THE UNION BANK OF LONDON (Chancery Lane Branch) IN ACCOUNT WITH ST. GEORGE’S FUND.

Dr. Cr.
1876. £ s. d. 1876. £ s. d.
Jan. 1. To Balance 14 1 10 Feb. 22. By Charges on two local notes 0 0 10
Jan. 6. To,, Dividend on £8000 Consols 119 0 0 Feb. 25. By,, Postage of Pass Book 0 0 3
Jan. 13. To,, Geo. Allen 24 11 1 March 3. By,, John Ruskin, Esq. 300 0 0
Feb. 15. To,, John Ruskin, Esq. 25 0 0
Feb. 15. To,, Draft at Sheffield 8 0 0
Feb. 15. To,, Draft,, at,, Ambleside 6 0 0
Feb. 15. To,, Draft,, at,, Bridgwater 100 0 0
Feb. 15. To,, Draft,, at,, Birmingham 5 0 0
Feb. 22. To,, Cash 35 0 0
March 4. To,, Draft at Windsor 20 0 0
March 7. To,, Cash 25 0 0
March 7. To,, Draft at Oxford 50 0 0
March 14. To,, Cash 6 0 0
March 14. To,, Draft at Sheffield 20 0 0 March 15. By Balance 157 11 10
£457 12 11 £457 12 11
1876. £ s. d.
March 15. To Balance 157 11 10

[[129]]

Subscription List.

To March 14th of this Year.

£ s. d.
Total in Fors of February 741 14 10
(Corrections received note of.)
No. 8. Additional 40 0 0
No.,, 26. Additional,, 1 5 0
No.,, 38. Subscriptions 1875, 1876 2 2 0
785 1 10

Now continuing the list.

No. 55. J. W. 50 0 0
No.,, 56. The mother of the first donor of land to St. George 100 0 0
No.,, 57. The Curator of our Museum 8 0 0
No.,, 58. B. A., Subscription, 1876 3 0 0
No.,, 59. J. T. S. 50 0 0
No.,, 60. E. L. 20 0 0
No.,, 61. S. I. 2 0 0
No.,, 62. R. R. 5 0 0
No.,, 63. L. L. 0 10 0
1023 11 10
Cash paid in 977 12 1
Balance in my hands 45 19 9

The sum in my hands, thus amounting to £ 845 19s. 9d., has been distributed as follows:—

£ s. d.
Purchase of land and house at Sheffield 600 0 0
Henry Swan—Two quarters’ salary to 31st March, 1876 20 0 0
Expenses of repair, Sheffield 41 0 0
Prints (Colnaghi). See November Fors 29 10 0
Messrs. Tarrant and Mackrell, 29th December, 1876
£20 17 5
26 15 11— 47 13 4
Balance in my hands 106 16 5
£845 19 9

[[130]]

Messrs. Tarrant and Mackrell’s accounts follow. I had an offer from Sheffield to do this legal work for nothing; but I wanted to be sure that everything was in due form, and I can trust this London firm. My very good friend Mr. Tarrant must, however, pardon my pointing out to him how much more pleasantly, for all parties, he might be employed, as suggested in Fors XVI., pages 10 and 11, than in taxing this transfer of property to the amount of nearly fifty pounds—(seven pounds odd worth of letters merely). For, were the members of the legal profession employed generally in illuminating initials, and so got out of our way, and the lands of the country properly surveyed and fenced, all that would be really needful for the sale of any portion of them by anybody to anybody else, would be the entry in a roll recording the tenure of so many square miles round each principal town. “The piece of land hitherto belonging to A B, is this day sold to and henceforward belongs to C D, whereof we (city magistrate and a head of any county family) are witnesses.”

THE ST. GEORGE’S COMPANY,
To TARRANT & MACKRELL,

Costs of Purchase of Freehold Land and Messuage in Bell Hagg Road, Sheffield.

1875.
Sept. 20. £ s. d.
On receipt of letters from Messrs. Webster, and from Mr. Ruskin, as to purchase ofland and a house at Sheffield, writing Messrs. Webster, the vendor’s solicitors, tosend us contract 0 5 0
Writing Mr. Ruskin as to amount of purchase money, he having stated it to be £600,and Messrs. Webster £630 0 3 6
Oct. 4.
On receipt of draft contract for approval from Messrs. Webster, with abstract of titlefor inspection, looking through abstract, when we found it would be necessary to havea copy of plan on deed of 1st May, 1857, and an [[131]]abstract of the Rivelin View Society’s Deed of Covenants, before investigating thetitle, or approving contract 0 13 4
Writing Messrs. Webster accordingly 0 5 0
Copy contract to keep, fo. 15 0 5 0
Oct. 11.
Perusing abstract of title, nine sheets 1 0 0
Perusing the Rivelin View Company’s Deed of Covenants, four sheets 0 10 0
Perusing and approving draft contract 0 6 8
Writing vendor’s solicitors with contract approved and thereon, and for plan whichthey had omitted to send 0 5 0
Oct. 13.
Writing Messrs. Webster, acknowledging letter approving of our alterations in contract,and asking for plan which they had omitted to send, although in their letter theystated it was enclosed 0 5 0
Engrossing one part of the contract for signature of Mr. Ruskin, and paid stamp thereon0 10 6
Drawing plan thereon 0 7 6
Writing Mr. Ruskin, with contract for his signature, and fully thereon, and as tothe contents of the Rivelin View Society’s Deed of Covenants, and as to Trustees ofthe Company to whom the property might be conveyed, and for cheque for £60 for deposit0 5 0
Oct. 18.
On receipt of letter from Mr. Ruskin with contract signed and cheque for deposit,writing him acknowledging receipt 0 3 6
Writing with appointment to exchange contracts and pay deposit 0 3 6
Attending exchanging contracts, and paying deposit 0 6 8
Oct. 19.
Writing our agents at Sheffield (Messrs. Broomhead and Co.) with abstract of titleto examine, with deeds, and instructing them 0 5 0
Oct. 20.
Writing vendor’s solicitors that contract exchanged and deposit paid to their Londonagent, and as to examination of title deeds 0 5 0 [[132]]
Oct. 21.
On receipt of abstract from Messrs. Broomhead and Co., with remarks on title, writingthem to examine probate of H. Norton’s will in hands of Messrs. Tattershall, and onsubject of duties, etc., under that will, and returning abstract to them 0 3 6
Oct. 23.
Attending perusing conditions of sale under which Mr. Bagshawe bought the propertybefore drawing requisitions on title 0 6 8
Oct. 29.
Drawing requisitions and copy 0 10 0
Writing vendor’s solicitors therewith 0 3 6
Nov. 5.
Instructions for deed of conveyance 0 6 8
Drawing same, fo. 16 0 16 0
Fair copy for perusal 0 5 4
Writing Messrs. Webster therewith and fully thereon 0 5 0
Nov. 10.
Engrossing conveyance 0 13 4
Paid parchment 0 5 0
Writing Mr. Ruskin on subject of completion, and for cheque for £540 balance of purchasemoney, and with consent to be signed by him to conveyance being taken to the RightHon. W. C. Temple and Sir T. D. Acland as Trustees for the Company, Mr. Ruskin havingentered into the contract 0 5 0
Writing vendor’s solicitors, with engrossment for examination, and fully thereon0 5 0
Writing Messrs. Broomhead, our agents, instructing them to make proper searches inthe Land Registry at Wakefield, and as to completion of purchase 0 3 6
Nov. 12.
Writing our agents at Sheffield, with cheque for £540 purchase money, and very fullyas to registering deed of conveyance, searches, and settling 0 5 0
Writing Mr. Ruskin acknowledging receipt of his two letters, with two cheques for,together, £540 0 3 6 [[133]]
Nov. 15.
Attending examining certificates of searches, with abstract, when we found same satisfactory0 6 8
Nov. 16.
On receipt of conveyance executed by the vendor and his mortgagee, attending stamping,and afterwards, for same 0 6 8
Paid stamp 3 0 0
Writing our agents, with stamped deed conveyance for registration, and fully thereon0 3 6
Nov. 22.
Making schedule of documents received from agents (Messrs. Broomhead), and writingthem acknowledging receipt of deeds, and for account of their charges 0 3 6
Nov. 29.
On receipt of account of agents’ charges, amounting to £10 14s. 11d., writing them with cheque 0 3 6
Writing Mr. Ruskin on subject of insurance 0 5 0
Incidentals 0 10 0
16 1 0
Paid Messrs. Broomhead’s charges 10 14 11
£26 15 11

THE ST. GEORGE’S COMPANY,
To Wm. B. TARRANT.

General Bill of Costs to 10th December, 1875.

1875.
Feb. 13.
On receipt of letter from Mr. Ruskin, attending him at Herne Hill, and conferringon course to be taken on subject of letter from Messrs. Griffith and Son, of Dolgelly,as to conveyance of cottage property at Barmouth, and on the necessity of trust deedfor the purpose of such conveyance, so as to carry out the wishes of Mr. Ruskin andothers for improving the condition of agriculturists, and paid rail 1 2 0
Feb. 15.
Writing Messrs. Griffith and Son, as arranged 0 5 0 [[134]]
Feb. 18.
Attending Sir Sydney Waterlow, Mr. W. J. Thompson, and others, as to the IndustrialDwellings Company, of which they had been promoters, with a view to obtaining informationto guide me in the formation of the St. George’s Company 0 6 8
Feb. 22.
Instructions to counsel to advise in conference on course to be adopted to carry outthe scheme 0 6 8
Making copy of Mr. Ruskin’s letter to accompany instructions 0 5 0
Attending counsel therewith, when it was arranged that conference should be postponeduntil Mr. Ruskin could attend 0 6 8
Writing Mr. Ruskin to let me know on what day he could attend conference 0 5 0
Feb. 23.
On receipt of letter from Messrs. Griffith and Son, writing them fully in reply0 5 0
March 10.
Attending counsel, Mr. Barber appointing conference for 3.30 on Monday 0 6 8
Writing Mr. Ruskin, with appointment 0 3 6
March 15.
Attending conference with Mr. Ruskin at Mr. Barber’s, when it was decided that heshould draw a deed for the purpose of carrying out Mr. Ruskin’s wishes, and paid cab1 3 0
Paid counsel’s fee and clerk 1 6 0
Drawing proposal circular 0 12 0
March 21.
Attending counsel therewith to settle 0 6 8
Paid his fee and clerk 1 3 6
March 26.
Attending counsel, appointing conference on draft 0 6 8
April 26.
Attending conference 0 13 4
Paid counsel’s fee and clerk 1 6 0
April 29.
Fair copy of proposed circular as settled 0 4 0
Letter to Mr. Ruskin therewith and thereon 0 5 0

[[135]]

To TARRANT & MACKRELL.

£ s. d.
June 9.
On receipt of letter from Mr. Ruskin on draft circular, making copy of Mr. Ruskin’ssuggestions to place before counsel three brief sheets 0 10 0
Perusing and considering same 0 10 0
Drawing memoranda of constitution of the Company, to take place of the circular1 10 0
June 10.
Instructions to counsel to settle same, and with Mr. Ruskin’s suggestions, etc.0 6 8
Attending counsel therewith 0 6 8
Paid his fee and clerk 2 4 6
June 11.
Long letter to Mr. Ruskin in reply to his of the 27th and 28th ult., and 8th inst.0 5 0
June 15.
Fair copy memoranda of constitution of the Company, as settled by counsel, fo. 300 10 0
Writing Mr. Ruskin therewith and thereon 0 5 0
June 23.
Attending Mr. Ruskin on his calling and handing us print of the proposed memoranda in a number of his ‘Fors Clavigera,’ and with Mr. Ruskin’ssuggestions for some alterations; and we were to submit same to counsel, and obtaina conference with him in about a month’s time, which Mr. Ruskin would attend 0 6 8
Oct. 7.
On receipt of the July and October ‘Fors’ from Mr. Ruskin, attending, perusing, andconsidering remarks and suggestions contained therein, and bearing on the formationof the St. George’s Company, and also your letter to us of the 2nd inst., returningus the draft memoranda sent you on the 15th June, with your remarks thereon, and letteryou had received from a correspondent on the subject, attending, perusing, and consideringthe several letters and documents to enable us to revise the memoranda as desired1 1 0
Oct. 15.
Writing Mr. Ruskin very fully on subject of revision of [[136]]memoranda and statutes, and for further information as to marshals, etc. 0 5 0
Oct. 24.
On receipt of letter from Mr. Ruskin withdrawing all reference to marshals from theproposed memoranda, making fresh copy of the memoranda as drawn, and adding in themargin thereof all suggestions and comments thereon contained in the ‘Fors,’ and theseveral letters we had received in connection with the matter 0 10 0
Oct. 30.
Instructions to counsel to revise memoranda 0 6 8
Attending him therewith and thereon 0 6 8
Paid his fee and clerk 1 3 6
Dec. 10.
Writing Mr. Ruskin, with draft memoranda and counsel’s amendments, and with counsel’sopinion at foot thereof, and also as to insurance of the Sheffield premises 0 5 0
Petty disbursements and incidentals 0 10 0
£22 0 8

II. Affairs of the Master.

£ s. d.
Balance, Feb. 20th 225 5 9
Cash (Portsdown mortgage, paid March 2nd) 1522 12 4
1747 18 1

Feb. 28. Klein[a] 40 0 0
March 1. Raffaelle Carloforti[b] 15 0 0
2. Thomas Wade, Esq.[c] 31 10 0
6. Self[d] 35 0 0
6. Arthur Burgess 30 0 0
9. F. Crawley[e] 40 0 0
10. Charles F. Murray, Esq.[f] 10 0 0
11. Antonio Valmarana[g] 50 0 0
16. Antonio Coletti[h] 25 0 0
————
276 10 0
Balance £1471 8 1

[a] Travelling and personal expenses since January 1st, of which I have no space for the detail in this Fors; it will be given in its place. Klein has ten pounds a month, himself, besides his expenses in Oxford when I’ve no rooms for him. [↑]

[b] A youth, whom I am maintaining in art-study at Venice. He has £7 10s. monthly. This payment is to end of April. [↑]

[c] Water-colour drawing of a cottage at Coniston, likely to be soon destroyed by ‘improvements.’ [↑]

[d] £10 pocket-money, £25 to St. George, money of his in my hands included in my banker’s January balance, acknowledged in St. George accounts, March 7th. [↑]

[e] £21 of this my own upholsterer’s and other bills at Oxford; the rest, Crawley will account for. [↑]

[f] Drawings made for me at Siena. [↑]

[g] Fifty drawings made for me by Signor Caldara of Venice, being part of a complete Venetian Herbal in process of execution. I count none of my money better spent than this. [↑]

[h] Annual gift to monastery of Assisi, for 1875; not sent last year because I meant to go there. Due always on the Corpus Domini. [↑]

[[137]]

III.

“6, Moira Place, Southampton, 15th Feb., 1876.

“Dear Sir,—On referring to Helix ericetorum (the species I take your outline to be enlarged from) in Dr. Turton’s British Land and Fresh-water Shells, with additions by Dr. Gray, I find it stated, on the authority of M. Bouchard, that the eggs of H. ericetorum are laid from July to November, and are from forty to sixty in number, the time of hatching being twenty days after laying, and the length of the snail’s life is eighteen months. It is not, however, stated whether these particulars refer to H. ericetorum in England or France.

“The only extra information I can get from my other book is that heavy rains kill great numbers of them. [[138]]

“Your drawing refers to the shell of a full-grown snail, shown by its having six whorls, and by the slight reflex curve at the outer end of the spiral.[1]

“With regard to the formation of the shell, I can state that it was formed by successive additions during the life of the snail, the small dark transparent portion in the centre of the spiral being the nucleus, and the lines and ridges crossing the spiral indicate the different rings or layers of shell added to suit the convenience of the snail.

“I enclose specimens of H. ericetorum from Deal,[2] to enable you to compare them with those from Arundel, to make sure that they are the same species.

“I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant,

“H. L.”

IV. “A Swedish newspaper contains a lengthy account of the gallant rescue of a Swedish steamer by the people of the village of Cresswell, Northumberland. Thirteen out of the fifteen male inhabitants manned the boat, to launch which the women waded to their waists. A fisher-girl named Bella Brown ran ten miles to the next lifeboat station for assistance, and had to wade through several bays on an icy January night. The brave girl was seized with cramp on returning, and nearly lost her life.”

V. Part of a letter from one of my best friends, Fellow and Tutor of Corpus, communicating some recent notes on English scenery:—

“I next went to the Isle of Wight, which is very pretty, but all over-builded. It threatens soon to become a mere suburb of London. Portsmouth detained me a day,—all too brief a time [[139]]for its beauties and horrors, its relics of past naval glories and picturesque bits on land and sea, its nightmare sea-going caldrons, misnamed men-of-war, at the present. I went on board the Thunderer, twin ship of the Devastation. I had expected something ugly and horrible, both inside and out; but my expectations were surpassed tenfold, especially with regard to the inside of the ship. The crew are confined altogether in utterly dark dungeons at each end of the ship, wholly under water, and hardly high enough for a man to walk in upright. An iron-shielded and very high deck in the middle of the ship is the only place where a man can see the light of day, and live when this witch’s kettle is at sea, as the ends of the vessel cut under the waves. The bull of Phalaris would have been an eligible prison to me in comparison of this; victims, at any rate, were not sent to sea in it.”

VI.

“Laxey, Isle of Man, March 4th, 1876.

“Dear Sir,—In this month’s ‘Fors,’ page 107—‘Affairs of the Master,’—if you add up the amounts paid out, I think you will find, instead of £360 2s. 0d., the amount should be £370 2s. 3d., and leaves a proper balance of £225 5s. 6d.

“I hope you will not be offended at me for troubling you with these trifling errors, of no moment; but I have got a singular habit—that I can never pass over a column of added figures, no matter what length, without testing their correctness.

“Yours truly,

“E. Rydings.”

(If only my good correspondent—now a Companion—will indulge himself constantly in this good habit as respects the Fors accounts, I shall be much more at ease about them. But his postscript is more important.)

“P.S. You say that the girls of St. George’s Company shall learn to spin and weave, etc. There is a good deal of hand-spinning [[140]]done on this little island, but I am sorry to say that there are no young girls learning now to spin; and in a few years more, the common spinning wheel here will be as great a curiosity as it is in Lancashire, where one is never seen—only at the theatre. I have gone to some little trouble to ascertain why the young girls are not learning now to spin; and the principal reason I can gather is that home-spun ‘Manks-made dresses,’ as they are called, last too long, and therefore do not give the young women a chance of having four or five new dresses in the year. I could give you some interesting information about hand-spinning and weaving here, but must reserve it for another time, and will send you patterns of cloth, etc. All our blankets, sheets, flannels, skirts, jacket cloth, stockings, and yarns, have been spun by my wife and her mother before her. We have now linen sheets in wear, not a hole or a tear in them, that were spun by my wife’s mother,—and she, poor body, has been dead twenty-eight or twenty-nine years,—the flax grown on their own farm. Fine and white they are, and would compare favourably in fineness with machine-made Irish linen. The daughters of Lord Auckland, when he was bishop here, used to go every Saturday afternoon to my wife’s mother’s, (who lived just behind Bishop Court,) to learn to spin.

“But I must write you a special letter on the subject when I have got my patterns ready.”

[[141]]

[1] Exaggerated a little, I’m afraid.—J. R. [↑]

[2] The shells sent, for which I heartily thank my correspondent, are, I think, the same as mine, only not so white. [↑]