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33 Camden Rd, N. W.

Thanks Sidgwick for his letter, but clarifies that his gratitude is for Sidgwick's intention, which was, he assumes, to please the recipient. Reports that he had begun another note to Sidgwick in which he had tried to explain his view of the '"moral sense"', but he found it difficult to make his meaning clear in a short space. Discusses the meaning of approval and disapproval, liking and disliking. States that he has often thought 'of writing an essay on the sense of shame which would bring out the point, but it becomes indecent.'

12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - Very kind of Trevelyan to send his work [this year's "From the Shiffolds"]; glad to get the poems for 'their own sake' and also that Trevelyan is well, as he had heard he had not been 'in good health'. Hopes soon to send some verse translations of his own; the publisher is looking for a printer as they are currently all very busy. Glad to have the poem recalling [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson; the time has 'run away' since he saw him in Cambridge. Misses [Donald] Tovey 'sadly'; he with another Trevelyan did not know, are the colleagues he recalls 'with greatest pleasure & regret'. Quotes a line of poetry with approval. Many troubles 'beset old age: arthritis, eczema, bad sleeping etc. etc.' Hopes Trevelyan is better. Is printing a volume of essays. His family are 'all scattered - England, Holland, France, America'; his Dutch grand-daughter [Alice Voormolen], of whom he is very fond, has just left. Of his two best friends in Edinburgh, one is dead and the other in London; hopes to visit him in spring. Asks if Trevelyan 'get[s] much from the modern poets'; listens to them occasionally when they read [on the radio]. Is glad T. S. Eliot has won the Nobel Prize as well as the Order of Merit; wishes 'there had been a Nobel Prize for Keats!'.

2, Cheyne Gardens. - Has sent Bob's letter to [Kenneth?] Swan. Glad that Bob is returning to the Lake Hunt. Has been hearing a lot about India from 'various persons, white and brown' and has become 'quite a Tagorite, under the teaching of Yeats, W[illiam] Rothenstein' and a pupil of Tagore. Tagore has 'stopped Yeats being mad on magic and small green elephants' and without 'his magic nonsense, Yeats is one of the really splendid people'. The [First] Balkan war 'bids fair to end very well'. Wonders 'whether Goldie [Dickinson] will like his Chinaman as little as the Webbs [Sidney and Beatrice] when he meets (and smells) them'. Sees from the address that Bessie has given that Bob will be there for this 'great meeting'; hopes that Goldie will not be like Matthew Arnold, whom H[enry] Sidgwick said judged 'everything by its smell' like a dog. Glad that Bob has had some good bathes, but tells him not to be 'eaten of [sic] crocodiles', since Mary would never be able to read "Peter Pan" again if Bob 'suffered the fate of Capt. Hook'. Has just finished writing "[The Life of John] Bright" and hopes to publish it in May or June.

Lamb House, Rye, Sussex. - Recently shared in 'poor dear Jonathan [Sturges]'s good wishes' to Trevelyan but now he assures him and his wife of his 'still tenderer interest and sympathy' [after the death of their new-born daughter Susan]. Spent that day with their 'poor undaunted little friend [Sturges]' in surroundings which were a 'blest... escape from that dreary prison house of Wimpole Street [a nursing home]'. Sturges's 'inseparable (&... most valuable) nurse is with him', and he has 'charming rooms' with a big balcony overlooking the sea at Eastbourne; seems 'really to be getting on...' despite the lack of society. Will go again soon, but cannot do so often as the journey takes so long; whenever he does see Sturges, the sense is always the same of 'the hard little consistency of his personality - unique little pathetic wasted demon that he is!'. Thinks with great pleasure of their few days at Welcombe at Whitsuntide, and their talks with John [Cann?] Bailey; must meet again. Wonders if the Trevelyans are discussing the 'Luard tragedy'; they do 'nothing else' in Rye; it is a 'rounded "Greek" perfection of horror or darkness'. Acknowledges that the Trevelyans have enough cares of their own.

Middle Temple Library - Sends a list of books related to the Middle Temple that he may have in consequence of his election as Honorary Bencher; thanks him for presenting his last two books to the library.

Postmarked Dymock; addressed to Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Arrangements for meeting in London and their journey to Italy. Forster is definitely not coming with them. Has accepted Moore's invitation to dine; asks Trevelyan to get him to read to them. Abercrombie's brother [Patrick?] strongly recommends a stay in Milan for its Romanesque churches. Expects Catherine would like to talk with the Ken Lawsons.

Is very sorry not to have visited, and to have missed Bottomley. Went to Jack [McTaggart's] funeral: 'the most beautiful' he'd ever seen though there were 'not many of us there'. Leaves a great gap in his life though he saw so little of him of late.

[as from Trinity College, Cambridge] - Thanks her for her letter, wishes the news of Sir James was better; can not nor wishes to stop American anthologies from including poems from 'A Shropshire Lad' but will stop reprints in Europe; is glad to hear there is a Festschrift on the way.

On the verso of the last page, 'Mrs Jacques Huber, 12 Carmen Str.' is written in Lady Frazer's hand.

RJ is feeling weak after his inflammation of the chest. RJ 'can conceive that you may see many objections to the threatened cycles of the philosophers but you have protested stoutly[,] openly and as much as is likely to do good [referring to WW's 'Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge'?] and I see no use and some evil likely to arise from your opposing the population of the university headed by some of your own friends'. RJ hopes WW does 'not mean to do anything more than laugh at them about it for the future'.

WW will require JCH's help in the Chancellor's election: 'Lord Powis has put himself in the hands of a Tractarian Committee in London, and they will not let him withdraw' [see WW to JCH, 17 Feb. 1847].

Concerns Of the Plurality of Worlds.

Agrees with him that 'W.F.B[arrett?] cannot be allowed to use [Gurney's] experiments otherwise than in Report of Committee', and believes that he should not repeat at length in the Report what has already appeared in the Proceedings of the Society [for Psychical Research]. Offers to write to him. In relation to 'the barrister', states that he is quite willing to agree to him being taken on 'if he will do it gratis for love of science or if any one else will pay...' Adds that he may ask Smith to stay with him during the 'Mesmeric Experiments', and that 'it would not be much of a bore for Nora...' Asks Gurney if he thought 'anything [instructive] apropos of World's attack', and asks if the eminent scientist is their asinine friend.

Although not wholly unprepared for the news of Henry Sidgwick's death, had always continued to hope he 'might be spared a few years longer'. Declares what a loss he feels it to be that he is no longer with them, and that the world seems to grow smaller without him. Adds that it is some comfort that he had done his work so completely, 'and that he will always live in the memory of those who had the privilege of being taught by him.' Refers to the kindness of Henry's in taking so much trouble on his [Mackenzie's] behalf 'at such a time.' Does not know wha the result of his writing may be, and states that he is 'now in direct communication with Lord [Arthur] Balfour on the subject.' States that his wife joins with him in sending thanks to Nora and in expressing his deep sympathy with her in her great loss.

Settled in new accommodation, younger children staying with Mary Anna, Robert Bickersteth Mayor entreated by his college tutor to enter as a pensioner and sit for a scholarship

States that he would be delighted to see her, but explains that he will be very busy with preparing and delivering lectures until 4 June. Informs her, however, that after 6 June, he shall be quite free. Sets out how he would arrange his day should she come to see him, since he is 'just not vigorous enough to be able to compress [his] work'. Tells her that if she were to come before 6 June, the week ending Tuesday 2 June would be a good time, and that there will be boat processions and 'A.D.C' [theatre productions]. Asks her to tell him of her decision as soon as possible.