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Expresses his delight with the proof of Sidgwick's article, which he has just been reading. Claims that it gives him a better idea than ever of Bentham's personality. Praises the 'serious criticisms', and the 'pages [on] the Deontology'. Remarks on the fact that in the ten years he has been editor of the Fortnightly [Review], Sidgwick had never before contributed any work to it. Comments that he believes that '[Helvétius] only picked up an idea that was in the air, when he made the legislator the origin of [ ], and their master.' Mentions Rousseau and his Social Contract, which came out [four] years after De l'Esprit, and refers to the [Physiocrats]. Refers also to Swift's account of L'Esprit. Asks Sidgwick to return his proof as soon as he can, as the preparations for the publication 'are rather late already.'

Tells Bob to write if he does not get his boots: George would be sorry to see him 'like a French grenadier of 1796'; ads that he himself 'would have fought with greater pleasure in that army than in any other... just for the first four or five glorious years'. Had a 'great field day' here last weekend; wisely Sir George did not come to the meeting, which would have been 'rather an ordeal' as there were so many people, but 'held his own at a breakfast' in George's rooms on Sunday. Has discovered that almost everything by Swift amuses him; spends an hour on the Backs reading Swift or Pepys every day; would not advise Bob to try as the 'political allusions' are crucial, but it is a 'splendid insistence' of what Bob said about 'history as - what shall we say - the dressmaker [emphasised] of literature'. Is busy reading and thinking, as he is giving a paper to the 'Sunday Essay [Society]' this week and 'a greater society' [the Apostles?] the week after, the first papers of the sort he has written.

Merton Hall, Cambridge.—If the paper is not suitable for the Review of English Studies it might be included in The Library. Is puzzled by the format of a copy of Swift’s Conduct of the Allies.

(With envelope.)

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Transcript

Merton Hall, Cambridge.
16 February 1938.

Dear Dr McKerrow,

A few days ago I sent you a paper I have written on the 1st Drapier Letter. {1} Since that time Harold Williams has suggested to me that if it were not suitable for the R.E.S. I should ask you to include it in The Library if you think it is worth while.

This, however, is not the real reason that I am writing to you. I have a bibliographical problem which is puzzling me, and I should be very much obliged if you could give me the benefit of your advice about it.

My copy of Swift’s Conduct of the Allies {2} is signed A–F8, {3} but the chain-lines are horizontal, and the watermark appears, I think upright, on the outer top corners of A5, 6, 7, 8, B7, 8, C5, 6, 7, 8, D7, 8, E7, 8, and F5, 6. This copy is clearly entirely uncut, but the top edges are straight. The size is 22∙2 x 13∙5 cm.

What I cannot decide is whether this book was printed on one half of a sheet originally double the normal size, or on cut-off pieces one-third the size of a normal sheet, as you suggest on p. 168 of An Introduction to Bibliography may sometimes be the case. Also, should the book be described as an 8vo?

I should be very grateful indeed if you could help me to clear up these points.

Yours sincerely
Rothschild

[Direction on envelope:] Dr R. B. McKerrow, | Picket Piece, | Wendover, | Bucks.

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Typed, except ‘Dear Dr McKerrow,’ ‘Yours sincerely | Rothschild’ and a small correction. The envelope, which was postmarked at Cambridge at 4.45 p.m. on 16 February 1938, is marked in pencil ‘Rothschild’ and, in another place, ‘K’, the significance of which is unclear.

{1} See MCKW A1/21. In the event the paper was printed, as Williams suggested, in The Library (4th series, xix. 107–15).

{2} Rothschild acquired six copies of this work, including two first editions, all now in Trinity College Library (Rothschild Library, ii. 551–2). The copy referred to is probably No. 2025 in the Catalogue (now RW.62.31).

{3} The ‘8’ is superscript.

The Shiffolds. - Still having fine weather, 'after just enough rain to keep us from being quite dried up'. Julian is well, 'enjoying his holidays, and also looking forward to his journey North'; Robert thinks him 'both stronger and less nervous than last year'. Bessie is currently reading him Gulliver's Travels, which 'he enjoys a great deal'. In the evening they read Emma, as Johannes Röntgen and his fiancée Miss [Julia] Fentener van Vlissingen know enough English to understand most of it'; they have just reached 'Mr Elton's declaration, which is a supreme piece of comedy'.

On Sunday Austin Smyth, 'the House of Commons librarian', is visiting; he is a 'first rate Aeschylean scholar', and Robert is going to discuss 'various difficulties in the choruses of the Choephoroe with him'. Has now finished his translation, apart from 'these choric passages, where the text is despairingly corrupt'. Hopes to come to Wallington a few days later than Bessie and Julian, on the Tuesday.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Apologises for not replying sooner to Bob's letter; blames the weather, which 'has brought germs of indolence'; has done no work for a fortnight except reading Euripides' "Medea" and "Electra". Stops writing as his 'hands were dripping with heat'; continues on Monday morning when it is cooler. Has been to breakfast with [Jack?] MacT[aggart], who sold him Dal[housie] Young's "Defence of Oscar Wilde"; this 'makes the mistake of imitating Oscar's style' so readers will 'say that the good sense of it is discounted because it is obvious that the writer was under Oscar's influence'. Says he will not talk about the [General] elections; asks if Charley minds; was very sorry [that Charley was not elected], though he did not want Lord Rosebery to be in again just yet, and expects 'the enormous majority will bring the Tories to grief sooner'. Wonders if Bob is still at Wallington; hopes he was not 'awfully tired' by their trip to Shap. He himself had a 'pleasant journey' reading "Lord Ormont [and his Arminta]"; does not think he has ever read anything 'so exclusively spiritual... nothing of what George Moore calls exteriority, & scarcely any action'; could call it 'the revolt from naturalism' except that [George] Meredith has never been in that movement. Enjoyed their time in the Lakes very much; shame 'we & the weather weren't in better form', but they saw some 'beautiful things'. In London, saw Duse in her 'finest part, Magda' [in Sudermann's "Magda"]. They have been "very frivolous" in Cambridge, and '"Gerald Eversley's Friendship" has been a great delight' and has been read aloud; is afraid their 'brother [in the Cambridge Apostles] Welldon has done for himself.' Is reading "Don Quixote", and finding 'delicious things every now & then, but much dulness [sic]; has a 'wretched old translation', whose only recommendations are that Swift was one of the subscribers, and there are 'some funny old pictures which open out like maps'. Is leaving today; will spend tomorrow night with the Russells and start for Germany on Thursday evening; gives his address for the next month in Hildesheim. Gives a limerick beginning 'There was a young man of Madrid...'