Refers to having asked Sidgwick 'the other day' about the possibility of discussing a matter concerning himself [Maine], and declares that he has decided to write to him on the subject. Explains that at the funeral of the late Master of Trinity College [William Hepworth Thompson] he asked Vernon Harcourt whether he was going to lecture that term, and that Harcourt replied that 'he should very probably lecture in November; but that, if he did not, he should certainly resign.' November, he observes, is now over and Harcourt has not returned, so that he doubts 'but that he will resign at the end of the year.' He has decided to attempt to succeed Harcourt [as Whewell Professor of International Law], and to abandon his seat on the Indian Council. Acknowledges that this course of action 'will involve much sacrifice of income', but he has long felt that sooner or later he must make his choice between his Cambridge and his [ ] duties. With regard to International Law, claims that he has paid a good deal of attention to it, and used to lecture on it at the Middle Temple. Refers to his work on Ancient Law, and states that some propositions of his on the subject 'found their way into [his work] and have been generally accepted by modern writers.' Reports that since he returned from India, the Foreign Office offered him their Law Undersecretaryship, and that he was 'communicated with from Cambridge...when the Whewell Professorship was first filled up.' Acknowledges that some, who remember that he resigned a Cambridge professorship thirty years before, might think him too old to apply for the position. Mentions that Harcourt's deputy might also be intending to put himself forward. Claims that when he first decided to consult Sidgwick, he was not award that he was an elector, but he has made up his mind that this is not likely to affect his opinion one way or the other. Announces his intention to call on Saturday afternoon; states that he is returning to Cambridge the following evening. Acknowledges that Sidgwick may wish to speak to somebody else on the matter. Says that he has no objection to that, but asks him to try to keep what he may say 'treated as confidential'.
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Is sure things will improve and she must not worry; as his mother says, 'it is really rather... a storm in a teacup'; it is nothing to compare to the happiness that will soon be theirs. Though he often fails 'through weakness and idleness', his life 'has been passionately devoted... to the best and most beautiful things which [his] imagination can attain to' and hers will be as well; lists all that will be good in their lives. Will write again to the consul [Henry Turing] if he does not hear from him today, since they need to know whether he can come on the 7th [June]; has also not heard from Sir Henry Howard, through whom he sent the letter; will send the second letter direct to Turing. There has been some delay at the lawyers about the settlements; has written to tell them to speed up. Bessie should tell him if he need do anything else regarding the marriage conditions her uncle sent. Thinks he may come over on 12 or 13 June. Meta Smith, his aunt Margaret's daughter, has sent a silver inkstand, and Mrs Holman Hunt a piece of Japanese silk. Had a good time at Cambridge: saw Mrs McTaggart, a 'nice quiet sort of person'; Tom Moore read his play and thinks it should come out well though he has pointed out 'some serious faults and suggested alterations'; Moore is going to give him a lot of his woodcuts, and has begun an Epithalamium for them, though since he has not got on with it says they should defer the wedding for a month. Asks what he should do about the Apostles' dinner; it will be 'quite exceptional this year', Harcourt is president and everyone will come; would very much like to go but will not break their honeymoon if she does not wish it. Very keen to go to the lakes eventually, but they could spend a few days before the dinner at Blackdown among his 'old haunts'; Mrs Enticknap's aunt lives in a farmhouse a mile from Roundhurst, which would be perfect. Hopes [Alice and Herbert] Jones' visit has been a success. [Desmond] MacCarthy is coming tomorrow for a few days and [Oswald?] Sickert on Sunday for the day. Will see [the Frys] this evening and discuss colours for the walls. Thinks [Charles] Sanger is very happy; is not entirely sure [about the marriage], since 'Dora has behaved so strangely', but everything seems to be coming right. Has ben reading Emerson on poetry and imagination and thinks it 'amazingly fine and right'. Most people think "Pères et enfants [Fathers and Sons]" is Turgenev's best book; he himself does not like the ending but finds the book charming; has heard the French translation, the only one he has read, is better than the German or English one - Sickert says so and he is half-German. Has ordered the trousers, and found the catalogue so will order the beds and so on next week. Glad Bessie got on with her socialist sister [Theodora]. has just had a note from Sir Henry Howard saying 7 June will suit Turing; she should let her uncle know. Does not think there will be further delay with the legal papers.
Florence. - She and her husband have often thought and talked about Trevelyan since he left them, wondering what the future will hold; they 'must leave that to dear Bessie'. Things will be hard for them both now: Bessie will be in 'isolation' at home, as she will not be able to discuss this matter with Bramine's parents or sister unless she is 'absolutely clear in her own mind - it would be mental torture'. The 'terrible business of the [Second Boer] war' will also make an impression on her, feeling as she already does so strongly 'the wrench which marriage with a foreigner would be'. The worst thing about the war is 'the hypocracy [sic] with which all the English statesmen seem to be saturated', preparing for six months while giving the Boers the 'illusion' that an agreement could be made; and then there are speeches like that of Balfour and 'other so called honourable and religious gentleman'. Meanwhile, Harcourt 'protests, but will vote for the money [further military funding]! Is there then no generous mind left?' Are the English so much come down since Lord Chatham?'. In Chatham's day, however, the war was 'against men of the same race' rather than 'those stupid Boers, who live according to their antiquated notions derived from the old testament'; is 'bitter, very bitter, against the wicked Government', however much she likes Trevelyan, whom she calls 'my dear fellow'. As for Queen Victoria, 'one sees how, by being a sort of machine all one's life, one becomes one really at last'; wonders why she did not appeal to the nation; also criticises the other rules who sent ambassadors to the peace conference and 'do not move an inch to help against war', it is a sign of how low the 'moral standard' everywhere seems to be. In time the world will be 'one big Exchange' with no poetry, and nothing mattering but money and greed.
Returns to the letter after several days, now in Rome; meanwhile the British Parliament, apart for a few Irish representatives, have voted funds for the war; cannot understand the Whigs. She cannot sleep at night, and having 'loved the English so', nearly hates them now; cannot write to Bessie about Trevelyan, and in her place 'could never consent to give up my birthright of Dutchwoman, to become a subject of that wicked mecreant [sic] the prince of Wales', who 'sells his soul and that of his subjects for the gold of Africa' and will not even go out to fight himself. Has just received a letter from Bessie, which says Trevelyan is going to see her; prays that if he wins her love his influence may 'widen and deepen her love for all beings and things'. Feels 'very responsible in this matter', since it was she who brought them together, and Bessie is 'half sister, half child, exceedingly dear'. Would be 'dreadful if she became tainted by what seems... the national vice of the English = selfdeceiving egotism, overbearingness, hypocrisy' which they call 'commonsense'. Begs his pardon for speaking so openly, which she does as she knows he has 'width of mind enough to shake off all chauvinistic feeling'; perhaps he does not think the opposition should have refused the funds or resigned.
Advises Patterson that if he should arrive early and find Sidgwick out, the porters will direct them to the two sets of rooms; those of G.W. Balfour and those of Sir W. Harcourt. Invites Patterson and [Gyula?] Lanczy to breakfast in Newnham.
Letters from Harcourt dated 13 Dec. 1881-30 Dec. 1902.
Referring to his father William Venables Vernon Harcourt's papers.
Trinity:- Is glad that his father's 'Committee has not miscarried', and hopes it 'will not be unproductive and without issue'. Has not had time to 'follow political developments closely', but read Asquith's speech 'with great interest and approval'. Harry [Yates] Thompson and Dolly were at Trinity yesterday to stay with the Master. Thompson 'turned up' in Robert's room at 10 a.m. as he 'was dressing for a late Sunday breakfast', and found him 'covered by just that amount of clothing in which Nelson's sailors fought at the Nile and Trafalgar'.
Robert also saw Thompson at [Henry?] Jackson's after hall. There was discussion of the [Apostle's?] dinner, which will be on 20 June: they are 'for obvious reasons, very anxious to get a good attendance this time' and will try to get infrequent participants to come. Asks his father to 'use [his] powers of persuasion' if he meets anyone in the House of Commons or elsewhere 'who might perhaps come without it'. They are 'anxious to know [C. H.] Tawney's address'; asks his father to send it to him if he knows it, or 'tell [James] Parker Smith, the president'. Welldon has been asked, and Robert hopes he will 'turn up'. Asks whether Lord Carlisle every comes. The 'Chancellor [of the Exchequer] is for various reasons we fear impossible'.
Asks whether all is well at home. Chanced to see 'an energetic counter-attack of C[harles] upon [Edward?] Stanley', but has not 'seen the provocation'; supposes Charles will keep it so Robert will be able to see it in London. Is staying inside all today with 'a cold in the head of the kind that makes one very stupid', but is otherwise well. George is speaking tomorrow 'on Disestablishment'; he 'must speak at least once a term, as he is now on the committee'; he is well, and 'thoroughly engrossed in his work'. Robert sends his love to his mother, whom he proposes to call 'Matuschka' in future. Harry Thompson says the Master 'ate something that did not agree with him at the Saturday dinner, and has to keep to his bed all Sunday from indigestion'.
Includes report of the Manchester School Board Special Committee on Juvenile Offenders, 8 Nov. 1880.
Sends Sidgwick a copy of his [Philistine] [ ] [not included]. Refers to an 'enclosed notice' [not included]. Asks him to look for a book by Hall, On the Duty of Intercession, and to return it to the library for him.
States that he forgot to mention in his last letter [Add.MS.b.71/27] that Henry Sidgwick signed a petition drawn up by him [Sully] and Leslie Stephen in 1883 to the Home Secretary [Sir William Harcourt] asking him 'to reduce the sentence of a year's imprisonment passed on a man P[ ], an avowed Atheist, for blasphemy.' States that some, including Sir F. Pollock, believed that the sentence was not excessive, but that he [Sully] and others thought that it was, and they 'mustered a fair number of good names, including Prof. Huxley, Rev. [ ] Davies, Mr C[ ] [ ], and others.' Adds that Home Secretary acknowledged in the House of Commons that he had received the petition, but stated that he did not intend to act upon it. States that some days previously he came across the empty envelope in which Henry Sidgwick had enclosed his signature [included with letter, Add.MS.b.71/27a].
Sully, James (1842-1928) philosopher and psychologistThanks him for dealing with his book. Remarks that Sidgwick is 'very hard to please'. Refers to his sentiment about philosophers, and states that he meant to make a second speech at the d[inner] [Apostles' dinner?], to reply to those who were offended by the epithet that he used, but didn't. Compares his experience to 'the story of Sheridan'.
Announces that he is sending his second son 'to begin his life' at Trinity College. Asks Sidgwick to 'take a friendly notice of him', and expresses his wish that the boy adopts from Sidgwick every thing except his opinions. Doesn't know 'whether he will [ ] [ ] need to be an apostle.'
Asks Sidgwick to send an enclosed item [not included] to [Paller], whose Christian name he does not know.
Reports that all is well, and agrees with Sidgwick 'in thinking the result very satisfactory'. Announces that he shall be at Cambridge the following day.
Writes on the death of Henry Sidgwick to express his sympathy with Nora in her 'irreparable sorrow'. Refers to Henry as 'the most loveable and loved of men' and 'the kindest and most valued of friends'. Claims that it was a consolation to him 'to be the bearer of the affectionate greetings of his Cambridge [associates]' when he saw him for the last time. He had hoped that 'the end might have come not quite so soon', and that Nora would have 'still some longer enjoyment of [their] happy times. Wishes her the strength and fortitude Henry would have wished for her to have.
Expresses his pleasure at receiving Sidgwick's letter, in which the latter declared that he would preside over the Apostles Society dinner in 1900, if Holland desired it. Declares that he would rather hear Sidgwick speak than 'Sir W.V.H.[Harcourt]', but agrees that his name 'would be the most potent with which to draw a large gathering'. Suggests that Sidgwick write to him asking him to preside, and declares that if he declines, that he [Holland] will proclaim Sidgwick as 'the President of 1900.'
Expresses his contentment at the news that 'Sir W.H.[Harcourt]. gives a conditional acceptance for 1900' [to preside at that year's Apostles Dinner]. Declares his intention to announce the news on the 14th, and states that he will say that if 'Sir W.H. [Harcourt]' should fail' HS will undertake the role.
Treasury Chambers. Is pleased to be able to attend the commemoration feast.
Five letters
Stoney Cross. Lyndhurst, Hants.
Japanese characters (signature and date?) to bottom right. Annotation below: 'This gentleman is a Japanese studying in Law in England. His name is Yoshiyama'. A portion of a letter, probably from C. W. King, has been pasted below: '... the Japanese autograph carries double. The endorsement being the writing of Prof. Vernon Harcourt, the celebrated 'Historicus' of the Times newspaper'.