My dear [name erased] I am sending you Keightley by this post, I must ask Macmillan to send you Pearson as I have only got a Mudie’s copy here – I think I shall go to Brighstone in Whitsunweek, when I would try to get to Bonchurch to see you

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Anne Thank you for taking all my impertinence so kindly. I hope you will not be very angry with me for being highly delighted with Mary Coleridge’s prospects, and not even pitying Alethea so much as Cordelia Colborne, for you must remember that Mary will live very near home and the sisters may see each other every day of their lives, and for Mary’s youth, she is much older at twenty, than many people ... continue reading

My dear Alice, I hope George is feeling the freshness of these nice cool days, and Mrs. Moberly is contented and happy without the babies, who by Mary and Edith's account must be very funny, especially Edward. What a pleasure it will be to see George at Winchester again, and to hear of all your doings, by which I hope ‘The Daisy Chain’ will profit, as it has a Commemoration in it. ‘Cleve Hall’ ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, You will think that this is to announce the Simeons but there is no news of them all this time, and the hyacinths are blowing for them in vain in their bay window at Winchester.

My present purpose is to pass on to you a question which a correspondent of mine - a clergyman’s wife in Cornwall - has sent me on the principle of a delusion of which I have known other ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I have been so much taken up that I could not answer your letter sooner, and thank you for the way you have taken it. I am amused at the ordeal you are undergoing. I never met with anything like it, except once, when going with a cousin to luncheon with a connection of hers, she was addressed with ‘Anne, why could you have lent us Abbeychurch. Those games! And that mother!’ ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, Miss Cleveland did not put her direction in full so that I must ask you to be so kind as to enclose this note to her. I am afraid people would have an over dose of America if I put in both journals together and I don’t think the contrast would be so much in favour of the North as she thinks, since these holiday makings, so pleasantly described are not quite ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, This is a quick fire upon a busy man, but there are two or three things to say, and first that Mme de Witt has written to say that the Christian Names have not reached her, and asking whether you have sent them through any Paris bibliothèque where they could be enquired for. I also enclose a direction to which I should like to send a copy of the Golden Deeds. It ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan It does not seem after my last letter that this is the moment to write to you about a fresh plan, but this is a matter that Miss Sewell and I talked over together last winter, and which has been waiting since for her to have time to give her mind to it. I send her letter to speak for itself. You know she has for many years taken girl pupils to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Any idea of a book that commended itself to you and Miss Sewell as adapted to girls reading must be a good idea. Also my sister-in-law to whom I have mentioned the idea & also shown your letter seems greatly pleased with it. To myself I am afraid that besides the obvious difficulty which Miss Sewell perceives of getting it in due company, there is another which has put itself before me ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Thank you for your note. Miss Sewell is coming here to talk the matter over, and sketch our plans next Wednesday week and then I will write again

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Miss Yonge I am sure that when Miss Sewell and yourself meet you will divide the history as it will be best. I only venture to say that it has struck me more & more, as I thought of it that divisions of the History, such as seemed called for should be made as far as possible according to Spiritual or Vital Articulation not by a mere arbitrary division of reigns or countries. I have ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Somehow my direction book has been faithless and I have missed Mr Masson’s address, so I am sending the new chapters of Dove etc. direct to you. I am afraid the story may be thought to flag a little just here, but I could not help it, and there is plenty of incident to come after the next division.

I think Miss Sewell’s idea was to divide by periods. I think I should ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge The M S. has come all right. Sending as early as - I am thankful indeed you do, to address him here is the simplest way. His private address is 2 Newton Villas Finchley New Road. N.W.

I shall be very glad to hear about the result of your conference with Miss Sewell. My only feeling in the suggestion I made re - Montfort was that each volume - supposing it is found ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I think Miss Sewell and I pretty well came to this conclusion that the first of our periods should begin with William the Conqueror and end with the absolution of King John, so as to make its leading idea the great strife for supremacy between Church and State. I believe we have plenty of materials for a volume. She under takes the compilation of the materials, and I am to write the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Your scheme as decided by Miss Sewell and yourself seems to me very admirable. The one question is the compactness and vivid unity, which will be hard rather in an [illegible] such as you propose. But with artists like yourself [and] Miss Sewell there should be no difficulty[.] the thing ought to be very interesting indeed.

I have read all the Prince and the Page down to the present month. I think it ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, I have meant to write to you for a long time past, but you know how one’s good intentions fail one when one is holiday making. However my holiday comes to an end tomorrow, and I hope to be heartily at work again next week. Meantime, I ought to have long ago confessed that it was all a delusion of mine about that Lanfranc article. John Coleridge had meant to write one, ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, I ought to have answered you long ago that I am very glad that you are as Hampshire people say 'tackling' that beginning of mine

I suppose Carter’s history was the other authority for Hereward that I proposed, I have however a great mind for Thierry, as the place where I fell in love with him first. Perhaps I had better send you the book, or shall I translate it, I think I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Can you tell me how far back in time the reservation of the right of translation goes-? There is a pretty story of Paul Feval’s in the Feé des Grèves which my mother translated, and I want to have in the Monthly Packet. It was printed in 1853, and is out of print in France, and there is no notice of reservation of translation in the title page - however by way of ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, We - ie Miss Sewell and I - send off by train today the first section of our extracts for your inspection. They are intended to cover the reigns of Williams I & II, exclusive of the first Crusade - which is to class in with the other crusades in the next division. There is a list in the pencil of the Authors and subjects, we took long pieces because there is ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, These Germans to whom I engaged that they should have early sheets and translate the Chaplet of Pearls now want me to have it copied for them at once, a thing I am not inclined for, but if you can at all tell me when it is likely to begin, I should know how to answer them. I am not in haste on my own account only I want to know what ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell My senses have returned for thinking and writing indeed for anything but walking. It seems to me that we might settle a great deal in a June council, Mary Coleridge is to be here for a week at the beginning of the month otherwise we are quite clear. I will send you Freeman tomorrow. It seems to me that his first seven pages, with perhaps his 4th chapter abridged would be very ... continue reading

My dear Edith, I enclose the sum due to you for the Gates of Paradise. You cannot think how much they are liked, and by people whose opinion I care very much about. I have only had one objection and that from a lady whom I do not consider the judge she thinks herself. Do you not think you could manage some day to come and stay with us, we should get so much better acquainted ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I believe the childish form does not last, it is always cramping and a scratch of the pen will alter it where it prevails.

I was sorry afterwards I had not mentioned St John being recognised by his former pupil, the captain of the robbers, when he went out to be taken by him. It would be a fine subject for expression, and I wonder it has never been taken before. I believe I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send up the two next chapters of St John, in case it should be convenient to show Mr Armitage the description of the scene with the Robber. Do you mean to have vignettes? If you do the cup with the serpent should come at the end of the last chapter I send you, and the one I am writing now should have the golden candlestick, I should try for Diana for the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Miss Sewell tells me you are going to America. Should you go to Philadelphia, and if so would it be very troublesome to take charge of a roll of paper containing an illumination that cannot be trusted by post?

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Miss Yonge I have sent the description to Mr Armitage, who I am sure will be very glad to have it.

About vignettes I am rather uncertain. They are very dangerous. Anything short of high excellence is apt to be commonplace and conventional. The cup with the serpent dos not commend itself to me quite. I am afraid I have not much taste for arbitrary symbolism - meanings in fact I do like and in words.

However ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Thanks for your latest letter. I will have the setting up of the Epistle seen to at once.

Indeed you are a valuable ally for us, in our scheme. The man after all is never very far from the Child, and however much we learn we cannot unlearn what is worth all the learning in the world, the common humanity the recognition and expression of which in words is what we call ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, How do you like the enclosed pages & title page? Will you kindly consult Miss Sewell, the first title was her suggestion. I am [illegible] home at the [illegible]

Yours very truly A. Macmillan

Dear Miss Yonge, I have sent on to Miss Sewell Mr Pearson’s book. Could you tell me how much - how many pages - you want to use. I think I may have an opportunity of seeing him soon. He is not likely to refuse.

The story of the Hermits(?) is really wonderful. I cannot tell you how that of Anthony [illegible] me. What moral pictures there must have been there.

I am urging the printers to ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan We are rather disturbed at the delay in printing the Historical Selections as Miss Sewell cannot do any corrections after the end of June, and as she has all the books and has looked out all the selections I could not supply her place.

I suppose the printers are postponing it to something more interesting, but if they cannot go on at once and finish at the end of June it would be convenient ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Miss Sewell is in want of a volume of Milmans Latin Christianity which the London Library does not send. She will write to you which it is and perhaps you could kindly cause it to be sent to her. I cant think what Clay meant by our delaying the proofs for we had never done so.

I have never had any of Heartsease to put the headings to the pages.

Yours sincerely C M ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge, I send you the first copy of the Cameos which has been bound. It has been delayed about that title page, in which I wanted to produce a cameo effect, [illegible] that may be. The book I am sure is a charming book and we tried to give it an adequate dress.

I think Clay is making better progress with the Selections. Miss Sewell seems satisfied. I have never I think spoken of ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan Thanks for the cheque and for the proposal about the Historical selections. I am sending it on to Miss Sewell to see whether she consents, it is what I myself should prefer, thinking joint accounts would be troublesome. The Cameo looks exceedingly well and gives an uncommon appearance. I should like a copy to be sent to the Dean of Chichester and one to Madame de Witt. To other friends I think ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, I was so hurried that I could not go to Macmillan yesterday so I am writing.

I have done the notes - the Joyeuse Garde beats both Mary Coleridge and me, we both thought it a real castle on the Seine - and never heard of its being an Order.

Michaud’s Histoire de Croisades has almost exactly the same about Simeon & his persecutions as Milman, and I dont know where to find more ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, I was from home when your note about Index & Miss Sewell’s suggestion of a chronological table came to hand. But I have not been neglecting the suggestion. We are having a set of proofs made & shall put them into the hands of a competent person and submit the proofs to you.

With regard to announcing volume 3 [Next few lines illegible] the printers want something to do [illegible] and long and ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, I am afraid I have been guilty of a misunderstanding, and of leading Miss Sewell into one, but I thought we were to have £200 for the copyright of the Historical Selections, and I must say I think it is hardly compensation for all the trouble it has given. Miss Sewell has connection enough to secure it a good sale as a school book and we should be quite willing to take ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell I think you will like to see what the Literary Churchman says of our performance but please return it

yours sincerely C M Yonge

Do you know anyone who would like one of these photos I am selling them towards the school at Eastleigh

My dear Mrs Johns, Thank you for your kind invitation but I never know how to get out early enough for a one o’clock luncheon. Helen’s lessons last me till half past eleven, and if I do not work from that time till two, I can get nothing done, and as I am going from home the week after next, I am more hurried than is convenient, so that I cannot well spare the morning hours. ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell (What a horrible pen) We shall be very glad to see you whenever you can come to us in the autumn. We have no engagement in the way. I will try to get the life of St Bernard – but the London Library but I cannot say it is better than other libraries for the ease of getting books. wonder if he is among Lamartine’s biographies some of which are telling, ... continue reading

My dear Miss [name deliberately obscured] I hope I am not tormenting you but on account of other engagements I am anxious to know whether you could come this week or next. The week that begins with the 7th and has Ash Wednesday in it, I am going to spend at Mr Wilson’s but the one after that I shall be at home again if that suited you better than within the next fortnight

yours sincerely C M ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell I have quite vanity enough to feel flattered, as long as I am out of the way of looking foolish - and the photograph will be a pleasant possession. I shall keep the M to stick under it. I wish they had found you out at Turin, for it would have been a very pleasant experience i.e. when it was over. I have written you a note for shew as well as ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, Here is a demand from the London library for you. I hope you have done with the book.

The weather shews that you were wise. I hope to see you as soon as it looks more mild

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan I agree with Miss Sewell as to the alteration, otherwise it will do very nicely. I hope to be at home on the 1st or 2nd of June

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan, Have you made any arrangements with American publishers about my Scripture Readings? I think I might perhaps do so, but I should like first to know whether you have any views.

Miss Sewell is very anxious to know when the selections are to come.

I suspect you are from home.

Yours truly C M Yonge

My dear Mr. Butler I have two kind letters to thank you for, first about the T and secondly about the war - I wish the authority for the former was more direct and conclusive, it is so very beautiful.

The Monthly Packet of October will be quite German enough to please you, having the journal of a lady at Homburg and a translation by Miss Sewell of 'Der Wacht am Rhein', but I confess that I ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, Would you mind my changing the time of your proposed session to the later day you had fixed. I am asked to spend a day or two at Mr Portal’s to meet the Bishop on the 10th, and that is a thing I should like so much to do that I venture to ask you to change the day. The week after I go to Miss Dyson.

I think you said ... continue reading

All right. M sends them to me for nothing. You shall have them. Has he sent you the Scripture Readings

C M Y

My dear Miss Sewell, Will Friday the 21st suit you for my coming for a conference? If you think there is any thing for me to bring let me know before Wednesday. I am going, I believe, to New College on the 31st, so that I can take anything for you.

I don’t like to give up the French spelling of the names, I don’t think Count of is a parallel, since that is translated, but I ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell I think I can make room for your two papers in November and December, having pretty well got over what choked me up at the beginning of the month.

I ought to have written before and I am sorry I did not.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Miss Sewell What do you say to the name, and the page—as we have in the 1st Crusade, shall you have Gibbon’s first Crusaders at Constantinople.

(N.B.—Gibbon did not blunder about the Athanasian Creed, but the American Church was not in his time.)

And is Anselm to come in.

I have sent for the introduction to re write [sic] it.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mr Freeman, I think I was misled by the love of Vercingetorix, also of Sidonius Apollinarius whom I have admired ever since I met with him in Guizot, but I think I had better make a fresh start leaving all the Romans and Franks to be read in your history and starting with the Counts of Paris for my thread, and only making a short resumé to shew what material they came in upon. ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell,

There is only one chapter of Heartsease a conversation. It was privately printed twice, and now people are always asking for it, so I am going to put it into the June Monthly Packet though I do not think it is at all worth all the curiosity about it

The publisher sent me Miss Owen’s book just in time for me to answer a person who wrote to enquire whether the chapters were ... continue reading

My dear Miss [Sewell]

Many thanks for your Revolution which looks very entertaining, though I have not thoroughly encountered its curling propensities and as you may suppose, I trust you! I shall be glad to have your further papers in the next year. They always tell.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Elizabeth

I have often meant to write and say how much your Buxton book helped me in the descriptions of the place, though I had to construct it a good deal from my own consciousness- Queen Elizabeth’s looking down the assassin is perfectly true - I should have not have dared to write– if I could have imagined– anything so improbable as poor Babington having that picture taken, and Gifford’s shewing it ... continue reading