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Mill Hill Magazine Vol IV no 21, contains an article by Murray entitled 'A Shaksperian Illustration', on the skull in Holbein's Ambassadors.

Langdale House, Park Town, Oxford. Dated November 7, 1899 - Forwards a query on the word 'Mell' from J. A. Murray; thinks the first meaning of the word is 'the last sheaf cut at harvest'; suggests the dictionary is a useful tool for a folklorist.

The English Dialect Dictionary. Editor: Prof. J. Wright, M.A., Langdal House, Park Town, Oxford - Forwards a query on the word 'Mell' from J. A. Murray; thinks the first meaning of the word is 'the last sheaf cut at harvest'; suggests the dictionary is a useful tool for a folklorist.

Sunnyside, Banbury Road, Oxford. Dated 18 October, 1899 - In answer to Frazer's question, he has never heard of the word 'mell', will ask Dr Joseph Wright; think the suggested connection with 'maid' or any word of that family phonetically impossible on English ground; 'Kirn' has no possible connection with 'corn'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Has had a letter from G[eorge] Rusell asking whether Macaulay was the first English writer to use the word 'tact' 'in its usual sense of a moral quality', rather than to mean 'physical touch'. Asks whether Murray's dictionary [the OED] goes so far, or whether Robert can shed light on the question. Has checked Johnson's "Dictionary", which does not have the word, while Worcester's of 1849 gives no quotations. The hay has been 'piked within the fortnight', a record time, and they are now 'praying for rain'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland [crossed through], Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie and Paul have returned to Robert 'in good case [shape]' and that they have good weather. Thanks Robert for his 'researches in Murray' [a reference to the Oxford English Dictionary, currently in production under the editorship of Sir James Murray?] but defends his own use of 'insistent' [in the last volume of "The American Revolution"] rather than 'persistent', citing authorities including George Eliot. The hounds are coming to Wallington today; is glad to be watching them, not hunting.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for his letter [12/149] and for [William] Everett's, which he returns and which is 'very interesting and characteristic': Everett seems to have 'the sort of mind that might have made a very fine scholar'; supposes as it is he is 'quite a good one, but has not made that his chief business in life'.

Whistler's Gentle Art [of Making Enemies] is 'an odious book. Even in those cases where he is more or less in the right, he alienates one's sympathy'; expects that 'if one indulges in that kind of quarrelsomeness, it grows upon one like a vice'. Calls it 'a curious case' that Whistler should 'so often have behaved like a vulgar cad, and yet have had such great qualities as an artist, and sometimes, I think, as a man too'.

Gives an 1860 quotation in Murray's dictionary for 'requisition', but expects his father has by now decided on the right word. Supposes he will have received a copy of Robert's Sisyphus: An Operatic Fable by now: Aeschylus wrote a 'Satyric Drama' on the subject, but Robert does not expect it was 'much like' his own.

Bessie and Paul are both very well. The weather has been 'very foggy and unpleasant here lately'. The 'prospects of the Education Bill look bad', which is 'a great pity'; is also sorry for [Walter] Runciman and Charles's sake. Fears they [the Liberals] 'will be in a false position with regard to everything till we have fought and beaten the Lords': wishes the Lords 'would reject a Budget', but supposes 'that is hardly possible, even for them'. Sends love to his mother.

The Shiffolds. - Has been away, or would have answered her note with his father's questions earlier. Cannot find a reference to 'levying an indemnity' in Murray or elsewhere; '"requisitio"' is used as a substantive in that sense, but may be general a word', as is probably the case also for 'fine' and 'tribute'; both 'ne'er do weel' and 'ne'er do well' seem to be 'used as nouns by quite good writers, such as Dickens'.

Paul 'seems quite well again now', though last week he was not so well; Bessie also seems well: she went with Robert to the Speyers' last Sunday, where Hausmann, Frau Soldat, and and Leonard Borwick were staying 'so there was a lot of music' and several pieces were rehearsed for next Wednesday's London concert.

Is glad Phil [Morgan Philips Price] is now recovering; Bessie has had 'a nice letter from Aunt Meg'. Has not had much news about the Frys recently, as Roger has been in Italy for the last three weeks; expects he will soon return. Imagines Helen 'is much the same, perhaps rather better in some ways', though 'doubt[s] whether there is any real improvement'. Robert's play [Sisyphus: An Operatic Fable] should be out this week, though he has not yet heard anything about it.