Thanks Sidgwick for his paper, and undertakes to consult him as to the most desirable topic for his own observations. Remarks that he may be able 'to say something which may annoy somebody without touching upon freewill or the categorical imperative'. Wishes him all success against his 'old enemy the [Hay] Fever.' Complains about his dictionary editing work [for the Dictionary of National Biography]. Relates that he had 'a rather bad upset' a fortnight previously, and has been told to do nothing for another six weeks or so. Regrets not having seen Sidgwick some days before.
Stephen, Sir Leslie (1832-1904), knight, author and literary criticPress cuttings on RAB's promises to National Farmers Union on farm prices, hire purchase curbs, pre-Budget speculations, retirement of Winston Churchill in April 1955 including 'momentoes' from farewell dinner, General Election campaign of 1955 including promise to double the standard of living in 25 years, autumn Budget and Gaitskell's personal attack, Cabinet changes of Jan 1956 with rumours of Butler succeeding Eden, RAB's first major speech as Lord Privy Seal 'Butskellism is dead', President of Central Council of National Union of Conservative and Unionist Association March 1956, visit of Krushchev and Marshall Bulganin, rumours of RAB's elevation to House of Lords July 1956, Suez crisis, Annual Conference, opening of Calder Hall atomic power station, election as Rector of Glasgow University with propaganda material, Honorary Doctorate of Laws of Sheffield University; text of RAB's address to Poets, Essayists and Novelists (PEN) International Congress; series of articles by Laurence Thompson on 'Man in the red' from News Chronicle; reviews of Ralph Harris's and Francis Boyd's biographies of RAB; political cartoons; terms of will of Sydney Butler, marriage of Adam Butler and Felicity Molesworth-St Aubyn, births of grandchildren
[Problems of settling in a new place], continuous grey mist depressing
Correspondence re a lecture delivered by Thomson in Paris, 26 November 1938. Includes a letter from the Secretary of the Physical Society (W. Jevons) re Thomson's attendance at the Paris meeting as the Society's representative.
Gallichoille, by Lochgilphead - Is delighted that all has worked out for the lectureship; what he wanted twenty years ago was the conversion of the Gifford Lectureship into a Chair of Comparative Religion with Sir James as the first occupant.
Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Gives [Bernard] Berenson's address at Florence; he is being 'very pressing and says he will be alone', so Bob will start on 24 or 25 January and can stay till he goes on to the Hague, probably at the end of the month but this will depend on Bessie's news. Hopes her aunt is better. May be able to do some work at Florence. Sends a 'late-blossoming plum' with his kisses.
Flendyshe, Fen Ditton, Cambridge - Congratulates the Frazers.
Leith Hill Place, Nr Dorking. - Found Bob's 'delightful present', the "New Parsifal", when they got home yesterday; thanks him and will 'value it very much as yet another proof' of Bob's friendship, which he knows is 'very precious' to her. Has as yet only looked at the 'very nice outside', but hopes to begin reading it today. Is 'very proud' to have it as a gift from Bob. Hopes he has had better news of his father; he must have had some 'very anxious days'. Also hopes Bessie and Julian are well again. Her mother is quite well now; they are 'rejoicing in the freshness and clearness of home - and birds singing'. Tells Bob he can come and stay any time he likes while Bessie is away; they can give him a 'quiet room to work in'. Asks if he has seen that the "Times Literary Supplement" is now to be sold separately: Evelyn Richmond says this is 'very important for her brother Bruce', since Lord Northcliffe apparently 'wants to get rid of the Supplement', returning book-reviewing to the main body of the paper, and 'does not believe there is a demand for it'. Would therefore be a good thing if many people who do not take the "Times" write in and subscribe for the "Supplement".
Hopes his father 'will go out' as then he will 'have some proper holidays'. Is getting on very well, as is G[eorgie]. There is to be a home match against Hartley Row next Wednesday. Is sending the [school news] paper, which is now printed 'instead of Cyclostyled', thinks this 'is a great improvement, though of course opinions may differ'. They have now begun studying Horace; thinks it is 'a good deal nicer that Caesar, or even than Virgil'. Hopes his father 'and Grandpapa are both quite well now'; comments on the 'fun we shall have in the hols'. Lawrence has given him the [birthday?] 'present of a very nice book'.
Daily Record, Evening News, Sunday Mail, 67 Hope Street, Glasgow, C.2. - Did not introduce himself as they were surrounded; cannot meet them on the dates she has specified; is sending specimen copies of the papers and a cheque.
Hyderabad DN. - Received Trevelyan's 'beautiful letter in verse' a few minutes ago: encourages him to put it in his book if he wishes. Was touched by it and feels nostalgia again for Europe. Seems he has no chances here, and would have preferred to stay in this 'beautiful, gentlemanly town'; fears he will not get a continuation of his grant. Will leave soon for Delhi, via Ajanta, Ellora, and Gwalior. Will be speaking at the university here about modern English poetry; the most recent writer they have heard of is Tennyson. Cannot remember if Trevelyan has been to Hyderabad; wants to see the Tombs of the Kings here. His heart has not been well enough for him to make many excursions, but he has been on a few and seen some good examples of 'late Muhamadan architecture'. Sends love to Trevelyan's family. Andrusha is 'already away to school'.
2 Brook Street - HH is extremely glad WW is to publicly support John Couch Adams's claim to have discovered the new planet [Neptune] - as opposed to Urbain Jean Le Verrier: 'It is clear to me after reading the three papers produced at the astronomical society, that Adams would be precisely where Leverrier's now is, had the observations early in August ripened into actual discovery of the nature of the body, actually seen then by the guidance of Adam's calculations. Arago [Francois Arago] is moving heaven and earth (the phrase is not inappropriate here) to fix Leverrier's name upon it'. The planet's name should be taken from mythology.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Dated Abril 1924 - Provided answers to his ['Anthropological Questions'] and would like to have a copy of the book in which the answers were published.
Written at Saint-Légier-Blonay, Verey, Switzerland.
Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA is 'busy in the pendulum reductions, and till they are pretty far advanced or indeed completed we cannot tell how good the results are'. He sent six observers to Haston Colliery: 'I put up the apparatus and gave a few lessons, but I did not take a single observation'. GA gives a description of the tests: 'Galvonic wires were laid from one station to the other, and a telegraph needle was mounted by each clock face, and thus our clocks were compared by simultaneous signals without any necessity for chronometers'. GA is surprised at WW's report of Scoresby's remark on the non-correction of varying inductive force, and he should direct Scoresby [William Scoresby] to look at the Phil. Trans. for 1839 (p. 182-183): 'The effect of induced magnetism is very small, and I believe that ship-correcters very commonly neglect it'.
5 St Mary's Passage - stay at Gracedieu Manor with Charles and Mary Booth, Figgis has brought Francis Cornford a photograph of Botticelli's Venus, difficult to start work again:
Has had a good many letters from Austria, none of which include alarming information about friends. Wittgenstein's sister is returning to Vienna from New York. Wittgenstein does not have a good chance of naturalization.