Synge was interested in online searching for information about chemicals. He was Honorary Treasurer of the Group.
Both H97 and H/98 were found in an envelope labelled by Synge 'Current CIG matters RSC organ. sheets [...] To take to London 1/12/86'; the material was divided into two for ease of reference
H/96: Correspondence and papers re Chemical Abstracts Service online searching system, 1984-1985
H/97: 1986-1987. Includes material re Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches to Searching for Information about Chemicals', Oxford 25-26 March 1986 [see also F/62, G/215-G/222]; notice of Annual Chemical Congress on 'Chemistry at the Biological Interface', University College Swansea, 13-16 April 1987; invitation to Chemical Information Conference on 'Chemical Structures', Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands, 31 May - 4 June 1987.
H/98: 1985-1986. Correspondence and papers re organisation of the Royal Chemical Society, possible changes to its structure and implications for the Chemical Information Group.
H/99: Papers from the Group's AGM 1987, found in Synge's inscribed envelope; letter arising March 1987.
Enclosing biographical notice.
54 Cours Napoléon, Ajaccio (Corse) - He writes that he has been at the Archives where he was working on a parochial register 1771-1773 which has tired his eyes; is not suprised by what she says of Condorcet, he is less interested in people than spirits; he will reread it carefully as it is necessary to find the right audience; is pleased to hear that the incident between [R. R.] Marett and [Elliott] Smith has had a happy ending; he wonders why she stays at Trinity so little; he will go to the Folklore conference with them, and to the Madame Renan fête; he does not know the 'Voyages' of Renan, wonders how that is.
Letters dated 12 Oct. 1860 - 17 May 1862.
Concerning the career of Lady Rachel's brother, the late Hon. Alexander Bruce, in East Africa.
96: copy of the whole letter;
97: extract from letter.
'Geometry hand-outs'.
Kohima, Naga Hills, Assam - Is sorry to hear the sad news of Sir James' eyesight; will get the government library to order a copy of the 'Fasti'.
One of a set of eight testimonial letters printed when Frazer was an applicant for the Chair of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen: in addition to being a sound scholar, Frazer has a high degree of thoughtfulness and originality. Accompanied by a duplicate.
Trinity College, Cambridge. - Very sorry to hear that Mrs Hubrecht is so ill, which must be a great distress to her. Is coming round to Elizabeth and Bob's view of the origin of the [Second Boer] war, 'taught by the odious follies and horrors of the last 3 months'; having never been a 'very strong Imperialist', he is now 'ashamed of having gone even as far as [he] did'. Everyone he meets 'capable of thought and feeling' is 'undergoing much the same chance', but these are 'not a large proportion of mankind' and he does not see any prospect of a reaction in the near future.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Beautiful weather; they have always taken their tea outside and sometimes gone for a walk after dinner. They were very sorry to hear about Arthur [Llewelyn] Davies; [his diagnosis with cancer] is a 'sad blow' for his brother and sister and Sir George is 'much grieved' for Arthur himself. Was worth missing the dentist to have seen the Lancaster Churchmen. Glad the [Apostles'?] Dinner has 'got back to Richmond'; 'So old an institution should be kept up in all its parts'; was told recently that the Society had 'come to an end at the University'. He and Caroline are driving out to Broadway, seventeen miles away, today; on Thursday they entertain the Corporation [of Stratford on Avon] and 'people in any public position' and are expecting a hundred and sixty guests. Likes thinking of Robert and Elizabeth in 'that beautiful eyrie' [The Shiffolds]. Notes in a postscript that their guests were 'astonished' by the beauty at Welcombe, 'as they always are'.
Emsworth House, Emsworth, Hants. - Has looked into his notes for the story he wrote, and found a copy of an article about Sven Hedin's discoveries in the Teklamakan desert which had a short passage with the information that served as his inspiration. Responding to 'Uncle Don's' offer to do research into the story, he quotes from this passage at length. Comments that 'Mr Trevelyan' will be probably be able to tell Uncle Don about Fa Hsien, who introduced Buddhism into China, and, 'having travelled through the desert to China' returned with a tale about a beautiful city in the desert, destroyed because of the wickedness of its inhabitants; would like to know more about Fa Hsien and his book, and believes there is an English translation as 'Kipling mentions it as "Beal and Stanislas Julien" in Kim'. Does not expect Mr Trevelyan has the book, but would be very grateful if Uncle Don could find a fuller account of Fa Hsien's tale, or any more information about the desert cities; wonders if [Herbert?] Giles discusses them in the book Uncle Don told him about. Hopes he is well, and that Aunt Grettie is better; tells him to come to the sports [day at school?] if he can; it will probably be about the middle of June.