| Description | <p>Manuscript. Letters found divided between three folders, which are further sub-divided into bundles covering narrower date ranges. The letters have been described below in these groups.</p>
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<p>Letters covering 1868-1873, on Karl's trip to Ostend, his first visit to Mr Gee's, on Oxford winning the boat race, news of "Bobby" the bird and Arthur before he leaves for Rugby School, urging Karl to be kind to his aunt Annie White, Arthur's illness and nursing, implores Karl not to overdo exercise, on correcting Karl's spelling, about his father William's workload, on Karl's visit to Uncle Tom with his father, on Karl's visit to Mr Gee (c1870) and being joined by Arthur, asking Karl to improve physically and mentally whilst at Gee's, not to take tea late at night, on her getting vaccinated, on redecoration at 40 Mecklenburg Square, on Karl's illness in Spring 1873 prior to having to leave school [University College School], on Pollie Twiss' wedding, on illness and treatment of their parrot "Dicky", on disappointment at the flower show and missing the visit of the Shah, on Karl's visit to Whalley with Uncle George and Aunt Lizzie and his trip to Scotland with Arthur and Mr Jackson.</p>
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<p>Letters covering 30 September 1873 to 18 July 1874, on Karl's troubles settling in [at school?], on need for her and Arthur to wear spectacles, about Karl's considering leaving Hitchin and sitting exams for scholarship, on patterns for Karl's new suit and possibility of Uncle White taking on his aviary, on Karl's stay with the Hensleys and his belief that they dislike him, on lingering neuralgia and Karl joining the Mechanics Institute at Hitchin, on death of Mr Cottam, on William's poor mood on returning from work, on Karl visiting Arthur at Cambridge, on William becoming a Q.C. and her religious views, on involvement in cab accident on returning from Dalston Hall, enclosing a letter from Arthur about the accident (also mentions his going for scholarship at end of first year at Cambridge), on Karl's good exam results, William not attending the levée, on William's unbearable behaviour, and on Karl leaving the Hensleys to go to Cambridge.</p>
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<p>Letters covering 1874 to 1875, asking after Karl's domestic arrangements at Cambridge, on being confined to the house and not seeing anyone, on her joint pain particularly in the legs, on the death of Mrs Gee, ongoing disagreement between Arthur and William, on first visit to new home in Queensborough Terrace and moving in (May 1875), on Karl getting a scholarship [possibly at King's College, Cambridge], about trip to Brussels with Amy, Arthur and William, and Arthur joining them at Ostend.</p>
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<p>Letters covering October 1875 to June 1878, the period of Karl's studies at Cambridge, on Karl starting scholarship at King's College and efforts to be more sociable, house at Queensborough Terrace being unsatisfactory, on waiting for Karl to visit to see "Lohengrin" and "Tannhäuser", Karl admitted a member of the Inner Temple in October 1876, Arthur leaves Cambridge, on Karl's Divinity exam, Amy taken to the last concert at the Floral Hall, Covent Garden (enclosing programme), on Arthur's serious illness, references to "Divinity Revolt", on Oscar Browning's letter about Karl, on arranging entertainment and care of all visitors [around March 1878], on Karl's 21st birthday, and on reading in <i>The Times</i> of Karl's first prize at Cambridge.</p>
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<p>Letters covering November 1879 to March 1880, on Karl's decision to go to the bar and whether it suits him, enclosing letters from Lizzie Taylor and John Taylor, and letters to Karl in Germany, and detailing presents for Amy and Ernest's wedding.</p>
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<p>Letters covering July 1881 to December 1882, criticising Karl's unfinished MS of "The Trinity" (his passion play), on exchange of photographs with Robert Parker, deaths of Kate Patrick and Isabel Grant, on Karl's life in Heidelburg, enclosing a letter from Robert Parker about meeting Karl in Zermatt, visit of cousins Bell and Conrad Thies, on Karl's return from Saig and the effect of isolation on his mood, on Karl's move into Harcourt Buildings, sympathising with Karl's cold and news of Arthur's depression, on Karl's completion of <i>The Trinity: A nineteenth century passion play</i>, the death of William's mother, telegrams on the death of Annie Pearson, Karl lecturing at King's College and their "antagonism" towards him, and enclosing letters from Arthur in Germany.</p>
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<p>Letters covering January 1883 to November 1884, on domestic matters, enclosing letter from Arthur about Mr Gee's wedding, on Karl's trip to Sheffield for a job interview, on Karl's trip to Tyrol with the Thicknesses, on the death of Uncle Jake (James Wharton Smith), on a trip to Moffat and Karl's arrival there, and on contention over a sum of money for Arthur and Amy Gertrude Willmott's (called "May" in correspondence) marriage.</p>
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<p>Letters covering March 1885 to December 1886, on Maud Patrick's taking up nursing at Westminster Hospital (encloses Maud's letter), on concerns about Arthur's marriage, asking Karl to give further thought to decision to give up his work completing Todhunter's book on elasticity, on Arthur and May's return from honeymoon, on Karl's lecture to the Ethical Society and to be wary of Stepniak, on May's character, on Karl's planned six month holiday, the death of Henry Bradshaw, on looking at a flat on the South Bank for Karl, on Karl's trip to Tyrol with W H Macauley, on plans to go to Switzerland with Arthur and May, asking Karl not to get involved to closely with Stepniak and Kropolkin and their "revolutionary ideas", looking at houses in Hampstead for Karl, and enclosing letters from Arthur on his illness.</p>
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<p>Letters coverng February 1887 to December 1889, on concerns about William's Will, her belief that William intends to move out of their home at "The Gables", further correspondence about houses including enclosed letter from Amy on the subject, on Karl's news of his impending engagement, his caution on the matter, and his apparent cruel treatment over the proposal, and advising Karl to get a job in new surroundings.</p>
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<p>Letters covering June 1890 to March 1900, about asking Karl to invite Arthur to the wedding, to Karl at Castlerigg with G Udny Yule, visits of Maria Pearson and the children, and on cousin Jack (Kittick's) illness enclosing his letter about reading Karl's book <i>Chances of Death</i>.</p>
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<p>Letters covering 1901 to 1905, wishing Karl good health and happiness, about concern for Amy's health, on her painful eyes, and a final letter dated 25 March 1905, possibly the last letter Fanny sent to Karl before her death in August.</p> |
| CustodialHistory | The letters for the period 1875-1878 were originally sub-divided into three further packets which were separately labelled with lists of their contents, prior to the re-arrangement of the correspondence by correspondent name. The note explaining arrangement and the contents lists have been kept with the letters. |