Source unknown.
Includes items found in the book.
'To A. E. Housman, most Ovidian man alive'. Note from Palmer?
University College, Gower Street, London. - '... three frivolous poems... I have had some copies bound'.
3 Storey's Way, Cambridge. - Thanks Rouse Ball for sending him the Cayley MSS, which he is very glad to have. Was at school with Cayley's son Henry; remembers doing Latin prose with him, and the 'various mathematical adventures' they had together; regrets not hearing of his later life.
Writes on the death of Henry Sidgwick, and expresses his, Lady Acton's and others' sympathies on her 'dreadful loss'. Declares that he has lost 'the best of friends and colleagues...' Refers to the sympathy and admiration he felt for Henry in relation the manner in which he bore his illness. Reports that [Andrew?] Forsyth spent an hour discussing things with Sidgwick at Jebb's, 'and had no idea till long after that anything was wrong.' States that they were not aware of the gravity of the situation until three weeks earlier, when he met Nora with Arthur J. Balfour.
Headed notepaper, Regent's Park College, N. W. - Lord Houghton has previously been asked to preside over the 'Annual Public Debate' of the Regent's Park Debating Society, but was not able then to accept the offer, though hoped that this might be possible on some future occasion. This year the Annual Public Debate will be on 17 Feb., on the topic '"The Sensational": a healthy characteristic of the present day?'; might Houghton be able to accept the chair this time?
Includes profiles about both Peter and Anthony Shaffer, and Shaffer's article, "My three years in this grim and disgusting family business..." in the Evening Standard dated 14 Jan. 1972. There is also an entire issue of The Daily Mail for 9 June 1981, the Times 2 section of The Times for 18 May 2001, an entire issue of Theatregoer Magazine from 2001, and a letter from Derrick F. Mead of Peat Marwick dated 27 Feb. 1985 forwarding an article from The Sunday Telegraph magazine.
19 Dec [1850]: enclosed letter to Morton from George Stovin Venables.
11 Lombard St EC. - Thanks Houghton for his offer to assist Brown in his election to the Athenaeum Club; hears from a friend that his name will probably be in the third list to be ballotted for after 30th May, but when he knows for certainthat his 'card will be hung up', will follow up Houghton's kind offer and ask him to undersign it.
With illustration of 'The New Carlton Club House, Pall Mall'.
Reform Club, S. W. (on embossed notepaper for the Cobden Club). - The Committee have directed him to send Houghton a copy of a letter from Goldwin Smith, for consideration at the next meeting to be held in Feb. 1868. With enclosure: copy of letter, 10 Jul. 1867, from Goldwin Smith to [Thomas Bayley] Potter. Address given as Mortimer House, Reading. Potter asks 'how the Cobden Club can be made most useful'; thinks that 'Political men are the best guides', but will give his thoughts. Seems 'impossible, if it were desirable, now to restrict the Club to the circle of Cobden's personal friends and disciple, or even to the special propagation of his economical & international doctrines', though believes this was the 'original conception'.
Suggests that there might be one principal meeting in the year, at which a paper 'on some economical or international subject' might be read before dinner and afterwards printed by the Club; that dinner should be 'good but plain and short, if possible not much exceeding an hour', and that afterwards the 'leaders' should be given the opportunity of speaking to their 'assembled followers Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary about the political subjects of the day'. There could also be evening parties two or three times each session of Parliament, to which they might 'admit ladies, and invite foreigners'. Cobden Club business might be 'got up' by 'any member you liked'. The party 'needs a social board'; the Committee should select those chosen to give the annual paper; discussion of whether Parliamentarians would be able to make the paper and dinner.
Reception Room. - Some of the 'leading Red Lions' have asked him to enquire whether, if a 'Red Lion Dinner' is held on Tuesday, Houghton would 'undertake the office of Lion King'; the dinner cannot be on Monday because of the lecture that evening.
Thanks her for her letter. Thinks that his illness was due to something he ate. Declares that he enjoyed his visit to [London], and sent an account of the visit to [ ]. Reports that Mr Wheatley [his godfather] was very kind to the. Declares that he would like to see Miss Green [his former governess] if his mother can induce her to stay until he [and his brother William] come home. Refers to his mother's advice about his chess playing and assures her that he has not played more that five games 'since the beginning of the quarter...' Asks her to buy something for [his friend] Harry James out of his money. Explains how they were 'got into the 2nd class in German', and in relation to the play declares that they do not have to translate it themselves. Sends his love to all at home, 'including Elizabeth [Cooper]'.
Travellers Club. - Concerning alleged bridge of etiquette over a hat belonging to Lord George Loftus.
Family background, letters, diaries and so on, original material 1865-1972, with copies of items dating from 1794 onwards.
Death of Grace Helen Lee, illness of Frances Bickersteth, family dog
An offer of a place to work for the Modern Languages Tripos.
Enquires whether Robert knows of the Hulsean scholarships for sons of Cheshire clergy, advice on expenditure