Including bills & references to Richard Monckton Milnes’s personal collections of books and MSS (except erotica, for which see DF/2).
Typescript termly lists of Butler's tutees on Side D carrying brief notes in Butler's hand recording exeats and absences as well as occasional other notes as to permission granted, and addresses while travelling. There are lists for Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter terms for each academic year from 1929 to 1938, accompanied by lists of men admitted on Side D for Michaelmas 1934. The list for Michaelmas term 1936 was torn up by Butler apparently in error, as the pieces were found in one of his envelopes. A final list for Michaelmas 1938 is present, and a list of men admitted to Side D for 1939, as are lists of freshmen for 1938 and 1939, and a list of examination results at Trinity published in August 1938. The final lists do not carry notes by Butler.
Thanks her for her letter. Is unable to express her own happiness, and how much she wishes to be a good wife to Henry and a good daughter to her; looks forward to getting to know her.
Sin título37 Curzon Street. - Delighted to find that Milnes was elected last night as a member of 'dear old Grillions', and as Secretary is very sorry that he had to dine at the Mansion House which 'prevented me from adding my ball to the unsullied whites which greeted your name'. Encloses a card of the dinners for the session [no longer present], and hopes Milnes will come at hte earlies possibly opportunity.
Clarks Hotel, 14 Clifford St, Bond St. - Houghton's 'kind note' has been forwarded to his hotel from home. Mr Gladstone has 'so kindly asked Mr Glyn' to propose him at the Reform Club; since a personal introduction to Glyn was necessary, Bell was 'naturally anxious to have the highest voucher for my respectability'. Houghton was in town, so Bell was emboldened to ask the favour of an introduction to Glyn', as 'for considerably more than a century my family has been professionally attached to yours' and he believes 'the same stern, honest independence which marked my great grandsire (a friend of the Priestleys) still dwells in my two brothers and myself'. Hopes, then, that when Houghton sees Glyn he will do Bell 'the favour to say that I come "of reputable stock" and am not likely to belie the honour he has done me'. Mr Baines will second Bell.
Temple Club, Arundel Street, Strand (headed notepaper). - Glad that Houghton accepts a Honorary Life Membership in the Club. Since they 'desire every class of Literature to be represented', they will be glad if he would 'allow us to add your name to the Committee' whose names are on the enclosed list; he will 'incur no liability or responsibility whatever, nor any inconvenience or trouble in serving therein'. Colborne is the Hon. Secretary of the Club. With printed enclosure giving the names of the Committee of the Temple Club.
West Lodge, Putney Common. - On Wednesday he is 'one of a mob of vulgarities bound for Epsom [Derby day horse races]', or he would have been 'glad to be at your board'.
Quite agrees with Milnes' view that 'Whittington matters are at present doubtful', but thinks that 'with adequate funds', which he hears are 'becoming more certain every day' the Club may 'promise larger designs'.
With envelope postmarked 22 May 1849, addressed to Miles at 26 Pall Mall.
Including verse by R. M. Milnes.
Including referrals to charity schools.
Trin. Coll., Dublin - Thanks WW for his favourable letter concerning his Lectures on the Logical Method of Political Economy. The method of political economy is both inductive and deductive. The basis of deduction is both knowledge of principal motives actuating mankind in pursuit of wealth, and the principal conditions on which the results of industry depend. These represent general tendencies which indicate the direction inductive investigations should take: begin with a collection of actual cases and compare generalised results with a priori deductions. This way - as in the physical sciences - one should arrive at residual phenomena and be led to new principles. Hopes WW approves. He has not seen the work by Richard Jones which he refers to.
On headed notepaper for the Evening Star and South Wales Times, proprietor W. N. Johns. - Expressing sympathy on the death of C. W. King, whom he knew for many years and was very helpful in the preparation of a history on Newport, his native town. Wonders if anything from among King's possessions might be presented to the town for the Free LIbrary or Museum, to preserve the memory of 'one of Newport's most worthy sons'.
Addressed by Johns c/o Trinity College , Cambridge, forwarded on to Rev. H. L. Nelthropp at Upper Norwood.
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.
Villa Syracusa, Torquay.
Report of speech by M. S. D. Butler, article on Charles Sorley, article on hereditary genius citing Butler family, funeral service sheet of John Perceval Butler, Christmas card to Montagu Butler.
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.