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Reports on the progress of their [honeymoon] journey: they reached Dover 'without adventure', and had a smooth crossing [to Calais], then a pleasant, but dusty, rail journey to Amiens. They have been to see the cathedral, which is beautiful. They intend going to Paris the following afternoon, and hope to get rooms at the Hôtel Bedford, Rue de l'Arcade. Is sorry she did not see Mary nearly as much as she had hoped to the previous day, but notes that Henry says that Mary promised to come to Cambridge to see them soon. Henry sends his love, and he hopes that Mary had a satisfactory interview with Dr Andrew Clark.

24 Bryanston Street, W.—Discusses the Cliffords’ health and movements. The doctors do not think that Willi should return to England yet. She and Fred think of coming to join them, perhaps with the children. Gives news of their present activities and engagements.

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Transcript

24 Bryanston Street W
June 13./78

Dearest Lucy

A great many thanks for 2 letters from Malta & Genoa w[hic]h I got the day before yesterday, & for the others from Malta w[hic]h I could not acknowledge as we had no address. We were thankful that Malta seemed to suit Willi & that you fell in with pleasant friends. It was a great pity that you had an accident & were laid up; how did it happen? I do hope you are quite right again. I hope you took your journey to Lugano very very quietly and that you will soon establish yourselves comfortably at Monte Generoso. Fred wrote to you yesterday to tell you of his interview with Dr Clark. He said that nothing he sh[oul]d like better than to order you home in August or so, it would be so good for Willi morally, but that unless he really improves in the next month it would be most imprudent. Both he & Dr Beatty agree that in his present state nothing wd be worse for Willi than an English climate. You know Fred & I have set our hearts upon joining you wherever you are when the time comes for our holiday, at the Rieder Alp or in Yorkshire or Scotland & I sometimes think that we might easily manage to bring out both our kids so as to enjoy them altogether—I mean Ethel & Alice & perhaps C. Alice too. We shd not bring Alice if we cd not bring Ethel too. Don’t you think it would make Willi happier to stay abroad if he were to see his little girl & have her for about 4 weeks? Everybody goes abroad in August & if you were to come home you would find all your friends scattered. We have been staying with Mrs Ritchie near Windsor for Whitsuntide, & they & the Douglas Freshfields are all thinking of going to the Rieder Alp with great enthusiasm. The Tyndalls would be close by at the Bel Alp. So that on the whole I cannot help thinking you would enjoy yourselves more in Switzerland in August than in Great Britain, & that I suspect would be the only month Willi would be allowed home.

The W. Colliers are in London for a week & ask after you. Also we have some Dutch people over here to entertain. We did so enjoy our holiday in the country & London feels most dreadfully stuffy & stale on coming back. It is a joy to breathe in the country. Fred will have told you about Walter’s lecture at the R.I. They went to St Julians for their holiday & the parents are in Paris. I am a great deal better, in fact quite well. We are to take our Dutchman & woman to the R.I. tomorrow to hear Prof. Dewar on the Liquefaction of Gases. An interesting article in Mind next month will be “An infant’s Progress in Language”—i.e. Alice’s, done by her dada. I do hope you will be happy at Monte Generoso & meet friends. Best love to yr old man & you. Ever dear Lucy yr affectionate

GHP.

Declares that she is glad to hear that he is taking it easy 'in those few lovely days' which they had the previous week. Hopes that he [and Nora] can find something that she may give them as a wedding present, and asks if they want a dinner service or a D[ ] service, or if they would prefer something in silver. Asks if he received the watch and chain. Assures him that she 'heard not a word about any single person being "bored" on the 4th' [the Sidgwicks' wedding day], and that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Reports that F. W. H. Myers wrote to her saying that he enjoyed the wedding very much, and also sent her his verses. Adds that the party with her, including Uncle William and Aunt Steph[anie? ] 'seemed very happy'. Declares Nora's dress and veil to be 'befitting an angel.' Promises to do her best to obtain a cook, and undertakes to make an impression of the Great Seal and to send it that night to [A. J.] Balfour. Asks whether his wife is to be known as 'Eleanor' or 'Nora'. States that she received a card from Minnie that morning, and that the latter is anxious to hear from Henry. Adds that she also saw A. Clark, who thinks she is better, and spoke highly of Henry.

Refers to Dr Andrew Clark, and his failure to adequately treat Mary's complaint; hopes soon to have a better account of the matter. Cannot persuade Nora to give an exact date for their wedding: her eldest brother [Arthur Balfour], who will have to entertain their friends, is expected home in a few days, and she wishes to wait for him to come home before making a final decision. The wedding will definitely be in the week before Passion Week, and most probably on the Tuesday of that week; hopes that this will suit his mother. Suggests that it would probably most comfortable for her to accept 'Lucy's invitation' [to stay with her]. Encloses a list of the presents that they have already received [not included]. Claims that he cannot think 'of anything that remains ungiven except breakfast, dinner and dessert services, spoons, knives and forks etc.', but presumes that she will think of other things.

Wwould have written before, but was expecting to hear from her about her impression of Dr Andrew Clark and of the success of his treatment. Hopes that the last arrangements of Mr Rogers are answering. Has been at Rugby with Arthur and Charlotte, and Nora has been staying there too for a week; believes that Nora gets on well with Charlotte. His and Nora's plans are still quite uncertain: they do not know whether Arthur Balfour is coming home immediately or not, but believe that he is, and until he comes Nora does not like to settle absolutely the time of their wedding.

Asks whether she has heard from William: Charlotte says he has 'quite fixed to come back to Oxford at Easter'. It has been hinted to him that some of his friends are thinking of giving him a watch and chain; mentions this because she said she was saving up his birthday presents for one. Suggests that she should 'divert them to some other object', but offers to intimate to his friends 'that Destiny has already a Watch in store for [him].' Announces that the Bishop of Exeter [Frederick Temple] is coming to dine with him that evening; he is preaching at St Mary's, and 'all the old Rugbeians are coming in afterwards to see him'.

His activities in London the previous day, including his attendance at a debate in the House of Lords prevented him from writing to her to say that he and Nora have fixed on 4 April for their wedding day. Asks her advice on whom he should invite: Arthur Balfour has practically left it up to Henry to decide. His own idea is to ask his uncles and aunts 'and the Edward Sidgwicks and perhaps Ellen Crofts... one or two of [his] most intimate friends and Miss Green'. Wonders whether the other first cousins may feel aggrieved at not being asked. Will write to his Aunt Henrietta himself, and asks his mother to clarify the address for him. A formal printed invitation can be sent to the others. Does not expect his relatives to come from Yorkshire. Hopes that [Dr] A[ndrew] C[lark]'s last treatment has had better success, 'and that the trouble about the teeth is over. Says he is 'still supremely happy - sometimes quite overwhelmingly so.' Does not wish to be 'singular', and states that he would like to think 'that [nearly] all mankind were as happy, at least once in their lives.'

Reports that he has decided 'with much regret' that he cannot leave Cambridge during the coming vacation, as he is too busy. Had intended to come down to her, but explains that about two weeks previously he had a bad attack of indigestion while he was trying to finish some work. Though he was recovering after taking a holiday, he wanted to see a doctor before resolving to work through the vacation and, on going to London 'on the business of Miss Clough's new house [for female students in Cambridge], consulted Gladstone's doctor, Andrew Clark, about his health. The latter diagnosed 'a tendency to rheumatic gout', put him on a strict diet, but let him go back to Cambridge to work.

Hopes to have 'a really good holiday' in the Long Vacation. Asks for news of Arthur; declares that he ought to be coming to England about that time. Refers to events at Rugby, and the attacks in the newspapers thereon. Claims that it was 'a clever trick of Hayman's lawyers to put the matter into Malins' court: no other judge would have allowed so much [ ] talk about the merits of a case which he knew he was not going to try on it's [sic] merits.' Hopes that she has been feeling well and it getting through her [ ] of removal'. Asks her to let him know of 'any Rugby or domestic news', and if she hears anything about Temple. Declares that he is sorry for him

Says she was glad to receive his letter the previous night, and knew nothing beyond the fact that he and Nora were at Rugby. States that she would have joined their 'happy quartette' if she had been feeling better. Refers to Dr Andrew Clark's treatment, which she has begun. Reports having given up cocoa, and having changed her diet. Claims to be much more comfortable as regards her teeth, and hopes that she will not have to see Mr Rogers again for some time. Reports that she had a very pleasant letter from Charlotte [Sidgwick?], who seemed to have enjoyed Henry and Nora's visit. Refers to their imminent marriage, and suggests that he might like her to be there. States that Lucy Sidgwick has asked her if she will stay there all the time, but that she 'could only thank her and leave it uncertain.'

Reports that William has not been well, and that this has made him anxious to get away from Guernsey, but that the Head Master there depends on him, and has been unable to get a substitute. Refers to Isabel's last letter, in which she expresses the hope to be back by May. Asks Henry to accept the watch and chain [not included],and states that she will think of something else that he will like quite as well. Adds that there is his Uncle Lace's ten pounds and five pounds from his Uncle Robert, which he wishes her to help him in spending. Reports that he wrote very kindly about Henry's marriage.

Says that she would like to be 'an old Rugbeian on Sunday evening, to see that kind, good face, and hear those delightful harsh tones....' Relates that Mrs Talbot of Keble is very friendly with Ada [Benson], and that when Mrs [Agnes?] Wickham was staying with her 'she called upon Ada and told her everything delightful of Nora.' Reports that Mrs Vernon Harcourt came to see her the previous day and that 'she said she had often hear her sisters in law the Miss Harcourts speak of her as they lived in Carlton Gardens.' Refers to the fact that Oxford is 'going to keep' Professor Max Muller. Reports that Ada 'heard all the Discussions in [conversation] thro' Mr Bradley's kindness and then dined with the Max Mullers....' Adds that Mrs Muller is a great friend of Ada's. Expresses the wish that some professorship could be raised for 'poor William'.

[Referring to his honeymoon] states that the time has passed wonderfully, and reports that they have had 'several days of most appropriate weather, cloudless and balmiest air', and claims that Paris has looked as lovely as he always imagines it. Reports that Eleanor instructs him in the art of domestic decoration, and in return he is 'gradually preparing her to read the Methods [of Ethics]'. Refers to the hotel in which they are staying. Reports that friends have found them out, 'but not to any disagreeable extent', and that Eleanor has persuaded him to be photographed. Hopes that everything went off 'as well as could be expected on Tuesday, and that nobody was much bored, and that Edward's work was not seriously interfered with'. States that having Edward to perform the [marriage] service made even more difference than he expected.

Asks her to tell him about Andrew Clark and their mother, and whether anything came of Minnie's letter. Reports that their mother has written to him 'in good spirits' [see ADD.MS.c/101/135]. Announces that they intend to return to England on Tuesday 25 April, 'probably to C[arlton] Gardens for a few days', and that he has to go up to Cambridge on Friday 28 April on business. States that they 'shall not be generally supposed to be in Cambridge till Monday May 1st.' Refers to 'the Fortnight of Callers which will supervene after May 1st', after which 'the long years of serious work in Cambridge' spread out before him. Claims to feel 'equal to anything in the way of services to mankind now'. Reports that there is an article in the Quarterly Review by John Mozley on ethics in relation to Henry's book. Claims not to much like it as a criticism, but that it contains 'an interesting and well-written exposition of his own views.'

Refers to the chocolate eggs, which his wife sent to Minnie's children for Easter. Announces that they go to Cambridge the following morning at nine o'clock. States that they have already made acquaintance with their temporary house and like it. Wishes that work on it 'did not begin quite so soon'. Reports that he saw Andrew Clark 'and promised to save him the trouble of writing to [her].' Informs her that Clark believes that their mother 'is suffering from a very mild form of the effect of gout on the brain'. Sends on Nora's love.

26 Colville Road (Bayswater).—Does not think it would benefit him to give up his College work next term. In the summer he and Lucy plan to spend the summer in the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees.

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Transcript

26 Colville Road. Ap 7/76

My dearest Fred

I think you are the truest friend in the world, and that everybody is always ready to help me who never helped anybody. But I am sure that to give up my College work of next term would do me much more harm than good; I should continually fret about it and about one or two little things I want to finish, and rest from work is no use at all without rest from worry. I am already picked up under Andrew Clarke’s regimen; shall get a clear fortnight’s holiday in the country from next Wednesday; {1} and there is then only five weeks’ easy work in warm weather. After that we will go in a Cunard boat round the Mediterranean for seven weeks, and then stay as long a time in the Pyrenees; which is enough to set up the Vendôme column. {2} Moreover it seems better to be under A.C.’s eye for a little while yet. If it were winter and one could get away into a warm place it would be a different thing; but I shall be as strong as a horse before the next cold weather. I don’t believe that too great or too sudden a change of life can be good except in very bad cases, and there is really not much the matter with me. Besides that it is enough to make any man well at once to think that he has such friends.

Thy
Willi.

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{1} 12 April.

{2} The Vendôme column in Paris, surmounted by a statue of Napoleon, had been taken down on 8 May 1871, during the Commune, at the instigation of the painter Gustave Courbet. On 26 June 1874 Courbet and his colleagues were condemned to defray the cost of rebuilding it, whereupon the artist, unable to pay, fled to Switzerland. The task of reconstruction was completed in December 1875. The phrase 'set up' is probably used in the two senses ‘restore the health of’ and ‘erect’.

16 Cavendish Square, W.—Sends ‘the last touching record’ of Clifford’s death, and praises his character.

(With an envelope.)

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Transcript

16 Cavendish Square. W.
Sunday.

Dear Mr Pollock

Here is the last touching record of the death of poor Clifford—Whether Nature be all, or, as I humbly think, not all—whether, after life, there be conscious light, or only blank darkness, certainly this man with his exquisite sweetness & simplicity of character, with his rare intellectual capacities and gifts, with his moral strength & gentleness, & with that force of genius which carried him with increasing swiftness over the difficulties of abstract knowledge—was one of the noblest of her creations. And if the better part of religion be that which creates a life rather than a creed surely this life is an example which one need feel no shame in following.—

The memory of Clifford will long remain a precious possession to his friends of all classes & of all creeds; & when they think of him they will think also of you by whose devotion the days of his weakness & anxieties were covered with strength & comfort.

Sincerely yours
And[re]w Clark

[Direction on envelope:] Fred[eric]k Pollock Esq | 12 Bryanston Street | Portman Square W

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The envelope was postmarked at London, W., on 7 March 1879. Letters omitted from words abbreviated by superscript letters have been supplied in square brackets.