Confirms that Sir Leslie Stephen's information was correct: Henry Sidgwick contributed 'highly important articles to the Athenæum in the early seventies'; all those articles were anonymous; thinks that Sidgwick began to contribute them 'much about the same time as the late Professor Cowell'. Relates that when Sidgwick retired 'he was good enough to say that he had enjoyed his connection with the paper', but that other pressures of time forced him to break it. Regrets to say that his notes have not been preserved. Recalls a review Sidgwick wrote of a book by 'a Mr. Leifchild'. Believes that the late Dr. Gray of the British Museum wrote most of the articles, and that when he [MacColl] took over the editorship of the paper, he found that it was 'committed to strong opposition to [Darwin]'. At that time Dr Gray was dead and Mr Leifchild 'continued in the same strain'. MacColl asked Sidgwick to review a book by Leifchild on the origins of man, without telling Sidgwick the latter's connection with the paper. Reports that the result was 'an antagonistic but quite courteous criticism that much surprised both Mr. L. and his publishers.' Claims that after that there was never any doubt of the paper's attitude towards Darwin's views. Offers to make out a list of Henry's reviews.
MacColl, Norman (1843-1904) editor of The Athenaeum
Add. MS c/103/71
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25 Apr [1904]
Part of Additional Manuscripts c
Add. MS c/103/113
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23 Feb 1901
Part of Additional Manuscripts c
Refers to papers that he had put together [not included; for the purposes of writing Henry Sidgwick's obituary for Mind], and thought that Nora might like to have them. Relates the story of Henry having been asked by MacColl, the editor of the Athenaeum, to write on the subject of Darwinism, taking the opposite view to Dr Gray of the British Museum. Thinks that MacColl would be glad to tell Nora if Sidgwick's contribution to the journal included other topics.
Stephen, Sir Leslie (1832-1904), knight, author and literary critic