Park House, Maidstone - Thanks WW for his 'Republic and the Timaeus': WW will be remembered in time for his work in opening up this field to 'English readers'.
Currah - visit to see Aubrey de Vere, has been appointed High Sheriff, has had a long letter from [John] Sterling in Bordeaux
Reports that he has been reading Sidgwick's proof sheets [for The Elements of Politics?] 'with interest and delight', and that he has 'little to suggest.' Judged the chapter on law and morality to be particularly good. States that if he were writing the book that he would 'hedge' a little about continental notions of law. Relates that since he was talking to Sidgwick that he has been reading several German law books, and that his view of the duties of a German judge 'is all the more hazy.' Notes that a jurist 'even when he is writing about elementary legal ideas, e.g., possession will cite 'Entscheidungen der ob[ersten] Geshichte of von Celle, Darmstadt, [Rostock]' etc. if he thinks them sound'. Refers to the notion of a '[hertige] römische Recht', which he contends has rendered everything so vague. Claims that according to the English idea of a good judge, 'he does justice when he sees and oportunity of doing it', and that 'a man could be a judge of quite the highest order without a strong feeling for positive morality.' Suggests that Sidgwick might add that the English highest courts of appeal, House of Lords and Judicial Committee 'hold themselves bound by their own decisions in earlier cases. As regards different laws in different parts of a country, cites the advantages gained by experience, and the positive effect Scotch experience has had on English law, and vice versa. Praises the chapter on International Law and Morality, and comments on the great difficulty there exists in obtaining a body of international rules deserving the name of law.
Maitland, Frederic William (1850-1906), legal historianThanks 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 criticEndorsed by Ellis & Ellis. Note by Edward F. Jenner that it was sworn before him at the Principal Registry, Doctors Commons, on 28 Feb. 1874.
7 Camden Street, Camden Town - Thanks WW for the invitation but his lectures are 'imperative'. If his papers are to appear together he wants copies all at one time and does not care whether they are printed in the form of two papers or one. He is to publish a work on logic soon after the papers appear, and will think of Whewell's suggestion about taking a subject, but 'what subjects run very thickly in syllogisms...[and the] syllogistic examples in books of logic are literally nothing more than terms of one word or so substituted in the formal syllogism'. Instead of subjective and objective he will use ideal and objective, and explains how he will use it in terms of the mind. He writes this to show Whewell 'how far our language agrees'. Writers on Formal Logic are often confused - they 'speak ideally, and not objectively', and 'admit contradictory propositions as ideally enunciable'. He then presents some phraseology, 'seven definite relations of term and term: identical and contrary, sub-identical and super-identical, sub-contrary and super-contrary, and mixed. He concludes with a dialogue he had with his daughter as to the ideas of necessary and contingent.
RJ returns WW's proof ['Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge', 1845]: 'Certainly there is nothing in it that Lyell [Charles Lyell] can have the slightest right to complain of. There is one point on which I think you might have dilated and reproved a little more, with advantage. I mean his quietly taking it for granted that the system which best suits the best pupils is best, or fit for all - you have hit the point clearly enough for your best readers but have not kept it long enough in view for the mass. It deserves exposure and compleat exposure because it is at the bottom of half the nonsense talked and believed about education in general and Scotch and English education in particular and I know of old that no head is more mystified by the error than Lyell's'. WW should also speak more about 'the extent & objects of the "obedience & deference to authority" which you speak of in 120'. RJ describes the state of his health.
Experiments, calculations, diagrams, etc. with narrative and writing-up and fewer dates.
Dated material runs '6.3.1941' to '16.11.42'.
Includes a little material not in Frisch's hand.
A few calculations also at rear of book.
Journal of Chemical Research, Refereeing (1977).
Journal of Dairy Research, Refereeing (1966).
Journal of Endocrinology, Refereeing (1954).
The Synges stayed in Norway for Christmas 1959.
Letters re arrangements.
Mostly reviews of Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir, with some letters to Nora Sidgwick regarding the publication, or sending on reviews. One review (106/77) of Henry Sidgwick's The Philosophy of Kant and Other Lectures, from the Academy.
Sidgwick, Eleanor Mildred (1845-1936), college headMetelliano. - Reassures Trevelyan that all will go well on his and his friends' arrival; will make arrangements with Nicky [Mariano] for 'the material part', and will see them as soon as possible. Asks if they will come to Metelliano.
King's College, Cambridge. - Has learned that he has been elected to the Kahn fellowship. Wants to know what the Trustees expect before making firm plans, but thinks either of going to China in October, or to go first to India and then on to China and Japan in early 1913. Very much hopes Trevelyan can come.
Woodside, Cove, Dumbartonshire - Baldwin Spencer's daughter writes that she has had a letter from her father's secretary Miss Hamilton, who was with him when he died, and who was then shipwrecked so that she could not contact the family; relates Hamilton's notes of the final days with Spencer, and that she is bringing back all his papers, which Young would like Frazer to look at.
Accompanied by the envelope.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge; forwarded on to Trevelyan c/o Mr H. Thompson, 19 Portman Sq[uare], London. - Bierstock is in the L.L. [London Library]. "War and Peace" 'runs into six [volumes?]'. Is coming to W[est] H[ackhurst] and would like to see Trevelyan. Is reading Jalal al din Rumi and likes him; asks if there is any one similar; Firdausi [Abu ʾl-Qasim Ferdowsi Tusi] is 'impossible'.
The Nonesuch Press Ltd., 16 Great James Street, London, W.C.1. - Understands Trevelyan's reluctance to take on such a large project [that of translating Herodotus for the Press, see 4/105] but he should think it over and they will discuss the matter when they meet on the 28th.
Bourbon l'Archambault, Villa des Fleurs - Has read his article on the French debt in 'Le Temps' (originally in the 'Morning Post') and thanks him for it; left Cambridge to found an Institute of Ethnology, which will soon be created at the University of Paris.
36 Smith Square, Westminster.—Discusses arrangements for meeting.
(Undated.)
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Transcript
36 Smith Square, Westminster
I’m terribly afraid tomorrow is bound to be a failure, but if you liked, & werent busy wd you pick me up at Mansfield St anytime after a quarter to 11, & not later than 11.15 & we’d drive back together. This is rather a foul suggestion as it entails a long dreary solitary drive for you & I {1} shall more than understand if you say you cant. Perhaps you’d like to let me know as if you werent coming I dont think I should go to Mansfield St at all.
You’d have found Aggie Barbara, Pamela & me if you’d lunched & of course dear Reggie. He was very sweet. If you want to go to Walmer early you will wont you.
I shall see you Wednesday {2} anyway 4.30.
Yrs
Venetia
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Written in two kinds of pencil (see below). Printed in H. H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley, p. 492.
{1} Up to this point the letter is in lead pencil; the rest is in blue pencil.
{2} 24th.
Ravello. - Thanks his mother for her 'kind letter' about his book [The Birth of Parsival]; discusses the book and the legend of the Grail more generally. Does not intend to continue the story of Parsival at present, if he did would follow the legend more closely, but 'have a different ending, an anti-Grail one'.
They have had 'pretty bad weather again here'; will probably leave next week, perhaps on Tuesday with the Booths; will stop at the Berensons' for a few days on the way back. He and Bessie are well, though 'tired of the bad weather. Charles Booth is much better', though still not allowed to walk much. Sees from the paper that his father 'was [at?] the Irish debate', and from the Italian paper today that it had a 'good division - 42'.
They were 'delighted to hear from George [about the birth of his and Janet's daughter Mary] and also most pleased by the names chosen'; hopes Janet and baby are still doing well. Sends love to his father.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for her note; is glad she feels [Donald Tovey's] symphony is 'a great work and solid as the classical works all are'; this is the only thing that matters, though Donald is 'more in a rage with the press than he need be'. Hopes he will now finish the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"]. Remembers Fritz Busch saying there were four symphonies buried in Donald's piece (quotes the German). Was not the orchestra's fault last Monday: Donald was 'copying and patching parts' very late. Fears he is 'greatly exhausted'; he returned to Edinburgh on Thursday.