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Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Apologises for not writing more often. Is very sorry that her aunt has been so unwell; hopes the anxious time has now passed; can quite understand how her uncle might 'develop infinite degrees of fussiness' under the strain and thus be 'the direct opposite of [Alphonse] Grandmont' as he is in many other ways. Hopes Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] also recovers quickly. His aunt Annie [Anna Maria Philips] is a 'dear creature', but always complains he does not write to or visit her enough; he also likes her 'invalid friend [Sophie Wicksteed]... to whom she has devoted herself'. His letter [about the landslide which damaged the Hotel Cappuccini at Amalfi] appeared in the "[Manchester] Guardian" on 2 January; it has pleased the locals as it says the coast is quite safe; thinks he will 'take to journalism', which is much easier than writing verse plays'. However, he has got on well this afternoon; is 'making no end of the wife, who is no end of a heroine'; teases Bessie by saying she will not get the chance to be such a faithful wife, as he will keep a closer eye on her. Copies out 'an old fellow who wrote about you in the 17th century' [Richard Crashaw, "Wishes to his (Supposed) Mistress"].

Continues the letter next morning; has breakfasted and 'pumped [his] ideas on Latin poetry into bucket Straughn Davidson [James Leigh Strachan-Davidson?] for half an hour'. Finishes copying out the Crashaw poem; thinks it influenced Browning. Glad Bessie has heard some music. Is 'very fond of Rameau', and has 'often heard Dolmetsch play him'. They must find out where Gluck is being played and go there; he 'can't wait much longer without hearing the Iphigenia and the other great ones'; though she might think him a Wagnerian. Hopes she will hear Lamond again. Finishes the letter in early afternoon. It is cold and stormy, and he will go to 'a nook under the cliff' to work. Discusses the rumours that there are letters incriminating [Joseph] Chamberlain [in the Jameson Raid?]; the 'Parnell letters and the Henry forgeries [in the Dreyfus case]' are warnings to be careful about such things, though if genuine they should be published; if this leads to a 'basis for peace so much the better'. Hopes Bessie's housekeeping is not tiring her; he will not be 'exacting' when they are married, 'especially with Mrs Enticknap to do everything' for her

Explains the delay in replying to Patterson's letter as being due to 'a difficulty about finding appropriate topics of Consolation - suitable to the unfortunate situation, private and public, which [his] letter depicts.' States that the prevailing idea [in England] is that there is to be no war; and 'that Russia is to have her way in Bulgaria...' Believes that Patterson's colleagues 'will be spared the necessity of going into military quarters', and reports that now 'there appear to be the first mutterings of another scare about Affghanistan [sic].' In relation to Patterson's private troubles, i.e., the small size of his class, states that at Oxford and Cambridge they 'are beginning to consider that it is rather in a Professor's favour if he only gets a small class: it is a sign that his loyalty to his subject is too strong to allow him to degrade it by popularizing it.' In relation to his other problem, i.e., the length of time his lectures take and the fact that he has been called upon to lecture on English literature, to which task he feels himself inadequate, Sidgwick charges Patterson with being 'the laziest of men', but someone who, when he makes up his mind to do some work, 'is very exacting in its thoroughness'. Asks if he would like 'an opportunity of getting out of [his] position'. Reports that in England they 'are keeping her Majesty's jubilee in a rather unjubilant frame of mind.' Refers to the state of things in Ireland in negative terms, and to Gladstone, who is 'agitating for Parnell with the reckless impetuosity of his [in every sense] green old age'. Admits to being doubtful about his brother-in-law's [A.J. Balfour] prospects in relation to coercion, the failure of which will cause his career to be a failure. Predicts that if it succeeds 'the "left wing" of the patriots are likely to dynamite him.' Asks Patterson to send some more news of himself. Tells him that Mrs Sidgwick send her kind remembrances. With envelope. (2 docs)

[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Has not gone running yet, but since football has 'come to an end' for his house as they have been beaten in the torpids he could go out sometime. His house were 'very weak at the beginning of the term' in torpids, but improved as they went on and 'did not do so very badly in the matches'. Welldon has told him that he is to 'go in for the scholarships', so he is studying for them. Has 'been thinking about the hexameter'; has an idea he thinks 'will suit' but has not got very far yet. Charlie came second in the 'school footer Ones [?]', behind [Edgar?] Stogdon; Robert thinks this is largely due to Charlie 'slipping at a critical moment', but still he 'did very well indeed'.

Is glad Georgie is better now, and asks whether he will be 'going up [for?] the scholarships' soon. Very interesting 'that the Times should thus be smashing up' [a reference to the Parnell Commission's proof that the letters published by the Times in 1887, alleging that Parnell had supported the Phoenix Park murders, were forgeries by Richard Pigott]; asks if they are 'now proved to be wrong on everything', or if this is 'only a part of the case'. Asks if she can ask Hearn [a family servant] to get him some razors, as he currently has to use other people's, 'which are not always very sharp'. Is 'getting on very well with Welldon'.

[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Is 'very interested in the Times business' [a reference to the Parnell Commission's proof that the letters published by the Times in 1887, alleging that Parnell had supported the Phoenix Park murders, were forgeries by Richard Pigott], and now regrets his usual neglect of the newspapers, through which he has 'missed all the excitement of the things as they happened', especially since nobody in his house 'seems to care much about them'. He is glad, however, that 'the Tories are getting it hot'. Has 'been out running a little', but not much as there is still 'footer' twice a week in his house: 'a very good sign that they are getting more interested'. Does not think he will 'go in for sports'; or only for a couple of house sports in the future.

Canon Fleming read to the school yesterday, and 'was certainly a success', though Robert 'did not care for him altogether'. Is getting on well in his form, and continuing his reading; is beginning his hexameters and hopes to have most done by the end of term. Thinks that it is a good thing for him to try for the scholarships, but that he is 'too weak in mathematics and scripture', even in Greek composition, to 'have much chance. Has just done [Virgil's] Eclogues, with 'Judge [Charles] Bowen's English translation, which is quite worth reading'. Charlie is well.

On headed notepaper for The Grove (corrected from The Knoll), Harrow-on-the-Hill:- Thanks his mother for her last letter. Hopes his parents enjoyed the play, and that it 'came up to [their] expectations'. Asks whether they find Charlie 'quite well and flourishing; hopes to see him up at Cambridge, 'where he is up for this scholarship'. Georgie is well, but Robert has not yet heard 'where he has come out'.

Sees there are 'great rows going on about Parnell', though it 'does not seem it will be as bad as was thought'. Supposes it will 'put off the success of our party [the Liberals]. The thaw has begun here, and he supposes it 'will be all right soon'. They have been playing every day, though 'of course... put off the match on Saturday'; does not know whether he will be played on Thursday, the last match. Is 'swotting' as much as he can.

Thanks her for the trousers, which he will take to Cambridge. Asks if she saw [Nugent] Hicks there, who was going to see the play; believes [Leopold?] Amery was going too. Adds a postscript saying that he is 'sending the tins [?] in a hamper which belongs to Aunt Meg [Price], as well as some books, Charlie's and other peoples.