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8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The hard weather has 'carried off quite a group of [Sir George's] old London friends', leaving the same sort of gap as was left in his college circle by the deaths of Bowen, [Henry] Sidgwick and Edward Young. Goschen, Davey, Godfrey Lushington, and Allendale ([Wentworth] Beaumont) have all died within about a fortnight. Caroline and Booa [Mary Prestwich] much enjoyed their visit to the Shiffolds and meeting Paul. Was very lucky not to break his hip; is still lame. The Lords have 'a reform bill of their own House'; the "Times" seems not to think this is the business of the Commons, which is 'all very well if the same theory is adopted reciprocally' but they threw out the Plural Voting bill last year.

[Sent from the Savile Club, London]:- Thanks her for her letter. Announces that he is going to Mary 'on the 17th', and undertakes to do all he can. Regrets to hear 'such bad accounts', but believes that it is not surprising that anyone should be listless in the present weather. Declares that he liked Margate, whose people he describes as 'vulgar, but therefore somewhat more amusing'. Feels incapable of working in London. Announces that he will be paying visits for the following ten days, and then he goes to Cambridge, unless he finds he can be of any use in facilitating Edward's arrangements.

States that he is very grateful to Arthur for his cards. Reports that [George Granville?] Bradley thinks [Edward Ashley?] Scott is sure of victory. States that he has just seen [James?] Bryce 'who says he is going to Iceland.' Gives his mother the address at which he may be reached in the immediate future, and announces that he is at present staying with Godfrey [Lushington]. Reports that he saw Miss [Mary?] Thompson and Miss Smith the previous night, and that the latter 'seemed much interested in hearing about William.' Refers to some difficulties that he had with his review of the 'Italian book' [Barzelotti's La Morale nella Filosofia Positiva, reviewed by Sidgwick in the Academy for July 1].

Typewritten. Thanks her for sending him 'a copy of Clough's Remains'. Explains that he asked for it through [Godfrey?] Lushington because 'to no one, out of the range of his personal friendships, could Clough be an object of more intense individual interest than to' him [Henry]. Declares the great value he places on Clough's poems, and calls him 'the one true disciple of Wordsworth, with a far deeper interest than Wordsworth in the fundamental problems of human life, and a more subtle, more cultivated intellect.' Speaks of Clough's blending of irony and sympathy in his poetry, and his 'judicial fairness in balancing conflicting influences'. States that the volume sent to him will be very precious to him.

MS note by Nora Sidgwick: 'This letter did not reach us till the biography was printed off'.