Originally enclosing three publicity notices for the "Abinger Chronicle" for Julian and Ursula to distribute to possible subscribers, such as Imogen [Gore-Browne?]; they should avoid people likely to be on Oliver [Lodge], Bob, [E.M.] Forster or Sylvia [Sprigge]'s lists. Max [Beerbohm] and Forster are both contributing to the Christmas number; does not think he himself will have anything ready. Bessie has a persistent cold, but he hopes she will soon get away to Hove for a few days. Hopes that Diana [Brinton-Lee?]'s 'expedition' was successful. Is trying to write an 'epistle in Alexandrines' to B.B. [Bernard Berenson], but it is 'rather uphill work'; quotes Pope ["Essay on Criticism"]. Tom S[turge] M[oore] is 'fairly all right', though Marie is still in Paris.
14, Great Russell St, W.C. - Glad that Trevelyan can come on Thursday afternoon, as he is 'all mixed up' for the rest of the week; will expect him between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
Cambo, Morpeth. - Booa [Mary Prestwich]'s funeral went 'very well today'; the weather allowed 'long views of the moors and hills she loved'. The cortège went from Wallington to Cambo, and she was buried in the churchyard 'almost next to' their grandfather [Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan]. Asks Bob to tell Bessie that 'Mary has developed one of her enthusiasms for William III and Holland', since she is studying 1688 as a 'special period' [at university], and has tried to learn some Dutch. They are going to the Netherlands at Easter partly because of this; should meet and discuss before then.
106 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh. - Feels ashamed that he has not written sooner; got Trevelyan's letter and cheque just before leaving London, and managed not to bring Trevelyan's address with him; then has been caught up in a great 'confusion of arrangements' involving alterations to the programme since Sir Donald [Tovey] could not play and subsequent corrections when he was told the Scottish [Symphony Orchestra] and Reid [Orchestra] had already played works this season. Was also given contradictory information as to whether he was to conduct the whole concert or not; eventually Dr Grierson conducted the first half and he the second; encloses one of the notices [no longer present]. The orchestra misses Sir Donald very much, and there has been a concerning fall in attendance. Sir Donald is 'much better and quite cheerful', but Renton does not think he will be fit enough to return soon, so either Tovey will 'come back too soon and wear himself out', or the 'confusion and lack of direction in the Faculty and in the Orchestra' will become dangerous; Dr Grierson 'does heroic work' but 'cannot be more than a pale shadow of Sir Donald' and there is nobody else. Will stop at Birmingham on his way back to London to see [Victor] Hely Hutchinson about the SA [South Africa?] job, though thinks this is 'no good'; however, has heard from the NBC [National Broadcasting Company?] manager who is 'very hopeful that he can pull off the American job'. Will send further news from London; hopes Trevelyan is having a good time in Italy; here they are 'enveloped in snow and sleet'.
Astley Hall, Stourport on Severn - Explains that if she sent the book [the Downie biography] to the House of Lords, it would have been addressed to his house in Eaton Square, where his daughter is driving an ambulance and a friend who is working in a canteen are living; he has forwarded her letter to the Prime Minister with an accompanying note from himself.
As from Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - Thanks Bob for the 'sheaf of lovely poems': meant to bring them with her, but 'packed in such a hurry' that she forgot; expect Marjory [Allen?] has told him 'some of the circumstances' behind her hasty departure. Is now 'steeling [herself] to bear her absence'.
WW is sorry he will not be able to avail himself of Mr Woodard's invitation [Nathaniel Woodard]. WW is going abroad to join Cordelia Whewell. The daughter of John Herschel has been her companion since March. WW agrees with JCH that in electing Thompson [William Hepworth Thompson elected Regius Professor of Greek] they have got the best Professor there was to be had. As to the spinning tables, WW finds 'every year some prevailing charlatanism in London, and that of this year, is I think, about the most childish and imprudent that I have yet seen'.
40 Weymouth Street - London pantomimes, colonial government
7 Camdn. St. & Town - He is going to publish the theory of the syllogism in a work on formal logic next year. The 'subject of a proposition is the more likely to be objective and the predicate more likely to contain the part which is subjective'. Can Whewell suggest any words? Could he use 'internal & external, or notional and actual'? Like others, ADM finds he 'always has to find out the meaning of these words afresh, every time they come to the subject'.
London - RCT has received a letter from Julius Hare declaring that he is still interested in offering himself as a candidate for the vacant Theological Professorship at Cambridge [see RCT to WW, 7 November 1849].
With corrections and annotations. Endorsed by Lyon Barnes & Ellis, note that a fair copy has been made.
Taylor is a candidate for the Chair of Logic at Edinburgh University and is canvassing WW for support [attached is a 3 pp. printed letter outlining Taylor's definition and approach to logic].
Abstract of the conclusions to which Ritchie has reconciled philosophy with scripture.
Princes Street Station Hotel, Edinburgh. Dated 8th. Sept. 1915 - Is glad his lectures to missionary students went well, and that he was able to interest some in anthropology; answers his questions about offerings of blood to hero vs nature gods and does not have a theory how primitive man bridges the chasm between nature gods; describes his holiday, and plans to finish 'Folk-Lore in the Old Testament' at the end of it; Edinburgh is full of military and naval men.
Ore Place, Hastings. No date - Sends him a copy of the article he is going to publish; Frazer will see that they have differences of opinion, and in reading him, wished that he had made another use of his talents, and wonders if he has thought that his writings could be 'dangereux pour des âmes'; asks pardon for the freedom with which he writes.
2 typescript drafts with various ms. corrections and additions.
Includes correspondence between Thomson and A. N. Chamberlain re Thomson's resignation as a member of the University Grants Committee, 27 October 1923.
Sends his tickets, spoke with Tom Hulce and says he will be back in December, also had a long conversation with Zubin [Mehta] when he called from Israel.