Longmans, Green, & Co., 6 & 7 Clifford Street, London, W.1.—They cite a review of V. L. Griffith's Experiments in Education.
Addressed to 'Monsieur Le Comte'. Requests that he not be given Bapaume in place of Avernes for his protégé. Regrets that he cannot go to Versailles to attend on the Comte. Note of instruction in another hand at the top of the letter.
Pencil note at bottom of the letter suggests that it was written in the time of Louis XV.
Has sent him The Greek View of Life by Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson and hopes he will share his comments with Goldie.
1 All Souls Place, Portland Place, W. Thanks him for his letter and for sending on the letter from their mutual friend Holroyd. Sends a copy of the American edition of Letters from a Chinese Official and has been amused to read American reviews admiring the English of the Chinese official supposed to be the author.
Upper Terrace Lodge, Hampstead, N.W. Would like to attend the feast of stories in Mr Ralston's programme but finds the weather makes such plans uncertain; thinks he would enjoy reading Sydney Dobell's Life and Letters edited by Miss Jolly, who is now in the Pyrenees with Mrs Dobell.
University of Glasgow [blind stamp] Has forwarded his letter to Miss Jolly, who is editing the Sydney Dobell book, while he is responsible for the memoir and criticism. Has read "An Autumn Mood" with great pleasure, but feels such poems as "England's Day" could be left out.
Tocknells House, Painswick, Near Stroud. Thanks him for his kind interest in the work she is doing editing the volume of Sydney Dobell's works, gives her reasons for doing so, as Mr and Mrs Dobell's "adopted daughter" and now Mrs Dobell's constant companion. Mrs Dobell will ensure he receives a copy of the work when it is done.
75 Eaton Rise, Ealing, W. Has read Munby’s article on Alice de Chambrier with pleasure; is glad he was the Fielding as it will never be reprinted; includes verses he wrote in Lady Dorothy Nevill’s copy of Walpole.
75, Eaton Rise, Ealing, W. Is sending the book Side-Walk Studies to him, mentions two works in the printers’ hands, her parents have returned from Essex, and thanks him for the enjoyable visit.
Foxholes, Weybridge. Returns the book and discusses it and other books about Dante. Has attended Wicksteed’s lectures and has held classes for her students reading passages of Dante.
Buffalo, N.Y. Was unable to publish the “Year Book of Poetry” to which Munby subscribed. Thanks him for the Vistigia Retrorsum poems, which he is about to present as part of his library to his public library, and asks for a photograph to send the library as well. Sends the collection, In My Lady’s Name.
(An engraved form, filled up by hand, including an engraving of the Museum by E. H. New, 1910.)
46 Marlborough Hill, St John’s Wood, London, N.W. Sends his Ann Morgan and Susan and asks Munby to write his name on the title of Susan and to inscribe both books on the flyleaf “H. Buxton Forman from the Author” even though he bought them himself. He knew someone would send “the lying rag,” referring to a review of Munby’s Poems: Chiefly Lyric and Elegiac in The Daily News. Wonders why anyone need care about “such asses as the whole lot of folk concerned in that paper.”
Printed card of thanks for sympathy on death of Christina Rosetti accompanied by a note on the inside flap of the envelope from W. M. Rossetti thanking him for “all that you so feelingly say.”
South Teddington, Hampton Wick. Informs him he has ordered a copy of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge’s book for Butler, and quotes an article on Christina Rossetti in “Church Bells” dated Jan. 4th.
Records a day with Whitley Stokes and Gabriel Rossetti, in which Christina’s poems were read to them by Gabriel.
Cutting of Christina Rossetti's obituary in The Manchester Guardian 31 Jan. 1894; a list of items belonging to Christina Rossetti offered for sale by J. & M. L. Tregaskis in 1895; and part of a catalogue of books and manuscripts sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge on 30 July 1895 featuring "books and miscellaneous articles belonging to the late Christina G. Rossetti."
3 St. Edmund’s Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W. Two letters written after W. M. Rossetti read an article about Christina Rossetti in the 9 Jan. issue of The World in which she is said to have been stiff and ungenial and that “Arthur J.” and the author encountered her one night and that she was icy to them. In the first letter Rossetti speculates that the author is the watercolour painter Smallfield. Munby has written “No!” above the “Arthur J., who must be you” in the letter. In the second letter he has received Munby's reply and agrees that the J. is likely for the surname. He is pleased with the forthcoming volume of Christina's poems; is grateful to have news of his old friend Lushington.
3 St. Edmund’s Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W. Thanks him for his kind letter of sympathy after the death of his wife. Is now preparing Gabriel's family letters for publication. Notes that Theodore Watts volunteered to write a memoir, but nothing has happened, so William is likely to do it himself. Accompanied by a printed letter of thanks for the sympathy on the death of Lucy Rossetti.
3 St. Edmund’s Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W. Apologises for sending her book without inscribing it to him; enjoyed Faithful Servants, and mentions a friend's work about a Sudanese servant of hers; expresses sympathy for his loss.
Edmondsham House, Bournemouth. Has received a letter from Munby in which he questions whether Mrs Shelley was in fact married, and argues her point that the Shelleys were married, saying the point is important because she is "a believer in marriage." Mentions that she was under no obligation to the family but found Mary Shelley a fascinating figure.
- Kidbrook Park Rd., Blackheath S.E. Notifies him the book is on its way and hopes he approves of her choice of his poem.
10 Northwick House, St John's Wood Rd, NW 8. Encloses his book, which has been privately printed.
Elsieshields, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.—Hopes to attend the Cranium Club dinner. Was interested to hear of his meeting with the Master of Trinity (Sir Michael Atiyah); he (Runciman) usually stays at the Master's Lodge when he visits Cambridge.
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Elsieshields, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, DG11 1LY
25.5.96
Dear Stephen,
Thank you very much for your letter. I certainly hope to come to the Cranium dinner on 13 June.
I am interested to hear of your encounter with the present Master of Trinity. I always stay with him now when I visit Cambridge. Years ago Rab Butler, when Master, laid it down that I should always be housed at the Master’s Lodge whenever I came to Cambridge; and subsequent Masters, Alan Hodgkin, Andrew Huxley and now Michael Atiyah, have hospitably continued the tradition. It is perhaps quite suitable, as I am now—and have been for several years—the senior Honorary Fellow of the College. But in fact I don’t visit Cambridge very often—apart from Feasts at Trinity—and, what with extreme old age and decrepitude, my visits may become even fewer. But I hope that some day I may have the chance of visiting Lammas House. In the meantime I have happy memories of my all too brief visit to you at Canonbury.
Yours
Steven
[Direction on envelope:] Stephen Keynes, Esq., 14 Canonbury Park South, London N1
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The envelope is postmarked 28 May 1996.
Sans titreTrinity Lodge, Cambridge. - 'I wished to assure you from myself, as well as on behalf of our whole College, how warmly we appreciate the zeal and devotion with which you have given both your heart and your mind to the College during these eventful fifty years. The memory of this faithful service and of your unfailing courtesy and kindness will long be a cherished tradition'. All are pleased that White will keep the title he has held for so long, 'though relieved in future from all labour and anxiety, and we trust that your may still pass not a few happy hours in the Library which will certainly not forget you'. Butler asks White to accept a book 'as some little memento of my personal respect and regard...'; adds best Christmas wishes.
With envelope addressed to White as 'Honorary Sub-Librarian, Trinity College'.
Transcript
West Malling | Maidstone
March 21. 1865
Revd Sir,
In the number of the “Church Times”, {1} which I take the liberty to send you, you will find a notice of a work on “the Christians of St Thomas” by the Rev. G. B. Howard. As the review contains a very offensive allusion to my late dear & revered father, I am of course anxious to do anything I can to vindicate his memory from so grievous a slur as is there thrown upon it. You will doubtless remember the circumstances referred to, & if you can kindly give me authority to say that your opinion of my father’s conduct is not that of the reviewer, I shall be indeed obliged to you.
I am, Revd Sir, | Yours faithfully
J. W. Doran, | clerk, M.A.
The Venerable | Archdeacon Robinson | DD. | Master of the Temple.
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{1} 18 March 1865.
{2} The Christians of St Thomas and their Liturgies (Oxford and London: John Henry and James Parker, 1864).
{3} One passage in the review records that the last days of Bishop Heber were employed in an attempt to heal a dispute between two candidates for primacy among the St Thomas Christians, ‘a design defeated by the carelessness and sloth of his chaplain Doran, whom he had selected to convey his letters of counsel to the rival prelates’.
Transcript
Private
The Precincts. {1}
March 29th 1865.
Revd & dear Sir,
Your letter, being addressed unfortunately to my empty house at the Temple, has only just reached me at this place, together with a copy of the “Church Times”.
I have carefully read the Article in that Journal to which you refer, & have no sympathy with the language there used with regard to the Ch: Missionary Society, its Missionaries in Travancore, & our Indian Bishops.
I remember your good Father with affection & respect, having been Chaplain to Bishop Heber, when His Lordship invited your Father to join his party in travelling from Madras to the South; & I do not wonder at the pain you feel in reading the reviewer’s mention of his name. But I am bound to say to you in all truth, as I said publickly to the world many years ago, that I exceedingly deplored his withholding the two letters which the Bishop entrusted to his care. addressed to Mar Athanasius the legate of the Patriarch; which had they been delivered, would have saved the unhappy consequences of his imprisonment & banishment. Bishop Heber was empowered by the Governor of Madras not only to prevent the dismissal of the Legate, but to assign him a salary for his maintenance in the Diocese of Malabar, as Archbishop with the two native Bishops as his suffrages. {2} His Lordship was most anxious to preserve unbroken the dependance† of the Syriac Church in Travancore on the Patriarch of Antioch, both on the ground of clear & undoubted justice of claim, but for the great value of the connection among their heathen neighbours.
It was my duty to detail the circumstances of the failure of his endeavours to the Patriarch after his death, & at the same time to the Archbishop of Canterbury; & you will find the whole of the correspondence in “the last days of Bishop Heber” published in London in 1830. I believe it is quite out of print now; but if you will favor me with a call at the Temple (where I hope to be next week) I shall be happy to lend you the volume. You will see the impossibility of my altering my expression of regret at the course your excellent Father pursued; in deference, I have no doubt, to his seniors in the Mission, but unfortunately neutralizing the entire plan of our Bishop.
I would earnestly advise you not to notice the review at all.
Believe me, dear Sir, | very faithfully yours,
Thos Robinson
I am generally at home at the Temple till 12.
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Some abbreviations have been expanded.
{1} Robinson lived in the Cathedral Precincts at Rochester, where he was a canon.
{2} A slip for ‘suffragans’?
† Sic.
Transcript
Precincts. May 12th.
My dear Charlie
I received a summons early this morning & reached this at 1.30. we found a great change had set in; & I believe the end draws very near. Our dear Father appears to be in a sort of trance, perfectly unconscious of all surroundings & has neither opened his eyes nor attempted to speak since Saturday night. I gently hold his lips open while Mrs R. puts beef jelly or wine in, but half returns again. The Dr says he may rally from this stupor but I feel he will gently sleep away. his face is very beautiful, so that I feel fain to write life not death has set in. but it wears a settled calm look, & the eye shows no sign of vision. I am thankful dear Mrs R. realizes that this is the “beginning of the end” to day, & is able to fix her mind thro’ her great sorrow on the joy awaiting him.
You will understand I write for her. Yrs very lovingly
Mary