Pièce 30 - Letter from J. B. Payne to Henry Sidgwick

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Had hoped to see Sidgwick in the holidays. Refers to William [Sidgwick?], who he thought was 'looking better, but weak + shaken still.' Reports that he hears of Cambridge politics from G. Young and others. Believes it to be 'almost too late to save the national importance of Oxford and Cambridge.' Refers Sidgwick to 'M[atthew] Arnold's preface, and Seeley's [New] Universities.' Of the Protestant clerics he says 'may not the nation say at last to [them] - Your money perish with you - as it is even now in a mood to let the Irish tithe pig go and gorge his endowments in a corner.' Claims to sympathise with Sidgwick's work, and offers his services if the latter should ever want anybody morally assassinated 'in the P.U.G.'. Claims that the latter periodical 'now butters [his] daily crust.' Reports that he writes on art, and on 'other things more or less sincere', and offers to 'work up' into an article anything that Sidgwick likes to send him. Refers to H[ ]'s disgust at Payne's usage of the word 'abstraction'. Urges Sidgwick to 'take a bed' in his house when he goes to see 'the Academy'.