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Partial draft of The Platonic dialogues for English readers
R./6.19/9 · Item · 1845-1854
Part of Manuscripts in Wren Class R

Partial draft, including Dialogues of the Socratic School from Class I (complete), "The Apology" (the last page and the Remarks only) from Class II, the Antisophist Dialogues, Class III ("The Ion" and "Euthydemus" incomplete, the rest complete), and a fragment from "Thrasymachus" in Class IV, The Republic.
Letter from A. S. Eddington to Sarah Ann Eddington
Letter from A. S. Eddington to Sarah Ann Eddington
EDDN/A/4/9 · Item · 21 June and 2 July 1919
Part of Papers of Sir Arthur Eddington

Transcript

S.S. “Zaire”
1919 June 21

My very dear Mother

I will write a little to tell you about the rest of my experiences in Principe; but it is doubtful if you will receive this before I arrive. I have only had two letters from you—the second written about March 28 reached me about May 11. Since then there have been no mails from Europe, and in fact we expect to pass tomorrow (at S. Vincent) the outward boat which will be taking the next batch of letters to Principe.

We stayed just a week at Sundy on our first visit, then returned to S. Antonio for a week, and finally returned to Sundy on May 13 and stayed there until our steamer sailed on June 12. Nothing much happened during the week at S. Antonio except that most afternoons we played tennis, generally with the Curador and Judge.

We were ready to take the first photographs about May 16, and as the nights were generally clear we had no difficulty in getting the check photographs. These had to be taken between 12∙30 and 1 a.m; we took them on three different nights. The developing also had to be done at night and, owing to the special difficulties due to the high temperature of the water (78°), was a slow business. So we were often up pretty late during this period. In the day time I had a good deal of work measuring these check photographs.

The last heavy rain fell about May 9 and shortly afterwards the Gravana or cool season began. There was practically no rain, but a good deal of cloud in the day-time, and the conditions seemed rather less favourable for the eclipse than during the rainy season. However there were a number of beautifully clear days, and usually at least part of the day was clear. The two days before the eclipse were about the most unfavourable we had.

On the morning of the eclipse Mr Carneiro, the Curador, Judge, Mr Wright and three Doctors came over. Just as they arrived a tremendous rain-storm came on, the heaviest we have seen. It was most unusual at that time of the year; but it was favourable for the eclipse as it helped to clear the sky. The rain stopped about no[o]n (the eclipse was at 2∙15). There were a few gleams of sunshine after the rain, but it soon clouded over again. About 1∙30 when the partial phase was well advanced, we began to get glimpses of the sun, at 1∙55 we could see the crescent (through cloud) almost continuously, and there were large patches of clear sky appearing. We had to carry out our programme of photographs in faith. I did not see the eclipse, being too busy changing plates, except for one glance to make sure it had begun, and another half-way through to see how much cloud there was. We took 16 photographs (of which 4 are not yet developed). They are all good pictures of the sun, showing a very remarkable prominence; but the cloud has interfered very much with the star-images. The first 10 photographs show practically no stars. The last 6 show a few images which I hope will give us what we need; but it is very disappointing. Everything shows that our arrangements were quite satisfactory, and with a little clearer weather we should have got splendid results. Ten minutes after the eclipse the sky was beautifully clear, but it soon clouded again.

We developed the photographs 2 each night for 6 nights after the eclipse, and I spent the whole day measuring. The cloudy weather upset my plans and I had to treat the measures in a different way from what I had intended; consequently I have not been able to make any preliminary announcements of the result. But the one good plate that I measured gave a result agreeing with Einstein and I think I have got a little confirmation from a second plate.

We had a number of excursions to different places on the island chiefly on Sundays. We had a monkey-hunting expedition, but did not see any except in the distance. We were singularly unfortunate in not seeing monkeys because there are enormous crowds of them about and numbers of men are employed simply in scaring them away from the cocoa. Another interesting expedition was to Lola, a dependency of Sundy where there was a specially fine crop of cocoa. It was a very fine sight to see the large golden pods in such numbers—almost as though the forest had been hung with Chinese lanterns.

Another day we went to Lapa in the estate of the Sociedade Agricultura Colonial and had lunch on the beach off fish which we watched being caught. Lapa is a very beautiful spot at the foot of a fine sugar-loaf mountain. All the beaches are very pretty—a strip of golden sand between the cocoanut palms and the blue sea. I had a good bathe at Lapa—the only time in Principe,—a black man went with me to see that I did not go too near the sharks.

Another time we went to near Bombom to see the ruins of the palace of Marie Corelli (that was not quite her name, but it was something very near it). She was a famous slave dealer about ninety years ago. Her palace on the beach is all in ruins but it must have been a huge place. Her church is there also—quite a fine ruin.

We liked Mr Atalia immensely. He was very lively and amusing and extremely good to us in every way. After dinner we used to sit out in front of the house and there was generally a succession of natives came up to interview him on all sorts of matters. They evidently have great respect and confidence in him.

We had to return by this boat the “Zaire” (although it was rather earlier than I liked) because there will not be another boat leaving Principe until about August 1. There has been a dispute between the company and the government about passage rates, and no boats have left Lisbon for a long while. This boat is tremendously crowded and we should not have got a passage on it; but for the help of the Governor who managed to get places commandeered for us.

I got a bit of fever two days before starting (otherwise I have had splendid health all the time) and was feeling rather bad when I got on board but the sea-air has soon set me right again. It left me a bit weak for the first three or four days—in fact I fainted one night—but it has quite gone now.

Mr. Carneiro is on the ship—returning to Portugal for three months. There are also 4 English missionaries from Angola. They knew about us from Mrs Williams the missionary we met on the Portugal. One of them Mrs Stober is a friend (a Williamson of Cockermouth) related to John Hall. Her husband (who is not a Friend) is a very nice fellow; he was the founder of the mission.

It has been a little rougher this voyage than when we came out; but nothing to speak of. Of course, a lot of passengers have been ill; it is very bad for them being so crowded on the boat. There are lots of children and in some cabins there are as many as seven people. There are three in our cabin—a Portuguese and Cottingham & myself.

We reached Praia last night after 8¼ days from Principe. This is a slow boat and I do not expect we shall reach Lisbon until June 30.

We were very delighted to receive a telegram from Dyson saying that the Brazil party had been successful; we often wondered how they were getting on.

I suppose I shall be back about July 10. I shall look forward to the strawberries, which are better than anything they have in the tropics.

With very dear love to both
Your affectionate son
Stanley

Lisbon, July 2. I expect we shall reach Liverpool about July 15 by R.M.S.P. Line. Ships very crowded and scarce.

—————

The postscript was written in pencil. Two passages have been marked off in pencil by a later hand.
Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock
CLIF/A3/9 · Item · c. 1870
Part of Papers of W. K. Clifford

9 Park Place, Hills Court, Exeter.—Has been to hear Sir John Bowring speak at a Unitarian chapel. Presents some humorous aphorisms on women, in French.

(Undated. Marked ‘circ. 1870’.)

—————

Transcript

9 Park Place, Hills Court, Exeter

I am so glad there is a good book to read: but it is sure to be in German, and too much trouble for me. This morning by stealth (asking the way of a policeman) to a chapel of the unitarians; where Sir John Bowring to a highly respectable audience (their only fault) held forth on religious progress beyond the Xtian pale. It was rather the old story: account of Confucius and Buddha and the Parsees, and how nice they all were, and what the King of Siam had said to him {1}. There was a great deal about progress, and expanding thought, and things; but the whole atmosphere was close with as strong a perfume of mystic devotion as any church I was ever in. The regular minister also looked a preeminent parson. Tennyson might be edified to know that they alter his “Strong Son of God, immortal Love” into “Eternal God, etc.,” and then sing it as a hymn. Sort of Old Hundredy kind of tune. What a row there will be when my people find out that I have been there; which they must in time.

My years of play being now over, I present my experience in the form of aphorisms (à la Balzac) to those who may come after me; these being (as he says) neatly written out, may have the air of thoughts.

I
Sous cette forme gracieuse que nous appelons femme, il y a ordinairement plusieures âmes, dont chacune renferme une femme complete, mais dont le plupart n’ont pas encore subi l’incarnation.

II
Chaque femme est vierge quant à celles de ses âmes qui ne sont pas encore nées.

III
Sous une femme feminine quelconque, il est possible de créer une femme parfaitement neuve, fraiche, et vierge; et d’agir en sorte qu’elle vous aime, et que cette âme à laquelle vous avez donné l’existence domine sur toutes les autres et devienne Elle. Alors elle ne peut être infidèle avec cette âme-ci. Celui qui veut se donner la peine pourra toujours faire ainsi.

IV.
Celui qui veut pas se donner la peine pourra faire autre chose.

V
Il ne faut pas laisser aimer la nouvelle âme avant qu’elle soit arrivé à l’age convenant. Rien ne supprime le dévellopement plus que l’amour précoce.

VI.
Qui s’attend, s’étend.

VII.
La Reine ne fait point du mal. Qui mal y pense a mal fait.

I hope to see you tomorrow. À la libertad. Thy

Willie

—————

{1} Bowring had negotiated a commercial treaty with King Mongkut of Siam in 1855.
Notebook: 'Notes'
ONSL/4/9 · Item · c 1913
Part of Papers of Huia Onslow

Notebook used from both ends in, usually on opposing pages. Shorthand is frequently used. Notes on biology and chemistry - both reading and experimental material; draft letters; to do lists; drafts of eg 'The French Commission on Depopulation' [published in the Eugenics Review, Jul 1913.

One loose sheet: list of books, such as Temple Thurston's book of poems The Open Window (1913), William Locke's novel Stella Maris (1913) and Anatole France's The Gods are Athirst [English translation, 1913, of France's 1912 novel).
Letter from Henry Sidgwick to his mother
Add. MS c/99/9 · Item · 23 Sept 1860
Part of Additional Manuscripts c

[Sent from Dresden]:- Reports that he has concluded his stay in Berlin. Declares that he shall return to Germany when he wants to 'learn humility and contentment'. Has 'dropped over to Dresden to see Ada [Benson] and renew [his] acquaintance with the town and pictures.' Reports that Ada seemed very well and happy, 'tho' decidedly thinner', and 'declared herself charmed with the town, with her studies, with the Hauptmann and his wife with whom she lives'. Reports that the previous day he saw Mr and Mrs Dale, whose baby is 'a fine solid little fellow'. On Tuesday he goes with Professor Herrig to a 'Versammlung of Philologs' at Brunswick.

Hopes that Minnie will soon be strong enough to write to him. Went to the theatre with Ada and her hosts 'to see the famous Emil Devrient act.' Explains that going to the theatre in Germany is 'one of the most approved methods of learning the spoken language'. Remarks that his mother has not told him of her plans for the winter, except that she does not see any chance of settling down until the spring. Does not suppose that she will stay at Wellington College until Christmas. Invites her to stay at lodgings in Cambridge for the autumn. Announces that he will not return to England until 'the 20th', as he wishes to do some travelling. Will be at Brunswick until 29 September, 'then in about a week at Frankfurt Am Main, then in about a week at Bonn.' Sends his love to Edward. Recounts a story about Lord John Russell in Berlin told to him by Professor Ranke. The latter is engaged in a work on English history, and 'spoke with great regret of Macaulay whom he admires excessively, tho' so opposed to him in opinion'.
Letter from Alice Walker to R. B. McKerrow
MCKW/A/4/9 · Item · 30 Apr. 1936
Part of Papers of R. B. McKerrow

The White House, Tite Hill, Englefield Green.—Suggests meeting to discuss some small points. Once these are settled, far fewer questions are likely to arise. Would like to know more about the initial stages of his work on Shakespeare.

—————

Transcript

at The White House, Tite Hill,
Englefield Green. Surrey.
30 April 1936

Dear Dr. McKerrow,

Thank you for your letter. I am sorry I didn’t manage to answer it yesterday. I was out most of the day and the rest of the time was taken up by an accumulation of domestic chores & errands that had to be attended to. I think it would be a great saving of your time if I saw you one day next week. I hate to think of all the energy you have had to squander in writing short essays on the many (and often trivial) points I have raised. Any time on Monday, Thursday or Friday {1} would suit me—so will you say what day and time is best for you? A number of small points have cropped up since I sent the first pages of I Henry VI—mere trivialities, largely concerning arrangement etc., that would take long to settle if I saw you but would take a fair time to wrestle with by letter. When these are disposed of I don’t think there is ever likely to be such a running fire of questions as there has been and I should be able to get along with some confidence that I am doing the right thing. I will post tomorrow the rest of Act I in case any of my difficulties necessitate reference to books that arn’t at your office.

I have gone through the notes you sent yesterday in reply to my questions. Thank you for being so patient with me! I am afraid that I must have encroached on a great deal of your time, but I feel now that I should be able to get along for the most part under my own steam. A great many of the questions I have raised about Steevens and the Variorum are, I think, due to the fact that you had told me that you had begun by collating these editions and, later, decided to turn them out; hence, I think, I am perhaps unduly suspicious that references to them are survivals of earlier intentions that you arn’t going to follow out.

Thank you for your letter of this morning. I was going to ask you whether I might mark in pencil, on your MS., corrections I had made in the typescript as this will not only save me the bother of making a list of my alterations but will also save you the trouble of referring to an extra set of papers to see what I have done.
I intended you to keep the checked carbon copy you returned {2} (as well as the clean one) so that you would know what I had done, so I will send it back with the things tomorrow. I will also endeavour to answer any counter-queries in your replies to mine. A way of getting round one or two difficulties has occurred to me, so I’ll send my suggestions along in case they are any use.

One day (when you have the time!) I should very much like to know how you hacked your way through the Shakespearean jungle when you began. It must have seemed such an overwhelming tangle that I should be interested to know what the initial stages were. I hope you arn’t really depressed to find that Henry VI has got a little scratched as you dragged him through! I don’t see what process could have been adopted other than that of trial and error and, as the first play to emerge from the wood, it seems to me that it was inevitable that it would suffer some damage. I hope you feel that the collation notes have been worth the effort. In reading the Cambridge collation notes this last week I have been very much struck by the much greater range, economy and effectiveness of your method.

When you write don’t trouble to give me a choice of time or days. Unless anything unexpected crops up, I can call at your office whenever it is most convenient for you.

Yours sincerely,
Alice Walker.

—————

Typed, except the signature and a correction.

{1} 4, 7, or 8 May.

{2} The copy collation-notes denominated (b) in MCKW A4/7, comprising two sheets, namely pp. 1–2 of item 3(b) in MCKW A4/11.