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CLIF/A1/1 · Item · 20 Aug. 1864
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Trinity College, Cambridge.—Was sorry to hear of Uncle John’s death. Hopes Kitty (his sister) was not hurt much by the swing. Has heard from Mr Heywood and seen Tovey. Romilly has died.

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Transcript

Coll: SS: Trin: Cantab:
Aug: 20/64

My dear Papa and Mama

I was very sorry and surprised to hear of poor Uncle John’s death. It is no wonder that you are not well. You say he was well enough the Saturday before to go to Starcross {1} and stay with Aunt Lizzie. Is it not very like what one has heard of the flicker of a candle before it goes out? I remember having noticed it in other cases. It must be a consolation to think that he had no suffering during the week, and was conscious so long. And, if I may say anything of this kind, ought we to think that the mercy which we should ourselves accord can be greater than the Infinite mercy? It seems to take away all the benefit of the Incarnation, if the Compassion of our Lord is not at least as great as that of men.

I do hope dear little Kitty was not much hurt by the swing. I know it can knock very hard, because Clement hurt his knee there very much once. I have been scratching myself in bathing. About a fortnight ago I knocked my elbow against a rough post in diving, but it is nearly well now.

I have heard from Mr Heywood, who was in Paris on the 13th, and seems to be enjoying himself. Mrs Heywood is with him, and he says they have had delightful weather. I saw Tovey in a boat last night. You will see by the Paper that Mr Romilly, one of our Dons, has just died {2}.

Please to give my love to Mitchell, and say I hope he has not lost the opportunity of making interesting experiments as to the nature of physical pain. It is such a waste of trouble if he has.

With best love to all the little ones, and hopes that you are much better, believe me to remain

your very affectionate son
+W: K: Clifford.

P:S: I have at last borrowed a machine for mending pens, and my writing is rapidly improving under its influence. You should see the two awful tables of the Inequalities of the Moon’s Radius Vector and Longitude, which I have to read over every day, so as to get them by heart.

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On the back of the letter are two addresses in an unidentified hand: ‘W | 59 Cannon St | London’ (‘City’ struck through before ‘London’), and ‘2 Elm Grove | New North Rd’. The latter is an address in Exeter.

{1} A village in Devon, eight miles south-east of Exeter.

{2} Joseph Romilly died of heart failure on 7 August, while on holiday at Great Yarmouth.

CLIF/A1/10 · Item · c. 1870?
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

58 Montagu Square, London, W.—His health did not suffer by the journey. He got to the ‘diagram man’ just in time to prevent him spoiling them. The experiment will not ‘come off’, but he will repeat the lecture elsewhere in order to do it. ‘Miladi’ (Lady Pollock) has written to her.

(Dated Thursday. The reference to ‘Miladi’ (Lady Pollock) suggests that the letter was written after 23 August 1870, when her husband succeeded to the baronetcy. A reference to Cambridge suggests a date before September 1871, when Clifford moved to London.)

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Transcript

59 Montagu Square, London, W. {1}

Dearest Mama

I am very much better and did not take any cold on the journey. Mitchell was a great brick and took all possible care of me, and I kept wrapped up all the way. Walter met me on the station and carried me off in a cab. I have been lying down a good deal, and only appeared for a short time last night. This morning I breakfasted in bed, but got to the diagram man only just in time; for he is very stupid and would have spoilt all the diagrams {2} in another day. The experiment I am afraid won’t come off; but I can’t be beaten in that way, and shall repeat the lecture somewhere else on purpose to do it—perhaps make a Sunday lecture of it at Cambridge. This afternoon I have been consulting authorities at the Royal institution, and am rather tired; but now I shall take a long rest. Miladi says she wrote to you this morning but is not sure that Walter has not made a mistake about posting it. I have got some more poppy-heads. How are Edie’s throat and Kitty’s tooth and your indigestion? Now I must stop and have some tea, and send the letter to post; so good-bye.

Your most loving son.
Willie.

Thursday afternoon.

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Black-edged paper.

{1} The home of (William) Frederick Pollock.

{2} Probably diagrams for a lecture. As the next sentence indicates, the lecture had originally been intended to include an experiment.

CLIF/A1/12 · Item · c. 15 Apr. 1871
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Trinity College, Cambridge.—He came up safely, but caught a cold on the way. Miss Fison was married on Thursday. Discusses a suitable time for his parents to visit. Encloses photos of scenes from their play.

(Undated, but evidently written shortly after Clifford came up for the beginning of Easter Term 1871, which began on 14 April. Anna Fison’s marriage probably took place on the 13th, and the letter was probably written at the weekend.)

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Transcript

Trin. Coll. Camb.

Dear Papa and Mama

I can’t find any larger paper though I know I have got a lot somewhere. I came up safely on Monday, but caught a little cold on the journey and more from the smoking of my bedroom chimney which made me arise in the middle of the night, take up my bed and walk into the sitting room. But this is over now, and my face has been tolerably free from pain for a day or two. Miss Fison (Mrs Potts’s sister) was married on Thursday {1}—they wanted me to go there in the evening, but of course I am only able to go out a little in the middle of the day. I want to know when you would like to come up and see me, because you must do it before I leave my rooms. There are some nice lodgings nearly opposite me that I can have. One course of my lectures will be over quite early—by about the last week in May—and perhaps that will be the best time if if suits you. The Long Vacation is difficult to arrange yet, and if I come up here at that time I shall probably be very busy about my things. There are 2 bedrooms and a sitting room in the lodgings. I enclose 2 photos of scenes from our play. the† shirts should be red of course, but they do not look well when coloured. My very best love to all the little ones.

Your most loving son
Willie.

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{1} Anna Fison married David Walter Thomas, a Welsh clergyman, at Cambridge in the second quarter of this year. She was still unmarried on 2 April, the date of the census. Her sister Jeannetta was the second wife of the mathematician Robert Potts.

† Sic.

CLIF/A1/13 · Item · 6 May 1871
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Trinity College, Cambridge.—Thanks them for a dressing-gown. Is feeling better, and got through his Whewell lecture without ill effects. There is concern that the Tests Bill will be shelved again, but the evidence presented by the Master and Appleton is good. Maxwell comes to see him and gives him ideas. Hopes they are both better.

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Transcript

Trinity College, Cambridge
Saturday
May 6

Dear Papa & Mama

How very kind of you to send me such a lovely thing. I have been wearing it nearly ever since. The only thing I regret is that I cannot go out of doors in it—I should look so swell if I walked around the paddock plunged in deep thought and a dressing gown. I am very much better, and have been nearly free from pain for several days: on Thursday I went for quite a long walk with Cayley, and yesterday I went out while it was sunny without being muffled up. Also I got through the Whewell lecture (one of a course that Sidgwick has organized) without ill effects. It rather frightened me, being much harder than my ordinary lectures; viz:, an hour and a half of steady talk about philosophical subjects where one had to be very careful of one’s terms. We are in a great state of mind about the Tests Bill, lest if the Lords should adopt the recommendations of the committee and stick to them, they may gain time enough to get it shelved again. The evidence of our master before the committee is very good; and Appleton’s is lovely. {1} I am so sorry you can’t come up. The sun is quite bright today, and it looks so tempting—on the other hand I burn to be at some equations which I know only want shaking to give lots of Theorems. Maxwell comes often to see me and gives me ideas. Good bye. I hope you are both better. Give my love to Eliza. Kate is to stay with you when I am at home.

your most loving son
Willie.

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{1} The House of Lords went into committee to discuss the University Tests Bill some time before 9 May 1871. The evidence presented to the committee by C. E. Appleton is referred to in The Times of that day (p. 5).

CLIF/A1/14 · Item · 18 Sept. 1871
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

14 Maryland Road, Harrow Road, W.—Is annoyed that he omitted to write to her on her birthday. He intends to send her a trunk, but it will have to wait till ‘miladi’ (Lady Pollock) comes to help him choose it. Discusses his new rooms and neighbours. Is going back to Cambridge for a few days. Crotch regrets having to go away.

(Undated. The contents indicate that this letter was written on the Monday after Mary Clifford’s birthday in 1871, the year Clifford moved to London to take up a chair at University College.)

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Transcript

14 Maryland Rd. | Harrow Rd. | W

Dearest Mama,

I am so awfully vexed at not having written to you—especially on your birthday. {1} I can’t tell how it was except that I have been worried all the time and was travelling on Saturday and Sunday. But I did then and do now now wish you many and many happy returns of the day and of all other days. I want to send you a travelling trunk to come and see me with, but I must wait till miladi comes to choose it and tell me all the things that are necessary; because the ways of Providence are inscrutable, especially women. I think you will like my rooms here; I have got three for 10/– a week including attendance. It is a good way from the College but nearly all of it can be done by underground railway. The landlady pleases me very much so far, and I have got Eberlein next door; also the Wagners with whom he lives are very nice. {2} They are all germans† and exceedingly musical. I am going back to Cambridge tonight until Wednesday, {3} so address at Crotch’s lodgings 19 Trumpington St if you write before then. I think he is getting sorry to go away; he does not talk so sanguinely as at first. Tell me about all of you at home; I want the fullest accounts. And give my very best love to dear Papa & all the little ones from

Your most loving son
Willie

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Letter-head of Trinity College, Cambridge, struck through.

{1} Mary Clifford's birthday was 17 September (cf. CLIF A1/8), which fell on a Sunday in 1871.

{2} The census taken this year records Herman Eberlein, Professor of Music, as lodging with George Wagner, also Professor of Music, and his family at 12 Maryland Road.

{3} The reference to Wednesday, instead of 'tomorrow', indcates that the letter was written on the Monday.

† Sic.

CLIF/A1/15 · Item · 27 Dec. 1874
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Exeter.—Lucy is unwell (in London), and will not be able to get up for two or three weeks. Describes Minnie’s amusing recital of the creed. Congratulates Sir Frederick Pollock on being made Queen’s Remembrancer. Has written to The Times to suggest that the Oxford railway accident may have been caused by the use of an old carriage.

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Exeter.
Dec 27/74

Dearest Mother

I can’t write anything coherently because there is a man here talking to Papa and and nothing muddles me like a noise. Poor Lucy is laid up with a very severe cold and slight fever. She had a violent toothache and her face swelled up to an awful size and I took her to Fletcher who did her some good. But the doctor says she won’t be able to get up for two or three weeks, poor little thing. It’s very wrong of Mr Providence to make her ill just as I have to be down here and can’t look after her. My little sister Minnie (9½) has distinguished herself. She was saying the creed to Edith “he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead ‥ and after several other adventures he got back to heaven.” They all send their love to you. Please to congratulate Sir Frederic from me on being made Queen’s Remembrancer and ask him to remind her that I am going to be married and would like a nice large pension.

Mind you get rid of your cold and don’t go to see Hamlet too often. I have written to the Times to say that an old carriage broke down on the train I came down by, just at the time of the Oxford accident; merely to illustrate the practice of the railway company. {1} It may be put in tomorrow (Monday). I shall write to Morley tomorrow and tell him to apply to you. I have read more of my book about the Arabs (Dozy, histoire des Musulmans d’Espagne) and am more than ever delighted with it. Goodnight, dear Mama; a happy new year to you all.

Your loving son
Willi

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Letter-head monogrammed ‘W C’, presumably the initials of the writer’s father.

{1} On 24 December a serious railway accident occurred on the Great Western Railway line close to Shipton-on-Cherwell, near Oxford. Thirty-one people were killed and more than seventy injured. Clifford wrote to The Times the next day to suggest that the accident might have been caused by the use of an old carriage ‘which had not been used for some time’, since the breakdown of an old carriage had delayed his own journey from Paddington to Exeter on the same day. His letter was printed on Thursday the 31st (p. 7).

CLIF/A1/16 · Item · 1875 x 1879
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

(Place of writing not indicated.)—They were relieved to get her letter, as they had been afraid she would break down. It is a good climate to get well in, so they hope for good news of both her invalids.

(Undated. Written some time between Clifford’s marriage in 1875 and his death in 1879.)

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Transcript

Dearest Mama—I was so glad to get your letter—it is a weight off all our hearts and must be like a new life to you. We have thought of you constantly and were afraid you would break down under so much trouble, especially in a foreign place. You have one comfort now, that it is a very good climate to get well in. So we shall expect the best news of both your invalids and you must take the best possible care of yourself. Lucy will go to the bank the first thing tomorrow morning to see about the circular notes. Here are Mr & Mrs Lane come just as we were going to bed, but I don’t think they will stay long, for we are nearly dead asleep. Best love to all of you and rapid recovery

your most loving son
Willi

CLIF/A1/3 · Item · 22 Feb. 1867?
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Trinity College, Cambridge.—Thanks her for a parcel; is sorry about the Valentines. Is annoyed that the press has been informed of his lectureship at Downing. The man who won a heat in the sports the other day was not himself, but Clifford of Trinity Hall. Has had a letter from Nimmo and been to a concert at Grantchester.

(Dated Friday. The press announcement referred to appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette on 19 Feb.)

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Transcript

Coll: SS: Trin Cantab
Friday

My dear Mama

The parcel you sent me came quite safely yesterday, and I thank you very much for it indeed. It is too good of you to take all this trouble about my things, and to make a list of them for me. I will try very hard to be careful and keep them straight in future. Also I must thank you for the cake and the butter, which was a most grateful change from the College butter. The cat licked up some of this last from a plate this morning and it made her sick. I am awfully sorry about the Valentines; I sent one to Miss Jerrard in Aberdeen with only one stamp on, which was certainly heavier than either of those which came to Exeter; but she is sure to have taken it in, for she always gets a lot and is very glad to have them. That ass Bamber has heard of my Downing lecture somewhere and sent it to the Pall Mall; which is a great nuisance, as the arrangement was only a private one between me and Pike, and he may not like it. {1} I expect to get paid about £20 a term, but there was nothing said about that. The man who won a heat in the Sports the other day was Clifford of Trinity Hall; who also got a second class Political Economy certificate, an honour to which I have not yet attained and do not ardently aspire. {2} Nobody up here is surprised at any absurdity which is printed as University Intelligence, but I am afraid people in the country are given to believe in it.

I hope poor little Edie is better. How everybody seems to have sore-throat. I heard from Nimmo the other day about three lines: he said he was very jolly and that old Cole was a Brick. I went to a small concert in the schoolroom at Grantchester on Tuesday; it was very nice indeed, and I went back with Hudson of John’s (who shewed you the library and chapel there) to supper at the Nimmos’ {3} afterwards. With best love to all the little ones, and consoling kisses to Edie, believe me to remain

Your most affectionate son
+W. K. Clifford.

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One of the sheets is of the same kind as CLIF A1/2.

{1} The following announcement appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette on 19 February 1867 (p. 6): ‘Mr. William Kingdon Clifford, B.A., Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, Second Wrangler, and Second Smith’s Prizeman, 1867, has been appointed Mathematical Lecturer at Downing College.’

{2} William Clifford (later Phelps) of Trinity Hall was examined for an ordinary BA degree in Easter term, 1867 (Cambridge University Calendar, 1868, p. 184). Before they were admitted to examination for their degrees, candidates for the ordinary BA had to attend the lectures of one or more specified professors for a term at least, and to obtain a certificate of having passed a corresponding examination. The Professor of Political Economy was one of the specified professors. Certificate examinations were held termly. Those for Lent Term 1867 were held on 28 January, and the results were announced on 2 February (Cambridge University Calendar, 1866, pp. xxxiii, 23 ff.).

{3} The Nimmos lived at Mill House, Grantchester. See the Census, 1871.

CLIF/A1/5 · Item · 24 July 1868
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

C/o Fräulein Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Strasse, Dresden.—The weather is hot. His party have been to the opera with relatives of Emerson and have put on an ‘entertainment’. Tomorrow they are going to Saxon Switzerland. Describes their usual activities on Sundays and other days.

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Transcript

Fraülein† Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Str.
Dresden, Friday July 24/68

Dear Papa and Mama

The chief thing to be noticed is that it is awfully hot. Today, indeed, there is a slight improvement: one can sit in one’s bath to read without absolutely getting boiled. We never dream of wearing any clothes after tea, but even so it is too hot. By all accounts you seem to suffer in the same way in England. In the morning we wear Alpaca coats without waistcoats—if I can get a decently small front I shall leave off shirts also. The opera is of course quite insupportable. On Tuesday we went to Masaniello {1} with some Yankees who have been staying here. They are called Emerson, are relatives of the great philosopher, and come from Boston. After the opera, Kitty Emerson and I contrived to lose ourselves in the Grosse Garten, and did not come back till everybody had been out to look for us. Next morning, Mr Emerson wanted to speak to me privately after breakfast. Conceive my dismay, and the ill-concealed exultation of the rest! He only wanted to pay for the tickets, however. On Wednesday evening we had everybody up here to see a grand entertainment, conjuring, a German charade, and electro-biology, concluded with God save the Queen on two combs and an opera-hat. Yesterday the Emersons went away. There are plenty of nice people left, though; a Mr & Mrs Watts, and the Skrines, an English family living in the town to whom we have been introduced; besides the people belonging to the house, fr. Anna von Zschüschen and Clärchen von something else. Our own party consists of the two Pollocks, {2} Pryor, Forrest, and I. Pryor keeps going into the country to see some naturalistic friends of his: comes back suddenly with two edible frogs five lizards and a green snake. Forrest is the son of that Indian officer Colonel Forrest who fastened the bags of powder to the gate of Delhi and was shot down but not killed. {3} The only thing against him is that he writes for the Daily Telegraph. Tomorrow we make an excursion to the Saxon Switzerland, so called because it is the least mountanous† part of Bohemia. The Emersons went there about a week ago, and brought back glowing accounts. Fraülein† Kretschmer’s part of the house consists of two flats; we are located on the upper one. We go to the Hof-Kirche (Court-Church; where the King goes when he is at home) to hear high mass on Sunday morning, then stroll through the Picture-gallery till dinner-time, which is 2 on Sundays: sleep till six: keep an open-air concert till tea-time, and after that go to look at the dancing at one of the saloons. No one has yet ventured to join in, though we have been getting dancing lessons, which are great fun. The Vienna waltz is a deux-temps at just double the ordinary pace! It would send everybody spinning if one tried it in England. On other days we read in the morning, German or Gymnastics in the afternoon, dance, concert, or theatre in the evening. So glad all the little ones are well. With very best love to them believe me to remain

Your most affectionate son
W. K. Clifford.

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{1} La Muette de Portici, ou Masaniello (1828), an opera by Daniel Auber.

{2} Fred and Walter.

{3} Captain (sic) George Forrest (1803/4-59), of the Bengal artillery, was one of three surviving officers awarded the Victoria Cross for the defence of the Delhi magazine on 11 May 1857. He died of his injuries two years later.

† Sic.

CLIF/A1/6 · Item · Aug. 1868
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

C/o Fräulein Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Strasse, Dresden.—Is sorry to hear of her ill health. His party are suffering from the heat. Gives an account of his friends' visit to Prague and the battlefield of Sadowa.—(Some days later.) Describes his various activities and excursions, and refers to other English visitors at Dresden. When he returns to England he will have to go straight to Cambridge for his fellowship examination.

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Transcript

Fraülein† Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Strasse[,] Dresden.

Dearest Mama

I was very glad indeed to get your letter this morning, and to hear that you have so much enjoyed the visit of Susan & Aunt Smythe. But I don’t like to hear of your weakness and headaches. I hope it is only the effect of the hot weather. We have all been suffering from it more or less—chiefly in the form of indigestion and incapability to do anything whatever except sit on the Terrasse in the evening and sip iced coffee followed by Kemel {1} or Vermuth. Iced coffee is the most magnificent institution conceivable; you merely let your coffee get cold and then put an ordinary vanilla ice into it. Kemel is a liqueur made of carraway seeds; much the cleanest-tasted of any liqueur I have ever known. It comes from Russia. Vermuth is a bitter, supposed to have some of the invigorating effects of quinines: but I suspect it plays the deuce with the coats of your stomach if you take it too often. Pryor and Forrest made an excursion to Prague and Sadowa. They liked Prague exceedingly, and say it is a most interesting town—especially the old bridge from which S. John Nepomucen was thrown for refusing to disclose the Queen’s confession. They saw at Prague a hospital-convent, where the nuns are very able physicians and surgeons, but do all their work for nothing. Forrest says it is a better plan than the blanket societies for tea and flirtation that one finds at home. Then they went to see the battlefield of Sadowa {2}. It is made of very ordinary cornfields and pine wood, perhaps rather more fertile since the fight. After studying the ground and several histories of the war they have come to the conclusion that the needle-gun had very little to do with the business. It appears that people bayonetted each other for three hours in a pine-wood, and one Prussian regiment which went into the wood consisting of 3000 men and 90 officers, came out with just 100 men and 2 officers. The Saxon soldiers were exposed by the Austrians to cover their reserve, and were much exasperated in consequence: which paved the way for the Prussian operations here very considerably.

So far I got on the day I received your letter—I dare not think how long ago. I have been trying daily to finish this, but something always prevented me—either Walter rushed in with some Statics to be explained, or Mrs Watt’s† started her piano in the next room, or Dr Schier came to give a German lesson. I don’t know why, but the time seems to pass very quickly and to leave no results. I have not known the day of the week for a long time till Pryor took me to Church on Sunday. I like Kitto the English Chaplain very much. There was a great fair here called the Vogelwiese (bird-meadow). It is chiefly to celebrate the contest of shooting at popinjays with crossbows, a very ancient institution now degenerated. I had the happiness of riding in a merry-go-round with great glee, holding a wand-teufel {3}, a drum with one end open tied to the end of a stick, which makes a ghastly row when you swing it round. Then we went again to Saxon Switzerland and slept at Schandau. We arrived at Schandau in the middle of the night, having decided quite late in the day to try to reach it. Moss the master of Shrewsbury has been here, and now there are two Oxford men, one a fellow of Baliol†. At length I have found the Spottiswoodes, having met them at Church on Sunday—must go and call. The hot weather has given me a bad habit of working all day and only going out in the evening, when one is too tired to get much good; and now that the cold weather has come it is difficult to get right again. Here your second letter arrives: no wonder you don’t know what’s the matter. But I will be more good in future. Gordon Wigan has come; he will stay on with Forrest when the rest of us are away. We went to Freiberg the day before yesterday, and investigated a lead-mine. It was necessary to go up and down by ladders, which was very fatiguing, though I think climbing about at the bottom was even worse. People were casually blasting to a small extent all about. After doing the mine we saw the smelting works which are also interesting. Altogether one came home very tired. Wigan has bought a small snake in the marketplace for 9d. It is a kind of coronella, quite harmless, and very amusing. He wouldn’t be quiet on the bell rope, so I have had him here on the table—about two feet long. I took him down today to frighten everybody.

I shall get back to England I hope in ten days or a fortnight from now. I am afraid it will be necessary to go on to Cambridge at once, because my fellowship examination comes on the end of September. Still one will get away all the earlier at Christmas. Very best love to all: believe me to be

your most affectionate son
+W. K. Clifford.

Glad to see that Exeter is to have the Brit. Assoc. next year.

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{1} Kümmel.

{2} A village in Bohemia (now Sadová in the Czech Republic), near which the battle of Königgratz, or Sadowa, the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, took place on 3 July 1866.

{3} A mistake for Waldteufel, a kind of friction drum.

† Sic.

CLIF/A1/7 · Item · 12 Sept. 1868
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Cambridge.—Comments on the parliamentary news from Exeter. Has met a Swiss student who is a fine gymnast. There are six vacancies for fellowships. Pollock is not back yet and Crotch is going away, so he will have little to do. Will try to get a quieter room. Uncle McLeod and Aunt Annie say that Charlie is better.

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Transcript

Cambridge, Saturday
Sep. 12/68

Dear Papa and Mama

I have never thanked you for the bundle of Exeter papers, which amused me immensely on the journey home. You seem likely to have great fun with the election. I suppose Karslake and Coleridge must get in, and then we shall have two awfully swell members. {1} There is a Swiss here studying Natural Science—a very nice man, and a perfect gymnast, only all the skin is already off my hands because of the rosin which he puts on the bars. There are six vacancies for fellowships it seems. Fred Pollock is not yet come back. Crotch is going down for a fortnight so I shall be very quiet—the gymnasium will be shut up and there will be nothing to do in the afternoons—except go to Grantchester {2}. I shall try to get a room somewhere away from College to avoid being called upon next term—it becomes rather a nuisance to live on the ground floor. I have told you all the news already, and must now go and read Puiseux in the Varsity Library before it shuts up. I casually met Uncle McLeod and Aunt Annie in the Metropolitan railway. They said Charlie was quite well again.

Very best wishes to all the little ones from

Your most affectionate son
+W. K. Clifford.

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Letter-head of the Cambridge Union Society.

{1} Sir John Karslake and J. D. Coleridge were candidates for the parliamentary constituency of Exeter, which elected two members till 1885.

{2} Probably to the Nimmos' house. Cf. CLIF A1/13.

CLIF/A1/8 · Item · 16 Sept. 1868
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

Cambridge.—Sends birthday greetings. Has sent her a gift of some china. Is sorry to hear that Edie is unwell.

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Transcript

Cambridge Sep. 16

Dearest Mama

I have just come to the painful consciousness that today is Wednesday: I seem to have antedated all the days of this week and have been going about all day under the impression that it was Tuesday. Still I hope to be in time to wish you many and many happy returns of tomorrow, with all the health & prosperity that you deserve, which is saying a great deal. I brought a little bit of china from Dresden for you: I hope it has got to you safely and in time. I am very sorry to hear of poor little Edie: give her my best love and tell her to make haste and get better. Believe me always to be

Your most loving son
Willie.

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Letter-head of the Cambridge Union Society.