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The papers consist of over 2000 letters written to Henry Arthur Bright from friends, colleagues, and family members arranged in alphabetical order. Principal correspondents include Robert Brook Aspland, William Robert Brownlow, William Henry Channing, Lord Charlemont, William George Clark, Sir Reginald John Cust, Charles Milnes Gaskell, Lord Houghton (130 letters), Charles Eliot Norton, and Spencer Perceval (b 1828). There are also letters from Hungerford Crewe, and the Hawthorne family, but not Nathaniel himself: Nathaniel Hawthorne's wife Sophia, and children Una and Julian. Letters to Bright's family consist mainly of photocopies.

The last box contains a few miscellaneous items: notes, an essay on ''The Characteristic Difference between Ancient and Modern Civilization' which was awarded the English prize at Trinity College, and a bound volume containing proofs of Lord Houghton's 'Notes on "Endymion"' and Houghton's introduction to the works of Walter Savage Landor in Thomas Humphry Ward's 'The English Poets 1880-1918, Vol. IV, The Nineteenth Centry: Wordsworth to Rossetti', accompanied by a letter and a note from Lord Houghton.

Written from Pall Mall.

Fifteen letters.

Hagley - met [Richard Monckton?] Milnes and [Edward?] O'Brien at Lord Northampton's, "Jupiter Tonans of Trinity"

48 letters to W. H. Thompson dated 1831-1866, and 1 letter addressed to [John] Allen dated 24 Aug. 1840. Names mentioned in the accompanying calendar of the letters include Henry Alford; John Allen; Robert Leslie Ellis; Edward FitzGerald; Arthur Hallam; Walter Savage Landor; Samuel Laurence; Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton; Stephen Spring Rice; Sir Henry Taylor; Robert John Tennant; Alfred, Lord Tennyson; Charles Tennyson [later Turner]; and William Wordsworth. Spedding also refers to his work on Francis Bacon.
With a further 35 letters to William Aldis Wright and William George Clark, dated 1862-1881. Letters to William George Clark date from 1862 to 1864 and relate to collations of Shakespeare's plays. Letters from 1881 to William Aldis Wright relate to Frederick James Furnivall, with copies of Spedding's letters to Furnivall, and one letter from Furnivall to Spedding dated 26 Feb. 1881. Accompanied by a mechanical copy of the Northumberland Manuscript.

Mattishall - arrangements for Donne's visit, Reginald Buller going to live in Matishall, daughter's illness, works of Dr Arnold, Niebuhr and Milnes, Peel's speech

Mattishall - ready for Donne's visit, arrangements for travel, Tennant's marriage, poems of Milnes

Letters written from 16 Upper Brook Street, 26 Pall Mall, and Chatsworth, Chesterfield.

Transcript

Dec. 5

Dearest A {1}

This is merely a P.S. to my last notelet to beg you to give my sweet & "blessed little Florey" an extra kiss from poor Anty Ett on her birthday,—; & to beg Richee's {2} acceptance, (ultimately for her) of my Copy of the Hungerfordiana, which he told me the other day he had been trying to procure & could not—

There were never more than 100 Copies printed—only 50 for sale—now six & thirty years ago—so no wonder.

He is to keep it, please, for his beautiful little Florey, as she alone bears the dear dear old name.

Neither Amy nor Robin have anything to say to it!—

I trust the sweet Rob does not feel these changes of temperature, & that you are all "flourishing"—

God bless you, my dearest—Yr most devoted
HMC.—

—————

{1} Followed by a heart containing the letters 'a', 'F', and 'R', for Amy, Florence, and Robin.

{2} The spelling of this name is uncertain.

Letters dated 15, 30 Jan. 1842, and one undated letter, all written from Fryton, Ferrybridge.

3 Bolton St. - Thanks Lord Houghton for his note about the book [The American]; agrees that 'the Bellegardes are rather "belated". They would have been more probable under the old régime; but I suppose a novelist has always to force matters a little. But even to modified Bellegardes an American savoring much of the soil would never have been acceptable. The French don't at all like the Americans (according to my observation) - none, that is, save M. [Charles Frederick] Worth; & he, I believe, is English!. But the French, after all, don't like any one but the French!...'

Hopes that Houghton has completely recovered. Will leave town in a few days, but will visit Houghton before he does so. 'Yours faithfully & gratefully, H. James jr.'

Complains that he has not heard from her, and that he saw that she had written to William in Oxford, and was envious. Reports that William looked well, and said that he stood his work pretty well; states that he didn't see much of William, since he was entertaining Professor Fawcett. Asks whether she thinks Lord Houghton worth autographing. Encloses a note of introduction [not included] that he got from him. Announces that he has set his examination papers [for the Moral Sciences Tripos], and is amusing himself with reading Hallam's Middle Ages, which he describes as 'inexpressibly dull'; this is strange, as Hallam is 'clever, enthusiastic, and has a good style'. Complains that it is very difficult to work at that time, as 'everybody is giving dinners at half past seven. Reports that Trevelyan promised to lecture to the Edinburgh people 'on "Impressions of a tour in Greece" and when he got to Corfu he found there was violent quarantine going on everywhere, so he turned tail and went to Austria instead.' Remarks that 'he will have to lecture out of his inner consciousness now.' Mentions that there is talk of a petition against him. Undertakes to bring Colonel Browne's book [the 'Persian MS' referred to in 99/42?] home with him. Doesn't know when he shall come home.

Agrees to lead the Banns of Marriage Bill through the Lords

Album containing over 250 letters, notes, documents, unaccompanied envelopes, printed items, and photographic prints carrying the handwriting and/or autographs of sovereigns, prelates, government ministers, peers, authors, and Trinity College masters and professors, with a few unusual items in addition. The material appears to have been largely culled from the correspondence of George Peacock, his wife Frances Peacock, her father William Selwyn, and her second husband William Hepworth Thompson, with a few unrelated items. Most date from the 19th century but there are a few items from the 18th century.

Among those represented are King George III, Charles Babbage, E.W. Benson, the 15th Earl of Derby, the 7th Duke of Devonshire, W. E. Gladstone, Lord Houghton, Charles Kingsley, H. W. Longfellow, Lord Macaulay, Sir Robert Peel, John Ruskin, Adam Sedgwick, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Anthony Trollope, and William Whewell; there are in addition a miniature handwritten Lord's Prayer in a circle no larger than 15mm across, a carte-de-visite photograph souvenir 'balloon letter' from the Paris siege of 1870 with an image of the newspaper 'La Cloche', and a photographic print of Lane's portrait of George Peacock.

London - new proposal relating to the University, function of the University, provisions for students who want to become clergymen, Cathedral Colleges, [Richard Monckton] Milnes and Mortmain

Asks Sidgwick to consider presiding over the Apostles Society annual dinner in 1900. Mentions previous men who have presided over the event, for example, T. T[aylor] in 1871, and Lord Houghton in 1880. Remarks that Sidgwick 'last presided in 1875.' Claims that it would give great pleasure to the society if he [Holland] could announce Sidgwick's participation 'on the 14th', and mentions the possibility of a second dinner for 1900. Claims that 'it would be good for the Society to hear an address from [Sidgwick].' States that [Ailsa] and he, 'or others, in London could do all the arrangements for [Sidgwick] next year.' Asks Sidgwick to let him know in a few days.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Encloses a cutting from the American "Nation", with a letter about [Rabindranath] Tagore, and a poem by Lord Crewe which is 'about as good as his father would have written'. The poem reminds Sir George of the 'very pretty memoir' by Lord Ribblesdale about his son [Charles] Lister [who died of wounds sustained at Gallipolli] which has recently been published. Thinks the long article on Emerson in this week's "[Times] Literary Supplement" is by the same writer as the one on Keats; strange to see how the author in both cases 'admires and loves' quite different things to those he does himself. Most interested in Robert having known 'Jones Festing' [sic: Henry Festing Jones], and will want to talk to him. Now Robert knows 'all about it', can say that Mr [Arthur] Fifield told him the same about what seems to be now the only surviving sister of Samuel Butler.

Appreciates Sidgwick's long letter. Reports that he has been well informed of Trinity, and more particularly, of 'Apostolic' news. Refers to his present illness. Asks for Sidgwick's advice in relation to whether or not he should take the Tripos examination or to stake his credit on some future Fellowship Exam. Asks whether he should study Pindar, Martial, Propertius and others. States that if he has any time it must be devoted partly to history and partly to '[Gk] Comp'. Asks if it is 'not fearful to forget the Greek for the simplest words, and to feel as well able to compose an air as an Iambic'. Reports that to him were sent three copies of Horace [at the University of Athens by G. O. Trevelyan?] which he discusses. Claims that '[Burnand] would have written a more telling piece for the stage, and Trevelyan should have produced something more worthy of his pen for the general public', but says that it nevertheless gave him an hour's laughter. Expresses regret that he missed 'the Professor's [Rhesio]', and asks if he was Platonical or ironical [W. H. Thompson, Regius Professor of Greek?]. Refers to a report in 'the Standard' about M. Milnes' attempt to canvass for Lord Palmerston in Cambridge within a few hours of the Chancellor's death [Prince Albert, Chancellor of Cambridge University until his death]. Expresses his contentment that Sidgwick [and others] 'have thrown the mantle upon [John?] Stanning', and supposes that the Duke of Devonshire 'is pretty safe of the Chancellorship'. Presumes that [Oscar?] Browning 'must have come down heavy upon [Sidgwick and others]...with his loyalty, during the last few days.' Refers to 'the great American debate', and is glad that the Arbitration [ ] will now be squashed. Refers to Miller's arguments, which he claims he could not have endured any more than Sidgwick. Tells him to remind Cowell, if he is still at Cambridge, that he promised to write to him.

Dramatis personae: Lord Northampton, Lord Spencer Compton, R. M. Milnes, Stephen Spring Rice, Miss McDougal, Lady Mary Anne Compton, A. S. O'Brien. With a second copy made for E. F. Affleck by Lady Alwyne Compton 23 Dec. 1858

Volumes on Coleridge published by Moxon, Mrs Shelley wants to send her son to a private tutor - "he ought to go to an Apostle"