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Pontefract. - Opposes further grant; Government's attempt to regulate Catholic clergy will not succeed; salaries for priests would have to follow; supports political rights of Catholics but not financial support by the English:

Cambridge. - Seeks Income Tax clerkship vacant by death of Charles Thrower; almost penniless; Milnes' promise to help his mother's family; will he speak to 'The head of The Government' on behalf of a brokenhearted man'.

Florence. 6 Lungarno Torrigiani. 1ᵒ pᵒ [primo piano]. Envelope addressed to Browning at 19 Warwick Crescent, Upper Westbourne Terrace, London. - Death of Miss Isabella Blagden; attended her funeral yesterday; she had been slightly unwell since her return from England this winter. She 'has not ceased to live, as Bibi [his daughter Imogen] and I know, for we have had tidings of her through Regina, whom you remember' [Kirkup was a spiritualist and believed that he remained in communication with his first wife Regina, who died in 1856].

Isabella Blagden is buried near Browning's wife, south of her monument, 'the most magnificent in the place'. Remembers that Browning was dissatisfied in some way with 'Mr Leighton's part in the erection' but not 'in what way it was imperfect'; assures Browning that 'its general effect is imposing'.

Further discussion of spirits: they are 'alive & kicking - that is, flying with their legs, as I have often dreamed - none of our spirits have wings. They are like my master Fuseli's angels, who float by Will, not by wings'. Has 'obtained four photographs of spirits, real ones, not artificial imitations, which wd have been perfectly impossible with my precautions'.

Has much to tell Browning but cannot write or read for long; has parted with his books, 'besides, thieves had begun to steal the most valuable'. Has had to leave his old house as his landlord wanted to live there and has 'altered it and spoiled it'; his new house is 'prettier' with a 'much finer prospect. I see the Cupola as I lie in bed'. Invites Browning to visit him before he moves in May to Leghorn [Livorno], on the instructions of Isacco [a spirit]. Bibi is as tall as Regina was; has had her legitimised 'at Regina's pressing request' and she is now a 'courtesy Baroness... all vanity!'

Asks how [Browning's son] 'Penino' is; also enquires after Robert Lytton, Henry Layard, 'the poet Wilberforce' and Frederick Locker. Asks who 'Mr Addington Symonds' is: he has sent Kirkup his book on Dante. Asks whether Miss [Fanny?] Haworth is married. Never sees the Landors: gives news of 'Carlino' [Charles], Walter, and Julia. [Thomas] Trollope has 'been obliged to sell his villa, books & every thing - he had married his daughter's governess'; believes they are all in England [in fact they had moved to Rome]. Florence is 'much changed & immensely increased - millions on millions spent in building when it was the capital'; now 'no English' there.

Signs off, but adds a long postscript: spiritualism ('Spirits are almost my only friends here'); does Browning see the Rossettis or Trelawny? Discusses Lady Westmorland and her family, and Lady William [Russell?]. Has received two copies of Forster's life of Landor; wonders if he can send one back. Hates the Florentines 'for their treatment of Dante's monuments'; asks if Browning has a copy of the Arundel Society reproduction of Kirkup's sketch.

Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. - Dedicated his poems Forest and Fireside Hours to Milnes; sent three copies last year and has another in white vellum to present; publication expenses not met by subscriptions; has retired to native district on health grounds; hopes to start a school; has testimonials; hopes Milnes will recommend him; the venture will allow him leisure 'for wooing the Muse - making such devotion the pleasure & not the business of Life, as you once commended me for doing'.

21 Chatham Place, Pitt Street, Old Kent Road. - Is living with daughter in penury through unemployment and ill health; small sum would ease suffering; quotes editor of The Monthly Magazine in praise of his verse in Jul. 1825; appends transcripts of sonnets published there and in the London Magazine. Postscript: has served as amanuensis and assistant to 'a deceased eminent literary character' for seven years; also has testimonials from the publisher Sir Richard Phillips.

Ashfield. - Her father read his paper 'A Historical Sketch of Warrington Academy' to the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire on 11 Nov. 1858; he based it upon rescued memoranda of the Rev. J. Seddon; can send a copy, or Houghton might care to visit; her father's own copy is embellished with interesting letters and notes about Warrington. Cannot send 'Use of Books to Working Men' as their only perfect copy is bound with other items; it was a lecture to the Tuckerman Institute of Liverpool on 14 Feb. 1855. Encloses two hymns [no longer present], a sonnet on Longfellow and one on Mr Green; her father did not wish them to be republished. No news of Allan yet.

Enclosure: Copy of Henry Bright's verse 'To Longfellow in England, 1868', "as it appeared in Mr Hall Caine's Sonnets of Three Centuries" [copy made 1884?].

Tiverton. - Thanks him for 'his' letter with the good news about his mother. Will 'keep (or leave behind me) this letter, in the hope that you may be amused some day by reading it'. Was very glad to hear of his birth as she knew it would make his parents and grandfather very happy; hopes to see him next summer. Signed 'Anty Ett'.

Bill due to William Whewell, and sent 'With Mr Whewell's compliments'.

Grosvenor Square - Congratulations on engagement.

New York: Law Office, 20 Nassau St. - Has sent an American edition of Milnes' Keats through Putnam the publisher. Not sure America deserves the compliment Milnes pays it in the dedication, for 'the universal striving for wealth, too often leaves neither leisure no taste, for those treasures of English Literature, which we ought to prize...'; hopes Milnes' words will prove true with the passage of time, and that Milnes will soon visit: 'the voyage is nothing'.

32 Manchester Road, Huddersfield. - Sorry Milnes cannot attend soirée on 6 March: had hoped to introduce him to Rev. Edmund Roberts Larken, translator of George Sand's Miller [of Angibault]. Met Emerson at Manchester last Sunday and heard him read a paper on Plato; hopes to meet Milnes one day.

On headed notepaper for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, Manchester. - Is grateful to Houghton for his 'generous offer to have given me your support at Pontefract in the event of my having consented to stand for the Borough'; was 'very greatly pleased' with Milnes' friend Peel and 'shall do all I possibly can to secure his return'; has recently spoken in his favour at a meeting of the '"advanced" liberals', and a report subsequently appeared in the Examiner & Times.

Glad that Houghton has made up his stock sufficiently to qualify as a director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway; there is no vacancy at present but will propose his name as soon as one appears.

Concerning Milnes' Observations on the History of Thomas Earl of Lancaster.

Keswick.—Account of her journey through Yorkshire and Westmorland.

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Transcript

Keswick. April 20th 1820

My dear Papa

You were kind enough to wish me to write home when I had passed the Craven of Yorkshire and reached the Lakes, and though we have accomplished this sooner than I expected, yet I do not like to delay writing because of the pleasure it gives me, and because I have now a great deal to tell you. Wakefield, whence I last wrote, proved by day-light a very nasty town, though it stands by a beautiful river, the Calder, and is surrounded by more varied country than any we had then seen; but the country all round is spoiled by the coal mines which spread blackness and desolation all about them. The road is black, and great barrows of coals are all along to Bradford. All the houses in the villages are built of stone which has a cold and comfortless appearance and the poor children are so begrimed with coal-dust that they look quite wretched. Bradford lies in a valley crowded with manufactories and coal mines and iron-works, from the tall blackened chimneys of which clouds of black smoke and white steam pour, and almost hide the poor suffocated town below. Some miles before reaching Skipton, the next stage, the character of the scenery quite changes and assumes the wild, rocky features of the Craven. We saw Lord Thanet’s castle at Skipton. It is neither handsome or very old or curious. It was built in the year 1629, and has all the faults of architecture at that period. Here we left the direct road in order to visit Malham Cove and Gordale’s Scaur, and I am very glad we did so, for the first is one of the most curious, and the latter the very grandest sight I ever beheld. The Cove is a kind of chalky amphitheatre in the grey stone rocks, from the base of which a little stream issues and winds along the valley through the village. The rock rises perpendicularly and almost unbroken to a great height, and I thought it the most awful† thing I had ever seen till I went to Gordale’s Scaur. This is a narrow ravine between overhanging rocks of immense height, from which a stream of water issues under a natural arch in the mountain, and, after making three distinct leaps, it dashes into the valley below, here quite choked by huge pieces of fallen rock, which throw up the water in foam and smoke to a great height. The rocks are so high, and the cleft so narrow, that without looking quite back the sun cannot be seen. It is a most aweful situation—enclosed in the dark jaws of such a ravine of dark rock, only varied by the deep green yew trees which take root in the rifts of the mountain. I could not witness so grand a scene {1} without feelings almost of terror, though I am sure I was not afraid of anything there. We reached Settle at night after a very hilly ride through country which became more grand as we advanced farther. The town is beautifully situated under high green hills, one of which suddenly starts into an abrupt slaty rock and almost overhangs the town. At about ¾ of a mile from Settle, close by the road side we stopped to see the ebbing and flowing well at Gigleswick—the water rose and fell just ten inches in less than as many minutes. We soon saw Ingleburgh high above the other mountains, with its outlines all obscured by the mists and clouds floating round its head. All the way to Ingleton and Kirby Lonsdale the scenery though varying at every turn of the road and with every gleam of sun and passing cloud, is much of the same character. But Winandermere and Grassmere and Keswick which I have just seen by moon light are grand indeed. I am obliged to break off as the post will close in 5 minutes. {2} Say all all that is affectionate for me to all at home

and believe me ever | your very dutiful daughter
Eliz. Turner

[Superscription:] Dawson Turner Esqre | Gt. Yarmouth—Norfolk
[Postmark:] KESWICK | 298
[Postal fee:] 1/1

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There is a thumbnail sketch of a sheep, curled up, on a blank part of the sheet.

{1} This is probably the spelling intended, but the word contains a superfluous letter.

{2} The writing is more hurried towards the end of the letter, which finishes half-way down the third page of the sheet.

58 Montagu Square, London, W.—His health did not suffer by the journey. He got to the ‘diagram man’ just in time to prevent him spoiling them. The experiment will not ‘come off’, but he will repeat the lecture elsewhere in order to do it. ‘Miladi’ (Lady Pollock) has written to her.

(Dated Thursday. The reference to ‘Miladi’ (Lady Pollock) suggests that the letter was written after 23 August 1870, when her husband succeeded to the baronetcy. A reference to Cambridge suggests a date before September 1871, when Clifford moved to London.)

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Transcript

59 Montagu Square, London, W. {1}

Dearest Mama

I am very much better and did not take any cold on the journey. Mitchell was a great brick and took all possible care of me, and I kept wrapped up all the way. Walter met me on the station and carried me off in a cab. I have been lying down a good deal, and only appeared for a short time last night. This morning I breakfasted in bed, but got to the diagram man only just in time; for he is very stupid and would have spoilt all the diagrams {2} in another day. The experiment I am afraid won’t come off; but I can’t be beaten in that way, and shall repeat the lecture somewhere else on purpose to do it—perhaps make a Sunday lecture of it at Cambridge. This afternoon I have been consulting authorities at the Royal institution, and am rather tired; but now I shall take a long rest. Miladi says she wrote to you this morning but is not sure that Walter has not made a mistake about posting it. I have got some more poppy-heads. How are Edie’s throat and Kitty’s tooth and your indigestion? Now I must stop and have some tea, and send the letter to post; so good-bye.

Your most loving son.
Willie.

Thursday afternoon.

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Black-edged paper.

{1} The home of (William) Frederick Pollock.

{2} Probably diagrams for a lecture. As the next sentence indicates, the lecture had originally been intended to include an experiment.

Small black notebook inscribed 'Gekauft 2.9.1936', includes diary entries November 1936-August 1938, with visits to Copenhagen, Sweden, Norway, addresses, notes on correspondents, drawings, calculations on 'Badewanne', etc. Both ends of book used.