Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Hopes that Smith gets the Fribourg chair. Has had a bad cold, which has affected his sinuses and jaw. Is delighted that [Godfrey] Lienhardt is under instruction. Asks whether the other young man, who has written some impressive letters to Dom Sebastian, is called Ernst. ‘Downing must fairly swarm with Papists now. I wish that meant that Leavis was nearer the Church.’ Refers to Leavis’s reception of the article in La Vie intellectuelle and to Smith’s own evaluation of it. Has arranged for Smith to receive the [Downing] Review. Discusses J. C. Maxwell’s career and character. Dom Illtyd is thinking of sending Maxwell’s article to Leavis. ‘I hope the result won’t be a violent outburst from Queenie on the ineptitude of “Christian Discriminators”!’. Suggests Smith should contribute something on the ‘misdirection of research in medieval things’ he mentioned in his letter. Has found a number of Latin tags used by Skelton in Dom Aelred [Watkin]’s 1537 Sarum Prymer. Appreciates his remarks on the recusants. Invites him to stay.
Asks when Harrow breaks up, as Mr Arnold is going to invite [Nugent] Hicks or [Thomas James Chesshyre?] Tomlin to visit at the end of term. Beat Farnborough away this afternoon, one-nil'. Sends love to all. The train 'comes in at 10.27'. Is glad 'Mr [Charles?] Fenwick and Uncle Harry [Holland] have got in [to Parliament in the General Election].
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - The Interludes [in Prose and Verse, by G O Trevelyan] arrived this morning, and they look forward to reading it; Bessie will write soon to his father to thank him for it. Robert has 'just read most of Horace [at the University of Athens], which seems just as good as it ever was', and he expects the whole work will be improved by 'the slight alterations and 'the unimaginable touch of Time" [a quote from Wordworth's Mutability]'.
They have had a 'pleasant visit at the [Augustus Moore?] Daniels, and found all well at home'. George Moore has been for a short visit; now [Donald] Tovey is here for a week and there is 'an immense deal of music'. Bessie likes Tovey's playing as much if not more as anyone's, and he is 'very interesting when he talks about music, in a way few musicians are'; he plays 'a great deal of Bach' on the Trevelyan's clavichord, and their piano 'has a beautiful tone'.
Aunt Meg [Price] will visit in October and they hope also [her son] Phil. The Grandmonts are coming for a few nights next Monday. Does not know whether they will like returning to Taormina 'while the earthquakes still continue'; supposes 'Taormina is untouched, as it usually escapes', but Messina suffered greatly. Hopes there will not be a bad earthquake near Vesuvius, which 'is in great activity just now'; everyone near Naples seems 'very much frightened'. Will not be sorry if 'Cook's railway gets demolished', as long as nothing worse happens.
Hopes his parents are well, as well as the 'Cambo household [Charles and Molly]'; G[eorge], J[anet] and M[ary] C[aroline] seemed well when they dined with them in London; Crompton [Llewelyn Davies] was there 'and seemed fairly cheerful, though looking rather tired and worn perhaps [after the death of his brother Theodore in July].
Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
Including note from [Marianne?] Waddington to Henrietta Eliza Milnes.
Thanks him for the photographs.
15 Berkeley Square (headed notepaper with monogram). - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton.
The Philosophical Magazine has received a copy of the Correspondence of Sir Isaac Newton with Professor Cotes and others: 'I feel a serious responsibility, - in the first place that it should not fail to obtain a suitable Notice in some early number of the journal; - and, next, that the tone and temper of the notice should accord with the views which were maintained in the Philosophical Magazine on the occasion of the publication of the Flamsteed Letters [Francis Baily ed., 'An account of the Rev. John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer-Royal, compiled from his own manuscripts, and other authentic documents, never before published', 1837]. Could WW offer 'advice or assistance on this occasion in obtaining a Notice (whether short or long) worthy of the subject, and, in the main congenial with my own views'. From what RT can judge 'Mr. Edleston's Volume is most valuable and interesting, and deserving of a Notice which should be highly commendatory'.
Reports that Ryland Adkins has been staying in Oxford for a political dinner, and mentioned that he had been reading Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir 'with the greatest possible interest', and that an aunt of his had also been reading it 'with the keenest interest within quite a few days of her death.'
Zonder titel
East Braynes, Wiveliscombe, Somerset.—Congratulates him on his marriage, and, on his wife’s behalf, invites him and Lady Pethick-Lawrence to call if they are ever in the West Country.
Collingwood - JH will be sending WW 'a modified copy of the Maclear [Thomas Maclear] memorial', all he has to do is sign it and return it to JH. C. P. Smyth [Charles Piazzi Smyth] has informed JH that there 'is a provision (by superannuation fund deduction) for his retirement' which means JH has to cancel what has already been done.