Showing 14 results

Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - Glad there is a duplicate [of the typescript of Bessie's translation of Robert Fruin's "The Siege and Relief of Leyden in 1574"]; will keep the copy he has and bring it to Northumberland. Is 'most enthusiastic' about it; [John] Motley does not seem to have known about 'the internal situation at politics inside Leyden', and the 'two accounts supplement each other splendidly'. [Pieter] Geyl has sent George his notes; thinks them 'very good, but incomplete'; has sent them back with a few small suggestions. Will write the preface after having seen Bessie at the end of August and Geyl at the end of September.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline are also 'sorely exédés [exasperated]' by the way the King's death is treated by the newspapers, in which 'real emotions and sentiments' are 'overlaid and vulgarised by the perfunctory gush of writers who do not care about the matter at all'; like Elizabeth and Robert [see 46/170], wishes to return to the 'truths of life'. Even the comet [Halley's] has been 'made ridiculous'; has seen no mention that it has been growing smaller and more distant since it was 'a terror to the Turks in 1457'. More concerned about Elizabeth's trouble with the nurse, and Julian's progress. He and Caroline have been reading [John Lothrop] Motley's correspondence - the volume published in 1888 and the new one this year - which makes them think of Elizabeth and her family; there is a 'delightful picture' of his house at the Hague which was lent him by the Queen of the Netherlands [Sophie of Wüttemberg] when he was 'going downhill in body and in his diplomatic fortunes'. He himself, if not as good, is at least 'a healthier historian'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Likes to hear about Julian and Bessy; sure Jan [Hubrecht]'s letter will do Bessy good; hopes and thinks that the British government will take warning from the 'naval wars of 1782 and 1804-1814' and Holland will have 'an awful example of what comes of having Germans within a "friendly" kingdom'. Feels the fall of Dinant 'deeply'; had once hoped that he and Caroline could manage another visit to Belgium and the Netherlands, and they were reading Motley's "Dutch Republic" aloud. Caroline is as well as she was when Robert and Bessy were last here.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for the 'exact report' from Grosvenor Crescent; glad that he and Elizabeth like 'the trifles of furniture' [which they are getting after the sale of the London house]. Must already have Caroline's old Murray "Handbook for Travellers"] of 1864; asks him to bring the 1864 ["Handbook"] for France when he visits; does not want the others. Glad that daylight saving suits Robert generally, 'specially by its effect on the hens'; mentions a 'nice calculation, suited to dear Julian's tender years'. Is now finishing the last volume of Motley's history of the Dutch Republic, which he has been reading off and on 'since the European war began'; has much to say about it when he meets Robert and Elizabeth. Leaving for Wallington next week, and are both glad and sorry to leave this 'delightful garden of Eden'. Postscript on separate sheet says that he is just finishing the seventh book of Thucydides, and understands why 'good judges' think it the best; 'worthwhile having tried to write history oneself in order to be able to appreciate the marvellous skill of the narrative'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - The 'next generation' are very fortunate: Mary Caroline, George Lowthian, and now Julian can read Macaulay, Carlyle, and [Motley's] "Dutch Republic", and the books he himself had to read 'almost secretly, and as a sin' because he was meant to be writing 'copies of bad Greek Iambics' and puzzling over Demosthenes; now his grandchildren's 'first duties' are to 'read "Clive" and "Chatham" and Ferrero'. Interested to hear that Robert and Elizabeth have been reading Herodotus aloud together; when Elizabeth comes to Wallington he will show her Paul Louis Courier's paper, which is a 'masterpiece'. Begins re-reading the last two books of Herodotus himself on Wednesday; is finishing Tacitus's "Annals" today; discusses the contrasting styles of it and the "Histories". Agrees completely about Horace's "Epistles". Asks for advice on editions of Thucydides.

Villa Meissonnier, Cannes. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - He and his wife appreciate the feelings Hubrecht and his wife have about the future of Miss [Elizabeth] van der Hoeven, who has written to his wife. Hopes and believes that the marriage will make both young people happy, and will reward the Hubrechts for their 'kindness and affection towards [their] niece'. Looks forward to meeting them. Has himself five times been to the Netherlands as a tourist, visited the scene of William [the Silent?]'s death at Delft, and 'read the whole of [John] Motley's "Dutch Republic' on Dutch soil'. Glad that the proposals satisfy Hubrecht; brings up the point of what Robert's position would be after his and Caroline's death, when he will be 'independent and at ease'; suggests that as well as the settlement on Robert's wife and children already discussed, he and Caroline should covenant to pay him personally eight hundred pounds a year until then. Regarding the settlement itself, expects Hubrecht knows what an 'exceptional institution... the Equitable Mutual is" Would be glad to know what Miss van der Hoeven's 'personal circumstances' are. Asks in a postscript if the Hubrechts consider the marriage 'sufficiently fixed' to make it known; on their side it is so.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear about Elizabeth; will be glad when she can get home; good of Miss Martin to come. Caroline thanks Robert for getting her the watercolour. Sorry there are delays about Robert's book ["Polyphemus and other poems"] but it will soon be out. Agrees that George seems full of 'just and wise ideas'. Caroline comments that since Miss MacCracken brought back and started reading "The Dutch Republic" ["The Rise of the Dutch Republic", by John Lothrop Motley?], 'we have been suppressing two Dutch republics'. Amused by Robert's account of [James?] Welldon and of the Master [of Trinity, Henry Montagu Butler]; encloses a note which Robert can burn which bears out his comments on the Master's 'vivacity'. Has sent something towards a subscription for Mrs Farmer [widow of John Farmer?]. Has almost finished reading Lucan and is now getting on quite easily with the Latin.