Item 4 - Letter from W. K. Clifford to Georgina Pollock

1 folded sheet, 1 envelope

Belfast.—Refers to a visit to Lucy’s parents and to his activities at the British Association meeting. Fred’s letter has been praised. Sends sympathy to Fred’s legs.

(With an envelope.)

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Transcript

Belfast—Sunday

My dear Georgie

I am ashamed to have taken so long to thank you for your very kind letter and Fred’s. Just before I came here to the Brit. Ass. {1} we went to see our parents {2} who are staying at Worthing. I broke the matter gently to the papa after dinner by lifting a glass of wine and saying cheerfully “Well, here’s to our closer relationship.” He was however fond of billiards, and I have regretted ever since that I did not get on to that subject and say “By the way, talking of hazards, I understand that I am going to marry your daughter.” I must now get engaged to some other girl whose father is fond of billiards, in order to say that to him. Lucy says I have never properly proposed yet, so I am going to do it the day before; she says she will say no, which of course is immaterial; for if you begin by letting your wife have a will of her own in important questions of that sort, there is no knowing where you will stop. I shewed Fred’s letter to Tyndall, & Spencer, who passed it on to Huxley, and they were all delighted. This morning Corfield, Atchison & I went to Section 4, to hear Prof. Jellett preach; {3} it was the first time I had been in such a building since your wedding. Atchison nearly killed us by wanting to know if we could not go on the platform with our tickets (general committee, marked red). It was the only place where there was any room. Now I must go and post this or the Reception Room will be closed. Give my best love to Fred and my sympathies to his legs; and believe me

Yours always
Willi

[Direction on envelope:] Mrs Pollock | Gill’s Fernery {4} | Lynton | Barnstaple | Devon

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The envelope was postmarked at Belfast on 24 August 1874.

{1} A meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science was held at Belfast between 19 and 26 August 1874. See The Times.

{2} i.e. Lucy’s parents.

{3} Section 4 was probably the Section for Mathematical and Physical Science, over which Jellett had presided on previous days. See The Times.

{4} A fern nursery established by Edmund Gill in 1858.