Showing 31 results

Aldeburgh - Has been to Rome with his wife, went to the Mithraic Temple at San Clemente, had many talks with Father Delaney; writes of the state of religion: thinks the church is stagnating; thinks politicians should take a course in the study of anthropology, adding the study of heredity; thinks Dean Inge in his 'Outspoken Essays' understands the times, and admires his 'Idea of Progress'; Bury's book of the same name claims that 'the number of civilizations which have reached a given stage and gone under, is beyond compute'; agrees that Germany should pay for her 'brigandage' but thinks money should be advanced to pay the miners to dig the coal that France needs; Frazer writes of [Oliver] Lodge and [Arthur Conan] Doyle, and Clodd quotes Sir Bryan Donkin that he classes Doyle among the 'mentally defective'; he is publishing a book 'Magic in Names'; wonders if Frazer is going to supplement 'Folk-Lore in the Old Testament' as Frazer has said that it hung on the issue of a book by a French scholar on the early history of Christianity; asks if Frazer has examined the evidence advanced by Prof. Elliot Smith on the origin of Pre-Columbian civilization, backed by [W. H. R.] Rivers in [A. H.] Keane's Man Past and Present' and quotes [A.C.] Haddon; finds as he gets older the more he values an open mind; the servant problem not helped by the promising house maid who hid her pregnancy and gave birth in the middle of the night.

Aldeburgh. Dated 20.12.18 - Apologises, is happy to take Frazer's criticism of his reading [of 'Folk-Lore in the Old Testament']; there has been a lot of controversy over his book; gives details on the business activities of [Oliver Lodge?]; agrees that the Germans are what they were, tells a story from Sir Hugh Clifford about German missionaries preventing the Catholics on the Gold Coast from celebrating the mass; agrees about Lloyd George's trickery as well; tells the story of a soldier in the trench, his serving of rum, and a mouse; [John Bagnell] Bury's son [Edward Basil] has suffered from shell shock, a bad case. At the bottom of the letter is a manuscript note, 'On the outside of the envelope Frazer has written, in describing the contents of this letter, "Oliver Lodge etc."'

No. 1 Brick Court, Temple. Dated 21 December 1918 - Very much enjoyed the story of the mouse and the rum; there is more irony in the book ['Folk-Lore in the Old Testament'] than he thought; thanks him for enlightening him as to 'the high priest of spiritualism' [Oliver Lodge?]: 'a common swindler who should be excluded from decent society'; also notes that 'the professor of English literature' [Arthur Quiller-Couch?] has written a long advertisement for Pelmanism in the 'Quarterly', and wonders what Cambridge is coming to.

Mariemont, Edgbaston. - Will be pleased to propose him for membership of the Society for Psychical Research; glad the sentence in his book has had the 'desired effect' as many people previously seemed to think that 'special qualifications beside interest' were needed. Will enclose some S. P. R. papers, one of which a form Onslow should fill in, saying whether he wishes to be a member or associate, and send to the Secretary; Lodge will write to the Secretary with his nomination.

Note at the bottom of the letter 'Letters from J. B. Baillie, Norwood, Cults, Aberdeen, 6 Jun 1913, 7 Aug 1913'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thought of Bessie and Bob when he read the news [of the death of Donald Tovey?]; knows 'how distressed you both are, and yet how thankful since he had already so much to bear'. This is a 'strange age to live on into'; agrees with her that 'waking up in the morning is worst', since one finds things to do in the day, 'or even amuses oneself'. Wishes he could 'do more or see further' than he does. He 'cannot help being rooted in the past', and is 'bound to be unhappy' when it is destroyed: it would be a 'sort of disloyalty' not to be.

His mother is well; she was 'cleaning the drawing room all yesterday', and today sixty schoolchildren should have been 'having their sports in the field'. However, the weather is too wet 'for the skirts of their parents, who were coming to look on'. Is glad the Lodges [Oliver, Diana and family] 'are safe in Canada. How they will litter the prairies!'. Quite understands that she misses them, 'mess and all'. Was in Wiltshire the other weekend, near Sir Oliver Lodge. Hope she has some pleasure in her London stay; he may go there tomorrow to the Queen's Hall, 'where Priestley and others are trying to preserve the London Philharmonic [the 'Musical Manifesto' concert, at which J B. Priestley gave a speech]'. Hopes to see her next week.

Typewritten copy. Nora hoped to have had an opportunity yesterday to explain to Bryce the sudden change in their foreign travel plans. There is a crisis impending in the affairs of the Society for Psychical Research: three chief members of their group of investigators, F.W.H. Myers, O. J. Lodge and Richet, 'have convinced themselves of the truth of the physical phenomena of Spiritualism', and have been experimenting with an Italian medium called Eusapia Palladino on a small island in the Mediterranean. The Society has for some years had a reputation for 'comparative sanity', and fears for it now if its most representative men 'come forward as believers.' He and Nora, therefore, feel bound to accept Richet's invitation to go to the Île Roubaud and, if possible, obtain personal experience. The length of their stay is indefinite, but they hope to have time to go to Switzerland afterwards. Suggests that Bryce send him a postcard when his plans are fixed. Gives his address on the island, and undertakes to write to Bryce from there. They intend to return to Cambridge on the following Saturday.

Thanks Lodge for a packet and two letters: will answer these in the order in which they arrived. He and Nora were both much impressed by Lodge's having found conviction in the matter of Eusapia [Palladino]; they did not hesitate to alter their plans and accept Richet's invitation to the 'Isle Roubaud'. Concedes that they 'shall have to accept as a "working hypothesis" the reality of "telekinetic" phenomena', and admits that although he doesn't like the incidents of the investigation, he likes 'the excitement which the new departure will give to the business of Psychical Research.' In relation to a complaint made by Lodge in one of his letters regarding a 'confession which removed all doubts as to "Mr Z.", attempts to explain why there was a delay in informing Lodge of the circumstances, referring to to Frederick Myers and Richet. Refers also to 'Mrs Myers [sic] letter, and explains that it never occurred to him that he would wish to have his name brought forward in relation to the matter. Offers to introduce a reference to him and his instruments 'in the next Journal' [of the Society for Psychical Research]. States that Page H[opps] has written a letter which will give Sidgwick an opportunity of returning to the subject. He and Nora have read Lodge's account of the seances in the Île Roubaud left with them by Myers; feels that had he been there he would have been 'absolutely convinced'. They propose to leave London for the island on Thursday 16 August.

MS note by Nora explains that the letter did not reach her until after the biography of Henry was printed, and that Lodge sent her other letters, but this one seemed to her the only one of any biographical importance.

9 Lauriston Rd. Wimbledon. Dated 14th Apr. 1901 - Would be delighted if he took the Manchester Chair of Comparative Religion, does not think that being a nonbeliever is a reason to decline it; would hear with disappointment if Rev Dr Robertson Nicol[l], Dr [John] Clifford or R[eginald] J. Campbell had taken the post; if it is laid down it must be a believer they will turn to the Orthodox Greek Church or a Roman Catholic and third High Church Anglicans; asks him to look at the April 'Hibbert' and tell him what he thinks of [Oliver] Lodge's article ['Suggestions towards the Re-interpretation of Christian Doctrine']; is migrating from Edinburgh but in or near London he has been frozen out, but does not repent his share in 'Encyclopaedia Biblica'.

41 Palace Court, (London).—Explains how his ideas on entropy differ from those of other physicists.

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Transcript

41 Palace Court
15/2/3

Dear Mr. Henderson,—Many thanks for proof {1}. My only fear in suggesting any alterations is that I may be unfair to Lodge or Perry.

The difference between Lodge & me is very much more fundamental than your article says. Lodge seems to think increase of total entropy is never caused except by transfer of heat between bodies of different temperature. Perry, as far as I can gather his views from his letters thinks the same, & they both think that when gas is expanded into a vacuum the increase of entropy is due to subsequent equalisation of temperature. I have had a good deal of correspondence with Lodge privately. I find there is also ambiguity about what Η & Θ refer to. I have put my notions in last weeks Electrician. Bryan in a letter says he doesn’t know what the books mean by Η & Θ, & doesn’t believe the authors know either.

I think thermodynamics wants complete overhauling. The smaller men merely copy the au-thorities blindly, & the big people never explain what they mean. Bryan is about as good a “thermodynamician” as there is, & if he privately admits that his ideas are not clear there is something wrong. I think there is far too much ‘blind mathematics’ in our days.

I have not criticised books on thermodynamics, on on steam engines & Φ {2} diagrams & math. Physics. But we have no decent books on thermodynamics. Preston {3} I have only seen, but I don’t think he is at all clear. Though he may discuss irreversible processes I think his only idea of increase of entropy was by transfer of heat. A pupil of his who is v. good at T. Dynamics tells me Preston never really understood entropy; & I have a 2nd hand book which belonged to Preston with pencil notes, showing the same thing!

Ofcourse† all this is not for publication.

Yours faithfully
J Swinburne

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{1} This publication has not been identified.

{2} ‘& Φ’ it the apparent reading, but the meaning is unclear.

{3} The Theory of Heat, by Thomas Preston.

† Sic.

Normanton House, Lake, Salisbury. - Bob's 'fine volume' [the second of his "Collected Works"] has arrived safely; it seems to have been held up in the post, and perhaps opened; it is 'very attractive - to hand & to eye'. Has read Bob's 'admirable "Custom of Thrace"' again: sees it is dated 1939, so 'these bad times have not driven away the Muse'. Is half-way through "Sulla" and enjoying it very much; 'wonderful' how much Bob has made from the passages of Plutarch and Herodotus. Notes that Bob does use ellipses (...), then remembers him saying they were 'right in dialogue'. "Sulla" would work very well if staged, and 'would suit a grove on the side of Leith Hill'. Adds a postscript to say his father has 'seized' Bob's book and 'is reading it, apparently with great pleasure'.

Tigh-na-struith, Crianlarich. Dated 22nd Sept. 1913 - Thanks him for Psyche's Task 2, thinks he should have the letters S.T.P. after his name [Sacrae Theologiae Professor]; his chapter on ghosts was appropriate after the reports of the recent meetings; Oliver Lodge 'ought to send researchers (psychical) into these promising fields before they forever cease to be fruitful'; suggests that there might be interesting research on the psychology of apes on their way to becoming anthropoid.

Laregan, France Lynch, Stroud, Glos. - Thanks her for the Downie biography; wonders if she would enjoy the memoirs of Sir Oliver Lodge as much; is glad they are happy in their flat, petrol rationing means she cannot get out as much, has a new grandchild she hasn't visited; has been reading Ramsay Muir and Dorothy Sayers, recommends Brysson Morrison's 'Where the Wind Blows' set in Glasgow 100 years ago; prays for victory, is happy the country has 'a spirit of boundless hope and a determination that justice and freedom must be world-wide.'

41 Palace Court, W..—Clarifies further his ideas on entropy.

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Transcript

41 Palace Court
17/2/3

Dear Mr. Henderson, I dont think you need worry about the Feilden article {1}. It is much more to the purpose than any other article about the discussion. The truth is a discussion like this is rather bad as a means of getting at anything like a solution.

As to Preston, I only speak from memory and may be wrong. My notion as to dissipation is that increase of entropy, for instance when two gases interdiffuse does not there & then involve degradation of energy into heat. But you have let yourself in for the degradation, as you must degrade work into heat to get the gases into their original condition. Increase of entropy thus means eventual degradation of energy, but you cant take the degradation of energy as the criteri-on if you want to see if a change will take place.

Ofcourse† Perry & Lodge’s idea is, as far as I can make out, that the only case of increase of entropy is by transfer of heat; so that they think increase of entropy means that energy already degraded into heat is merely rendered less available by reduction of temperature.

Yours sincerely
J. Swinburne

[Direction on envelope:] W. Craig Henderson Esq | 1 Bride Court | Temple | E.C.

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The envelope, which was postmarked at London, S.W., at 3.15 p.m. on 17 Feb. 1903, is marked ‘Jas. Swinburne. re Entropy | Feb. 15 & 17. 1903’, and in a later hand, ‘Controversy | Swinburne v Perry’.

{1} Not identified.

† Sic.

Contains: "Einstein's Advent", by Oliver Lodge, remembering his father and the impact of the new developments in physics; portrait sketch of Max Beerbohm by William Rothenstein; portrait sketch of William Rothenstein by Max Beerbohm; poem, "To Gordon Bottomley", by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "War Sky 1940", by Sylvia Sprigge"; "4. Sunday", by Sarah Shorey Gill, with introductory note to her granddaughter Polly; poem, "To Seville: Siesta", by Carla Lanyon Lanyon.