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Beginning of letter missing; text starts mid sentence with Bessie referring in Dutch to financial matters and thanking her uncle. Asks if Bramine will come tomorrow [for Uncle Paul's birthday], which will be very cosy; hopes their own 'little flower' will be delivered tomorrow. Robert wants to say something now so she will let the 'eloquent poet' speak for himself.

Robert adds a note in English, though he first addressed Paul Hubrecht as 'Mijn beste Ooom'; wishes him 'every happiness' for his birthday, and wishes he could be there. Hopes that if there are speeches, 'the oratory may reach as high last year, when the dinner was made so pleasant by brilliant flashes of humour from you and Paul and Ambro' and his own 'brilliant flash of silence', which perhaps should be called his '"break-down"'. He and Bessie hope to be with the Hubrechts before Christmas; also that Jan might be able to pay them a short visit, and perhaps also visit Robert's brother George at Cambridge. Hopes that by the time they come to the Netherlands. Aunt [Maria] and [Alphonse] Grandmont will be 'much better'; they both seem to be improving, though slowly. Must be a 'great relief that Tuttie is quite well again'. Bessie has been well except for a 'nasty cough', but this is nearly gone now. They recently went to Cambridge and saw Aeschylus's "Agamemnon" acted [the Cambridge Greek Play], though they thought it was not done so 'with great success'; Bessie's 'musical conscience was offended by the badness of the chorus music'. Was kind of Uncle Paul to send 'that prophetic Strand Magazine', which Bessie says she got 'as early as '92': her 'unconscious prophetic instinct must have been working even in her schooldays'. They find their "Encyclopaedia Britannica" a 'great recourse': they will be 'very omniscient' by the time they next see Uncle Paul, particularly Bessie, though she says the article on Dutch literature is 'poor'. Perhaps this is because it 'does not do justice to the great 17th century poet [van den Vondel?], whose works form so brilliant an adornment to their bookshelves'. Best wishes to Aunt Maria and Tuttie; hopes that tomorrow [Uncle Paul's birthday?] will be a 'happy day'.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Apologies for late response: Donald [Tovey] is 'slaving at the Encyclopædia [Britannica]' and she herself has something wrong with her hands which means she can only write in pencil. Asks Bessie to 'entreat Mr & Mrs Fry' to stay for supper and meet Mr and Mrs Edward Speyer, who will be staying; offers to write to Mrs Fry if Bessie gives her the address. Asks if Donald can come to the Trevelyans in September after all, since he is taking her to Nauheim and may stay in Germany all August; Mrs [Ellen] Joachim wishes to have him for the third week of that month.

[Draft] MS letter. Writes to express his opinion 'of the high qualifications of Professor Adamson for the chair of Logic in the University of Aberdeen.' Refers to his abilities, his learning and his experience as an academic teacher, and also to his contributions to the Encyclopaedia Britannica on philosophical subjects. Mentions especially his article on Logic. Refers to his book On the Philosophy of Kant, 'which no English student of Kant can afford to neglect.' Praises his volume on Fichte in Blackwood's Philosophical Classics series. On Adamson's work as an academic teacher, Sidgwick states that he believes his university fortunate in having been able to secure Adamson's aid as an examiner in the Moral Sciences Tripos.

Hopes that she has received his present. Encloses an address he gave at Aberdeen [not included], and asks her to send it back to him as he is short of spare copies. Offers to give her a copy later when the Annual Report of the British Association comes to be printed. He and Nora hope that her parties 'are going off well, and that Maggie's convalescence is complete.' Reports that Nora has undertaken to write the article on Spiritualism for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and that the Spiritualists are 'disgusted' as they regard her as having 'a mind hopelessly biased against Spiritualism'.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Donald [Tovey]'s bad health has delayed his stay with the Trevelyans; she was with him in London with their 'very dear friends the Wallaces in their terrible bereavement' [the death of Emily Wallace] who kept saying how tired he looked; she got him to bed, and brought him to Northlands yesterday in a motorcar. He has bad tonsillitis, but is recovering, and when she is sure he is well and safe for Bessie and the baby [Julian] he will come; thinks this will be Monday at the latest. Donald is bad at taking care of himself in many ways. Asks Bessie if she can 'bemuttern' [mother] him a little, by making sure he takes his Sanatogen and another medicine. Is rather anxious about the Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] work after the busy spring and summer he has had. Has been reading some of his "Encyclopædia [Britannica]" articles, which are 'quite glorious both in matter and style'; his composition will be even more so and she wishes it good luck. Discusses his luggage; asks Bessie to get him to change when he is hot, and hopes he pays his laundry bills. Asks how long he is to stay; believes he is going to Mrs [Augusta] Freshfield around the 26th. The thought of going to Nauheim is 'dismal' to her. Donald in good spirits as he has been well all year, and is 'good friends with Miss Kelly'; does not think her brother [Frederick] can 'ever make him nervous again'. Very glad to hear Julian thrives. Asks Bessie to let he know how Donald does. A postscript notes that there will be some lotion and Listerine for Donald's bedroom; another postscript written on 12 August says Donald is much better and will be with the Trevelyans on Monday; his two boxes are at the station already.

The Encyclopædia Britannica, 125 High Holborn, London, W.C. - Expects Trevelyan is right, but is sorry that he does not want to write the Poetry article [for the Encyclopædia] as he would have been 'definite' in his treatment. Would be very good if [Lascelles] Abercrombie were to take it on; asks for his address so that he can write and suggest the sort of article needed.

3 manuscript drafts, 1st heavily revised typescript, final version as sent and published. Includes editorial correspondence.

British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Has just heard that Oswald Sickert has lost his job with the Encyclopaedia Britannica and will be in England in about a fortnight looking for work. Corrects an impression given by his last letter: only met Adrian [Stephen: see 17/25] once and liked him, does not know him well. Asks if Bob could translate Aeschylus's "Prometheus" for the Art Theatre" as requested by [Vera ] Donnet; thinks his way of doing the chorus would 'work very well' for recitation. Was greatly bored by the first performance by the Art Theatre [George Farquhar's "The Beaux' Stratagem"]: everybody 'connected with it is completely Philistine', and he does not think that any good will come of it, though it will be no worse than 'the Stage Society, Pioneers, Plough, Bel Espoir, Paddington Players, Malleson's Mimes or anything of the rest'.

Has arranged to publish his next book ["More Translations from the Chinese"] with Allen and Unwin; Constable's [who published his first book] is 'a nuisance to get to'. [Eugene] Morice has died of illness at Salonika and his bookshop [in Museum Street] is for sale; would be 'great fun' to run it, but he is afraid there is not 'enough sustenance in it for Oswald'. Has translated about thirty more poems of Po Chu-I for the new book, but may 'weed them out a bit', as well as a new version of Ou-yang Hsiu's "Autumn Dirge'. [Gordon] Luce's poems have been 'an appalling blow'; liked some of them at first, but now 'hate[s] them all'. Asks if anyone has seen [Charles] Vildrac and whether he is translating any more of Po Chu-I into French. Does not think he has seen Roger Fry since Bob went away. The Dickinsons [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson and his two sisters] are soon to move into the upper storey at 13 Hanover Terrace.

Asks when his article on ethics for the Encyclopædia Britannica will be required.

'TBM's article on William Pitt corrected for the press' written on first page proper, probably in the hand of George Macaulay Trevelyan.

Printed extract from Encyclopædia Britannica follows [8th edition, Vol. 18], pp 727-744, with several MS annotations and corrections.

Utrecht. - What a warm welcome Robert and Elizabeth have given his 'effigy'; if he himself could occupy that privileged place, it would wonder ceaselessly at the spectacle of their joys and the memory that his 'Sicilian roof sheltered their preparation'. Would also amuse him to share in the studies they undertake together in the Encyclopaedia Britannia. Asks whether they have a plan of which articles to read, or whether they choose by the 'inspiration of the moment'. Very interested by Robert's account of the production of "Agamemnon" [at Cambridge, directed in Greek by John Willis Clark]; a shame that the actors cannot 'push on to Taormina to perform on the stage originally built by the Greeks', but wonders how many listeners they would attract; he himself would only understand them if he had the text. A little surprised by Robert's exclusive preference for that play; he prefers "Prometheus", then the "Choephori". The works of Aeschylus produce on him 'the effect of Cyclopean monuments; they are majestic, sublime, but still rough'; thinks there is more 'harmony' in Sophocles, and praises the two "Oedipus" plays and "Antigone" highly; also highly esteems Euripides as a thinker, despite the 'ruthless trial' given him by Aristophanes in the "Frogs". However, he is telling Robert things he knows more about than himself. Thanks Robert for his two letters; is particularly obliged for giving him the address of a lawyer to whom he can entrust the pursuit of his rights regarding Wilhelm Pruijs. Unfortunately, Pruijs had 'already fallen into disrepair and his goods been seized at the time when he borrowed' from Grandmont, who is in the position of 'Maître Corbeau' [in Aesop's fable of the "Crow and the Fox"] who 'swore (but a little late) that he would not take it anymore.

Asks Sidgwick why he did not come to Brighton 'instead of fleeing to Broadstairs'. Expresses his eagerness to receive Balfour's writings. Mentions that he is going to print a paper of the latter's on the new conditions of the Indian Civil service, in his next numbers [of the Fortnightly Review]. Complains that being a writer for the Encyclopaedia Britannica is a thankless job: 'One must try to be thorough and yet there is no room.' Predicts that Sidgwick 'will be amused by a short note of Pattison's...against Bridges' in his next number [Fortnightly Review, Aug 1877, 22(128), pp. 285-286].

States that he would be very glad to assist with the index, but clarifies that what he means by the latter is 'a somewhat fuller table of contents than that in the Encyc[opaedia] Brit[annica].' Admits that he has no experience in constructing alphabetical indexes, but believes that it should not be difficult 'to arrange the chief names and subjects alphabetically. States that he would not advise the change 'from "English" to "British"', and announced that he would prefer the phrase "English and Scottish" to "British". States however that he would not recommend any change in this edition.

Refers to a conversation between himself and Sidgwick in Aberdeen, at the close of a meeting of the 'Economical Section' about the re-publication in a separate form of Sidgwick's article 'Ethics' in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Explains that the Church of Scotland has four committees, one for each of the four universities, for the examination of students entering the Divinity Halls. The text book in Moral Philosophy since the committees were first appointed has been Fleming's Manual [of Moral Philosophy], but when Sidgwick's article appeared Stewart believed that it offered what was required as a substitute for the Manual, which had proved to be unsatisfactory for the purpose, and he spoke to Professor Baynes about asking Sidgwick to publish separately. Now writes a semi-formal letter, which had been suggested by Sidgwick when they met in Aberdeen. Reports that since that meeting he has communicated with conveners and members of the four committees, and that they are prepared to adopt it as their text-book in Moral Philosophy if Sidgwick would be willing to republish it in a form and at a price somewhat similar to those of [Jevon's] Elementary Lessons on Logic. Claims that 'the moderate size yet comprehensiveness' of Sidgwick's article, and the space devoted in it to Greek and English Ethics, and especially to the influence of Christianity, makes it suitable for the purposes of the committee. Suggests that there are probably other examining bodies who would be glad of such a book. Is unaware of what the Boards of the Free and United Presbyterian Churches do in regard to this matter. Offers to open up communications with them. Reports that the name of the text-book to be used at the examinations in October must be inserted in the Mission Record for April. Asks Sidgwick to let him know whether he would be agreeable to the above proposal, and whether he could have the answer back by April 'or so soon thereafter' as to justify their publishing it in the April edition of the Mission Record.

Writes to ask permission to republish an article on Ethics [The History of Ethics], which he wrote for the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Refers to their having previously suggested its republication. Explains that other engagements have prevented him from rewriting it in an enlarged form, but now believes that 'it is desirable that it should be reprinted without much delay...in order that it may be accessible to students in a cheap form.' Expresses the desire that it be republished 'through the agency of Macmillan and Co.'

Train near Carlisle. - Cost her 'a great deal to leave [Donald Tovey] in Ireland yesterday' and cannot rid herself of 'apprehension while he is in this discouraged and suffering condition'; he has been shocked to find that there is a 'dickeFreundshaft' [great friendship] between Mrs [Mary] Berenson and both Kellys; 'that woman' is a real fraud as 'Miss Kelly would hate anything not entirely clean and right when she saw it'. Nothing could be better for Donald than to spend time with Robert Trevelyan and make music with Bessie; unfortunately he is probably not well enough to finish off the Encyclopædia [Britannica], though perhaps he could get it done in the mornings then make music in the afternoons. Asks Bessie to send him on to Mrs Henry Joachim on Saturday the 22nd. Also asks if Bessie can send a telegraph when Donald reaches her. Still in a nervous state and should have stayed longer at Nauheim; had to go to Ireland this time but does not think she will be able to do so again.