Showing 18 results

Announces that he has been working on an edition of the '1st Decade' [of Livy] for two years and hopes to have it published soon. Asks Sidgwick if he does not try getting up candidates of his own. Reports that he has heard from Hepworth Dixon 'that the author is [Walword] [or some such name] Secretary to the Civil Service Commission.' Does not think that Sidgwick makes out a case for Grote, and his criticisms of Seeley's work. Asks if there is no criticism 'but of the [Strauss] and [Renan] kind'. Comments that he found them dealing too much in conjecture; that they should 'let alone' the discrepancies of the Gospel, 'and stick to that in which they agree.' Announces that he is writing a preface, which he intends to send to Sidgwick for criticisms. Of the poems, observes that they were 'good in metre and showy in style, but crude in [theory] and nothing in imagination - as E[cce] H[omo] is in spite of [Seeley's] admirers.'

Explains that he did not mean for Sidgwick to take his comments on Grote as he did. Claims that he was very glad to see the criticism, and claims that he learnt from it. Refers to Grote's arguments from moral history, and complains of him having called Seeley a humbug in relation to his method of investigation of the Gospels. Promises to write 'on the other subjects in a day or two, particularly on that distincion between moralist and legislator', in slighting which, he claims, Sidgwick quite missed the point of the book.

Claims that he does not understand what right Lightfoot can have 'to say that [they] shall all soon know.' Refers to 'Saturday's attack' on him [Seeley], and to Grote's paper, which he sends to him [not included]. Comments on Grote's criticisms of his work, in relation to moral history and the attribution to Christ of discoveries in morality. Refers to his attempt at 'a sketch of all philosophies of the [Stoic] kind.' Mentions the accusation of diffuseness made in the 'Quarterly'. Refers to Sidgwick's reference to Seneca, Epictetus and Amelius, and claims that these three 'are not in the strictest sense Stoics but original moralists thinking in a generally Stoical way'. Claims that desire must be controlled, 'but only in one way, by a stronger desire'.

Cannot find Sir Joseph Thomson's letter [see 12/287] but will send it to Robert when he does; Thomson writes 'in generous and eager appreciation of Monk's "[Life of Richard] Bentley' and shows he is a 'true scholar'. Does send a letter from [Henry] Jackson; is very glad he confirms his own impression about Plato's letters, against Grote and Murray. Written on the back of a largely printed letter, acknowledging receipt of Sir George's letter, from Messrs Drummond [his bankers], 27 Feb 1918.

19 Onslow Gardens, S.W. Dated February 20, 1915 - Thanks him for his kind words about his book [The Histories of Tacitus] and defends his praise of [George] Grote.

Declares that she has read the paper on the Sophists. Relates that she discussed the matter with Mr Jowett when he came to visit the previous Monday. Jowett admitted 'that G.G[rote] was right but will have it that "Sophist" carried, at that period, no dyslogistic meaning'. Reports that, since Sidgwick and Mrs Sidgwick's visit to her at Ridgeway, she has found another letter of M. Comte's from 1845, and offers to give him a copy of it. Mentions that she also neglected to show him 'a fine Autogr[aph] of A[ugustus] C[omte] - large hand - in flyleaf of L'ensemble du Positivisme 1848.' The last two pages of the latter work 'contain an urgent appeal to his followers to "keep him going", as the chief teacher of the Religion of Humanity.' Expresses her hope of seeing Sidgwick and Mrs Sidgwick again before she dies. Sends her thanks to Mrs Sidgwick 'for her little note'. Reports that she had a visit from George Darwin on the previous Sunday, who gave her Sidgwick's present address. Darwin informed her that he had been on a visit [with [F] Leveson Gower] to A[rthur] Balfour 'in the far north', in August. She expects Professor Alexander Bain and Benjamin Jowett to visit for a few days early in October.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - They are very pleased about Mary [and Charles]'s baby, who is to be called Katharine; Caroline is going to see 'the little ones at Watford'. Interested in what Robert says about the new Ferrero ["Rome and Egypt"]; asks him to send it to them and let the London Library know. Loves reading about the classics, such as books by Grote and Ferrero, when he is writing himself; supposes it is a sign of growing older that he does not then feel inclined to read the classics themselves. Attempts being made to buy Coleridge's cottage at Nether Stowey; he himself does not 'value his poems quite enough... to condone him, as a man'. They are reading [Thomas Jefferson] Hogg's life of Shelley; Hogg was a 'wonderfully clever man' and it is a 'marvellous picture of Shelley'. Withers is getting 'very angry and blunt with Philipson' [over Florence Trevelyan's will]; will write to him when he gets an answer from Sir [Arthur] Middleton.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The story [surrounding the legacy left to Robert and George in Florence Trevelyan's will] is curious; good that Robert has 'honest people' to look into it, and he is wise to take it as he does. Very interested in Elizabeth's 'account of the reading rooms'; they look forward to seeing 'Paul, and his parents' soon. Is reading Grote 'with great delight'.

Refers to a paper 'in which John Grote criticised his brother's view of the Republic of Plato in a sort of imaginary conversation', and the second part thereof, which 'alludes to some intermediate paper written in the name of Glaucon'. Guesses that it was Sidgwick who had been the author of the latter, and asks him to allow him to have the paper and print it in the Classical Review with Grote's two papers. Claims that he would have printed them before, but was afraid that Mrs George Grote would probably not have approved. Refers to the rumour that Sidgwick might be invited to 'fix' himself there, and expresses his happiness about the matter.

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Knows she will forgive him for putting off replying to her letter of 19th September, and thanks her for this. Bobbie 'is very much grown; he looks pale at time', but Arnold thinks he has 'gained in tone' since returning to school, and sees 'from his work in the gymnasium that he is strong and healthy'. The 'childishness' which Mrs Trevelyan noticed in him in the holidays is the aspect which 'needs most reform and which must stand in his way till it is cured'; he has 'decidedly improved' so far this term, and Arnold hopes that 'now he is becoming one of the big boys in the school' this will continue. As Sellar has left the school, Arnold has had to choose a new boy for Bobbie's bedroom; has chosen Tom Booth since 'Bobbie liked to have him' and Arnold thought it would be good for him to have 'the responsibility of being "head of the room"'. The other boys in the room are Hugo Law 'who is doing very well' and 'a son of Colonel [T. H.] Lewin (connected with the late historian Grote)'.

Is teaching Bobbie himself 'for a good many hours' - half of both his Greek and Latin lessons - and he 'seems to be making a good start'; hopes Bobbie will soon 'do something worthy of being sent to his Father'. Gerard Sellar 'seems to be settling down comfortably at Eton', where he 'took a very fair place - not high of course', but Arnold thinks he is 'sure to get on'. Sellar 'writes very nice intelligent letters about his first experiences' and is 'becoming happy' there.

Peterborough Deanery. Prize essays, reviews of George Grote's history of Greece suggests that it is better than that of Thirlwall.

Includes notes on Heinrich Ritter's History of Ancient Philosophy, George Grote's History of Greece, a draft of a paper given on "The Accentuation of Ancient Greek" dated Nov. 12, 1860, as well as a translation of Act I of Goethe's "Götz von Berlichingen".