Congratulations on engagement.
Upper Terrace Lodge, Hampstead, N.W. Would like to attend the feast of stories in Mr Ralston's programme but finds the weather makes such plans uncertain; thinks he would enjoy reading Sydney Dobell's Life and Letters edited by Miss Jolly, who is now in the Pyrenees with Mrs Dobell.
WW has ascertained the views of the Trustees who are to elect the Regius Professor of Divinity. They do not think a separation of the Professorship from the living would be wise [see WW to JCH, 11 Nov. 1848]: 'In this opinion I agree for many reasons which it would be of no use to state in detail: but I may say briefly that this mode of endowing University Professorships appears to me at least as good as any which can be proposed as an alternative'. With the death of Dr French the Greek Professor succeeds to the stall at Ely. WW does not yet know who is to be the next Master of Jesus College: 'a matter of no small moment to us who have to work with him. The appointment is with the Bishop of Ely'.
Membership.
2 Brook Street - Congratulates WW on his forthcoming marriage to Cordelia Marshall. He has read WW's paper on the weight of matter ['Demonstration that All Matter is Heavy', 1841] - 'with great satisfaction you enunciate most distinctly in the last two pages the true doctrine (or that which I apprehended as such) regarding fundamental ideas; and the fit separation of this term, from the equivocal one of innate ideas. There are are some phrases in these pages which better perhaps elucidate your views than any in the Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, though the great influence from both must be the same'.
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Expresses sympathy at the way he has been treated. Is glad he is in touch with Father Bonnar. Invites him to visit when he is free from examining. Defends aspects of [C. S.] Lewis’s Hamlet paper. Dom Sebastian [Moore?], who is reviewing Preston’s book [on the Four Quartets] for the [Downside] Review, remains convinced of Eliot’s greatness and would like to discuss him with Smith. Hay, he finds, is an amateur historian, ‘but generally considered sound by responsible Catholics’. Recommends, for the other side of the secular priests’ case, Leo Hicks’ review of Hughes’s book in The Month. Cannot find the ‘Persons-Raleigh’ reference, but can ask Hicks if it is urgent.
73 Longton Avenue, Sydenham, SE26. - Has been trying to let Trevelyan know ever since [this year's "From the Shiffolds", with his translation of the Homeric Hymn to] "Demeter" came 'with what pleasure' she and Ernest read and will re-read it; so kind of him to share his poetry with them, which comes as 'such a rest & refreshment'. Reads one poem of his particularly when the '"fret & fever of the world" seems to be almost unbearable'. Often thinks about how the 'miseries of the world' come on the wireless and in the daily papers, so 'accumulate rapidly': much of it would otherwise 'never reach one... at all' or 'come so late that there was the comforting feeling' it was all over. Hope Trevelyan enjoyed 'this wonderful summer & late autumn'.
Trinity College, Cambridge - Thanks him for the copy of 'Greece and Rome'; is just back from visiting his brother at the British Legation in Persia.
Postmarked Salisbury. - Thanks about Jane (brief diversion to quote rhyme with which Forster's father teased his nurse, and her response): knows the L.L. book and Grey, but is grateful for the other. Asks if Trevelyan if he knows a 'young or cheerful Italian man' who could give him lessons. Thanks for the news, which he had not heard [no further details].
Typescript draft of a French translation of Part IV, chapter III of 'Folk-lore in the Old Testament', corrected in Émile Audra's hand, lacking the first page, with page numbers matching the page numbers in Vol. III of that volume published in English in 1918. This chapter does not appear in the abridgement or the French translation of the abridgement, and the translator is not identified. The title is taken from the folder it is housed in, which also carries two later ballpoint pen notes, 'incorrect? A.J.S.' [with an arrow pointing to the title] and 'translations of F into Frazer [recte French?], by ?'
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks them for the postcard; will always keep it 'as a remembrance of the Mill House'; likes his, the back with Bessie in, a lot. Will be very interesting to see the other house [The Shiffolds] go up.
Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for "[Translations from] Lucretius", which he has now read most of; the excellent impression he gained of it when Bob gave him a 'taste of it up at the Lake Hunt' is quite confirmed. Lucretius was 'a wonderful old bird' and "est, ut ante, carus" ['is, as before', dear: a pun on his name].
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry that the journey to Rounton was 'so agitating'. Mary has written to say the wedding went well; Elizabeth's account is amusing. Expects she misses Julian, but they are glad to have him for a little longer at Wallington; he has been playing with his toys then was happy for Hearne [the butler] to carry him upstairs. Hopes Elizabeth and Robert have a good Christmas Day; asks to be remembered to the Enticknaps; hopes Gussie got home safely. Will be nice if Elizabeth comes to fetch Julian on Thursday. Sir George says there is a good review of Mrs [Janet] Ross in the "Nation"; she hopes Robert will lend her the book ["Lives of the early Medici as told in their correspondence"]
Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey. - Thanks Bob for writing with his and Bessie's congratulations and good wishes [on being appointed Secretary of State for India and Burma. A 'Cabinet Minister's job may be defined as follows:- to reconcile the irreconcilable, to solve the insoluble & generally to achieve the impossible' but the 'attempt is exhilarating'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Much obliged for the 'Bird book' ["The Bird in Song", edited by Robert Sickert"], which is a 'delightful collection'; has read Robert's poem ["The Lady's Bat"] with 'very great' pleasure, as well as the piece of Courthope's ["The Paradise of Birds"], Logan's "Cuckoo". Feels that 'Keats's unrhymed sonnet' is an omission; agrees that the letter to [John Hamilton] Reynolds is a 'charming effusion"; brief discussion of Keats. They have [E. V. Lucas and C. L. Graves's] "Signs of the Times" and have read it aloud; it is 'capital fun'. Likes to think of Bessie's sister being with her, and that Caroline is coming to visit. His recent work on the last two chapters of his book ["The American Revolution"] has been 'like beginning a new book', but he has 'got into it now'.
Paris, 16 R. Dupont des Loges - Has been ill, has three weeks before a kidney operation, has finished the first part of the translation of 'The Golden Bough' as [Léon?] Marillier told him to, Salomon Reinach will now write the preface, asks the meaning of some words.
(London Hospital, Whitechapel?).—Asks him to repeat the contents of his telegram, as she has lost it. Will see him on Wednesday.
(Dated Monday.)
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Transcript
Monday
A real tragedy has occurred. A long thrilling telegram came from you, I had just time to glance at the signature & then great press obliged me to thrust it in my pocket, from whence it slipped & I’ve no idea what it contained. Will you repeat it?
I’m devoured by curiosity.
Wednesday I see you.
Yrs
V
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Written in pencil. Later hands have added, at the top, ‘To ESM’, and, at the end, ‘With mid Feby letters’. Probably written at the London Hospital, Whitechapel.
Reports that Professor Conington, who is a Life Governor has placed a Marlborough nomination at his disposal, and that she may tell Mr Horton if she wishes. Advises her, however, that if the boy [Fred] does not do well enough to get the scholarship it will probably be not worth while for Horton to send him there. States that he intends the £30 annually for two years had better be spent in some other way, i.e., in giving the boy a decent education. With regard to Miss [Alice] Horton, suggests that she should be engaged in some employment 'less exhausting than governessing', such as being a companion to an elderly lady. States that he could enquire about such a position through Dr Symonds.