.

19 Portman Square, W. - Many congratulations on Robert's 'international match'; only got Robert's address from Mrs Dugdale yesterday so could not write sooner. Has asked 'every Dutch authority' he knows about Robert's fiancée - Lord Reay and Mrs Lecky - and thinks the 'world will say [Bob] is a wise poet'. Sends his and his wife's best wishes; asks Robert if he could send them a photograph, and whether the wedding will take place in the summer as his mother suggests. Envies him his visits to the Hague; there are 'some splendid illuminated MSS there!'. Postscript saying he is 'deadly pro-Boer', and wonders how Robert manages on that topic; hears Mrs Lecky 'leads her husband a life on that subject'.

Explains that he had intended to write to Sidgwick many times since [J.B.] Payne's death, but the latter event affected him so much that he did not have the heart to do so. Tells how he was looking forward to Payne's visit, when the latter's brother contacted him to tell him that he had died. Recounts that their last meeting was when he [Kegan Paul] was on his way to preach the Free Christian Union sermon, and that after the 'misrepresentation of it in the Pall Mall [Gazette], Payne tried to persuade the Editor 'to set the report right'. Expresses the wish that Sidgwick will come to visit in the autumn.

Reports that the Cornishes have been to visit, as well as several other friends, but that some pupils who had been coming to him were no longer being sent by their parents, because of the sermon he preached at the Free Christian Union. Refers to a paper he has just sent to Beard or Renan, and fears that Sidgwick will think that he is 'hedging on the orthodox side' in it. Reports that Cornish is reviewing [W.E.H. ?]Lecky in the same Theological Review. Remarks that Dakyns was very good to him, and sent him 'all sorts of information' about Brighton College. Announces that he is sending Louis back to Brighton, and that he gave Dakyns' information 'to a [ ] who is going to send his boys there.' Asks Sidgwick to give him 'a bed somewhere in Oct[obe]r' if he doesn't come to visit,

Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Has been 'out composing verses in a tempest'. Glad she is having happy dreams; suggests analyses for her one about the cicalas [9/26]. Quotes from Moore on sleep [Thomas Sturge Moore, "To An Early Spring Day"]. Sorry that her aunt's recovery is not speedier. Will send a letter to her tomorrow. Does not like Mrs Costelloe 'in many ways', but does not condemn her for 'refusing to live with Costelloe' who seems to have been 'almost impossible to live with', though she should not have been 'taken in' by him; thinks her and [Bernard] Berenson's relationship is 'as nice as those sort of relations can be'; discusses her influence on him. Supposes he will see Miss D. G. [Lina Duff Gordon] at Florence; explains the nature of their friendship further. He and Lina are on 'very good terms' again, and she likes his poem about her pet bat ["The Lady's Bat"], though it is not yet finished.

Continues the letter next day; has read most of the editor's letter in the paper sent by Bessie's uncle [in a Dutch paper, to the Duke of Devonshire, see 9/26]; thinks he is 'in the main right' but knows 'little of the facts, except what he has gathered from English writers who disapprove of the [Second Boer] war' such as Bryce, Hobson, Lecky and Courtney; since he has 'ornamented his columns with many not very apt quotations' Bob as a poet ought not to be too hard on him. Thinks he will spend two days with Berenson at Florence, since it is unlikely Mrs Costelloe will be back; has not yet heard from his mother about crossing with Bessie and the letter may not have reached her. Asks him his plans suit Bessie. Is torn between Venus and Apollo, and 'Apollo has all the nine young ladies [the Muses] on his side'.