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Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.

Announces that '[Walter?] Leaf is disposed to join' and that it only remains to fix a time. States that the period from 6 to 20 January suits him best. Declares that, on reflection, and for various reasons, he would like to cut off the possibility of his ever 'joining in the Fay business.' Feels disposed to leave Mrs Fay to Myers and Crookes, but adds that as a friend of Myers she will always claim his 'kind regards and service.' Announces that he wishes to undertake 'all the pecuniary liabilities as regards the Newcastle medium [Mrs Petty?] - except what Leaf contributes'. Urges Myers to concentrate his resources on Mrs Fay, whom he would rather keep as far as possible from communication with other professional mediums. Asks Myers whether he shall be in town on the following Sunday. Announces that he shall be at the Midland Hotel, 'having séances and arranging for the week after - but only for one night.'

Reports that he has written to Barkas, and explains that his doubt arose from Myers 'having mentioned the other rooms (Hare's) as if [he] preferred them.' Asks him, if he proposes to go down 'thither [to Newcastle]' on Friday, to write to Mould and the Turk's Head. States that he shall be ready to go, if Myers likes. Tells him to take the lodgings if necessary. State that he will occupy them if the mediums don't. Announces that Leaf and he will come to dinner on Thursday at Th[urloe?] Square.

Reports that he has proposed the arrangement '(£100)', and thinks that it will be accepted. States that he went over and saw Kilburn, and liked him. Remarks that he was obliging and offered to 'try to get up a séance with the Fawcitts.' Reports that Leaf is there in Newcastle, and refers to his reaction to a séance that he had attended. Gives his own opinion of the proceedings, and remarks that he hopes for a good development of B[ ] the following day. Enclosed Rayleigh's card [not included], and asks Myers if he will go. Thinks that he may stay over on Tuesday night, depending on Cambridge engagements. Reports that he is writing to [Charles?] Williams to propose a séance on Wednesday afternoon or evening.

King's Langley - unable to attend meeting of Hellenic Society, has read Norman Gardiner's paper, interpretation of the Great Games of Greece to explain religious associations and explain how Pindar found inspiration in them, does not have time to develop this theory, defends his argument against Gardiner's, aetiological myths associated with the Games are not found in modern sporting events, has no books to study from.

6 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, NW1 - the reading of Francis Cornford 's letter at Hellenic Society meeting was "exhilarating", would like to see it published as note to Norman Gardiner's paper:

Trusts that Myers' impression of Mrs F[ay] is 'the true one', and undertakes to try to clear her behaviour of suspiciousness as far as possible, if 'R[ayleigh?]' asks his advice. Asks Myers if he would like 'R' 'in the other business' if he won't go in for Mrs Fay'. States that he has asked Butcher to sound Leaf. Asks who is the Newcastle party, and how Myers proposes to commence the negotiations. Asks when 'the Indescribable' [Mrs Fay's stage act was 'The Indescribable Phenonemon'] will appear again in public. Reports that there is a Professor [E.H.?] Palmer 'who says he can do all her tricks: and has promised [Sidgwick] that he will...' States that he wishes to go once more 'and see what they are.'

Reports that Butcher has suggested that Walter Leaf would like to join Myers' concern. Claims that he 'would be admirable in every thing except youth', and is 'very thoughtful, clear, unimpassioned; and his father swims in Gold.' Asks for Myers' opinion.

The Shiffolds. - Went to London on Thursday for the [Apostles'] Dinner, which was a 'great success. George made a good Presidential speech, with an amusing apostolic myth... about why Tomlinson and not Macaulay was founder of the Society'. Sat between Forster and McTaggart. Dickinson 'spoke well and wittily about the O. B. [Oscar Browning]'; Walter Leaf and [Alfred North?] Whitehead were also good. The Vice-President, Thompson [perhaps George Derwent Thomson], 'took the precaution of writing out his speech, which though elaborate was above the average for Vice-Presidential speeches'. There were about twenty-eight or twenty-nine people present, 'rather more than usual'.

Left Bessie at home with a 'strained shoulder', she is recovering, though still has her arm in a sling. Will try to get to one of the performances of the Oresteia by the Balliol undergraduates; from what he hears it is unlikely to be very good. They acted it in various places in the south of England last year, though he did not see any performances himself. Expects they have improved; may go to see them at Winchester on 7 July. They are using his 'complete translation... published in January 1923, not the theatre version which was printed opposite the Greek for the Cambridge performance of 1921'. They do not of course act out the whole trilogy; should think they leave out a third or more. Sends love to his mother.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for sending [Richard Winn Livingstone's] "The Greek Genius and its Meaning to Us"; Sir George's current reading of Herodotus has brought that home, with 'the description of the barbarous cruelties, and personal bloody despotism, of the Orientals - and the degraded and irrational superstitions and worship of Egypt' emphasising what the Greek victory over Persia 'saved the world from'. Thinks Walter Leaf, who visited last week, is probably right that the last five books of Herodotus were written first. They have had a 'perfectly delightful "Collins"' from Julian, who uses the word 'enjoyment' or enjoying' five times; it is a 'first-rate thing' not to be afraid of repeating a word if it is sincerely meant.

Aldourie, Bournemouth - Thanks him for the GB; thanks him for the letter of Nov. 18, reporting the success of his efforts on behalf of Spencer and Gillen, and for the letter of Dec. 6 acknowledging his pamphlet on the Eumedian Ethics, written in order to pay a compliment to [Franz] Susemihl, and mentioning that [Solomon] Schechter would be visiting Bournemouth, but he missed him; saw him once or twice during Robertson Smith's illness, but did not become acquainted, and will accept his introduction; is glad to hear Mrs Frazer's health has improved in Rome, and the discoveries in the Forum are most interesting, especially the confirmation of his theory about the perpetual fire, and asks about the current thinking on the location of the Temple of Vesta; his friend H. M. Plowden has gone 'completely off his head' according to F. Brandt; College news: the dividend is £200, the M.C. [Henry Montagu Butler] is in better health by living quietly, a committee has been appointed to consider the College statutes; in the university [William] Ridgeway has made an uncalled for attack on Walter Leaf, a pity as not everyone knows what Ridgeway is capable of; his wife is 'still immovable in bed.

1 letter from Walter Leaf dated 23 Dec. 1926, and five letters from Randolph Schwabe dated Dec. 1926-Apr. 1927.

Writes on the death of Henry Sidgwick to express her sympathy to Nora on her loss. Refers to Walter [Leaf] having written [see 101/48], and assures her that they both have wished that they might help her in any way that they could. States that she always remembers Henry 'with the same deep reverence and trust and admiration.' Refers to '[t]hose happy days at Am Hof' [the Symonds's house at Davos], and declares how good it was to know him and what a difference his friendship made to her father's life out there. Asserts that Nora's life joined to Henry's appears to her 'one of the best instances to give [one] hope of a future life, which shall be infinitely better.' Likes to think 'that those who stand so near now will see light together hereafter.' States that she will always remember 'the brave spirit of love and trust' which she saw in the Sidgwicks the previous May in London. Is thankful to have known him, and prays for God's blessings on Nora.

Writes to express his sympathy with Nora on the death of Henry Sidgwick. Refers to the depth of their grief 'at the loss of so dear a friend and so true a leader.' Relates that he saw Henry only six weeks previously at the Athenaeum 'and rejoiced to think that he was given back to his friends for a while at least...' Remarks on the suddenness of Henry Sidgwick's demise, which, he claims, 'has brought back the first shock of the end of May.' Predicts that the time will come when they will feel that it was better that way. Explains that he has been watching for nearly two years the advance of the disease in his own mother, and can understand 'how the terrible mental suffering which goes with it outweighs the physical.' Claims that the last of many lessons he learned from Henry, 'the most beautiful and the most unforgettable, was at the lunch at Leckhampton on May 27', when he taught him 'how calmly and manfully death and suffering could be faced, as he recited without a break in his voice the lines... from [Swinburne's] Super [Flumina] Babylonis; ending "Where the light of the life of him is on all past things, Death only dies"'. Hopes that when the time comes, the sound of Henry's' voice and the light on his face will be before him.

Refers to Henry's letter to Katharine, which induced her to write to Nora and Henry, 'just to feel in touch with [them] both.' Declares that she loves them both dearly, and thinks about them constantly. Reports that three days previously H.F. Brown sent her Henry's letter 'to him, dictated to Graham Dakyns...' Wishes that they both could have come out to Switzerland again, 'just as in the old days!' Recounts her memories of the Sidgwicks' last visit there, when the latter were 'just fresh from [their] [Hyères] visit', and the wonders of their latest mediums, '[not yet proved fraudulent]'. Laments that now 'the last of the children will soon be gone too', and that his world in the past few years 'has been shrinking at an appaling rate'. Claims that the Sidgwicks were her favourite visitors, and refers to how 'Johnnie' [John Addington Symonds] loved the talks he had with Henry, and how he made point of keeping his letters. Hopes to see them both in the autumn, when she intends to go to England. Asks Nora who will do her work at Newnham, as she assumes that she could not stand the social strain of it now.. Reports that their house is full now, with Madge, her husband and baby, Walter Leaf, and others. Announces that Katharine is to go to England in three weeks, and in two months will be married, the idea of which, she claims, she has yet to get used to. Refers again to Henry's letter to Katharine. States that she hopes that 'C[harles] F[urse] is worthy of all the believing love of which she [Katharine] is making him the centre.' Prays for God's blessing to be upon the Sidgwicks.

Sends a word puzzle, stating that he has found all of the words in dictionaries, but that one - 'agence' - is obsolete. States that 'Tyler is of course the correct spelling in the Masonic sense.'

Heatherside House, Camberley - Congratulates Frazer, and passes on apologies from his wife to Lady Frazer for not answering her proposal to meet.

Expresses her delight that Nora is to give her a copy of Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir; Nora will miss it now, though it must be 'a comfort that the responsibility is out of [her] hands.' Remarks also on 'how infinitely pathetic' to her must have been the work of that last dictated bit of autobiography', and states that no one ever lived in his letters as Henry did. Has kept 'that last little note' which Henry wrote to her, which came to her 'at [Mary] Ewarts'. There are 'too many people still left to whom [Henry] was a real friend as well as teacher' for the book to remain unread.

Reports that Katharine is at Davos, that the latter's boys are with her [in Lyme Regis], and that they and Katharine were all at Am Hof with her 'until the last days came.' States that she and [ ] are going to live together at Y[ickley] as soon as the Leafs leave it. Does not know if the arrangement will work out or not. She intends to return to Lyme Regis the following winter. Wishes that the house were really her own. Reports that she heard from Baron von Hügel some days previously. Fears that she has been very ill. Expresses her desire to come to see 'both of them' and Nora 'one day soon'.