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Robert Mayor exceedingly weak

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

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'.

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'.

Congratulations on engagement.

Glad to have talked with Sraffa; had a talk with Keynes which did not go so well, through Keynes' fault.

Typed copy. S S Canada. Return to Lemnos.

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 18th February 1898 - Thanks him for the Pausanias, notes that it is twenty-four years since he took part in Frazer's election to a minor scholarship, and it is 'pleasant to think how completely you have justified the choice'.

Breadalbane Hotel, Kenmore, Perthshire. Dated 18 July 1915 - Discusses Lilly's idea of accepting the Archdeaconry [in Africa] Roscoe has been offered on a temporary basis in order that he could do some anthropological work; suggests he approach Macmillan if not them, then Hutchinson with his popular book; Moulton's loss was the death of his wife, but he knows no details; [Kate] Marseille, a German friend in Cambridge has also died, the Marseilles' son [Rudolph] has joined the English army in the war; is interested to hear that [W. H. R.] Rivers has returned from the New Hebrides; is glad to hear that Roscoe will be lecturing to missionary students at Cambridge, wishes there could be a permanent provision for such instruction.

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'.

Collections at Tetbury and Cirencester

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.

Refers to having asked Sidgwick 'the other day' about the possibility of discussing a matter concerning himself [Maine], and declares that he has decided to write to him on the subject. Explains that at the funeral of the late Master of Trinity College [William Hepworth Thompson] he asked Vernon Harcourt whether he was going to lecture that term, and that Harcourt replied that 'he should very probably lecture in November; but that, if he did not, he should certainly resign.' November, he observes, is now over and Harcourt has not returned, so that he doubts 'but that he will resign at the end of the year.' He has decided to attempt to succeed Harcourt [as Whewell Professor of International Law], and to abandon his seat on the Indian Council. Acknowledges that this course of action 'will involve much sacrifice of income', but he has long felt that sooner or later he must make his choice between his Cambridge and his [ ] duties. With regard to International Law, claims that he has paid a good deal of attention to it, and used to lecture on it at the Middle Temple. Refers to his work on Ancient Law, and states that some propositions of his on the subject 'found their way into [his work] and have been generally accepted by modern writers.' Reports that since he returned from India, the Foreign Office offered him their Law Undersecretaryship, and that he was 'communicated with from Cambridge...when the Whewell Professorship was first filled up.' Acknowledges that some, who remember that he resigned a Cambridge professorship thirty years before, might think him too old to apply for the position. Mentions that Harcourt's deputy might also be intending to put himself forward. Claims that when he first decided to consult Sidgwick, he was not award that he was an elector, but he has made up his mind that this is not likely to affect his opinion one way or the other. Announces his intention to call on Saturday afternoon; states that he is returning to Cambridge the following evening. Acknowledges that Sidgwick may wish to speak to somebody else on the matter. Says that he has no objection to that, but asks him to try to keep what he may say 'treated as confidential'.

3 Buckingham Gate, S.W.

Cannot understand Joseph wishing to go to Hastings and Brighton [The Priory, Kenilworth]