Janus: Papers of William Kingdon Clifford

Trinity/CLIF contains:
A1	Letters to family members; offprint of an obituary; letters to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt
A2	Letters to Lucy Clifford (née Lane); verses.
A3	Letters to Frederick Pollock; draft letters.
A4	Correspondence between W. K. and Lucy Clifford and Frederick and Georgina Pollock.
A5	Final letters, etc.
A6	Letters to Lucy Clifford regarding W. K. Clifford.
A7	Letters to Frederick Pollock regarding W. K. Clifford
A8	Letters to Frederick Pollock regarding W. K. Clifford
A9	Letters from Lucy Clifford to Frederick Pollock regarding W. K. Clifford.
B1	Scrapbook
C1	Newspapers and journals containing obituaries and other articles relating to W. K. Clifford.
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Papers of William Kingdon Clifford

Title	Letters to family members; offprint of an obituary; letters to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt
Reference	A1
Covering Dates	1864–1879
Extent and Medium	1 file

Content and context

Trinity/CLIF/A1 contains:

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Was sorry to hear of Uncle John's death. Hopes Kitty [his sister] was not hurt much by the swing; has himself suffered some minor injuries while bathing. Has heard from Mr Heywood and seen Tovey; Romilly has died. Hopes that Mitchell 'has not lost the opportunity of making interesting experiments as to the nature of physical pain'. Is learning by heart 'two awful tables of the Inequalities of the Moon's Radius Vector and Longitude'.
1 doc.

20 Aug. 1864

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Sends birthday greetings. 'I suppose you went to see [Charles] Kean, and enjoyed him very much.' Describes the measures taken by the men of Trinity to observe the meteor shower. Has been for a friendly walk with Mathison. The new Master [W. H. Thompson] has given an eagle [lectern] to the Chapel. Has been told [mistakenly] that the Prince of Wales is dead.
1 doc.

17 Nov. 1866

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Thanks her for a parcel, a cake, and some butter. Is sorry about the Valentines. Bamber has informed the Pall Mall [Gazette] of his (Clifford's) lecture[ship] at Downing, 'which is a great nuisance, as the arrangement was only a private one between me and Pike, and he may not like it'. The man who won a heat in the sports the other day was Clifford of Trinity Hall. Hopes Edie [his sister] is better. Has had a letter from Nimmo, who says that Cole is a 'brick'. Went to a concert in the schoolroom at Grantchester, and afterwards with Hudson of John's to supper at the Nimmos.. (Dated Friday.) .
1 doc.

[22 Feb. 1867?]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William Clifford. (Cambridge.) Sends birthday greetings. Has ordered a pipe for him. (Dated Saturday. For the date supplied cf. A1/9.) .
1 doc.

[16 Nov. 1867?]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford. (C/o Fräulein Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Strasse, Dresden.) The weather is hot. On Tuesday they went to the opera with some Americans called Emerson,'relatives of the great philosopher', and the next evening put on a 'grand entertainment' for everyone. The Emersons have now gone, but plenty of nice people remain, including Mr and Mrs Watts and the Skrines, as well as the people belonging to the house, 'fr. Anna von Zschüschen and Clärchen von something else'. His own party consists of the two Pollocks [Frederick and Walter], Pryor, Forrest, and himself. Tomorrow they are going to the Saxon Switzerland. On Sundays, after mass at the Hof-Kirche, they 'stroll through the picture-gallery till dinner-time...: sleep till six: keep an open-air concert till tea-time, and after that go to look at the dancing at one of the saloons. No one has yet ventured to join in, though we have been getting dancing lessons...On other days we read in the morning, German or Gymnastics in the afternoon, dance, concert, or theatre in the evening.' .
1 doc.

24 Jul. 1868

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (C/o Fräulein Kretschmer, 8 Räcknitz Strasse, Dresden.) Is glad she enjoyed Susan and Aunt Smythe's visit, but is sorry to hear of her weakness and headaches. The hot weather has prevented them from doing anything but sit on the terrace in the evening sipping iced coffee, kümmel, and vermouth. Describes Pryor and Forrest's visit to Prague and the battlefield of Sadowa. Has received her letter, but interruptions have prevented him from finishing his own: 'either Walter rushed in with some Statics to be explained, or Mrs Watts started her piano in the next room, or Dr Schier came to give a German lesson'. On Sunday Pryor took him to church; he likes Kitto, the English chaplain, very much. Since then they have been to the great Vogelwiese fair and to Saxon Switzerland again. Moss, master of Shrewsbury, has been at Dresden, and now two Oxford men and the Spottiswoodes are there. The hot weather has given him a bad habit of working all day and only going out in the evening. Has received her second letter. Gordon Wigan has come. The day before yesterday they visited a lead-mine at Freiburg. When he returns to England, in ten days or a fortnight, he will have to go straight to Cambridge for his fellowship examination. .
1 doc.

[Aug. 1868]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford. (Cambridge.) Thanks them for a bundle of Exeter papers. Supposes that Karslake and Coleridge will get in at the election. There is a Swiss at Cambridge studying Natural Science who is 'a very nice man, and a perfect gymnast'. There are six vacancies for fellowships. Fred Pollock has not come back yet and Crotch is going down for a fortnight, so there will be nothing to do in the afternoons except go to Grantchester. Will try to get a room somewhere away from College to avoid being called upon next term. Uncle McLeod and Aunt Annie, whom he met on the Metropolitan railway, said Charlie was quite well again. .
1 doc.

12 Sept. 1868

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (Cambridge.) Sends birthday greetings. Has sent her a gift of Dresden china. Is sorry to hear that Edie is unwell. .
1 doc.

16 Sept. [1868]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Sends birthday greetings. Had intended to send some photographs from Dresden, but they have not arrived yet. Congratulates him on being appointed a magistrate. 'The little holiday I was expecting [at Exeter, for the general election] has not come off; but I have had to scold several men for their bad taste in cutting my lecture to see the British Public nominate its elegant representatives.' .
1 doc.

17 Nov. 1868

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (58 Montagu Square, London.) Is very much better, and did not catch cold on the journey. Mitchell took great care of him and Walter met him at the station. He got to the diagram man just in time to prevent him spoiling the diagrams. The experiment won't 'come off', but he will repeat the lecture somewhere else in order to do it, perhaps at Cambridge. Has been consulting authorities at the Royal Institution. 'Miladi' [Lady Pollock] has written to her, but Walter may have made a mistake about posting the letter. Has got some more poppy-heads. Asks after Edie's throat, Kitty's tooth, and her own indigestion. (Dated Thursday.) .
1 doc.

[c. 1870]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William Clifford. [Cambridge.] Sends birthday greetings. Had intended to send him a gun, but it will have to wait till Christmas, as the Government has decided to send them to Gibraltar to see the eclipse after all. The expedition starts on Saturday fortnight, but he hopes to be back in time to spend Christmas with him. 'Charley Frost says he never enjoyed a day so much as that one when we went to S. Ives. When Brown gets his living he may be made to return your pocket-handkerchief.' .
1 doc.

[17 Nov. 1870?]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Came up safely but caught a cold on the journey, which was made worse by the smoking of his bedroom chimney. Miss Fison was married on Thursday. Discusses a suitable time for his parents to come up; they must do so before he leaves his rooms. Encloses photos of 'scenes from our play'.
1 doc.

[c. 15 Apr. 1871]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Thanks them for the gift of a dressing-gown. Is much better. Has been for a walk with Cayley and got through his Whewell lecture-'one of a course that Sidgwick has organized'-without ill effects, though it was much harder than his ordinary lectures. There is concern that the Lords may gain enough time to get the Tests Bill shelved again, but the Master and Appleton have given good evidence before the committee. Is sorry that his parents cannot come up, though he is keen to work on some equations. Maxwell comes to see him often and gives him ideas. Hopes they are both better. 'Kate is to stay with you when I am at home.' .
1 doc.

6 May [1871]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (14 Maryland Road, Harrow Road, [London].) Is vexed that he omitted to write to her on her birthday. 'I can't tell you how it was except that I have been worried all the time and was travelling on Saturday and Sunday.' Intends to send her a travelling trunk, but must wait till 'miladi' comes to help him choose it. Discusses his new rooms. Eberlein and the Wagners, 'all Germans and exceedingly musical', live next-door. Is going back to Cambridge till Wednesday. Thinks Crotch is starting to be sorry about going away. Asks for news from home. .
1 doc.

[18 Sept. 1871]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (Exeter.) Lucy is laid up [in London] with a severe cold and slight fever. She had a violent toothache and he took her to Fletcher, who did some good, but she will not be able to get up for two or three weeks. Relates Minnie's amusing recital of the creed. Sends congratulations to Sir Frederick [Pollock] on being made Queen's Remembrancer; 'ask him to remind her that I am going to be married and would like a nice large pension'. 'Mind you get rid of your cold and don't go to see Hamlet too often.' Has written to The Times to say that an old carriage broke down on the train he came down by, just at the time of the Oxford accident, 'merely to illustrate the practice of the railway company' [see The Times, 31 Dec., p. 7]. Will write to [John?] Morley tomorrow and tell him to apply to her. Has read more of Dozy's Histoire des musulmans d'Espagne. .
1 doc.

27 Dec. 1874

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Mary F. Clifford. (Place of writing not indicated.) They were relieved to get her letter, having been afraid that she would break down under so much trouble, especially in a foreign place. At least it is a good climate to get well in, so they will expect the best news of both her invalids, and she must take the best possible care of herself. Lucy will go to the bank tomorrow to see about the circular notes. Mr and Mrs Lane have come, just as they were going to bed, but they will probably not stay long. .
1 doc.

[1875 x 1879]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to 'Granny'. (26 Colville Road, Bayswater.) Aunt Francis [sic] died this morning. Lucy would have gone to her ('Granny') straight away, but is not fit to get up yet. Agnes and 'our baby' [Ethel or Margaret] are going to see her tomorrow. . (Dated Thursday.) .
1 doc.

[1876 or 1877]

Offprint of an obituary of W. K. Clifford, reprinted from Nature, 13 March 1879.
1 doc.

[1879]

Letter from W K Clifford to William Frederick Pollock. Trinity College, Cambridge Thanks him for the loan of Dean Stanley's speech ['The South African Controversy'], which he read with delight, and thanks Mrs Pollock for the Autocrat [at the Breakfast Table]; has been able to secure the first volume of The Guardian Angel at the Union Is likely to go to Naples, if the opportunity is still open Has received a proof of his lecture ['On Some of the Conditions of Mental Development'] .
1 doc.

13 Mar 1868

Letter from W. K. Clifford to (William) Frederick Pollock. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Thanks him for the gift of a paper-knife. Imagines a comic scene in connection with the canvassing for the University living. J. W. is shocked that Pollock went to see Frou-Frou at the Olympic [Theatre]. Is about to read Fred's article in the Spectator [a review of R. Willis's Benedict de Spinoza]. .
1 doc.

11 May [1870]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) Has at last got sight of the secretary's book [of the 'Cambridge Apostles']: the members elected since himself are J. F. Moulton, F. E. Anderson, G. H. Blakesley, C. Colbeck, M. R. Pryor, and [John] Hopkinson. Concurs with Pollock's advice as to the frequency of electing people. [Henry] Jackson and [W. E.] Currey have 'become angels' [i.e. left the Society], [H. W.] Elphinstone having apparently hinted that the former was staying on too long; [James] Stuart is now secretary. Besides Hopkinson, who 'comes in' today, they have two new men in prospect, but all are mathematicians. The last meeting was in Clifford's rooms, the question being 'wife or mistress?'. At a Congregation last Saturday Sedley Taylor proposed to raise money for a chair of physics by abolishing heads of houses.
1 doc.

[29 Oct. 1870?]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt. (9 Park Place, Hills Court, Exeter.) Thanks him for his note. Was pleased by the kind testimonial and note the Master sent him. Walter [Pollock?] is off to Bodmin tomorrow; he looks much better and seems to like being marshal. Relates an amusing story about a drunken servant. .
1 doc.

28 July 1871

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt. (26 Colville Road, Bayswater.) Sketches the seating arrangement for a proposed dinner-party, with reference to a bride and bride-groom [possibly Walter Pollock and his wife Emma, married 11 January 1876]. His wife, who is tired from going to Woolwich, has got another finger-glass from her aunt. Smut [the dog] has 'got the pip'. . (Dated Monday.) .
1 doc.

[16 Jan. 1876?]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt. (Garrison Library, Gibraltar.) Is glad to hear reports of his improved health. They have been 'happy and lazy' at Gibraltar. They abandoned a proposed excursion to Tangier today, foreseeing camels and fleas, and have not even been to see the monkeys on the rock. Has met a Monsignor [William] Clifford, who breakfasts sometimes at their hotel. Milner Gibson has turned up in a little yacht. 'He seems to have been doing so for about 50 years. He says he got the last pass of the Algerine pirates in 1830, just before the French went in.' Milner Gibson and all the foreign military and sea captains think there will be no war for twelve months, but the English officers think that the Indian contingent is to go straight to Gallipoli, and that the new housing at Malta is for some of the 1st Corps. On Thursday [25th] they start by a Cunard for Genoa, Leghorn, Naples, Patras, Corfu, and Venice. Recommends posting to Venice. (Dated Tuesday, 24 April 1878, but the 24th was a Wednesday. The reference to 'Thursday' suggests that the error is probably in the day of the month.) .
1 doc.

[23?] Apr. 1878

Postcard from W. K. Clifford to Sir (William) Frederick Pollock, Bt. (Corfu.) They have just returned from a lovely scenic drive. Comments on the character of the inhabitants.
1 doc.

18 May 1878