(The note relates to the phrase ‘Let the galled jade wince’ (Hamlet, III. ii. 231-2). It was probably sent to Aldis Wright when he was working on the Clarendon Press edition of the play, published in 1872. The edition of Wyclif cited is that of 1871, and the note is written on part of a draft of Skeat’s edition of Joseph of Arimathie, published the same year (cf. p. 70).)
The properties referred to are ‘the Mannor of Swantons in Folsham [Foulsham] 2 Messauages 1 Toft 120 acres of land & severall other parcells in Folsham [Foulsham] Norwich Bintre [Bintree] Geyst [Guist] Geystweyt [Guestwick] Twiford [Twyford] billingford Sparham & the advowson of Twiford [Twyford] Church’.
Sent from Catshill, near Bromsgrove. - Card labelled 'The Clock House - In aid of the Church Funds' [The Clock House, also known as Fockbury House, was a childhood home of A. E. Housman].
Documentary about the history of Charles University prepared for the 650th anniversary of its foundation.
Re portraits of Thomas Crew, 2nd Baron Crew of Steane, and members of his family: his daughters Armine and Elizabeth, his brother Nathaniel, 3rd Baron Crew and Bishop of Durham, and Nathaniel's second wife Dorothy Forster.
Reference to 'This Perugia business' being 'a bloody affair' [either the seizure of the city by Austria in May 1849, or the uprising in June 1859?]
Including verse by R. M. Milnes.
Delivered to the Literary Society, 15 Oct. 1881, enclosing 4 diagrams.
Congratulations on engagement.
Written from Braunschweig. With note in Whewell's hand, "Memorandum respecting M. von Hof".
At Mr Whitehurst's, Chirk.—Describes his journey (from Nuneaton), visiting Whitchurch and his sister at Llangollen. Is going to Croisllwd (Croesllwyd?) for the signing of an agreement.
(This letter was written some time between the departure of Francis Henry Egerton to Paris in 1802 and the death of his cousin the 3rd Duke and 6th Earl of Bridgewater on 8 March 1803. Since it comprises only a single sheet and there is no valediction, it is possible that it is incomplete.)
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Transcript
At Mr Whitehurst’s. Chirk
Friday Morning—
My dear Jane
Humphrey myself & two Sisters came here yesterday morning & stay’d dinner &c & Hump[h]r[e]y & I stopped all night—I had a very pleasant Journey to Wales thro’ Lichfield Stafford Eccleshall Market Drayton where I slept & started the next morning at six oClock for Whitchurch where I breakfasted I went to see the Church which is one of the handsomest I ever saw & so is the Income about 4000 £ P[e]r Annum the Rector is the Hon: Mr Eggerton first cousin to the Earl of BridgeWater who is the patron, the Rector is now in france has four Curates at 75 £ each but one is just left to take possession of a College living & the Other three are going to petition the trustees to divide his Salary between them & not to elect a fourth, the three Curates thinking themselves quite competent to do the duty between them—prayers every day, the other duty but little more than Nuneaton if any—From thence I came to Hanmer Overton by Winstay to Rhuabon & Llangollen where I safely arrived both me {1} & my Mare well & hearty between three & four in the afternoon on Tuesday Evening—My Sister Sally came to the door & did not know me until I spoke to her—She had been a little unwel† a week or two before but is fast recovering—I am going this Morning to Croisllwd to see Hugo with Mr Whitehurst Hump[hre]y David Edwards to sign an agreement between him & his Brothers that he shall have a Lease of all his Eldest Brother’s Lands for one and twenty years or for the joint lives of both his Brothers for their lives at a very low rent—I purpose being at home by Saturday week as I first {2} intended & unless you hear again from me to the contrary which is not likely you will expect me then—
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Some abbreviations by superscript letters have been expanded, the letters supplied being printed in square brackets. In the MS the indefinite article ‘a’ is sometimes attached to the succeeding word.
{1} A mark resembling a letter ‘d’ has been written over this word in pencil.
{2} Spelling uncertain.
† Sic.
Mowden School - is distracted by radio news as he writes, thanks Christopher for letter, asks him not to write unless he has something important to say, describes ex-pupils now at Stowe, dislikes school life.
Sackville Street. Gives a defence of the Austrian loan
Office of the Director, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington.—Praises The Editorial Problem in Shakespeare and discusses the progress of the Folger Library.
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Transcript
The Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington
Office of the Director
December 29, 1942.
Dear Doctor Greg:
The copy of your “The Editorial Problem in Shakespeare,” came just in time to be a most delightful Christmas gift, and its reading made the holiday season for me very pleasant indeed. I admire, more than I can tell you, the cautious, judicial attitude you everywhere maintain, and the nicety of expression by which you achieve clarity in presenting the most difficult material. The volume will be an absolutely indispensable reference work for all editors of Shakespeare, and a guide in all future research into the origin and nature of the copy lying behind the printed texts of plays. And what a problem that is! I confess that some of the theories tentatively devised to explain the preparation of printer’s copy seem to me too complicated for a procedure that must have been simple and natural. But your clear presentation of the facts and summary of theories will inspire Shakespeare scholars to further efforts. I myself feel an “itch” to get at several of the problems, even though I realize that, except by chance, I would probably have no success. Please accept my deepest gratitude, which I know is shared by all students of Shakespeare, for your inspiring work.
The Folger Library continues to grow by leaps and bounds. To that cause I am devoting all my time and energy, for I believe that Shakespeare is the strongest and most lasting link to unite England and America, and that the preservation of that union, political and cultural, is the most important need of the world. I like to think that for centuries to come, young Americans will be flocking to the Folger to study the literature which is both the common product, and the heritage, of our two peoples. And if I can accomplish something towards promoting that end, I am content to sacrifice in part my productivity in research.
The progress of the war is a matter of keen satisfaction, and we are now hoping that by the fall we can again have our books back in the stacks and vaults, and our Reading Room crowded with workers.
With thanks for the thoughtful gift of your latest book, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year, I am,
Ever yours,
Joseph Q. Adams
Dr. W. W. Greg,
Standlands, River, Petworth, Sussex, England.
JQA:mp
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Typed, except the signature.
Contains critical annotations by Ginsburg, and includes four photographs of the original manuscript pasted on to preliminary pages.
The notices concern graces offered to the University of Cambridge Senate, as well as notices to members of the university. Subjects include proposed alterations in the Questionists' examination, student limits on accounts with vintners and victuallers, summaries of receipts and payments by the University for the years ending Nov. 1847, 1848, and 1850, a programme of the Professors' lectures for 1850-1851, and an announcement of the subject of the Norris Prize.
(Newton Abbot.)—Thanks him for clarifying a point relating to the Housman family. Will ask Gilbert Turner to send him the letters.
(Place of writing not indicated. Postmarked at Newton Abbot.)
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Transcript
From E.M. April 5th, 1975.
Thanks for yours of the 3rd, and for clearing up the Housman family mystery; I had no idea there was another daughter, {1} as RR {2} never mentioned her, but only Clemence, who lived with LH {3} at Street.
I don’t know whether Gilbert Turner is back from France yet, but am writing him this weekend to send the letters to you, and I am sure he will. You will then have to cope with his awful address to thank him!
Yours sincerely,
Ethel Mannin
[Direction:] J. Hunt, Esq., | Ebury House | Romsley | Halesowen | Worcestershire
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Postmarked ‘NEWTON ABBOT | 6 APR | 1975’. Typed, except the signature and a few corrections.
{1} The reference is to Katharine Symons, née Housman.
{2} Reginald Reynolds, Ethel Mannin’s second husband.
{3} Laurence Housman.
(With a blank sheet. The list in fact includes only one entry.)