Showing 23 results

Annouces that he and Whitehead have looked through Russell's Dissertation, and both think it 'decidedly able, and deserving a careful estimate'. Undertakes to make a preliminary report of it and send it to Ward. Refers to a note on L[ ], with which Sidgwick proposes to deal. Reports that the first half is primarily mathematical, and states that Ward need only read most of this cursorily, as it falls mainly within the competence of Whitehead, and that it is the third and fourth chapters that Ward should concentrate on. Asks if he would like to have it sent to him, or if he is to come back to Cambridge before the reports are wanted. Hopes that he is getting on well with the lectures.

Written as from Mackenzie Robinson Hotel, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. - Expresses his concern over what is happening in India: Masood's son Akbar is here and 'tragic' on the subject; stayed in Washington with the Indian ambassador to the US, Asaf Ali, who was 'all smiles and hopefulness'. Has been sent by the "Sunday Times" to cover the opening of the Edinburgh Festival, but wishes he had not taken it on. Then goes to Wallington to see Trevelyan's brother Charles, and on to York. Hopes to be in Surrey in September and see the Trevelyans. Saw the Whiteheads at Harvard, and Roger Sessions at Berkeley

Written on letter from G. W. Balfour to A. N. Whitehead, 20 May 1887.

The Mill House, Grantchester, Cambridge. - Has come to the 'flattest part of England' he could find to get used to his 'rugged fatherland' after Holland; is staying with a 'mathematical friend' [Alfred North Whitehead] in a mill house, as his own is not yet ready. [George] Moore is here discussing 'various theories about ether and molecules of matter' with Whitehead, which Bob understands little of; Moore has also played him several of Beethoven's early sonatas, which he greatly enjoyed, though music 'passes in and out of [his] head like water through a sieve or a mill-dam'. Is going to Dorking to see his house tomorrow; does not know what he would do without the Frys to help him; bought them a Dutch cheese which he left in their London rooms but has not yet seen them; Paul [Hubrecht] helped him buy it. They had a good time at Volendam and Marken, and a good meal, but his crossing back was awful; says [the British] should not be called 'bigotted islanders' since their love for foreigners is immense enough to undergo the 'horrors' of sea-sickness. Writing with the mathematician's children 'romping and screaming' round him, so expects his letter is distracted; his head is also 'in a whirl with half-understood metaphysical notions', of which he gives a sample quote. Would 'like to be philosophical; but one cannot always get what one wants'. Is writing to Mrs Hubrecht to say how pleasant his visit was. Asks to be remembered to Bramine and Gr[andmont].

Lancaster Lodge, Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, S. W. 19. - Has enough material for a drawing of A. N. Whitehead, but many other commitments. "Would you be kind enough to drop me a card with the limit of the elasticity of your Committee's patience?"

Cloan, Auchterarder, Perthshire - Thanks him for his 'Inaugural Lecture', was interested in what he said about the University of Göttingen, and agrees that there is a border region between mathematics and metaphysics; thinks Whitehead's books of immense importance.

14 Barton St. - Trevelyan has done splendidly [to secure the Swan at Fittleworth: see 2/32 and 2/33]. Hopes he has not done wrong in inviting others. Asks if there will be enough room to put up Dakyns (father and son), Whitehead (father and son) and Vaughan Williams. Will be at the Mill House, Grantchester, from Saturday, so Trevelyan should send further correspondence there.

14 Barton St. - Is anxious to hear whether Trevelyan has secured the Swan at Fittleworth, and whether there will be room for the whole party (see also 2/32 and 2/34). As well as the names mentioned by Trevelyan, Henry Dakyns will come, and Sanger is encouraging Dakyns' father and [brother] Arthur to come; Sanger has also encouraged Davies to invite Whitehead, and North [Whitehead] may come too. Davies has invited Vaughan Williams to join them as well.

The Mill House, Grantchester, Cambridge. - Arrangements for a gathering [at the Swan at Fittleworth, Sussex, see 2/33 and 2/34] over Easter. [Robin] Mayor is named twice in Trevelyan's list; he should also include Henry Dakyns, Alfred Whitehead and North [Whitehead]. Should think by Wednesday there will be room for 'V.W.' [Vaughan Williams], and room for 'Dakyns pere' and Arthur [Dakyns] at any time. The back of the paper seems to show drinks consumed: Norton and Strachey appear as well as names mentioned in the letter.

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.

Lynton [on Trinity College notepaper]. - Is afraid that he cannot come to visit: has a great deal of work which he can only do during vacations; is walking around for a day or two 'to get rid of the fatigue of term'; also has to go to the Whiteheads. Is glad that there is good news from Bob and Goldie [Dickinson: in India?]

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bessie for the trouble she has taken, but North [Whitehead] is thought to need 'a bracing place' so they will go to the place at Malvern; is sorry they will not be neighbours. Asks if Bob can send [Lascelles] Abercrombie's address and a letter. Letters sent to Trinity will always reach him. Has just learned of [Henry Graham] Dakyns' death, a loss to 'very many'.

Whitehead's views on Russell's dismissal

Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside. - Thanks Bessie for the donation [to the Russian Exiles Relief Fund]; agrees about the 'special satisfaction' given by sending it now; 'too vile to think that the British Fleet is going to salute that blood-stained wretch [Tsar Nicholas II] tomorrow'; imagines the sort of article the "Times" will write about it. Still plenty of rain here, but also 'beautiful evenings' and fine periods when the babies can get outside; fortunately she had good weather going to London for her 'little friend's wedding', since she cycled ten miles into Windermere with all her luggage. Humphry is still 'most adorable'; dear of Bessie to have liked him so much, and Janet 'will always feel that he's a little bit your baby'. Hopes Bessie is keeping well, and not having any more backaches; asks whether she is going straight home when she leaves Wallington. Asks her to tell Caroline that she and George are going to the Croppers on Monday 23rd, but that since Maisie will not arrive till the 26th Janet will probably not go to Wallington till the 28th or 30th; expects George will travel ahead, but 'even he is very anxious to see Maisie and the baby [Anne Cicely]'. The Whiteheads are going to take Janet and George's house for the last half of September; Mrs [Evelyn] Whitehead did not say how North was, only that she herself was 'rather ill'.

New College, Oxford - Thanks him for his inaugural lecture, thinks Hardy will rank among the great creative analysts.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks her for her letter and the cutting about Taormina: 'the place is certainly being rapidly spoilt, and the funiculare will complete the process'. There has been little recent 'development of the "affaire" [of Florence Cacciola Trevelyan's will'. They were very sorry to hear of the death of Lady Trevelyan, Audrey's mother; saw in the papers today that it was due to a 'fall in her room'.

Happily, Enticknap has recovered quickly: his wife has gone up to London today to bring him back, though of course he will not be able to work again yet. Bessie and Paul are well: Paul 'takes more solid food now'. They are staying with the Russells in Oxford next Saturday to Monday; next week the Whiteheads are staying with them for a few days (Whitehead is 'the mathematician at Cambridge with whom Russell collaborates').

Glad she is having 'so pleasant a time' in Rome, and that his father is enjoying himself; will write to him soon. Weather recently very stormy. Sorry they have 'made the viaduct into the Borghese': fears it 'will go a long way to spoil it... but the fashionable world were determined to be no longer confined to the Pincian for their evening drive', he supposes.