| Title |
Correspondence |
| Reference |
C |
| Covering Dates |
7 July 1873–30 Sep. 1880 |
| Extent and Medium |
21 letters; paper |
|
| Content and context |
|
Autograph letters from Todhunter to John Sephton. Sephton was admitted to St John's College in 1858 and graduated 5th Wrangler in the Mathematical Tripos of 1862. He was later Head Master of the Liverpool Institute (1866-89) and Reader in Icelandic at University College Liverpool (1896-1910).
From the papers of R.F. Scott (d. 1933).
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| St John's Library/Todhunter/C contains: |
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C1
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Regarding the proof of a book by Todhunter which S is reading. Has put quote from Arago on back of title-page to second volume and asks S's opinion. Discusses 'pretty variation to the old theorem' as given on p.448. Asks S to check contents, chronological list, and index for misprints. T will check references himself when away at Hunstanton. Has no doubt S enjoying himself at Llandudno.
4p + envelope; paper. |
7 July 1873 |
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C2
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Student in small college must do as other men do, and prevalence of athletic sports leaves less time for study. Would prefer St John's: it is as economical as a small college, person can choose own companions, large college is better for lectures and examinations.
3p + envelope; paper. |
16 Sep. 1873 |
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C3
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Hopes S has received copy of 4th ed. of Integral Calculus. Hopes all misprints corrected. Would be grateful for suggested improvements. Discusses S's 'very good construction for the C of G of a quadrilateral with two parallel sides'.
3p + envelope; paper. |
17 Mar. 1874 |
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C4
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. T is leaving Cambridge for Lowestoft for a month. Sorry that more progress not been made with Trigonometry and Key. S must let T know if he is going abroad. Asks S to send corresponding leaves from the Trigonometry when sending sheets of the Key so that T can easily see corrections. T has girl of 4 who refuses to be taught: 'it would be more hopeful I think to try to instruct the sphinx who sits at the base of the Egyptian pyramids'.
3p + envelope; paper. |
1 June 1874 |
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C5
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Regarding the first and second classes of continued fractions. T will ask Macmillan to send copies of Statics and Mechanics for Beginners to S. Expresses high opinion of R.A. Proctor. Has read with pleasure paper on Morals in Politics and largely agrees with author. Repeal of Corn Laws, progress towards religious equality, and passing of Contagious Diseases Act achieved by those who worked exclusively upon them and made them issues of vital significance.
8p + envelope; paper. |
13 July 1874 |
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C6
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Thanks S for notes. Has revised question 18. T has read article in Macmillans Magazine by Goldwin Smith on women's suffrage. Disagrees with argument that want of university training prevents women from producing works of same eminence as men. Cites Boole who had no university education, and Mary Somerville who had plenty of leisure time.
3p + envelope; paper. |
15 July 1874 |
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C7
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House Cambridge. S must be glad to have reached end of the Key. T has received new Trigonometry and new Mechanics for Beginners and hopes both have reached S too. Trusts Macmillan has persuaded S to read Theory of Equations which is to be reprinted. Discusses allegations of cramming for Indian examinations. Believes that under present government there will be a pause in academic reform. Has just about finished working on the Whewell papers. Thanks S for note. Hopes another impression of book will look better. Thinks they lucky in having so few mistakes.
4p + envelope; paper. |
21 Sep. 1874 |
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C8
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House Cambridge. The correction was in time for the great majority of the copies. Glad S will proof read for him. Expects it will become a book for men to 'get up'. Sorry to hear S had trouble in his school and hopes for warmer weather. Is taking son to school every morning. His son carries enormous leather bag. During play time the little boys 'can pummel each other well'. Is getting on with Whewell but it is tedious work.
4p + envelope; paper. |
23 Mar. 1875 |
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C9
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Bourne House. Sends photo of his daughter aged 5 who 'wont be teached'. Will leave on Thursday for Lowestoft.
2p + envelope; paper. |
9 Aug. 1875 |
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C10
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Glad that S and Trinity men satisfied with T's book on Whewell. Now wants to write Natural Philosophy for Beginners. Will only print first volume for present and would be glad if S would read proofs. Has written all of first volume and started second. No problem if S is away in East or in Philadelphia since T in no hurry to get the book out. Has only just written to Macmillan about it. Winter has been long and severe.
4p + envelope; paper. |
15 May 1876 |
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C11
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Glad that S can help with proposed book. Has produced a great number of examples. Has taken Arnott's Elements of Phyics as a model. Praises works by Deschanel and Wullner. T will begin seriously in July. Plan to go away to Lowestoft in June.
4p + envelope; paper. |
17 May 1876 |
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C12
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Has just sent manuscript to press. Will only have mechanics of solids and fluids in first volume. Has written sections on sound and optics for second volume but has not yet begun heat. Present government has done nothing. Uselessness of Crimean War now manifest. Pleased that S's pupils distinguishing themselves at University of London. Their examinations not to T's taste: too many subjects, too low a standard. Hope to secure the Oratorship for St John's.
4p + envelope; paper. |
29 July 1876 |
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C13
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Discusses changes suggested by S. Hopes to do double refraction well. Has become interested in the subject and has thought about undertaking large work on it. Glad Routh has found time to write prize essay. Considers private tutors as ornaments of the University, atoning for indolence of so many of the professors.
3p + envelope; paper. |
18 May 1877 |
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C14
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Glad that S will proof read for him. Young mathematicians in Cambridge are powerful mathematicians but lacking in style and culture. Will do book first then undertake the Key, for which he will read proofs once himself. Cannot omit any examples or add any unless at the end in the form of miscellaneous sets. Recent College and University papers contain many pretty mechanical problems but they too difficult for elementary book. Has studied government science papers. Asks S to look through some of them for new questions. Discusses problems of printing good shaded diagrams.
8p + envelope; paper. |
8 Dec. 1877 |
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C15
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Discusses question relating to sound and wind. Has sent Integral Calculus to press but does not expect them to hurry with it. Will be in London over Easter examining.
4p + envelope; paper. |
13 Apr. 1878 |
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C16
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Sheet of corrections has arrived. Does not know when Macmillan will publish the Key. Sheet of Integral Calculus may contain many misprints. Had good month at Lowestoft. Agrees with wish that Conservatives take foreign trip. Wishes Disraeli would make himself Duke of Cyprus and establish himself there permanently.
3p + envelope; paper. |
10 Aug. 1878 |
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C17
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Thanks for corrections. Glad S agrees with proposed changes to Mathematical Examination. Last legislation very bad and it almost universally agreed that the present system was the worst possible. Syndicate which recommended the changes composed of 17, all of whom signed the report except Routh and a pupil of his. There is strong and growing feeling that intense competition for place be diminished. Also desire that period of residence be shortened. Will soon see what Commissioners mean to do in reforming the University.
4p + envelope; paper. |
25 Nov. 1878 |
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C18
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Error in Theory of Equations has been pointed out by American of John Hopkins University, Baltimore. T has drawn up proof and asks S to check it.
3p + envelope; paper. |
27 Mar. 1880 |
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C19
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Brookside Cambridge. Wants to do a Key to Euclid. Macmillan will ask S to read the proofs. Will not stereotype it at present. T prefers to do this work over summer when there is better light. S would not find proof reading irksome. S will be sent new edition of Conics and latest issue of Euclid.
3p + envelope; paper. |
5 May 1880 |
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C20
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Lowestoft. Thanks S for paper on the Saga. Sheets of Euclid exercises should reach S today from printer. Agrees that it better to read about 'Mr Gladstone and the nationalities, than to visit these oppressed people personally'.
2p + envelope; paper. |
18 June 1880 |
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C21
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Autograph letter signed from Todhunter to Sephton, from Belle Vue Park Lowestoft. Would like the Key to his Euclid to be made to correspond with the text in the enumeration of 557. Thanks S for correction of page 310. The manuscript of the last 60 selections has been arranged by T's eldest son. Style not quite same as rest of Key but it is enough to correct errors. T's sight improves slowly but he still abstains from all work.
4p + envelope; paper. |
30 Sep. 1880 |
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