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Marlborough House. Informs the Master that he intends for his eldest son [Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence] to attend Trinity, as he did himself. This letter will be given to the Master by J[ohn] N[eale] Dalton, Albert Victor's tutor, whom the Prince of Wales proposes should accompany him to Cambridge in October.

Monk Soham.—Thanks him for a copy of his book (the Bible Word Book), and reflects on the death of William Whewell. Invites him to stay, to give him an opportunity of consulting manuscripts at Helmingham. Discusses connections between English dialects and East Frisian.

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Transcript

Monk Soham
March 9. 1866.

Dear Mr Wright,

Many thanks for your book {1} which I have looked over with very great interest, and shall hope to have an early notice of in the Christian Advocate.

You have lost a Great Man at Cambridge {2}. I thought him looking so handsome, when I saw him a month ago. Age had given dignity to the hard features, and his white hair gave him a venerable look.

All his foibles and failings will be buried in his grave and forgotten: but he will live, specially among you at Trinity.

As regards any Chaucer M.SS. at Helmingham, I only know of one a fragment on paper, and I cannot trust my recollection as to what it is.

The books and M.S.S are not accessible save when Mr Tollemache is there.

Perhaps he may come down during the Whitsun Holydays.

Can you come and stay a few days with me, in case the Library is then accessible.

I will ask Bradshaw to come down with you, and you shall rummage one or two closets &c, which I don’t think have been sufficiently gone over.

I quite hold to your project about the General Dialecticon—to coin a word—and will gladly help in it.

I think I can furnish some good specimens of old Harvest-songs, and such old songs as go to tuneless tunes.

Did you ever hear a true Suffolk tune—“never ending, still beginning.”

Do you know a book—of which I carried off Vol. 1. the other day from the P.L.—which mightily amuses me.

“Firmenich, J. W. “Germaniens Völkerstimmen.”

I cannot make out much system in it, except that the series of dialects are topographically arranged. Perhaps the third Volume contains results.

I have gathered some very curious illustrations and Bremen dialects.

Perhaps things all known before, only having the special flavour to me of game taken by my own hunting.

E.G.

Do you know the Dorset Dialect? How constantly the words “I low” recur: “I low, twill rain tomorrow.”—I used to think this meant “I allow” by the figure of Tmesis—so convenient for amateur philologists.

But, lo ye {3}, in East Frisian. | (p. 18. Fermenich)

“De Dokter Liefpien het mi dar’n Dings an mien Schürdöer schreven, ich lör, ’t is Kremerlatien”

“Docter Liefpien had written me something about it on the — {4} door, I low, it is Kremer-(?) Latin.

(Elsewhere it is called “Dews-latien” = Dog-latin!!!

Then p. 42. Mundart Kiels.

“Ich glöw, et sull en Amtsverwalter sien.”

I low, it was an Official.”

So here we have “Ich glaube”. and Dorsetshire “I low” = I believe.

Tög = heng {5} = Dress = Toggery.

Noch ein Wortchen!

Moor = Mother | = Mor, Suffolk.

Yours sincerely,
Robert. W. Groome

I know so little of your Cambridge politics; but who will be your new master.
Mathison, Vaughan, Thompson? {6}

Has W.H.T. any chance?

Have you read E.F.G. “Mighty Magician” yet? {7}

[Second postscript:]

I open my letter to obtrude some advice.

In your list of books appended to your W.B. {8} I miss one book, which may be after all well known to you, but if not a book of great value for your Shakspere Glossary, if you are meditating such a Magnum opus.

“The Courtier of Count Baldesar Castilio – – – – done into English by Thomas Hobby. | London Printed by John Wolfe | 1588.

I meant to have excerpt† it for the Big Dic {9}, during poor H. Coleridge’s Life, but since then “fresh fields”—I cannot “pastures gay”—for they are sad at times—have occupied me.

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The first postscript was added at the head of the first sheet, the second on a separate slip. There are a few irregularities of punctuation, which have not been corrected. The letter was sent with two lists of notable words in Hoby’s translation of Castiglione’s Courtier (Add. MS b. 74/5/2).

{1} Wright’s Bible Word Book, first published this year.

{2} William Whewell, who died on 6 March.

{3} ‘lo ye’: reading uncertain.

{4} A question mark has been added above the dash.

{5} Reading uncertain.

{6} W. C. Mathison, C. J. Vaughan, W. H. Thompson, all Fellows of Trinity.

{7} Edward FitzGerald’s translation of Calderón’s play El mágico prodigioso, privately printed in 1865. There are six copies in Trinity College Library.

{8} i.e. the Bible Word Book.

{9} This is the apparent reading—perhaps short for ‘Big Dictionary’; but the reference is unclear.

Two letters

Trinity Lodge, Cambridge.—Explains why he has not yet subscribed for the relief of Clifford's widow, and asks Pollock to convey the enclosed sum to her anonymously.

(With an envelope.)

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Transcript

Trinity Lodge, Cambridge
28 Mar 1881

Dear Frederick Pollock

When your father asked me some time ago to subscribe to a Memorial or rather—for it was in his life time—a public Testimonial to Prof. Clifford, I declined to do so, for reasons which I still think valid. I think it was after his death that I said I would subscribe for the relief of his widow, for whom I feel a sincere compassion. If I have failed to do so, it was not because I had changed my mind in the matter, but simply because the Memorial was still designed {1} in honour of her husband & contained words to which I could not affix my name. I wish now to redeem whatever pledge I may have given, & beg that if you think the poor lady will accept the sum enclosed you will kindly convey it to her—without mentioning my name.

You will judge how far this is possible without offending her delicacy. It seemed to me possible that she might not disdain to receive a little additional help from one who had as much admiration for her late husband’s talents as he had disapproval of his philosophical opinions.

Believe me
Yours very truly
W. H Thompson

[Direction on envelope:] F. Pollock Esq | 48 Gt Cumberland Place | London | W

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The envelope was postmarked at Cambridge and London, W., on 28 March 1881, and has been marked ‘Master of Trinity | for L.C.’

{1} Reading uncertain.

Thanks for Theodor Aufrecht's Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge.

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.

Marham House, Downham Market. - Requests accommodation in College whilst spending a few days with his son.

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'.

WW is sorry he will not be able to avail himself of Mr Woodard's invitation [Nathaniel Woodard]. WW is going abroad to join Cordelia Whewell. The daughter of John Herschel has been her companion since March. WW agrees with JCH that in electing Thompson [William Hepworth Thompson elected Regius Professor of Greek] they have got the best Professor there was to be had. As to the spinning tables, WW finds 'every year some prevailing charlatanism in London, and that of this year, is I think, about the most childish and imprudent that I have yet seen'.

Enclosing letter from W. H. Thompson to E. T. Vaughan, [Jun 1885?], and copy of this by S. E. Smith.

Volume of letters arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with usually no more than one letter per person, each correspondent identified at the top of the page on which the letter is mounted, in the form of an autograph book.

118: Includes note from Hon. Henrietta Maria Milnes to Richard Monckton Milnes [after 11 Apr. 1837?].
125: Contains account of William Whewell's fatal horse-riding accident, Feb. 1866.

Thanks WW for his book ['The Platonic Dialogues for English Readers', 1860-61]. WHT [Regius Professor of Greek] has never heard of any 'true Platonic students agreeing on the proper dress and sequence of the dialogues'. However 'I can truly say that I like and admire all that I have hitherto read of your translations and introductions: and that if you should fulfil your intention of publishing translations of the remaining Dialogues, or those you deem the most important, I shall expect still greater pleasure and instruction'. WHT gives some corrections to WW's translation.

Trinity College, Cambridge.—Explains remarks he made at the Union on the subject of heads of houses.

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Transcript

Trinity College, Cambridge

Dear Master

It is quite true that I said some words {1} at the Union in last Tuesday’s debate, and that in doing so I charged the Secretary not to write me down as having spoken either for or against the motion. {2} What I said was just these two things. First, that the question was incorrectly worded; {3} the proposer himself wishing only to modify somewhat the office of a Master. Secondly, that in view of the exceptionally praiseworthy action of the more prominent Heads, it was all but impossible to argue this abstract question on its merits at the present time; for which reason I was abstaining from any statement of opinion about it. {4}

I am
Yours most truly
W. K. Clifford.

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Black-edged paper. Cf. CLIF A1/20.

{1} ‘some words’ altered from ‘something’.

{2} ‘I made two remarks’ struck through.

{3} ‘incorrectly worded’ above ‘wrongly put’, struck through.

{4} The following passage has been struck through here: ‘I hope that neither these remarks, nor the act of making them, will [destroy struck through] sap the belief in my good sense and feeling, which you have so kindly entertained and allowed to survive even a newspaper report.’

WHT thanks WW for a final copy of his Platonic Dialogues ['The Platonic Dialogues for English Readers', 1860-61].

Thompson gives Whewell samples in Greek from the work of Aristotle.

Cambridge - recovered from illness, [James] Spedding failed [Fellowship examination], College tutors, [Apostles] "grievously thinned", [John] Sterling's son may be apostolic, Spedding taking drawing lessons, [Richard Chenevix] Trench has preached in W. B. Donne's area, death of Arthur Hallam, Tennyson depressed, left some poems with him, George Farish "professes to read law and practices ... the smoking of cigars", Christopher Wordsworth full of modern Greek literature

Leicester - instruction to "plant a foot on any part of Deighton which may be convenient to you, [John?] Deighton had sent only half of the books that Thompson had ordered, "sterility of the Leicester mind", Coleridge's literary remains

Leicester - thanks him for a copy of his "no bishops" pamphlet, split of the bishops from the Ministry, Blakesley assuming a provincial reputation, asks Blakesley to preach a charity sermon in Leicester

Leicester - still has clerical aspirations. asks him to discover when J. Ely is to be ordained, will work in the British Museum during the summer, glad to leave Leicester, poor Vaughan

Trinity College - Mansfield, Atkinson and Cotton made Fellows, John Heath bitten by Newmanism, month's stay ay Bonn, Hegelist method of teaching languages, John Mill's article on Bentham, character of Mill, Sterling's departure for Italy, Benedick's marriage, letter from Spedding

Trinity College - wishes to hear of Blakesley in Marienbad, bonfire in Nevile's Court to commemorate the students who crowned the statues on the library, Lytton's speech in the House of Lords against the Archbishop of Canterbury, Deanery of Durham kept vacant,
recovery from illness, French in Algeria

York - defeat in election [for High Stewardship], "marriage is making fearful havoc among the friends of our youth", Blakesley's impending marriage, his future outside Trinity, will be in Cambridge for a term, conquest of Syria, Cyprus, possibility of abolishing the post of Junior Bursar

Munich - possibilities of meeting him at Munich, travels in Europe, beauties of Munich, met Lyttelton

Trinity College, Cambridge.—Thanks them for a dressing-gown. Is feeling better, and got through his Whewell lecture without ill effects. There is concern that the Tests Bill will be shelved again, but the evidence presented by the Master and Appleton is good. Maxwell comes to see him and gives him ideas. Hopes they are both better.

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Transcript

Trinity College, Cambridge
Saturday
May 6

Dear Papa & Mama

How very kind of you to send me such a lovely thing. I have been wearing it nearly ever since. The only thing I regret is that I cannot go out of doors in it—I should look so swell if I walked around the paddock plunged in deep thought and a dressing gown. I am very much better, and have been nearly free from pain for several days: on Thursday I went for quite a long walk with Cayley, and yesterday I went out while it was sunny without being muffled up. Also I got through the Whewell lecture (one of a course that Sidgwick has organized) without ill effects. It rather frightened me, being much harder than my ordinary lectures; viz:, an hour and a half of steady talk about philosophical subjects where one had to be very careful of one’s terms. We are in a great state of mind about the Tests Bill, lest if the Lords should adopt the recommendations of the committee and stick to them, they may gain time enough to get it shelved again. The evidence of our master before the committee is very good; and Appleton’s is lovely. {1} I am so sorry you can’t come up. The sun is quite bright today, and it looks so tempting—on the other hand I burn to be at some equations which I know only want shaking to give lots of Theorems. Maxwell comes often to see me and gives me ideas. Good bye. I hope you are both better. Give my love to Eliza. Kate is to stay with you when I am at home.

your most loving son
Willie.

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{1} The House of Lords went into committee to discuss the University Tests Bill some time before 9 May 1871. The evidence presented to the committee by C. E. Appleton is referred to in The Times of that day (p. 5).

East Ely - Mrs Blakesley's illness, to stay with Thompson, arguments between the officials of Ely Cathedral, war in the East

Patras - travels in Greece on horseback