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Including several letters re Charles Mackay.

Concerns Of the Plurality of Worlds.

HT is pleased WW likes his play: 'I am glad of all the praise I can get and especially of yours'. He has not seen WW's book of Hexameters: 'I remember well the pleasure I had in Hermann and Dorothea [WW's translation of 'Goethe's Herman and Dorothea', Fraser's Magazine, 1850]'. However 'it is not a measure which I should wish to see much of in any poetry'. He has just been reading John Herschel's translation of the first book of the Iliad - 'skillful and beautiful as the versification is I would rather have had it in decasyllabic blank verse of the same quality - not indeed in Cowper's blank verse, for if the hexameter movement is too marked, Cowper's verse on the other hand is almost motionless. But if Homer could be rendered into such blank verse as was written in the Elizabethan age or by Milton...that being a kind of melody in which almost all other melodies and movements are contained'.

Robert Mayor exceedingly weak

Signed by Sir Charles and Hannah Trevelyan, witnessed by G. O. Trevelyan.

Weston-Super-Mare - JDF is disappointed that he developed such a bad cold at the time WW was in Clifton: 'It is one of the trials incident to the invalid state that I could profit so little by your stay at Clifton'. He went to Torquay for three days for a change of air, but really wants to try 'the bracing air of the higher Alps'. He was glad to read in the newspapers and hear from WW, that Clerk Maxwell gained his scholarship: 'Pray do not suppose, though I take an interest in him, that I am not aware of his exceeding uncouthness, as well mathematical as in other respects; indeed, as he has passed through my examinations, I have been a sufferer from it, and cannot flatter myself that I exerted almost any possible influence on him. I thought the Society and Drill of Cambridge the only chance of taming him, and much advised his going; but I have no idea that he will be senior wrangler. But he is most tenacious of physical reasonings of a mathematical class, and perceives them far more clearly than he can express'. JDF has been re-reading WW's history and philosophy: 'The metaphysics of the latter I must leave quite on one side as too hard for me at present, or perhaps at any time'.

Medical Research Council Tropical Medicine Research Board Subcommittee visit to The Gambia, 21–27 February 1987

Lists some 'problems to be solved' in relation to the memoir of Henry Sidgwick: dates of letters, articles etc. Some emendations in red ink.

Thanks Nora for her letter, and admits that she had felt that HS might be too busy for an introduction. Supposes that Nora must be very busy with all the work she has besides Newnham business. Has been watching for the announcement of a memoir of Henry, but presumes that it will take a long time to prepare. Of the notices of his life that she read, she liked best the one in the Pilot. Only attended four of Henry's' lectures, which were 'on some of the great names in French Literature for the Group B students in [her] first year at Newnham', but found his teaching inspirational, and has never forgotten the illuminating effect his lectures had on her.

Is not only at work at writing: she is 'Maths Mistress in the Brighton House High School', where she came five years previously to fill a gap, and stayed. Lives with one of her colleagues, who is a friend of hers. Has applied for most of the jobs that have become vacant in the 'Company's Schools', but has had no success so far. Undertakes to send Nora a copy of the [Story of] Arithmetic when it comes out. States that Mr [ ] 'is thinking of bringing out some County Readers', and, if so, she [Cunnington] may do Sussex; has asked George Allen to let her annotate Ruskin's Queen of the Air, 'in a way similar to the Emerson [Emerson's essay on beauty. A class study in English composition]', but has had no final decision yet.

7 Camden St. & Town - The Astronomical Society is 'under a conviction of weakness, which may prove its strength', their efficient Assistant Secretary [Richard] Harris has been ill. All the observatories are working so hard that the Society hardly gets any papers from them: 'It is a fact, that as astronomy becomes more active the supply of communications sensibly declines'.

Admiralty. - Dined with Robert Pemberton Milnes and Lowther at Perceval's; Milnes' support steadier than it previously appeared - he may acquire enough confidence to accept office before the end of the season.

Lysmore, West Road, Cambridge - Congratulates Frazer.

Halford, Shipston on Stour - Going on a short holiday to Leamington, no time for a letter, sorry to hear Lady Frazer is unwell.

33 Great James St., Grays Inn W.C.1. - Sends a book of verses; says he met Frazer at an occasion at which Sir Ernest Benn was present; is composing a series of verses on the lives of the Cyprian princes, asks which edition of 'The Golden Bough' has the relevant footnotes. With pencilled note [in Lady Frazer's hand?], 'Adonis, Attis, Osiris 2 vols. 1914 since reprinted, Part IV of The Golden Bough' at the end of the letter.

Sir James Smith's Grammar School, Camelford, Cornwall - Has read 'Folklore in the Old Testament' and suggests an association between the scarf let down from heaven and shafts of light breaking through clouds; also asks for an explanation for the inn name The Garland Ox, in Bodmin.

Thanks Flora for sending back the Santayanas, and is glad she enjoyed them; remarks on the 'curious lapse of memory about Lady Stanley's knee-breeched footmen!'. Thinks she might like Santayana's "Last Puritan", which is 'not perhaps a good novel', but 'much better written than most novels, and full of good things'; the 'very recognisable portrait of Frank Russell is amusing'. The hero is 'more or less [Santayana] himself, but less interesting'. Offers to lend Flora his copy. Used to own some 'quite good sonnets' which Santayana gave him, but seems to have lost them; Santayana is 'not really a poet, though he sometimes writes good poetry'. Now finds "Lucifer [: a theological tragedy]", which Santayana also gave him, 'rather dull'. Thinks Flora may enjoy some of the 'less philosophical' works like "Soliloquies in England', and could lend them.

Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Gives [Bernard] Berenson's address at Florence. Has been 'a bit stuck' with his play; but may write a little more before he leaves; may have to read more books on 'mediaeval manners, especially at meals, on minstrels and hunting'. Hopes that her aunt is better. Draws a sketch of his 'little Bessie tree'. Is reading a book on the evil eye, seems 'we live in a damned superstition planet'.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is still 'very vague and confused about Dutch money'; asks Bessie if she has calculated Augustin's bill correctly; it is 'a rather disappointingly large amount' but the success of the concerts 'helps to keep the artist in Donald [Tovey] alive. Wishes she could hear of Fritz Busch's safety: would be best if he could be '"safely wounded" as the mothers say'. Donald is at Dyffryn Rectory [to see his aunt, Anna Walter Thomas?] and returns to Edinburgh on Saturday. Asks Bessie to ask Donald to let her have any notices of his concerts which might have been contained in the letters she forwarded to him today; was very grateful for the one Bessie sent her which seems 'quite remarkably good and comprehending'. Donald is playing very well, but was 'extremely nervous' for the Chopin recital, partly as the piano was so bad. She was away for Christmas with her 'very depressed brother [Henry] and his wife' and is now trying to deal with work.

Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - They consider themselves 'among the lucky ones' to get a copy of Bob's Christmas poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; these are 'doubly welcome this time' since they were 'rather bowled over by that bitter weather after Christmas'. Marjory [Allen?] helped them by 'renting out one of her old-time housekeepers', Miss Johnson, whom Bob might 'remember from C[lifford] A[llen]'s time': Bob's poems have given them 'great spiritual refreshment', and with 'Johnny' [Miss Johnson] here they have been able to 'enjoy them unhurriedly'.

Typed copy. S S Canada. Return to Lemnos.

Trinity Lodge. Death of Andrew Burton, sends George Russell's autobiography.