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Shelford.—Discusses arrangements for a forthcoming dinner of the Royal Society.

(Dated Monday.)

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Transcript

Shelford. Monday. Ev.

My dear President,

Telegram to hand—This is very annoying; it was such a real good toast list.

I think now it will be best to ask Lord Salisbury to propose the toast instead of replying to it—& to “couple” your “name” with it. Your response as being that of an official of the Society can be quite brief & without sitting down you can go on to propose the Medalists†—this will save us a speech and we have a quite long enough list {1}

But Harcourt’s failing puts us in another corner—With the Lord Chancellor & Harcourt both speaking the way was clear to ask Ld Ashbourne—this from your telegram you have done. But it will look onesided to have Salisbury & Ashbourne as against Chancellor.

If he falls out we certainly ought to ask Shaw Fevre {2}—in fact we ought even if he accepts, & Rhodes fails—perhaps even if Rhodes does not fail. Let me know what you think.

I go up to Burlington House on Wednesday to finally arrange table—shall be there from mid-day onwards—Please write to me there your opinion of the above & if you have to wire on Wednes. wire me there—Perhaps you will authorize me to write in your name if necessary. On Wednesday we shall know more definitely who is coming, & what answers you have had—& we must then do our best & I will write to whom we may decide on, if there is need. If may be desirable for me to wire you on Wednes. aft, & get an immediate reply—perhaps you will arrange for this

Ever yours
M. Foster

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Letter-head of the Royal Society, Burlington House, London, W. Kelvin was President of the Society from 1890 to 1895, and Foster was Secretary from 1881 to 1903. The letter concerns arrangements for the Society’s annual anniversary dinner on Friday, 30 Nov. 1894, at which the Lord Chancellor (Lord Herschell), the Marquess of Salisbury, and Lord Ashbourne, all mentioned in the letter, were present (see The Times, 1 Dec. 1894, p. 10).

{1} Foster’s suggestions were adopted. See the Times article cited above.

{2} G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, who had attended the dinner in 1892 (The Times, 1 Dec. 1892, p. 6).

† Sic.

Two letters.

Royal College of Science, Dublin. Dated Oct. 25, 1899 - Describes in detail his diappointment on his return from his expedition to the Torres Strait, that the Department of Physical Anthropology has taken a medical turn, mentioning [Alexander] Macalister, [Wynfrid] Duckworth, [J. N.] Langley, Michael Foster; his prospects 'were never so unpromising for the last twenty years as they are at this present moment'.

Inch-ma-home, Cambridge - Thanks him for his letter giving his permission to use his name on the memorial [to the Australian government on preserving the anthropological record of 'primitive men now left on the globe']; other signatories are Professors [Sir Richard] Jebb, [Frederic?] Maitland, [Charles] Waldstein [later Walston], [James?] Ward, [Henry Francis?] Pelham, Andrew Lang, Henry Jackson, and James Bryce, and of Cambridge science men, [Sir Michael?] Foster, [Alfred?] Newton, [Sir Francis?] Darwin, [John Newport] Langley, [Adam?] Sedgwick.

Explains the delay in replying to Patterson's letter as being due to Sidgwick's wish 'to consult [Coutts?] Trotter and some other discreet and experienced person before expressing [his view].' Reports that he has discussed the first of Patterson's queries with Trotter and Michael Foster, and they have all agreed that it is highly unlikely that any publisher would be found who will pay anything to a translator of Mr Loczi Loczy Lajos's book, but that a publisher - perhaps Macmillan - might be found who would 'take the risk of the book, if a translation were offered him gratis'. Suggests that he make an application on the subject to the Geographical Society. Offers to apply to the latter society through Francis Galton; asks him to send any notices which may have appeared of it. Asks him to tell him the general character and drift of the article [ ] [ ] II. Explains that the good reviews tend not to publish translated articles, unless those by foreign authors already known to the English public. Expressed his regret that Mrs Patterson 'is not yet re[ ] to Magyar society.

Asks Sidgwick to inform her of the cause of the delay in the producing of the Draft of conditions for the Studentship. Refers to a letter she received from Dr Foster on the matter. Wishes to have the draft in her possession before she goes to the country, as she wishes to show it to Sir James Paget. Also wants to know whether all the proposed Trustees have accepted the trusts.

Refers to the letter she received from him as 'a precious light'. Claims that it assisted her with her plans for the institution of a scheme to benefit to poor students. Agrees the 'condition of the Laboratory' to be all-important, and that consideration of the Land in Society should be excluded. Asks Sidgwick for further advice, now that the 'right path' has been struck out. Reports that she is not yet seeing even intimate friends, but is prepared to meet those who can aid her with her project. Refers to the question of which university or college offers the best machinery for the purpose, and also what conditions should be fixed 'as checks on the idle abuse of the studentship'. Expresses the hope that Sidgwick, Professor Stuart, Dr Foster or Frank Balfour will give her some advice when they come to town, and gives details of her availability.

Reports that her illness is preventing her from seeing any of her friends. Expresses her desire to 'institute some sort of Educational instrumentality which will be a help to poor students of the subjects in which [her] husband was most interested...to be called by his name.' Seeks advice on this project from Sidgwick and Professor [James?] Stuart. Refers to a report in the Times on the meeting on University Teaching at the Mansion House, and concludes that a greater knowledge of the work of the London Society for the Extension of University Teaching would assist her in her plans. She intends to devote four or five thousand pounds to the purpose. Asks Sidgwick to discuss the matter with Professor Stuart, and with 'any Cambridge man' whom he thinks likely to 'aid with ideas'; mentions Michael Foster as an example. Refers with affection to a letter she received from Sidgwick. Sends her 'best love' to Mrs Sidgwick, and expresses the desire to carry out the project during her lifetime, and not as a matter of bequest.

[Blind embossed stamp of Royal College of Science, Dublin] - Describes in detail his disappointment on his return from his expedition to the Torres Strait, that the Department of Physical Anthropology has taken a medical turn, mentioning [Alexander] Macalister, [Wynfrid] Duckworth, [J. N.] Langley, Michael Foster; his prospects 'were never so unpromising for the last twenty years as they are at this present moment'.