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	Correspondence between W. K. and Lucy Clifford and Frederick and Georgina Pollock.
Reference	A4
Covering Dates	1870–1878
Extent and Medium	1 file

Trinity/CLIF/A4 contains:

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Trinity College, Cambridge.) 'Here, until the 12th. It is ordained for the procreation of children, and for a godly and wholesome discipline.' Is being driven mad by having to write a large number of testimonials. Has 'killed 9 establishments and 4 baptists with Moss's story about the cockatoo who letusprayed'. Presents a Latin credo in honour of the goddess Liberty, and suggests Pollock have it set to music.
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[c. 1870]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Place of writing not indicated.) Agrees that Pollock ought to speak. 'There may . . . be a question about the wisdom of a formal engagement of great length; but it is distinctly a question in which she [presumably Georgina Deffell] ought to have a voice.' Sends some lines, 'about three years old', which were meant to begin his play Lassalle; he dropped the idea on hearing that at the time of his death Lassalle was in treaty with Bismarck, but intends to take it up again 'to shew how the prophetic spirit may ruin the holiest cause'. Discusses the terms of business of the Birkbeck Bank. He and Moulton went to see Le Roi Carotte [by Offenbach]. 'He is an exact incarnation of the Rurals.'.
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[1872]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Place of writing not indicated.) Is delighted [by the news of Pollock's engagement to Georgina Deffell]. Will tell him 'all about energy' when he comes back. Has got Mahaffy's translation of Kant [Kant's Critical Philosophy for English Readers], Grote's Aristotle, and a 'great wise lumbering silly book' by Noah Porter [The Human Intellect]. 'I think some true propositions are apparently general but are really particular judgements about our apprehensive apparatus and not about things.' Croom Robertson is going to be married to Miss Crompton. Henrici has received two mathematical dissertations Per le nozze di Camilla Brioschi, which he (C.) thinks 'an ingenious epithalamium'. 'I . . . look forward to better acquaintance with the other part of you.'.
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[1872]

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Georgina Pollock. (Belfast.) Just before he came to the British Association meeting he and Lucy went to see her parents at Worthing. Refers humorously to the manner in which he raised with her father the subject of their forthcoming marriage. Tyndall, Spencer, and Huxley were delighted with Fred's letter. This morning he, Corfield, and Atchison went to hear a lecture by Professor Jellett. Sends sympathies to Fred's legs. . (With envelope.) .
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23 Aug. 1874

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Exeter.) 'You don't say how far you have got in the mending of your legs.' Responds to Pollock's remarks on the 'Green Grosery' [Hume's Treatise on Human Nature, ed. Green and Grose (1874)], referring to writings by Appleton and Sidgwick. Lucy has been to Aberdeen to try to save her sister [Isabel] from going into an Anglican convent [St Margaret's]. Suggests that it should be illegal to persuade a woman under thirty to enter a conventual institution. Will return Pollock's 'charming bit of Rabelais' to Sir Frederick on Monday. . (Partly printed in Lectures and Essays, i. 45-6.).
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11 Sept. 1874

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (26 Colville Road, Bayswater.) Refers to certain marked passages [possibly in a paper by Pollock], and draws attention to work by Tchebichef [Chebyshev], Peaucellier, and Hart on the problem of rectilinear motion. Has nearly finished enumerating the types of compound statement with four terms [cf. his paper on this subject, 1877]. Morley has advised Huxley, who is preparing to lecture on Spinoza, to read Pollock's article on the subject. The Dutch are preparing to celebrate Spinoza's bicentenary in 1877. 'Is not a contract to find treasure by magic punishable as attempt to obtain money on false pretences? If this clearly applied to the fee of a medium and all such matters, the moral effect would be splendid.'.
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4 Oct. 1875

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (26 Colville Road, Bayswater.) Thinks Pollock [who had made a suggestion for the benefit of Clifford's health] the 'truest friend in the world', but believes that to give up his College work next term would do him more harm than good. He is already 'picked up' under Andrew Clark's regimen, and will have a clear fortnight's holiday in the country from next Wednesday, followed by five weeks' easy work in warm weather. After that they [he and Lucy] will go in a Cunard boat round the Mediterranean, then stay for the same length of time in the Pyrenees. 'If it were winter and one could get away into a warm place it would be a different thing; but I shall be as strong as a horse before the next cold weather.'.
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7 Apr. 1876

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Hôtel Central, 12 Rue des Feuillants, Marseilles.) The city is noisy, but bright and amusing. He liked Bordeaux and would like to see more of Lyons, but they only got there after dark, as the hotel-keeper at Dijon purposely made them miss their train. They were driven from Avignon by the bugs. Has recovered from an attack of constipation. Describes an expedition with Lucy to climb a hill to the west of the city. Last night he walked by the shore, but it was dusty and noisy; they will have to go to La Ciotat for 'real sea-side'. Plans to learn some Arabic and run over to Algeria. Sends a portrait [photograph] of Lucy. 'I should like much to see those married men at Cambridge.'. (With envelope.) .
1 doc.

1 June 1876

Letters from (i) Lucy Clifford to Georgina Pollock, (ii) Lucy Clifford to Frederick Pollock, and (iii) W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock, with (iv) a slip in the hand of Lucy Clifford. (Algiers.) (i) They are delighted by the news [of the birth of Isabel Alice Pollock]. Is eager to see the baby and hear more about it. 'We must have a grand meeting of our babies when we come home.' Commends the choice of name. Has written to tell Ethel [her own baby]. (ii) Congratulates him. Asks him to pay in [to the bank] any money he has for them. Willi is certainly better. They have done a great deal of sailing and driving, which he has enjoyed. (iii) 'Nous voici enfin les deux compères.' Asks after the baby and her mother, and commends the choice of name. 'We must come to an understanding with the Moultons [W. F. and Hannah?] about primary education. She has been marvellously successful with her children.' Has a scheme of his own-part of which he has communicated to Macmillan-based on Pleasant Pages [by S. Prout Newcombe (1851-3)], 'a series of ten-minutes' lessons on the Pestalozzian plan'. Suggests that the book should be brought up to date and taught 'on the Russian system, in different languages on successive days', and outlines ideas for the publication of cheap editions of works of English literature and schoolbooks on various subjects. Will write to Milady [Lady Pollock] an account of their adventures at Bougie and Sètif. 'Herein I have only been apostolic, moved by your account of the gathering [the Conference of Liberal Thinkers at South Place Chapel?].'. (iv) They leave for Oran on Thursday, then sail for Gibraltar on the 2nd and take the first steamer from there to Malaga. After a few days there they will probably go to Granada. Willi intends to write to Lady Pollock. (With envelope. (iii) partly printed in Lectures and Essays, i. 46-7.) .
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26 June 1876

Letter from W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock. (Malaga.) As a result of being stranded at sea, his 'poor child' [Lucy] was sick and they missed their intended boat from Almeria. The Pall Mall Budget was welcome, and an Englishman has got him into the Círculo Malagueño, a 'decent' club which has a good many papers. Discusses Greenwood's remarks on Clémenceau and the 'religious irreconcileables', and the current political climate in France generally, with reference to his own experiences there. 'As for this country, I think it requires to be colonized by the white man. The savages would gradually die out in his presence. One sees here how God makes man through the instrumentality of his Holy Church, when He gets him all to Himself for some centuries . . . . The mark of a degraded race is clear upon their faces.' Gives examples from his own experience of the dishonesty of Spaniards. 'How would it do to add Hungary and German Austria to Germany, and make Austria into a Slav state with capital at Constantinople? The Hungarian free-thinkers would balance the Austrian ultramontanes, and Russia would be well out of it.'. (Partly printed in Lectures and Essays, i. 58-9.) .
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15 July 1876

Letters from (i) W. K. Clifford to [Frederick Pollock], 3 August 1876, and (ii) Lucy Clifford to Georgina Pollock, 4 August 1876. (i) (Washington Irving Hotel, Granada.) Agrees that one ought not to despair of the republic; the Spanish people are 'kind and rather pleasant when one is en rapport with them'. Recalls the kindness of an old couple they met at Almeria. Wilkinson, the British consul at Malaga, who has been at Granada with his wife and daughter, says that the country people are better than those in the towns. Describes a case of murder which took place near the hotel, and discusses the prevalence of violence in the province as a whole, as well as the inhabitants' behaviour towards strangers. It is expected that there will be a revolution soon. 'The Queen will be at Santander before you get this, so that Alfonso may be shot before we are out of the country.' Hopes that if Castelar returns to power he will stop post-office officials stealing letters for the sake of the stamps. They are very happy in their present situation. Expresses qualified admiration for the Alhambra. 'Will Marcus Aurelius be out in September? I wish you had been going to lecture for Domville on Spinoza.' Suggests that Pollock make a new translation [of Spinoza] for the bicentenary, and let him (Clifford) contribute a short dissertation on 'modes' and modern ontology. Is glad that they [Pollock and his family] are going to Devon. (ii) (Hotel Washington Irving, Granada.) They leave for Cordova on the 15th, then, after a day or two, go on to Alicante and Barcelona. 'They will be delighted to see you at Exeter & Alice will receive much attention.' They are very happy at Granada and 'quite mad about everything Moorish'. Reassures her about Alice's nose. Hopes that she will enjoy Clovelly. Is anxious to know how Ethel looks. . (With envelope. (i) partly printed in Lectures and Essays, i. 59-63.) .
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3–4 Aug. 1876

Letter from Georgina Pollock to Lucy Clifford. (24 Bryanston Street, [London].) Has received her letters from Malta and Genoa. They were thankful that Malta seemed to suit Willi. Hopes that she has recovered from her accident, and that they had a quiet journey to Lugano and will soon be comfortable at Monte Generoso. Dr Clark and Dr Beatty think it would be imprudent for Willi to return to England at present. She and Fred propose to come and join the Cliffords, and she thinks of bringing the children too. They have been staying with Mrs Ritchie near Windsor; they [Anne and R. T. W. Ritchie] and the Douglas Freshfields are thinking of going to the Riederalp, where they will be near the Tyndalls. The W. Colliers are in London and ask after them [the Cliffords]. They [the Pollocks] are presently entertaining some Dutch people. Refers to Walter's lecture at the R[oyal] I[institution]. 'They [Walter and Emma Pollock] went to St Julians for their holiday & the parents are in Paris.' Tomorrow they are going to the R.I. to hear Professor Dewar on the liquefaction of gases. There will be an article in next month's Mind on 'An Infant's Progress in Language', 'i.e. Alice's, done by her dada'..
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13 June 1878

Letters from (i) W. K. Clifford to Frederick Pollock, and (ii) from Lucy Clifford to Frederick and Georgina Pollock. (i) (Monte Generoso, [Mendrisio, Switzerland].) Monte Generoso is cold and damp. They travelled from Malta to Genoa aboard a 'Fraysinet'(?), then by train to Milan. For part of this journey they were taken care of by Major Dudley North, aide-de-camp to the late Governor of Malta, and 'Mr Magistrate-and-Collector Sharpe', an 'old maid' on his way home from India. They did not see Brioschi at Milan, as he was at Rome. Describes their journey up from Mendrisio, he being carried in a chair, Lucy riding on a mule. Addington Symonds has just been at the hotel for a month, and benefited greatly. Has just received Pollock's letter and is delighted by the prospect it holds out. 'I saw a proof of [P. G.] Tait's review which Macmillans sent me—I would rather Clerk Maxwell had done it, because he has more than one idea; Tait divides all mathematical books into those which are friendly or not friendly to the study of quaternions.' He and Tait, however, have always been on good terms; his own review of Tait and Balfour Stewart's The Unseen Universe was entirely complimentary to the authors, the book being merely 'a peg on which to hang shots at other things'. 'I am very much better for the news from Belgium, and hope it has given all the cardinals the stomach-ache. The torpedo is protected from sardines: he carries an oil-box in which he packs them when captured, and in this way he pays his way.'. (ii) [Monte Generoso, Mendrisio, Switzerland.] Complains of the cold. Addington Symonds, who was at the hotel for some weeks, has now gone to 'a still higher & colder place'. Willi is no worse than he was at Como. He was tired and ill getting from there to Mendrisio, but when he got to Switzerland he said he felt better for being on republican soil. Yesterday a man introduced a party of people to her husband with great ceremony. 'We think he may have been Cook's agent & may charge his folk a little more for having introduced them to a first class Atheist.'.
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16 June 1878

Letter from Georgina Pollock to Lucy and W. K. Clifford. (24 Bryanston Street, [London].) Thanks them for the necklace they sent Alice. Has received Lucy's card from Lugano. Hopes Monte Generoso will suit Willi. Fred will send them the Pall Mall Budget. Repeats her suggestion of bringing the children to see them. Mr Roberts of the Mint, whom they saw at the R[oyal] I[nstitution], spoke affectionately of the Cliffords' children. Mrs Huxley and Madge have gone to the seaside and the others are well. Discusses Alice's birthday presents and her behaviour on the occasion. .
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17 June 1878