Showing 79687 results

Sends Elizabeth Bickersteth's screens, birth of [John Edward Cooper], asks Charlotte to pray for her as she expects a test of her faith: Preston

Elsevier Publishing Company. Invitation to write monograph (declined), request to publish 1958 Lindau lecture (granted). 1957, 1959.
Faraday Society: Request to review book for Transactions (declined). 1953.

Thurlby Hall, Newark - Letter of introduction for the Rev. Dr. Wayland [Francis Wayland], Professor of Moral Philosophy at Brown University, on a mission to study academical institutions in Europe.

Wittgenstein's work has not been going well.

Expresses his eagerness to write in honour of Darwin [on the occasion of the publication of Francis Darwin's Life and Letters of Charles Darwin], but envisages some difficulties, viz., the papers, including the Times, being so full of Darwin 'from every point of view' that it will be difficult 'to make one's voice heard.' Presumes that [J. T. ?] Knowles and others have already arranged for reviews. Refers to Darwin's own autobiography, and suggests that any review should merely say 'read it'. Remarks that F[rancis] Darwin 'may be quite sure that the book has intrinsic interest enough to dispense with any [puffing] or interpreting.' Undertakes to read the book at once, and consider what he can do. Complains of '[t]hat accursed dictionary [of National Biography]', which he describes as a treadmill, but claims that he is getting into a sort of routine, which will give him time to do other things. Claims that he is always trying to get to Cambridge to see his boy [his step-son George Duckworth] there, but doesn't often succeed; hopes to be there one day during the term, and promises to make an effort to see Sidgwick. Expresses his [and Mrs Stephen's) gladness that [Arthur?] Balfour is convalescing.

Hopes that Sidgwick will not be bored to receive a letter from Switzerland, 'as Frank's mother always was.' Tells him of the great pleasure that she derived from reading the novel he recommended to her, The Confounding of Camelia by Alan Douglas Sedgwick [1899]. Discusses the latter and its characters. Expresses her concern for Sidgwick's health; that his 'indigestion discomforts still continue.' Remarks that 'out here [in Switzerland]', she only gets 'the silliest novels to read' and is disappointed that she cannot read 'such silly ones as Miss Harrison'. Refers to John McCunn The Making of Character. Some Aspects of Ethics [1900], the author of which 'quotes too much poetry sometimes'. Announces that they are going to Venice 'when Frank comes here in about a fortnight'.

Typed copy. S S Canada. Met J R M Butler on The Aragon for lunch.

Thanks Sidgwick for his letter. Reports that since they saw each other at Cambridge he has been reading the statutes of the [Whewell] International Law Professorship, and he believes that 'the founder of the Professorship contemplated the Professor being [ ] engaged in non-academical pursuits.' States however that his intentions regarding the India Office 'are independent of any question raised by Dr Whewell's will.' Believes that it would be 'extremely wrong' that any public servant should hold a seat on the Indian Council as well as two academic offices, viz., the Mastership of Trinity Hall and the International Professorship, and states that if he were to be appointed to the latter, he would resign from the Indian Council as soon as he could. His perception of the situation is that the electors, having surveyed the field of candidates, came to the conclusion that there was no one to be preferred to Maine, he would be invited to apply for the position. Suggests that it would be enough if he authorised Sidgwick to declare him a candidate; assures him that he is 'not for a moment suggesting that' Sidgwick vote for him. Asks him to let him know the result by telegraph when the election is over.

With carbon copy of reply from R. A. Butler,

Regrets he is engaged on the 21st, but hopes the dinner invitation will be repeated.

Miscellaneous correspondence: 1955, 1955, 1958.

Accompanied by three extracts from Henry Jackson's commonplace book about the '77 Club, two menus for dinners of the '77 Club from 1904 and 1911, with signatures of those present, including Gurdon and Jackson, and a cutting about the '77 Club.

RJ has been seized with one of his 'fits of sinful non-writing'. On behalf of two different people RJ has been asked to write to WW requesting favours for their respective sons. Robert Peel's speech last night has I think quenched his reputation as a statesman for ever - on looking attentively at the speech you will see that two very distinct objects pressed on him last autumn which he has fused violently...The first the state of Ireland - which required efficient - prompt nay instant measures. He does not take them even when his submissive cabinet came back - though he holds out now any delay in opening the Irish ports to Rice[,] Maize and Oats as almost a crime'. This emergency 'forces on him a conviction that a general review of our commercial and fiscal system, more especially of the corn laws is wise - if not essential - granted - this surely is an operation which both from its nature and from the expectations and temper of his own party required deliberation temper full investigation tact. But he who has neglected the emergency seems to have done so only that he might preserve it whole to use as an argument for making the great change of commercial policy abrupt[,] harsh and not merely distasteful but so odious and apparently so unfair and in the eyes of his surprised friends that all the advantages[,] preparation and persuasion might have given him in the great undertaking are gone. The argument that because there is a temporary dearth of potatoes in Ireland there must be an instant permanent and entire change in the system of England as to wheat for instance is absurd. He might as well attempt to feed the Irish on turtle soup as on wheat'. RJ thinks 'it just possible that with rational management he might have conciliated and kept together the greater part of his party and attained all it was wise to attempt at once. For till now no one ever thought it possible to change in a day a system complicated by colonial maritime and fiscal regulation for really free trade. In fact he has not fairly interpreted it and for that I do not blame him. He has attempted a larger step than he shewed in his circumstances I am well convinced'. The whole public horizon looks gloomy. The House of Lords 'will either throw the bill out or change it in committee - there must come a dissolution which all say will bring in parties too nearly balanced for either of them to conduct the government - and no one pretends to see what next'. However RJ thinks the measures themselves were in the right direction: 'I heartily wish I saw any chance of their gradual and wholesome progress - I see none. If after the coming struggle they pass in their present shape the unusual demand neated by the railway expenditure which more than equals our late war expenditure at home, may ward off a share of evil for a time and to the adjustments which take place during that time we must look for our best chance of escaping with institutions and property - unsmashed - It is well to have this ray and hope'.