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Typescript of 12 lectures, extracts from the notebook of E. Adams on a course of 11 lectures given in 1872, and one given in New Brighton in 1873. Some of the lectures were copied from the original lent by R. C. Jebb and Mrs [Jeannetta?] Potts, and the rest are Adams' own notes on the lectures. A note on the first page of the typescript quotes Jebb's Life in which he refers to them as '"Lectures on Milton's Areopagitica and some minor poems" given to a class of ladies'. Typescript possibly created by Eliza Adams, as the last typescript notes that it was 'copied from Mr Jebb's M.S. kindly lent me by him 10 Feb / 73'.

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.

Perhaps relating to Jeanetta Potts, widow of Robert Potts. The haunting is said to have occurred in a house on Trumpington Street belonging to her friend, 'Mrs Jephson, widow of an Oxford man'. With letter, 20 Nov. 1944, from Florence Image to D. A. Winstanley: 'I unearthed this for Mrs Reid who knew Mrs Potts, but had not heard the story...'

14, Brookside, Cambridge [on mourning stationery] - Is happy with his article about her brother [Lorimer Fison, for an article in 'Folk-Lore'], and makes two small changes.

14, Brookside, Cambridge [on mourning stationery] - Would like more copies of the article ['Howit and Fison' in 'Folk-Lore'] for Fison's daughters; asks permission to have it printed privately.