March 12, 1901.
You do not know how good and kind I think it of you to let me rest on you for advice in this way, and it brings a great brightness when you come and I can hope you are making yourself at home. I am glad you like Mr. Newman. I always feel that he is a quite true and well-judging friend, very kindly, but at the same time so grave that I do not at all times feel free to express all I am thinking about! I fancy that you “not being a lady” he would feel freer to express what was uppermost.
Thank you for all you say about Mr. John Murray, and very especially indeed for your good advice. I do really mean, and am trying to act on it, but cannot you imagine the difficulty in not working as hard as body and mind will allow?
However, I have made a thorough beginning; amongst various points, returning to Mr. Newman a great bundle of proofs sent to be looked through, just think, unlooked at. I also disposed of a regular onslaught with special letters from Lady Warwick and Miss Edith Bradley, &c. I am minding what you said [about curtailing work] very nicely.
I am thankful to say I am feeling better every day, and I am looking forward very much to being a better kind of hostess if you will kindly spare me a week-end by and by.
7 p.m.—You are, I conjecture, just beginning your lecture [on “Agriculture in South Africa”]. I hope it will be thoroughly pleasant and satisfactory and that you will have a comfortable journey home. Please accept the enclosed [the twenty-fourth and last Report]. I have only received a parcel late to-day, but I want to send you a copy “from the writer.”
March 18, 1901.
I am very glad your colonial lecture was successful. It is no good my not telling you, for some way or other you would have an idea, but I have not been thriving. Of course there was a flood of letters about discontinuing the Annual Reports, and, however kind (and some were very kind indeed) yet not being in full working order, they were rather too much, and I got feverish “rigors” (though not bad) with temperature 100°, and the doctor on Saturday ordered me straight off to bed. Here I am still, but as far as I know, now only as a matter of precaution. I would not have said anything about it, but I was sure you would have an idea.
Now about something much nicer. I wrote to Miss Ashworth (28, Victoria Street, London) and had a most pleasant and businesslike reply. She told me that publishers preferred quarto size and typed a few lines to show the size of type and style they like best; and I sent up the “Chartist Outbreak” (chap. VII.) and asked her to type it for me accordingly, and to let me have one copy and two carbon copies. Thus there would be one for you, one for me, and the third would be useful for the publisher. I should be very much obliged if you would kindly tell me how to offer a copy of my twenty-fourth Report to the University Library. Would it be sufficient just to send a copy c/o The Librarian. I do not want to give more trouble than I can help about such a little thing.
P.S.—I assure you I mean to attend to your kind advice of not making what might be a great pleasure into a toil.