[^WEBB, SIDNEY AND BEATRICE. THE LETTERS OF SIDNEY AND BEATRICE WEBB, VOL I. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS. ED. MACKENZIE, NORMAN. CAMBRIDGE, 1978. I, PP. 270 - 320^]

[} [\142 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE [incomplete]\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. [\[?21 May 1891]\] . . . love of principles rather than facts. I own I am flattered at being asked to do one of the special papers: and I should be unwilling to lose a chance of obliterating my bad impression last year. With your help I think I could do a decent introductory paper. But even if I decided to accept, I should strongly urge them to get a woman instead of me. It is one of the 'chances' which should go to a woman. On the whole, what do you think?

I found at home last night an order from the Speaker for an article on Plunkett's Creameries and an urgent appeal from Massingham for a column report of the Congress. These I did, somehow (really I wasn't exactly in the state to write solemn articles!), and then slept prosaically the sleep of the unemotional just as if yesterday had never been! Indeed I am still a little in a dream: I have not yet fully realised all your kindness. But at any rate it is a brilliant rose-colored morning and I pitied the man on the omnibus who said the rain was very cold. For me there was no rain and no cold. One thing pleases me - our souls touch at their highest levels, not their lowest. In the midst of the commonplace conventions of life and even in some of our lower moments, it may seem impossible but I take comfort always in my intense gratitude that we have a good influence on each other. Does this sound egotistical? One side I know, and I believe you told me that it was the same on the other. It is not your influence on me, or mine on you that is to be credited with this, but the influence upon both of us of the relation between us. My most intense feeling this morning is gratitude that I should have lived to feel this influence - and also perhaps a determination to be worthy of it. I do most honestly believe that it is our best chance of getting the very most for the world out of our joint lives. Schnadhorst has this moment sent across a note to say that he has advised me as a Liberal candidate for Parliament for South Islington. This would seem a fair chance if they accept me, as the seat went Liberal in 1885 by a 500 majority. But I believe I ought not to write anymore - the official papers are beginning to pile up! Goodbye S. [} [\143 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 23.5.91 I enclose the Co-op proofs as directed by your telegram. When you have looked through my very few notes (on blue paper), the proofs are ready for the printer. I believe the arithmetic is now all right. Your letter is full of kindness, and it is exactly as I could wish. Do not be afraid of the future: meanwhile let us get all we can out of the present. You may be quite sure that I would not have you sacrifice your life. I have (as I have always had) the fullest confidence that you will decide rightly - and, as you say, you alone can know. Dearest, you are freer now than ever you were, because I feel, since Wednesday, that I could even bear to lose you. I always meant not to let

it spoil my life; now I know that the very worst could only sanctify it. I do not understand why I feel so happy, and why I feel that your refusal would not now really injure me. Honestly, this presents itself more in the light of danger to your own life and development, than of ruin to mine. It is a queer turn of love's metaphysic; perhaps it is a nearer approach to casting out self: perhaps it is only a delusion! However, be that as it may, all the enormous advantages of our partnership remain, and I don't think the difficulties are insuperable. One - (\la vie intime\) - I want to talk to you about very frankly, or rather, I want you very frankly to talk to me, who am more than usually ignorant. One thing is quite certain: I will not have your intellectual and working life spoilt, whatever the cost to me. It would not be a 'chattel' marriage! and we are neither of us likely to insist on anything that would injure our common usefulness. As to the financial difficulty, this is surely a delusion. I cannot imagine that we could rightfully spend as much as we are likely jointly to have. Everyone tells me that I can earn œ1,000 or even œ2,000 a year if I choose - do you not suppose that I would not work myself to the bone before I would allow you to miss any one comfort necessary for your fullest efficiency? Clearly I should have to do this, even if I did not wish to, merely to save myself from my own conscience and its reproach for 'marrying for money'. (Here, I must own, there is the chance of my illness or breakdown, which might make me a pensioner on you. But the financial risk in such a case is the least part of it - and the risk itself is one incidental to all relationships.) I have said so much in answer to your points. But do not suppose I am pressing you. Do not think about 'strain' on me; since Wednesday there is no strain at all, only a stimulus to good and a new ideal of unselfishness. Let us go on trustfully - not at all avoiding a repetition of Wednesday, but rather seeking to renew and deepen all our spiritual experience. What we have to do is to make our present friendship as deep and intimate, as mutually helpful as we possibly can - for the rest, (\advienne que pourra\). Come up as soon as you feel disposed (But I would a thousand times prefer you to have a full holiday, than have even the luxury of seeing you - we ought to combine these!) It is good of you to think of Box for Sunday, but I could not have come - that is, I ought to have refused! - because I must work day and night this week to make up arrears including the paper for the Economic Journal, of which I will send you the first part in a few days. It will be very bad, I am afraid. But if you will think it over, and improve it, it may do. I will write and accept the British Association paper. We must work it out together. Where will you stay in London? Mrs Green is very kind, and I am not

sure that you are not freer than elsewhere. Mrs Green hinted at arranging Sunday outings - this was in January before you came up. There is now an added inducement. But Norway would be the very best way of spending June. However I don't care to look forward even to June! I cannot exhaust the present moment. which is delire, extase, ivresse, because I am writing to you. S.

[} [\144 KCC BEATRICE POTTER TO ALFRED MARSHALL\] }] 65 Avenue Road [\[July 1891]\] Dear Mr Marshall Your letter was a delightful surprise to me! I hardly expected you to read the book and certainly did not venture to hope for a letter of frank criticism. I value your criticism so much and am so sincerely anxious to learn from it, that I was sorry you had wasted 4 whole pages in saying kind things - which tho' they are sweet to hear teach me nothing. There is one part of your criticism which I feel just, tho' I do not think I could have avoided it: the arguments in favour of Trade Unions action have been put too dogmatically and therefore with an absolute lack of scientific caution and justification. But my space was limited and I felt it very important to urge on Co-operators to consider Trade Unions. You must remember that my little book is a practical treatise for workingmen and is not intended for such as you. About the lack of originality in my view of Co-operatives. I heartily agree; but I do not feel the worse for this admission. I did not try to be original: I have accepted anyone's ideas when they seemed to me true and I have never considered the question whether a view has originated in my own mind or through the suggestion of another. I am a Communist in ideas and refuse to admit private property in them! But where I feel that I radically differ from you is in your objection to my condemnation of 'Associations of Producers'. To my mind, an untold harm has been done to the labour movement by the way in which economists and others have praised up a mischievous form of activity; partly because it has seemed to them a harmless form - one not likely to revolutionize things. If I were a skilled engineer and saw a multitude of men building bridges on a plan which insured their ultimate collapse, and if I refused to tell them so, because I thought it would hurt their feelings and damp their enthusiasm, I should be guilty of a sort of treachery.

I know that we disagree as to the fact: you do not think that associations of producers have failed so completely as I do. On the other hand, I not only believe them to have failed but think that all these failures have meant demoralisation and despair among those who have taken part in them. That is the result of a very careful observation of the men engaged in them and not the result of listening to arguments against them. About Hughes (a small matter) I think him an intolerable person (that makes your suggestion that we are alike cruel!), but because he was my principal opponent I treated him with the greatest amount of appreciation and courtesy I could muster. In conclusion may I say that I will 'learn, mark and inwardly digest' what you say about my tendency to think things too simple. I have no doubt this is a true criticism. It is so much easier to put your case effectively if you rob it of its actual qualification. And that I feel is my temptation - to try and put a case so that it will 'tell'. Is it the woman's desire to influence the actions of men? Shall I see you in London? I have just come back from a glorious holiday in Norway. With affectionate remembrances Yours very sincerely Beatrice Potter

[} [\145 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 14 July/91 Dearest If the time has seemed half as blank to you as it has to me, this has been 'Black Monday' indeed! I trust you have found everything in order. I find I am as brown as a Chilian, and probably pounds heavier through the wonderful holiday we have had - surely, no one was ever quite so fortunate before. I found my father out of the doctor's hands, but distinctly a permanent

invalid. I called on the doctor this morning, and he told me that he ought to live at Bournemouth. So my sister and I will probably go down one day soon and take apartments for a month or two. This will perhaps grow into permanent residence there for my parents and my sister, although they have not yet made up their minds to it. My pile of letters was colossal, but there was nothing serious. I gather that the review of Booth probably appeared in the Speaker but I have not yet seen it. I have some excellent information for my British Association paper sent in by Fabians - one splendid account of women compositors by one of them, who is evidently an able woman. I will bring it on Thursday. I believe I was mistaken in thinking that my paper must be ready by the 22nd inst - there may be more time. Your book (and Booth's) are mentioned in the 'Books Received' in the Economic Journal, but not reviewed. John Rae reviews The Eight Hours Day at two-page length with mixed praise and blame; especially falls foul of the Australian part. Bernard Shaw is very pleased with our article against Courtney. I will bring the Economic Journal on Thursday - meanwhile I send a copy of the article. Shaw says it is 'so well written' - which is largely due to your corrections. There is no doubt that we shall postpone indefinitely the Fabian Review. I have not yet seen Massingham as to the London Letter. My father's very weak state would have made me feel it a terrible responsibility to give up the C.O., if you had not (unwittingly) come to the rescue. I am glad that I had decided before, but all day long I have been thinking how much anxiety and worry I am now saved. I have worn the ring today out of doors. I miss its absence now, just as I miss yours. Please save up all your half-formed ideas and suggestions for THE BOOK, and tell me them on Thursday. I want to get the thing into my mind. I wonder if you have been to Mrs Booth's, and what she has said, and he. I told the National Liberal Club Library to get your book, but they already had it. I find I must send back the proofs of The London Programme today, so cannot have your help in them. Goodbye, dearest dearest Beatrice. Teach me how I may show my love for you - but I can never show it all. Yours Sidney

[} [\146 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 22 July/91 Dearest Beatrice You will not mind my stopping away this evening? It seemed best for my mother, who is, however, bearing her loss very well. My father's death was sudden and quite peaceful, a mere 'falling asleep'. My sister had sent for me and my brother just before, noticing a change for the worse: but we both came too late. But there was, of course, much to see to. The funeral is to be on Saturday. Dearest, this 'jars' a little on our happiness, but it is better so. My father could not have lived long, and his sufferings are better ended. I am now concerned only to do the best possible for my mother and sister. I can hardly come to you any evening until Saturday, but I could come then if you are disengaged. And we might go out on Sunday again? I shall be busy tomorrow, but could meet you Friday for a walk. I hope I am not unfeeling, but I find myself thinking only of the living. My father's life had closed, even as your father's has. I am not in any way overwhelmed with grief; and it seems much more important to me to care for those who are left. But still, I think 'Poor Father'. He led an upright modest, humble life, full of unostentatious self-sacrifice and work. He was very gentle and docile last night when I sat up with him. I fear the Labour Committee has not appointed Assistant Commissioners, according to the brief reports. It will be inconvenient if it is hung up until October. Send me a brief note to say when I may meet you. Goodnight Sidney

[} [\147 NLS SIDNEY WEBB TO R. B. HALDANE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 25 July/91 My dear Haldane I am very much obliged to you for inviting me to Scotland. As you will understand, I should be only too delighted to accept, but it is, I am sorry to say, impossible. I have had all the leave I ought honestly to take from the C.O. before I quit it for good - which will probably be in October.

And September is just the month when I am bound to be there, if only to release a colleague who has always been the kindest of friends to me. Therefore - thanks all the same. I must (\entbehren\) so much! I am very glad that you have been entrusted with this momentous secret. I am sure you realise how important it is to us that it should be a secret, even from our closest friends. But you have always been so nice even when I have been beside myself, that I feel pleased to think you are so early in our confidence. Of course I am awfully happy: but I feel all the responsibility, both that I should not spoil a life which I regard as of high value to the world; and that I, too, should not fail to give the fullest possible product in return for my own happiness. Therefore I am Teutonically grave about it: not anxious, but trying to realise how much is demanded. 'On the Ethical Responsibilities of the Exceptionally Lucky' is an unwritten chapter in Ethics which I am inclined to ponder. However, I know I can't possibly earn it all, anymore than I have deserved it all - so that all I can do is to do my utmost to make the combination as potent for good as possible. I am glad I made up my mind to leave the C.O. before the present result seemed even possible. Of course, I stick to my decision: and indeed, I am commanded to carry it out as soon as practicable, so that I may take up, with the fullest possible vigour, any public work that may come to me. I hope to get a seat on the London County Council. But I naturally want to get into Parliament if I can. I am sorry to gather that your own personal sorrow is not to be crowned with happiness. Pardon my alluding to it, but I have all along had such a deep desire to express my sympathy. If there is now no hope, I can only wish that you may come to find that it is, if not for the best, then for the next to the best - not bad that is, but good, though not so good. Perhaps in November you can spare time to confer as to what we can each of us most usefully do. I read your Cambridge speech and liked much of it. May I commend to your holiday reading an article by me in the July number of the Economic Journal, on 'The Difficulties of Individualism'. Yours sincerely Sidney Webb

[} [\148 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }]

[\[?Box or Longfords, Minchinhampton]\] [\[20 August 1891]\] Dearest one The engine broke down - and we were nearly an hour late - it was a cold drizzle as we drove over the common. Here I found the house deserted (the Courtneys had gone out for the day) except for 'Don' who nearly devoured me with joy, Nick and John. Miss Darling and Mrs Thompson both off on their holiday. After spending an hour with dear old Father who is just the same, I betook me to Longfords. Mary was in first rate form: the flower show was a huge success and she has 'overcome' the County Council and got her way in all matters. She and Arthur were very affectionate, and desperately anxious to know what I had been doing at the Home Office (a bulky packet 'On Her Majesty's Service' having arrived that morning for me) and delighted with 'Potterism', and altogether pleased with my growing notoriety. I talked about future plans, and Mary's tone was 'you can go away as much as you like, there is absolutely nothing to be done at Box'. I believe they are contemplating my marriage! Kitty Holt was there, looking rather depressed. I am to have a walk with her tomorrow. I spent the evening with the Courtneys. Leonard was 'snubby'; and I was studiously pleasant and courteous. He has the consciousness of something 'agin' me, or possibly the feeling that he has 'balked' me - or that I am a detective from the enemies' camp. Anyway he did not encourage conversation. We should be better friends if we frankly acknowledged that we were public opponents - but I think he rather resents my 'growth' as a personage that even he - the big man - feels called upon to oppose. He cannot understand why other people take me seriously. He is studying the big edition of Rae's Socialism: (not for the London letter!) This morning I had a walk with Kate. She was very friendly, and in the course of the talk exclaimed 'I wonder whether you will marry'. I sedately replied that I thought it highly probable - but that in any case marriage with me would be subordinate to work. 'That is rather a question for your husband' she answered. 'No: it is the question of the choice of my husband: I should only marry a man who wished that it should be so.' At which she looked perplexed, and wondered whether it was Haldane or a socialist.

She asked me whether I liked 'Sidney Webb as much after the tour as before'. I answered enigmatically 'I like both those men immensely', and then told her that Graham Wallas was coming to spend a week on the 26th. This morning I began 6.30 and read Brentano's Guilds in the hour before lunch. I began to cut up the Social Science Committee - and I am doing it beautifully. We shall get a huge mass of material mechanically well arranged. Enclosed is a nice little letter from Elvidge. (I do not at all object to Hey publishing the story. It will please him and not hurt us.) Then lunch, a cigarette, a sleep, cup of tea, more arranging - 1« [\[hours]\] reading to Father. And then I suddenly bethought me there might be a letter at the Post Office. So I popped on an old skirt and a mackintosh and trudged through the rain to Hampton [\[Minchinhampton]\] and found what I desired. No, dear, I do not even look at your photograph. It is too hideous, for anything. Do be done in a gray suit by Elliott and Fry and let me have your head only - it is the head only that I am marrying! The Courtneys and Playnes are dining with Judge Jones, and I am writing to you. You doubtless are just arriving at Cardiff. I shall send this to Park Village: it will welcome you tomorrow evening. Do you know, I do not believe it will be possible for me to get away before Saturday 5th. Mary will be away and it is rather a stretch going at all. I believe the Playnes go away next Saturday. If so you might come down for Sunday instead. Mrs Green and G.W. will be here. I will see whether it be possible. If not we must wait till Glasgow - and remember those quiet evenings at Avenue Rd - and Norway. We have a lot of work to do to earn all we have enjoyed. I send you the bunch of wild hyacinths I picked that spring day in the Longfords woods, just near to the bank we sat on 18 months ago. They have dried up - while our love has grown. Now, dearest, goodnight, Let us both try to be faithful stewards. Let me learn from you. Always your loving comrade Beatrice Potter [} [\149 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }]

Box House, Minchinhampton, Glos. [\[?23 or 24 August 1891]\] My own dear One I am delighted to get your long interesting letter. I think that occasionally it is good for you to mix with men of a different set and of different opinions from your own - you know that art of self respect and reserve - which is essential to one who is likely to become a leader, in however small a degree. It is a mistake 'to give yourself away' to such people as Ball and his friends - but it is well to be able to take stock of them and to make them respect you. To an enthusiast and propagandist like you the faculty of 'polite reserve' is a valuable one to acquire. The poor official Liberal party is in a horribly awkward position. These socialistic projects are against its instincts and it is not so very certain whether they are, at present, in its interests. To adopt a programme which you inwardly fear and dislike is hard - to have in addition the doubt whether it will 'pay' is still harder. And that is why I should drop once for all, the bribe and threat argument - and appeal only to conviction. That, I am glad to think, is the line you are now taking. Burns with his Labour Party's 'heel' will never stamp anything out or into political parties. And the sorrowful truth is that 'Labour' itself has no programme, and wants as much 'convincing' and 'educating' as the most bigoted landlords or capitalists. The absence of any social policy is what strikes one in the T.U. records. Tom Mann is the only individual of the labour party who is trying to evolve a policy. I should try, if I were you, to see a little of Tom Mann - or at least of his subordinate V. Nash. Is there no way of getting some capital for the Trade Unonist? I think it would be worth making a determined effort. It is a thoroughly good little paper and sound in all its views and good and true. I am going out to ride with the 'accomplished young ruffian' this morning. We are on friendly terms - both desperately anxious to be agreeable to one another and with a certain personal liking - but with a very wholehearted contempt for each other's point of view - which shines through our bland amiable manners now and again. I fear I gave a little shock to his self-complacency, quite accidentally. He was asserting that no arguments could shake his Tory principles, that they were based on good sound instinct, when I remarked 'We should not wish to convert you, my dear Bill, you are not up to our standard'. It was a perfectly involuntary remark - said in the kindest of tones - but he turned scarlet and looked quite surprised and perplexed. It is delightful to think I shall probably see you next week. Goodbye, this is a long chat. Ever your comrade Beatrice Potter

[} [\150 PP SIDNEY T0 BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 26/8/91 Dearest I ought not to expect a letter from you every morning, especially if you have to post them yourself sometimes - yet the absence of one this morning left me very depressed; so you can imagine how joyful I was to see your handwriting tonight. I am sorry you were feeling sad: the weather is hard on you. You must think of the gorgeously fine days we have had together, and how much more fortunate we have been in weather than those millions who are taking holiday in August. But the going of the Courtneys will relieve you; and the companionship of Mrs Green and Wallas. Do not let me think of you as other than happy. I do so want to make you happy: it really is the highest efficiency. Work may be strenuous and abundant without it - even fertile without it - but always lacking in something, perhaps the sweet reasonableness and grace which gives so much towards permanence of value. I am horribly sad at losing my Sunday. Tell me if we have the Saturday at Birmingham together. Could you perhaps break the journey there for some hours - which would not be more fatiguing to you: and I could easily come to Birmingham for those few hours and return same day. You know how I should think it worth ever so much more trouble than such a journey. But of course if you can stay Friday night in Birmingham so much the better. I shall now send you the Ironfounders Story, and pps, in a few days, for your corrections. But we need not be very [\[?worried]\] as Hey will edit it, and it will not be in type for months I suppose. Pease has come home from Brussels (Mrs Pease stays in Scotland for some weeks yet). He has spent the evening with me, and I told him that you and I were working at T.U. together, but that it was not to be known,

lest it gave rise to indiscreet remarks and unwarranted inferences. He will give you introductions to the Newcastle men, and to Dr Spence Watson. I enclose all his recollections of the National Labour Federation which is important, as it is spreading fast he says; and which you can study at Newcastle. It is a kind of supplement to the T.U., in style like the Knights of Labor. Moore Ede, Rector of Gateshead, is, it appears, a trustee, so Pease shall introduce you to him too. He is an excellent man, and would probably be well worth an evening: very good company, and can tell you what kind of men the locals are. Pease will help much as to cabinetmakers, through Walker and Parnell, but says Exec. probably backward: will see Walker about it. I told him to say that you were enquiring, and I merely assisting you to get facts. I fancy it might be useful for you to lecture for Muirhead (a good excuse to come to London!) But would it not be best to keep closely to a subject in our work? However, the 'moral hindrances to organisation' does lie within our scope. He has fixed me for Nov. 1st. As to the article for Edgeworth, I doubt. Would it not be a serious diversion? It is a big and difficult subject which I don't gather that you are at present quite resolved upon. Yes: it is serious for Edgeworth that if you are right, Mill and Co. were wrong. As Geo. Stevenson said 'so much the worse for the coo'! I believe you might perhaps tell Edgeworth you are too much engaged(!) on another line to be able to do justice to his big theme: and that you could perhaps do something on T.U. later. Dearest, today has been blank to me, missing you and your letter. Nevertheless you must not feel bound to write every day; I will learn to think of you far away, and so save your hands from too much writing. I will be faithful to the C.O. I have much to do there: and I fear I make little progress with our work, though I try hard. Elvidge is coming on Friday. I am putting out some more of my work, so as to be freer. But not till October shall I have many hours to give to the very big task we have taken. Again midnight is at hand, and I must take this to the post, or it may not be at the Post Office when you call. Good night, my dearest sweetest love. Surely I am nearer to you when I write this, and feel so much. Be patient with me. I will try to be worthy of your trust and love. Good night once more. Goodnight. Sidney [} [\151 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 31 Aug/91 Dearest You were angel-good to write me such a sweet letter yesterday, which gladdened me this morning, and did a great deal to pull me out of the depression I fell into on Sunday. Perhaps the cold dull weather had affected me a little - indeed, I have a little cold - but your letter put me in condition to do some work, and I finished off the Labor Commission reports this afternoon, posting you the result - not amounting to much of use to us out of 9 days sittings. The dockers are bad witnesses, and Tom Mann is not so good an examiner for them as for other trades. Perhaps it is that knowing all about it so well, it does not occur to him to bring out familiar points. I am glad we are not concerned with wages: the various witnesses get into hopeless contradiction as to the amount a docker gets. And they said practically nothing about the organisation of their unions, which we must get elsewhere. Tillett, especially, gave page after page of evidence of no value whatsoever. Yes: I do hope you will see your way to our writing the book together. This separation is not nice and though we must go through with it uncomplainingly as long as it is necessary, let us, as rational beings, contrive that its necessity shall end as soon as possible. I think we can trust ourselves (and each other) to stick to whatever is necessary for the work. I should hate to think that I had been the cause of its neglect - abandonment is not be thought of [^SIC EDN^]. But we shall see how big a pile of material - and how extensive its range - we have a few months hence. Till then I must live on reading your letters to me, and on writing my letters to you; mitigated by such intermittent glimpses of each other as geography allows. Thanks for the really beautiful little rose, which makes odorous my pocket book. I have nothing to send you in return except the enclosed letters (which can be destroyed). I will be photographed presently: hitherto something else has always intervened. My mother and sister were delighted with the Queen: but both say the picture is not at all worthy even of your photograph. They have come back very well, and in good spirits. I have sent copies of the London Programme to Spence Watson and Moore Ede (who had both taken much interest in it) - so you may perhaps

hear about it. I have sent it also to Morley, Stansfeld and Cardinal Manning - the last on the chance of a puff among the Catholics - no, I think I did it chiefly on the chance of the Cardinal's using his influence well about the Catholics taking part in the County Council Election. I am so glad Mrs Green is with you - and Wallas whom I love well enough to be always rebuking him! I must learn with your help, to get rid of my petulant impatience. Now goodnight my darling. How happy and lucky I am in loving you and in being able to bring you happiness. Goodnight. Sidney

[} [\152 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] Box House, Minchinhampton, Glos. Sept 2nd [\[1891]\] Dearest One Mrs Green is travelling to Peterborough on Saturday and will pass through Birmingham. So we shall arrive off 1.12 train and she leaves at four o'clock - and we will stay the night there, as there are many things I want to talk about. I am beginning to see into the leading points I want to investigate in Trade Unions: the facts I think range themselves under 6 headings (1) Facts of organisations, administration and representation (the referendum is one of the most important of these I think). (2) Personal independence: mutual protection against personal tyranny. (3) Facts bearing on the standard of expenditure of the worker. (4) Facts with regard to the technical and moral gratifications of the worker as a professional. (5) The 'monopoly' side of Trade Unions in their attempt through limitations of process and restriction of persons to give an artificial value to the labour of a close body of individuals. (6) The inclusive policy of Trade U. in their attempt to force all workers into Unions. Now (5) and (6) seem on the face of them mutually contradictory? If all workers were in Trade Unions there could not be monopolies. The boys would have to go somewhere or they would form a body of non-society men who would ultimately form a Union which would compete

with the old body of men, not as individuals, but as a group of men using a different process. Indeed the question of competing processes is one of the most interesting. Take for instance the tailors. The tailors have excluded the factory process in clothing; but directly you get the men and women at work and the new process organised you have competing groups not from employment under one manufacturer, but from the customs of the community. The Engineers competition in 1824 with the Millwrights is another instance. No unions could hope to be inclusive unless they altogether dropped the monopoly side and went only from standard of expenditure and possibly from technical and moral qualifications of the professional but this latter object is perilously near the monopoly side; I doubt whether they can insist on more than general education - an education which would come under 'expenditure' without worrying over the attempt to form a close body. This is thinking aloud to you but it clears my ideas. I am more and more coming to the conclusion that if we want to get over the work well and quickly, it would be worth while for me to take Elvidge, and some similar persons as private secretary with me when I go off to the provinces the beginning of next year. It would be worthwhile spending œ200 in getting over the ground quickly and well. But we will talk about it on Saturday. I must now set to work, but I want a talk with you first. Your faithful comrade Beatrice Potter

[} [\153 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 7.9.91 Dearest I am afraid you found it a long journey last night - at any rate, I did. It was not nice to feel that I was going exactly in the opposite direction to you, our separation getting greater at the rate of nearly 100 miles an hour. I hope the 'Crown' has proved a comfortable place enough. One cannot be at one's best unless the 'creature comforts' are attended to. I see from the D. News [\[Daily News]\] that Burns was exhorting the Eight Hours men last night to stick to last years impracticable resolution, and not to 'weaken' by adopting Trade Option. This shows him at his worst as a statesman I think. The important thing is to carry any Eight Hours resolution: this, I fear, may be difficult enough.

You may probably be able to set Elvidge to copy (or rather abstract) Burnett's history of the Engineers in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle. I was offered this morning a safe seat on the London School Board - which of course I declined. The Shoreditch Club has also written urging me to stand for County Council - this is very promising, and I am pursuing it (I have also a further nibble from West Islington). I have looked at the T.U. Committee Reports 1867-69 (official copy), and there seems less in them than I had hoped. I am already very familiar with the general effect, having (on the way up) read very carefully the two opposing abstracts of them which I had with me (Somers and the Comte de Paris). I shall send you abstracts of all the Scotch evidence in a few days. You are probably having tea with Elvidge or some trade unionists. I hope you will find time to see Rev. Moore Ede and perhaps Dr Spence Watson as they could both give you a 'general view' of T.U. and the character of them in all the North. I have ordered the photographs of myself, as you directed. I wish I were more worthy of you - but you will make me so. Now, dearest, I must break off, or else you will not get this by the first post. I hope you have not taken cold from our wet walk in 'Beckett's Park'. Write when you can, but I do not wish to burden you with too much writing. Goodnight Sidney

[} [\154 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] The [\[T.U.C.]\] Congress [\[Newcastle]\] [\[?8 September 1891]\] Dearest One I was very glad to get your letter this morning: I was tired and have had a bad night with the heat of the meetings. The Congress is not unsatisfactory from the [\[illegible]\] view of harmony and straightness of dealing. There is endless wirepulling on both sides and bad suspicious feeling. It is doubtful to my mind, whether it

won't end in a split of the old unions from the Congress. They are getting very angry. It is a mob worked by a few energetic men on both sides. I am getting on all right in the way of introductions. Yesterday evening I was elected one of the Peculiar People - a club of T.U. officials and Slotter was the Chairman and very drunk. You will see from the papers that the progressist party has the best of it. But the feeling is not sound; it is made up of a lot of cross currents. Caine, Sidney Buxton, Gorst, C. Graham are here. I am so tired; one can't think when one is so tired. I try to make myself pleasant to everyone. I am not quite sure whether it would not be desirable to give up Haldane's and stay on here. What do you think? I have openings here that I may not get again: and Elvidge is here to follow up. What do you advise? If you [\[think]\] I had better do this, do telegraph to me tomorrow. It seems a pity to lose a good opportunity. I might stay on here until the end of the month and then go to Glasgow. What do you say? I am almost resolved to do it. A word from you would decide. I should be very sorry not to go to Haldane's, but we can go there another time. Ever your devoted Beatrice Potter P.S. I should take lodgings in Tynemouth - you could perhaps come down for a Sunday later on. By the way Sinclair said he was afraid you were in the hands of the Caucus! You might give an evening address. Don't overwork dearest, we have lots of work before us we must keep fresh for it. Ever your devoted B

[} [\155 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 9 Sept. 91 Dearest I wonder whether you unbent to the extent of a '(\Conversazione\) and Dance' with the delegates last night! I was toiling over my journalism and getting quite tired out. But I am better today. I do hope you are enjoying the fine weather: it seems to enervate me a little.

The Eight Hours vote is splendid as showing the rapid progress which the idea is making. Now, as 'nothing succeeds like success', it will go ahead still more. But the important thing is to conciliate the Lancashire men, which could, I should think, so easily be done on Trade Option lines, if personal friction were only avoided. It is more difficult to deal with the Northumberland and Durham men, who are afraid that the tightening-up of the employer may react on their exceptionally short hours. The result - quite agreeably surprising to me - perhaps justifies Burns in sticking to his extreme resolution. But my instinct is so much towards a practicable working measure that I should have preferred Trade Option, even if it had led the D. News to cry triumphantly that the Congress was learning moderation! I think we should try to 'build a bridge' for the opponents. But Burns, no doubt, is thinking more of the influence of the masses. The enclosed formal acceptance of my resignation will interest you. Don't destroy it: either keep or return it. Dearest, but for you, I should today be trembling, wondering whether I had done right. I don't think you quite realise how much you have saved me from, in the way of worry, anxiety and fear - and all the moral and intellectual difficulties that are born of these - I am horribly 'bourgeois' by temperament, and the temptation of a fixed income would have been enormous to me. I send also a letter from Headlam. Of course I have said I can't accept a School Board candidature. How much am I to be supposed to be equal to? I grieve to say that I have done nothing for THE BOOK this week: nor can I see my way to do anything for some days. I am very busy indeed: and Massingham being away, I have the whole [\[London]\] letter to write to Bradford every day - without the pars. which Massingham said he would send, and has not sent! (But of course you must not mention it to him.) Yes: it is Sir James Ferguson's seat, contested by C. P. Scott last time, that my name is mentioned for. But even if (as is unlikely) they invite me to address them, I should consider carefully whether it would suit me to run. Most probably it will come to nothing - there will be dozens of such nibbles before I really get a seat. I do wish I could be at work with you now, instead of both of us getting tired out at the end of the day 300 miles apart. The Fabian Society still goes ahead: yesterday we had notice of a branch opened in South Australia: another contemplated in New York; others started at Bournemouth (!), and Cardiff; the Essays pirated in America; and being translated into Dutch. It will be interesting to see if all this has any lasting vitality. One thing, however, is clear; it is not now entirely the work of the half-a-dozen of THE Elect!! Now, dearest, goodbye for today. I have a million yearnings to be with you: and failing that, I wish I might go on writing to you. But I must not. Sidney

[} [\156 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] [\[Newcastle]\] [\[?10 September 1891]\] Dearest The sight of your resignation is rather solemn. I trust that between us we shall [\[do]\] as good work as you would have done remaining as an official. I had a long day yesterday - Drage brought Sir J. Gorst and we all walked up to Burt's to tea. I completely ruined my chances of an Assistant Commissionership by turning on the supercilious Sir John savagely! I was tired and he has an odious face and manner. Burt was charming. He has made quite the Ideal Chairman. He was enthusiastic about my book and said he agreed with my last chapter! Afterwards I had Laidler to dine and he stayed until 11.30. He told me a good deal about Bricklayers' Union. Today we have had another day of introduction. It is impossible to get any information as all the delegates are too excited. I am filling up for next week. I go to the Spence Watsons on Sunday afternoon. I move to the Bath Hotel, Tynemouth, tomorrow and shall be there until October. I see J. Cowen tomorrow. Morley is losing ground here. He has offended the Co-operators by throwing them over at the last moment [\[?at]\] the opening of the great corn mill, where pressure was put on him by tradesmen. His [\[?vacillations]\] quite unfit him to be a leader.

Now dear goodbye. Your letters are very sweet to me. I am sorry I shall not have an opportunity of seeing Haldane; but one must not trifle with this big bit of work. Dear [\[?friend]\] I am off to the garden party. Ever yours BP [} [\157 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] [\[? Bath Hotel, Tynemouth]\] Saturday [\[?12 September 1891]\] Dearest One The last day of the Congress. The great feature of the Congress from a personal point of view is 'Burt is a great man'. I always knew him to be good and upright but I had no idea that these qualities were to the degree of a great man in him. Of course he has, beyond honesty and an angelic temper, dry humour and fearlessness. I think it was his fearlessness and absolute selflessness that carried the day. But for Burt I think the Congress had in it the elements of dissolution. With him, the discussions have constantly been, from all accounts, on a higher level of intelligence than in any previous one. By the way, Burt told me that he thought he was a socialist - it was the methods of the socialists that he had objected to not the aims. The Parliamentary Committee you see is reacting. That is the result of votepulling. Poor Drummond is left out; I imagine, from all I hear, Mawdsley has played him false, got the vote of Printers and then voted (\en bloc\) for a list without Drummond and with Threlfall. Mawsdley is one of the ablest and most unscrupulous of the wirepullers - Burns not much better. Lady Dilke was very much in evidence scattering invitations to dine. But it did not come off. At her dinner to some of the leaders some did not turn up and out of 8 who came there was only Shipton who was a man of importance. She made a set at Drage. But he backed out, and Burnett would not go near her. She spoke to me - and suggested that I should be one of 4 sub-commissioners - Mrs Byles, Miss Routledge and another. Poor woman, I am sorry for her. It is a desperate hard fight she is making but she over-reaches herself - she is too conspicuously the intriguer - every now [\[and]\] then dashing her intrigues to the ground by an incisive and real

frankness. But to return to the Commission - I told her that the time had passed when I was anxious to get it. I had other work on hand. Then when she spoke to me this morning I told her that I had mentioned Mrs Byles and Miss Routledge to Mr Drage and impressed him that they would be good Commissioners (which I did). She answered sharply 'He has been very much impressed with the daring of another person'. For which dash of frankness I liked her better. Poor woman. If she were only straight - one would give her a helping hand. Her doggedness and devotion is attractive. So much for the gossip of the Congress. I have worked early and have worked late but I do not seem to have accomplished much, except that I have endless offers of help from general secretaries - and introductions wholesale. Do you know dearest, I must confess that at times I have regretted that my days of free and unnoticed investigation were numbered. To make a really good book of this I ought to spend much more than a year at the simple investigations. That is the simple truth. I ought first to get the official history of the unions. That will take perhaps a year. Then I ought to go and live among the miners and other operatives and observe them carefully and the place that unionism takes in their lives. How can I combine that with marriage in a year's time? Every now and then I feel I have got into a hole out of which I can't struggle. I love you - but I love my work better! It seems to me that unless I give up my work I shall make a bad wife to you. You cannot follow me about the country, and I cannot stay with you. How do you solve this problem? I am settled here much to my comfort. It is a quiet little Hotel in a quiet little seaside place - looking on to the sea. The rooms are large and sunny and the people thoroughly friendly and hospitable. They give you a good bedroom, breakfast, and dinner in the evening for 6/-. It is 20 minutes from Newcastle by train. Of course it makes the journey longer to other places; but I think its extra quiet is worth it. I have not had much chance of judging of Elvidge's capacity yet. He is a slow-minded man but conscientious and knows his way about. And he is one of the few men one could travel about the country with. But he is extraordinarily slow and apathetic - I think his health must be very bad or his regime unhealthy. He told Drummond that I had the most marvellous memory (I had dictated the result of an interview to him) which shows that he has a low standard. It is difficult to know how much one must expect from a man. However I shall see the work what he is capable of. Now, goodbye dearest one. We need not love each other the less because with both of us, our work stands first and our union second. We

can give each other security in the widest sense - so long as we can face the separation which will be essential to free and full pursuit of our work. Don't overwork. Ever yours devotedly Beatrice Sunday P.S. I have seen a lot of Massingham: [\[?J.M.]\] has not, I am sure, the slightest suspicion. I have just had a long morning with Elvidge. There is a great deal of work to be done here. (By the way, could you send me the list of Newcastle, Leeds and District?) So do not make any arrangements about Glasgow: I have a shrewd suspicion that it will take me the six weeks to do the Northumberland Durham and Cleveland trades. BP [} [\158 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

Friday's Hill, Haslemere 13/3/91 Dearest I am writing this in Costelloe's cottage - tragically 'empty' of its mistress - whilst he has taken the two children to church. I think the wickedness of his wife has come home to me stronger than ever: (we have not recurred to the subject). I do hope she will come to her senses before harm is done. (I have no news of her.) I was afraid I could not have made a letter reach you by Monday morning: even now it may be impossible - but I propose to walk into the next village where there seems to be a collection at midday, which may perhaps bring this to you tomorrow - at any rate by a late post. Yesterday I was overwrought. I arrived here with a bad headache, and a little hysterical. But I am better now: the weather is beautiful, and I shall do no manner of work till tomorrow noon. I hope you liked Spence Watson: it is he who will preside at the National Liberal Federation meeting, and will probably prevent me from moving my resolution - of course, I shall not make a row. Madame Antoinette Sterling and her husband (named McKinley) an eldest Eton boy son, and two pretty younger children are here (at the big house). Last night the Pearsall Smiths invited all the village, from the parson down to the lowest labourer, to come up and hear her sing. They came - perhaps 50 or so - and filled the drawing room, hall, and lawn. Madame Sterling sang 2 ballads, and 'The Lord is my Shepherd' very powerfully, and her children sang and recited. (The Smiths are kindly, but have a touch of commonness. 'Uncle Horace', a brother, recited and sang some wretched American things in between, which grated on me.) Madame Sterling is a strong coarse-built woman, who is in a hysterical state of religion, anti-tobacco, teetotalism and so on - I could not help thinking of the Mahatmas! She has given up 'German music' and will now sing only English ballads because she thinks it does the people more good! (It is this crude didacticism that makes the artists abhor English Philistinism). Her husband is a silent unobtrusive American kind of Scotchman. Both seem intellectually poor. She is in with the Lady Henry Somerset religious philanthropy set - hence her visit here. There are also a Mr and Mrs Nowers, grammar school master at Birmingham, and a Miss Ellis, daughter of James Ellis M.P. for Leicester. Some of the Joachims, too, were here for lawn tennis yesterday. I was overdone last night, and sat silent. Costelloe's papers are lying around me - he has gone back to work on a translation of Zeller's Aristotle, which he has had on the stocks for ten years: this, too, is a sign of how much this blow has hit him. I do feel cross with her, and with the American loafer Berenson - and with Ibsen! Dearest, whatever happens I pray that I may never fail in my duties

towards those nearest to me. I cannot conceive that I ever could to you: but there are also family obligations. No amount of work for others seems to me to justify a failure to fulfil obligations entered into - whether, as Maine would say, these arise from contract or from status. You will know that I do not mean that a man or woman should live in and for the family only: it is our business so to arrange our life as to measure our service in due proportion. But to abandon husband and children for one's own self-culture - to put it at the highest - strikes me as appallingly anarchic. You might bring the Speaker this week. Dearest, I have given your copy to Pearsall Smith who asked me for it; forgive me! - there is a good article by Massingham descriptive of the personnel of the Congress, prettily done. (My article is a poor one, on 'The First Fortnight of Free Schools'.) Do you know I have written ten articles (i.e. including London letters) in the last 7 days, besides much C.O. work: of course it is much too much, but Massingham was away, and sent me nothing. This is why I have done no work for THE book! There is every sign that I shall stand for the County Council for Haggerston vice Lord Monkswell who will no doubt move to Chelsea (out of political devotion). This would be the safest of safe seats for me, and would leave me free to 'organise' the whole London election - on the basis of The London Programme. (Fancy, the Anti-Jacobin says it is 'brimful of excellent ideas' but much too full of party spirit.) Now, my love, I must bring this happiness to a close. I can't write about anything but myself, because I don't know what you are doing, and must give you the news. But it brings me nearer to you. Goodbye till tomorrow Sidney [} [\159 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 14/9/91 Dearest It is two whole days since I saw your handwriting (no, that is not quite true! I mean, since I received a letter from you) as this morning letters are waiting for me at home. I came up from Haslemere today, feeling much better, although still a little limp, perhaps through the weather which is now rainy again. I have really rested for 48 hours, in very beautiful scenery, and very agreeable circumstances - except, only that I thought of you as far away, and really needing my help for your notes(!) and for talking over the points that turn up. But perhaps Elvidge does nearly as well! Dearest, I did miss you. We will go up Blackdown together one day. I wonder how you spent the Sunday. The news about Mrs C. [\[Costelloe]\] is not very good: we had a long and frank talk together in the afternoon. She is at Verona - your Verona - he, too, there or thereabouts. But C. still thinks and trusts it will be all right; asserts that she has not the faintest idea or intention of leading any but an independent life; and that any move on his part towards anything else would bring about disillusionment at once. C. is playing a very magnanimous game: he has just sent her authority to sign cheques on his account! And talks of taking the children out to her in Florence. As he says, it is not worth playing unless he plays to win completely, to have her return to him wholly and spontaneously - for which he still hopes, though he does not hide from himself the immense danger she is unconsciously running. I believe I am literally the only person who knows all this: so, of course, you must be absolutely silent. Antoinette Sterling is completely mad about 'Christian Science', mind-cure, inner light, voices, reincarnation, and so on. It is a startling instance of the way the American woman goes clean off her mental balance on these topics. Miss Ellis, daughter of Quaker M.P. for Leicester, turned out to be an interested enquirer into Socialism. (I believe most women are almost unconsciously flatterers of men!) and she made me expound when we went for a walk in the evening. I asked Nowers and his wife (Birmingham Grammar school master) how far it was true that municipalisation there was an imported article; and he quite confirmed your view that it was all due to Joseph Chamberlain, by himself and his clan. Mrs Nowers was very amusing about Shorthouse, the author of John Inglesant. I asked her if he was still deified as much by Birmingham as at first. 'Well', she said, 'we have left off taking the American visitors to see him'. Mrs Shorthouse is said to have a quite absurdly exaggerated idea of her husband's importance. (Dearest, I don't think that will be your failing - I sincerely hope not.) Once, at the Macmillans, she sailed up to Mrs Humphry Ward,

(who had started the Inglesant boom by an article in the Athenaeum), and said gracefully 'Thank you so much for your little effort on our behalf'. In the evening, there was a 'campfire'. This is a family institution. All sit shivering in rugs and shawls round a fire of faggots, and songs are sung. Company, as already reported, with the addition of some young Russells, striplings. We toasted 'marsh mallows', an American sweetmeat, and sang evening hymns. It was an elaborate attempt to be happy, and indeed, was not so bad, if only Tynemouth had not been so far off. I enclose you a letter which Olivier has written to the Star, about the too-much of Meredith. ('Logroller' the Star's new writer of Book gossip, is R. Le Gallienne who has just published an analysis of Meredith). I am glad that Threlfall and Matkin, and Harford are elected to the Parliamentary Committee and that it has funds. It can scarcely help moving a little this year. Dearest, I feel half inclined to go home on purpose to find your letter. But I must wait until tonight - indeed, I must wait until the 30th before seeing you. I don't in the least object. I would infinitely rather endure to lose you for a year rather than have you neglect your work for my sake - you know, and believe, I am sure, that this is the exact truth. We could not love each other so well, loved we not our work and duty more. Still, I am allowed to feel as if I wanted to 'will' myself to you. Now, at this moment, I stretch out my hands to you on the Tyne shore; and space is annihilated for us. But alas, this medium must come to an end. Goodbye, dearest for another day. Sidney [} [\160 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 14 Sept/91 Dearest I am so tired, but I must write to you again. I found your long letter when I arrived home in the evening. Do not be

disheartened by the size of the enquiry. We are not bound to complete the book at once. It will not be obsolete in a hurry. Dearest, I must not hide from you that your letter came on me rather as a constriction of the heart. I am grieved to think that your loss by our love stands out so to you in this mood. My own love, count it for something at any rate that I shall be there to help you: the book will not be the worse for me. I can work at it and I will. I am glad that I happened to touch on part of the point in my letter today, before I had seen yours. It comes thus better when you read, as you will have done, that I would rather lose your society for whole stretches of time than have your work impaired. But remember, what I intend to serve, what you must aim at, is the net total effect of your work. Perhaps it will pay better not to make the long and minute investigation into the effect of T.U. on the life - I question whether you ever could do that well enough: it is beyond any one person's powers. Dearest, if you really think I am going to be a drag on you I shall be very very grieved. But I am not, We can't be quite the same together as we were apart - but we can be much better, much stronger. You are not fit to write this big book alone: you would never get through it. When I really get to work at it, you will find me, not only a help instead of a hindrance - but also the indispensable help which will turn a big project into a big book. Do not feel any compunction that your work will take you away from me sometimes. We are not going into this union, anymore than we go about any other part of our lives, merely to make things pleasant to us. You know, that I know, and I know that you know, that with each of us duty is imperative: and dearest, our kisses will be all the sweeter when we can afford them. I will not say anything as to plans: you may perhaps find it well to stay on about Tyneside. But probably you would do well to make a beginning at Glasgow before coming south again. You can always stay at Newcastle again en route. My dearest love, don't be despondent. We are not called upon for greater service than our conditions allow: we can neither of us escape the limitations of our age and sex: we must each of us grow old either alone or together. We should not really be more efficient if we broke our joint life in halves, and made shift with the pieces - nay we know full well how much we both gain by our mutual help, even if it makes some things less easy. Be happy, dearest, and have patience. I am worn out with work, but I can and will spare time to give you a hand. You have made a splendid beginning; and all is well. Love Sidney

[} [\161 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 15/9/91 Dearest I was unhappy last night because I feared you were unhappy, and unsettled. But this morning I think this is not so. Dearest, you shall not regret our love. You shall do more work and better for it, with my help. I will be the one to insist on making the conditions such as to allow of this. I shall not need to call in my pride to help me to do this: there will be no struggle: you know that it hurts me more to seek my own advantage against my sense of right, than to forego something in accord with it; indeed, any selfishness will be your safeguard. I can say this to you because you and I are one, and I have no sense of shame in telling you what comes to me: and you know that I am telling you the truth. Now tell me just what comes to you, whatever it is but try not to cast a shadow on my happiness by dealing in regrets. Of course I am not blind to the 'incompatibility of incompatibles': but you shall gain much more than you can lose - I mean in the way of work actually accomplished. Now I refuse to think anymore about that, and I will think only of your face waiting for me, and I so longing to be with you. Alas, I may be a day later than I had hoped. The enclosed letter may be important. It may be necessary for me to speak in Gateshead on the evening of the 30th Sept. and then I should hardly see you until the 1st Oct. What shall I do about lodging? I am almost bound to stay with Moore Ede for one night, or two: but of course I could be in Tynemouth in the daytime. Will you go to the big Liberal meeting on Oct. 1 and 2? I shall no doubt have to be at one, if not both of them. Dr Spence Watson would get you a ticket if you wrote for one: perhaps we could get together, perhaps not. Shall I take lodgings in Tynemouth for a week from Oct. 2nd? That would suit us best I think. I have told Moore Ede that I have other arrangements to consider which may keep me in the neighbourhood or in Scotland, for a little time, and that I will let him know in 2 days. So write me your orders. You and I must be together a good bit every now and then to report progress, and concert about the book - even if there were no other reasons! I had dinner last night with Massingham, who had much to say about

you. He has no suspicion, or he would not have talked so frankly! He was sharp enough to spot that you had written to me, because I had said in the Bradford Observer that Sir John Gorst had not done himself much good by going: 'he has an unfortunate manner'; and also an incidental reference to John Morley and the Dunston Mill which I had woven into something else. So I told him that you were in correspondence with me as to the book, in which I should probably help you with the law and economics. He would soon have found out that I was concerned in the book and (if I had not so spoken) would have thought my reticence suspicious. Then we talked of other things, and incidentally of my own prospects. He said 'But you really must marry some woman with a thousand a year'. I said 'You mean, Beatrice Potter?' And he, quite sincerely, and honestly said 'No, No. "Potterism" is to be taken with a large grain of salt. I don't know that you wouldn't find that you had bitten off more than you could chaw. And I don't think she has much money: she doesn't live like it. No, don't marry a clever woman, they're too much trouble'. So you see what he thinks of you! He will be convulsed with laughter one day when he remembers all this. I explained to him how important it was from the T.U. point of view to keep quite secret that I was to have any hand in the book. And I said, 'I tell you, lest you should, when you found it out, draw unfounded inferences from our keeping it so quiet'! I send you the first sheets of the Northumberland and Durham industries: the others are not copied yet. My copyist put them aside as he thought there was no hurry. I will send them tomorrow. The blue books have arrived from Miss Darling. I will go to work on them presently. Now dearest, be good to me, and trust me perfectly, do not let your thoughts even do me injustice. I shall be far too well paid if I only have a little bit of you - you certainly do not believe that I should want to take you from your work. Many months in the year I shall not need to be in London: and even all the rest you could be elsewhere. I make too much of this, but your 'puzzle' wrung my heart. Love will find a way. Do be happy, or I cannot be, however kind you are. I do so want the end of the month to come. Dearest, (\adieu\) Sidney [} [\162 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 17 Sept/91 Dearest Do not be despondent at feeling you cannot do all you would wish: I do not doubt that you have done an immense deal. The mechanical part which you find so difficult is the least important. Your business is to think. I have taken a decisive step in political tactics. The Holborn Liberal and Radical Association has sent in the mildest of mild resolutions to the National Liberal Federation, with an express request that it be put in the agenda for the annual meeting. It runs, That this Council is of opinion that early steps should be taken to enforce a legal restriction of excessive hours of labor, in those industries in which such restriction can be effectively carried out, and in which a decisive majority of the workers desire it. This is so moderate that I do not doubt that the meeting would accept it if it were put. It goes indeed, very little beyond what the bulk of Liberal M.P.'s have already committed themselves to, under Sir Wm. Harcourt's lead, when they voted for Channing's resolution as to railway hours last January, when the official Liberal whips were the tellers in the division. But if it were to be put and carried at Newcastle it would be an immense stride forward for our side. I do not think they will adopt it, but it will be very awkward for them to refuse it, coming so close after the Trade Union Congress. I think the officials are in a difficulty; and it appears to be a moment to press forward, especially as it is the last chance before the general election. So I have written to Schnadhorst, Dr Spence Watson, Percy Bunting and Mather of Leeds, who are the most influential members of the General Purposes Committee of the N.L.F. carefully (and I hope, modestly!) explaining the situation. Of course I said I did not want to move the resolution, if they would adopt it; but that if they did not, I proposed to move it. One curious result is that Schnadhorst, who had written to ask me to call today in connection with the list of suitable Labor candidates I had compiled for him, suddenly sent a note across to say that 'unexpected engagements' compelled him to ask me to defer my call till Monday! (by which time he will have heard from Dr Spence Watson). I have made my article for the Speaker a caustic comparison of the T.U. Congress with the N.L.F. meeting - so I think it quite likely that Wemyss Reid (who is a member of the General Purposes Committee of the N.L.F.!) may refuse to insert it. If he does put it in, it will serve as driving force to the Holborn resolution. Dearest, I can't help feeling that this inconvenient action will not ingratiate me with 42 Parliament St, and may therefore make them less disposed to find me a seat. But I could not refrain from doing what seemed best, merely on that ground. I know you don't attach very great value to

my getting in this time, but even if you did, I feel certain you would not have wished me to abstain in order to ingratiate myself. Honestly, I believe that the Liberal Party is running the most serious risk of shrinking up into a middle-class group, like the German 'National Liberal (\Partei\)'. I believe that would be bad, and I have played to save it from that fate, even if it should imply Morley's resignation. But of course, it is not so momentous as that. They will probably refuse to put my resolution to the vote on some specious excuse. That will do them harm, but I can do nothing further to help them. I hope the change to the Bells', and to Durham may be agreeable - I look for a letter every morning. And tell me, presently where and how I am to see you. I am not going to work so hard this week as last. Tomorrow I open the Autumn Course for the Fabian Society, but only on Women's Wages again. I can't help you until I can be with you! Goodbye, my love, until tomorrow. Sidney [} [\163 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W 18 Sept/91 Dearest My article is in the Speaker - accompanied by another by Wemyss Reid on 'The Bully in Politics' (!) which is, however, really called forth by J. Cowen's violent abuse of Morley in the Newcastle Chronicle, and by [\[W. T.]\] Stead's denunciation of Dilke. Still, Reid has chosen to 'go for' me also in a note. I don't feel guilty, and it does not matter. The Liberal leaders are playing an equivocating and disingenuous game, and I think those who differ from them (and who believe that the great mass of the rank and file differ from them) have a right to ask that the programme shall be made to fit the popular desires. Gladstone and Morley are but the spokesmen of the Party; if the Party moves, they must either (\se soumettre ou se d‚mettre\). But, or course [^or: SIC EDN^], the manner in which they have been approached has not always been felicitous, and although I have not been personally concerned in the Newcastle movements, there seems to be an undying impression that I was. I send you the Speaker in case you don't see it. I am glad you were to see the Miners' Committee: you evidently learn a great deal that way - I can easily confine myself to getting the facts of

those T.U. which do not object to me, e.g. Sinclair's Tin Plate workers, the Labour Federation, Laidler's Bricklayers etc. and you will have lots of notes etc. for me. I will go to the Grand Hotel, Tynemouth, as you suggest. I propose, subject to future changes, to arrive at Newcastle about 4 p.m. on Wednesday 30 Sept. - to see if you are about (we could perhaps dine together) - and go to sleep at Moore Ede's, perhaps speaking at a meeting that night (probably not now). Then I should move to Tynemouth on Thur. 1 Oct. I saw Miss Bridgman last night at the Fabian meeting. She asked after you, with a good deal of suppressed amusement at the comedy we are playing the world. I send you Shaw's book on Ibsen which has just reached me. It is very clever; and not so bad as I feared. I can see no alternative to treating women as human beings (\co–te que co–te\): but his glorification of the Individual Will distresses me. Dearest, this is a solemn sheet of paper, and a solemn handwriting, but it comes from one whose heart is leaping joyously because he is thinking of you; and who is counting the days until he can once more see your face, and feel your hand. My love, you have already transformed me: and you are going to do so still more. I most sincerely pray that I may, in return, be saved from doing you harm, or causing you aught but happiness. Once more, (\adieu\) till tomorrow. Sidney [} [\164 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 20 Sept/91 Dearest I wonder what you have been doing today? I hope the Bells have not oppressed you with too much splendour, though I dare say you can do with a great deal of that occasionally. I have missed you so much. I felt tired, and have rested; and after our midday dinner I lay on the sofa and pretended half to go to sleep, but I was thinking of you - putting together the smile of your lips, and curve of your forehead, and the little movement of your nostrils, and the sound of your voice into a kind of picture, which never got complete because each time I lost myself in the one point that I could realise. There's waste of time! I am afraid you won't get this by the first post - our London Sunday postal arrangements are so awkward. But you will, I suppose, not arrive at Durham until midday, so that it will, I hope, come soon after you do. I have heard nothing from Mrs Green yet, and I almost think I will call and enquire in some days time - perhaps I shall manage to see her next Sunday.

I hope the Speaker, and Shaw's Ibsenism, reached you all right at the Bells - and that my article did not seem to you in the wrong tone. (Of course, as to Wemyss Reid's criticism of fact, it is I who am right, not he. There are, by the rules, over 5,000 delegates entitled to be present at the National Liberal Federation meeting, and the highest number ever present is about 2,000). I hear that a minority on the General Purposes Committee wants to put in a resolution limiting hours, but the majority refuses. We shall see. F. A. Channing M.P. is pressing them to put it in as regards railwaymen - this they may adopt as a compromise (which I should accept). More probably they will do nothing. But I am told they feel in a hole. T. P. O'Connor is again most friendly to me in the Sunday Sun - the third time within a few weeks (I enclose the cuttings - which destroy). Now I see his object. He seems to think of running me against Stuart in London matters. This will suit very well, as it comes about without any seeking of my own. By the way, the Star is inserting a series of articles on The London Programme which are founded on, and largely borrowed from my book. That, too, does very well, and nonetheless well because they don't acknowledge their borrowings. This is the kind of utility that I thought the book would have. It 'tunes the pulpits'. I hope you don't feel that I am taking more interest in these things than in T. Unionism. It is not so, but I can't possibly do anything to speak of for THE BOOK until the end of the month, and the other matters go along of themselves. I am more and more struck with the importance of mastering T. Unionism and more and more coming to think that there will be no place for me in the next Parliament. (By the way it appears as if Sir J. Ferguson were going to be made Postmaster-General, i.e. an election in North-East Manchester. But I don't think they will ask me to stand. I should be uncertain what to do. A contest in a bye-election is the best possible road to election; and it might be the necessary preliminary of Gateshead). Now my love good night. I have not said all I should like to say but I have given you all my news, and I must not write anymore. Don't tire yourself even with lengthy letters to me - but I do love to have just a line from you. Goodnight dearest Sidney [\[Catalogue entry]\] 44 GEORGE HARDING, 6, Hyde POLITICAL ECONOMY, ETC. - cont. 1173 Heyworth (Laurence) Glimpses at the Origin, Mission and Destiny of Man, with Miscellaneous Papers on Taxation, Peace, War, Intoxicants, etc., 8vo, half cloth, 5s 1886. Is this by your grandfather? Do you possess a copy? Shall I buy it for us?

[} [\165 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] [\[? Redcar]\] [\[?21 September 1891]\] Dearest One I had a long day with Mr Bell going over his works. Hugh Bell is the last type of captains of industry - modest in expenditure, energetic and scientific in finding inventions and new processes. Indeed he made me feel ashamed of my reforming spirit - he was working so hard and so well and with so much modesty and experience. The only blot in the organisation is the bad spirit of the men - obstructive to improvements and turbulent - on his side an impatience with their stupidity and short-sightedness - the Unions and its officials are the only connecting link between the stupid and stolid insistence of the men for as much pay with as little labour as possible, on the one hand and the big world of commercial hustle and energy on the other. He was awfully kind to me; but he said I was 'not cosmopolitan enough, had not realised the facts of the world's markets'. Today I have been all the morning interviewing two secretaries. These counties are the home of Federation as distinguished from Amalgamation. The mines are inter-federated in all manner of ways in trades, in counties and districts. But I feel I am still hammering at the outside of Trade Unionism not inside - I have not yet broken the crust of the subject. It is that consciousness that makes me feel a bit depressed. I do hope you will not stand for a bye-election. Think of all the expense - œ800 thrown away! And I want you at least till the general election to help me. I go back to the Bath [\[Hotel]\] tomorrow. Now I must set to work at my notes else I shall forget all I have heard. Dear Boy goodbye. Ever your devoted comrade Beatrice

[} [\166 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 23 Sept/91 Dearest The feeling of being 'outside' of the T.U. movement is quite natural and inevitable. It will last until you one day feel yourself inside without knowing how you arrived. I remember 13 years ago thinking that I never could become familiar with the intricacies of the government office I then entered. I knew that I should take no real interest in it, and I felt that I must always be groping in the dark. But a very few months work among the papers unconsciously made it like ABC to me. This must have happened to you with Productive Co-operation. You will soon find T. Unionism mapping itself equally clearly in your mind. And it is just as well, to begin with an 'outside' view. The Bells were evidently a great 'find' for you. We will take occasion in the book, I suggest, to describe the ideal captain of industry. Dearest, here is my portrait in its finished form. I fear I can't 'put a better face on it' than that. You will help me to be true to the better part of me, and perhaps by upright living I may get some kind of light in my face which will take off its ugliness. But if it has found favor with you, I can easily put up with the caricatures or repulsion of others. You will like to see the enclosed kindly note from the Hon. R. H. Meade who has always been my favorite among the under-secretaries. He is second to Sir R. Herbert. I am sorry to say my mother gets weaker. She is nervous about being alone with my sister, and likes someone else to be in the house. She is very well in health and in good spirits, but going downstairs is becoming more and more difficult to her. There is no reason for alarm: but I do not think she can live very long. My love, I should like you to have known her. She has been a good mother to me - much better than she is in the least aware of - and I owe her a great deal more than my good health. I have heard nothing from Mrs Green. I shall call next Sunday if I hear nothing before then. I have done nothing in the way of summarising the 1867-8 bluebooks - except, by the way, read them! - because there is a fairly exhaustive printed analysis of the evidence at the end; and the books of Somers and the Comte de Paris are both virtually summaries from different points of view. I do not think it will be necessary to do more than look through for evidence on specified points when we can be sure of what we want.

I have just had an interview with Schnadhorst about the list of possible Labor candidates which I prepared at his request. He knew them nearly all, and he really seems to have tried all he could to put them into seats. But, as I said at the end, the thing was not done; and however virtuous he may have been, the effect remains. We were getting a little 'warm' over it when Bryce came in unexpectedly and brought the interview to a close. (I waited for Bryce to remember me, and he did so, and we just shook hands.) There seems very little hope of the Liberal Party doing anything before this general election is over. Schnadhorst was very civil, but vague, as to my own candidature (which I did not allude to) and I told him that I was changing my opinion as to tactics, and was in no hurry to get into Parliament now. I am not likely to be called upon to fight a bye-election, dearest, and I certainly should not spend œ800 on it! Now I must close this up. We shall soon be able to talk things over face to face - you with the glow of faith, I with the light of love, in our eyes, and both with the warmth of hope in our hearts. Goodbye, my dearest Sidney [} [\167 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 24 Sept/91 Dearest I feel guilty when I make you write to me when you are tired. I do like even a line from you, but don't feel bound to send it every day. The article quoted by Cowen from the Financial Reformer was one of the 'pot-boilers' I threw off a fortnight ago, under my standing contract with that paper. I wrote it 'strong', because I thought the Editor would tone it down (I drew his attention to it). But apparently he thinks the time has come for strong representations to the Liberal officials. I hate the way Cowen is going on. He has no sympathy with Socialism and I cannot but believe that he is taking it up out of the purely personal motives of hatred of the local Liberal caucus, and jealousy of Morley. I

have seen no sign that he has any programme which would justify him in the continuance (now for over 7 years) of this virulent abuse of Morley's policy - nothing could justify his abuse of Morley personally. I am glad to think that I have never countenanced the idea of running a Labor candidate against Morley on Cowen's money - which will be done - and that the only time I have spoken at Newcastle I spoke strongly against it, or the formation of a hostile Labor group. I rather infer that the National Liberal Federation will now adopt Payment of Members, without reserve, but make no other advance, unless some more express notice of the agricultural laborer. Don't overwork. That note-taking is very fatiguing. Dearest, there will be time. I had dinner last night with Dr Seligman, the economics professor at Columbia College, New York, and Editor of the Political Science Quarterly. He has been in Austria where he met Marshall (at some watering place). One pretty anecdote he had. Marshall wrote him several brief notes making arrangements etc. Opening one of these he found it addressed 'my own dear darling' and concluding 'Your affectionate Alfred'. Marshall had accidentally sent him a letter to his wife! (Dearest, I hope we may be on such terms twenty years hence, but I hope and believe that this can happen without any absorption of the life of one of us into that of the other.) But it is a revelation of a pretty, affectionate sentiment which I am glad to hear of in Marshall. Seligman said that Marshall hoped to finish his second volume within 2 or 3 years! He also said that Marshall was dissatisfied with the Economic Journal, and hinted that he should prefer if the Editorship were changed! I can only infer that he thinks Edgeworth a little too impartial and open-minded. Seligman was very complimentary about the London Programme! I don't think it has done me harm, and it is already of obvious use - Stuart is using it daily for little articles in the Star without acknowledgement. I do try to write you an interesting letter, without too much of 'King Charles the First's Head'! But if I wrote just as I thought it would be nearly all Head! This morning as I lay in bed I almost seemed to see you appear to me as you looked lying in the long chair at Box last October. You were very kindly disposed just then - I don't think I shall ever forget that afternoon. I feel so strong in your love and confidence that nothing seems to tire me. Instead of days of serious 'worry' and anxiety, you have given me Hope and Security. I can never give you enough in return; but what you will like best is that I should be worthy of your trust - and that I mean to be, so far as in me lies. Wallas, Clarke and I meet next Tuesday to talk over political tactics. We have asked Tom Mann, H. Ll. Smith, Vaughan Nash and Benjamin

Jones to join the discussion, but I don't know whether any of them will come. Now, 'my own dear darling', goodbye for today. Your affectionate Sidney [} [\168 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 28 Sept/91 Dearest I will be 'good', since you wish it. Very likely you are right. But do you be kind, and think nothing about it, and leave it to me to be watchful. I can be very strong if I like. I am not afraid, if we will only be frank with one another. There is nothing that I could not do for you - I will go to Tynemouth with you on Thurs. night; and I am free Friday night, as I have sent back the ticket for Gladstone's meeting. We will do a lot of work together, but you must let me keep my journalistic engagements. I should be glad enough to throw them all up, and do nothing but the book. But we must be cool and calculating, and act warily. I will see to the cigarettes. This morning I saw Cardinal Manning who was very 'courtly' and flattering. He thought at first that I wanted help for my own candidature and offered to do various things for me. But I managed to explain what I wanted, namely that he should stir up the Irish to vote, and he said he would. The great difficulty, he said, was their feeling that they were aliens and that nothing English concerned them. He said he was convinced that unless some great change in our social system were made, there would be a crash. The land could not go on as it was, nor 'what Mr Gladstone had called irresponsible capital'. Much must be done for the people, which could only be done by laying hands on the ground landlords. That is pretty strong from a Cardinal. I shall not be able to see Elvidge before I leave. There is so much to do these last days. Tomorrow night we have a small meeting at Wallas's Wallas Vaughan Nash Clarke Llewellyn Smith Webb Massingham Benj. Jones and perhaps Tom Mann, to discuss political tactics, (Labor Party etc.) I, at any rate, am not the instigator of the feeling against him. I have just made a great holocaust of old letters etc., preparatory to leaving the C.O. tomorrow. This brings home to me that I am to live a new life - by your help. I will not fail to be true to the best within me - and then it matters not what comes by way of result. Now I must close, only two more days. I will rush round to the 'Crown' as soon as my train arrives (should be 3.42 p.m.). Goodbye, loved one. Sidney

[} [\169 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 24 Oct/91 Dearest Your letter was a consolation this morning, as I was a little unhappy. It was in this wise. Last night I saw Llewellyn Smith at the N.L. Club, and we were both glad of the chance to talk, but had only a quarter of an hour. I said I should like to know whether you and I on the one hand and he on the other could make any arrangement of the London T.U. to avoid duplicating the work. To my surprise he hummed and hawed; said he did not know how far he could use our material; and then asked me bluntly whether I was doing the work for science or for propaganda! I own to feeling wounded, but (as I told him) I was not much surprised as I had imagined (really it was Wallas) that his first impression would be that I should spoil your book. He then endeavoured to be nice but his first expressions were the truest index to his mind. However, you know how far this is just, and I need not mind, but I was hurt at his evident doubt whether I could ever study anything! But, that feeling apart, it does not seem that we could make any arrangement, as he tells me that it is not he, but Booth's secretariat which is doing the work, he only initiating them into each union, and supervising them. It is not his enquiry, and it is not even definitely settled that he will write the chapter. So we should have to arrange with Booth if we desired to exchange material. Thereupon I told him that I desired strongly that no word should be breathed to Booth on the subject, who, he said, of course knew nothing about me in connection with the book. And I said I felt sure you would strongly prefer that nothing should be said to Booth as to interchange unless and until you chose to speak to him yourself. Dearest, I fear this is a case in which I shall hamper you. But I will make up for it by my own work if I can. They are at work on (1) Printing, (2) Building and (3) Riverside Trades, taking up two or three unions at a time. What seems to be most in the minds of Booth and Smith (and it is a hint to us) is to discover what part unionism plays in each man's mind. They are seeing more branch secretaries than general secretaries and cross-examining them. They have already begun with the Bricklayers and Ironfounders secretaries. But they do not seem to be going very deeply into old records.

They have a circular 'letter of credence' from the [\[London]\] Trades Council, which Ll. Smith seemed to think a great deal of. I described the kind of material you had already obtained and said it was at Ll. Smith's service whether or not we exchanged. And he said that he had made some notes on his own account as to the history of the Bricklayers and of course the Dockers which we could have. But he was embarrassed (probably thinking of Booth), suspicious, and scarcely friendly in any cordial sense. Dearest, I am very sorry. I am what I am. I have lived a 'fighting' life these five years, trying to 'get things done'. But I hope I have some feeling of the value of knowledge. And that, with your help, I can deepen. Now I must try and make it up to you for this rebuff. I am to lunch with Ll. Smith on Tuesday to finish our talk. I said that, at any rate, he and I had better see that the two enquiries did not go to any secretary in the same week! But even as to this he seemed inclined to think that they were all right in any case, and that it was we who would suffer! Afterwards I saw Elvidge, who seems really quite enthusiastic, tho' very sluggish. He has been overworked, and will be for another fortnight, and has apparently done nothing. I told him to complete his abstracts of the Durham Miners and to pick up all he could about the paper trades, book-binding, lithography etc: leaving the Building Trades and Riverside Trades alone; and also the Compositors, as he suggested these could be done anytime. I said I would do the Coopers and Cabinet-makers. I gave him as full an idea as I could of the points which had turned up as fertile for investigation. He said that you had made an excellent impression at the Congress, the only doubters being Shipton and his nearest friends who wanted to know what your game was: and that some one had whispered around that you were fabulously rich! Burns, too, Massingham tells me, has his doubts of you, and has apparently heard of your disapproving comments on him (which might perhaps be discreetly dropped). He says that you went about only with the Old unionists, and he feared you would not put the case of the New! Elvidge has practically nothing about the National Union, as he will have written you, and says that Burt or Nixon (who is Sec.) must have current papers at any rate. I feel that this is a letter of bad news and it comes to you when you are suffering from bad cold. Never mind what you don't get: let us rejoice at the mass of material that we do obtain. When you have been to half-a-dozen centres the 'stuff' will threaten to overwhelm us! I wish I could be with you to consult and help. In an hour I shall be whirling towards you as far as Leeds; and then I must stop, and speak in the Hall in which you sat (I can see you now). I shall address that seat in the Hall tonight but it will be filled by some commonplace Co-operator.

Pray let the work go rather than make your cold worse. Even for the sake of the book - to put it on a very low ground - it may pay better to nurse yourself. The rest of the Factory Reports have come from copying; 111 sheets! Some of them likely to be useful. Can you remember to tell me by Monday whether I should return the originals to Redgrave (who will have left) or to Whymper. I shall probably go to Mrs Green next Tuesday or Wednesday for 2 days. Now dearest, goodbye for today. Do take it easy! Yours Sidney

[} [\170 PP BEATRICE TO SIDNEY\] }] [\[?Rounton Grange, Northallerton]\] [\[?25 October 1891]\] My own dear Boy Do not be disheartened about Ll. Smith. It is of course C. Booth who has probably warned him that he does not wish to be mixed with my enquiry. He (CB) knows, you see, that you are helping me and so naturally assumes that we should make use of our material for propaganda purposes. The only thing for us to do in face of this misunderstanding is to be pleasant and not ask them for what they do not care to give - and patiently to await the time when the misunderstanding shall clear up. That the Booths are hostile is quite clear, but I doubt whether that hostility towards me was not already unconsciously there, before our engagement. Do not trouble about it. We have such stupendous advantages and good fortune in getting our information that we have no right to feel depressed on account of this stupid rebuff. We shall get the result of their enquiry - and probably the material before we want it. Be cordial with Ll. Smith and accept quite frankly his decision that we cannot exchange material. I think they will lose more than he imagines!

We had better book Elvidge for London: he will get us what we want in the way of facts about internal organisation and effort on the [\[illegible]\] life. This is a lovely old house. We had a large party of miners here to tea, then the managers to dine, and Lord Durham is coming this afternoon, so I shall see the 4 Chairmen concerned. I shall about finish at N/C [\[Newcastle]\] next week. There are some Unions who refuse to answer: but when I come in February to lecture at Sunderland and to the reception at the Wholesale Society I can manage to get at them. I don't object to the reputation of belonging to the 'Old Unionist party' it is what I [\[?reckon]\] I am at, at Congress. It is the Old unionists who have the records. The New unionists are very easy to [\[interview]\] and to get at. I am sorry about Burns. I am so glad you went to the oculist. Do use the ointment and the lotion - it is important that your eyes should look nice - even for my sake. Dearest - do not be troubled - we are both of [\[us]\] extraordinarily fortunate - the spoilt children of fortune - we must be patient with those who do not conspire to spoil us - and not resent it. And above all we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on our work - and not bother about the personal aspect of things. We must use even our enemies leave alone our well intentioned critics - both the Booths and Ll. Smith. Mr Knight and Mr Burt are both most cordial in the appreciation of you and Young came to see me - and found his way to my bedroom when I was smoking a cigarette after supper. There he set himself down quite unconcerned and stayed till 10.30 o'clock. He had prepared a great deal of valuable information. I have written to [\[?David Dab]\] to ask whether I can call on him on my way south in the hopes he will ask me to spend next Sunday there. Goodbye dear Boy. I hope your talk at Leeds was [\[illegible]\] Ever B.P. P.S. Dear Boy I believe that you intend 'to see things straight and to see things whole' (to use your own expression). But I do not think that a little suspicion is unnatural in the minds of others. Your arguments have not always been quite straight - you have 'strained' facts a little bit, you have been perhaps more anxious 'to get things done' than the people who did them and who see clearly and truly the whole facts of the case! I believe this a mistaken policy - but it is a policy we might both of us drift into; let us beware of our own feelings - they are our only enemies.

[} [\171 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }] 4 Park Village East, N.W. 26 Oct/1891 Dearest Your nice letter helps me to get over my feeling of pain that Ll. Smith should distrust me. It is as you say, not unnatural, and I own, too, that it is not unfair. I have not hitherto kept the adovcate and the student sufficiently apart. I have so much horror of the way in which so many of our students keep themselves apart from the problems of life that I have gone to the other extreme. But I never intentionally distorted facts. I am just correcting Facts for Socialists for the fiftieth thousand, and, although I have looked carefully with this view, I find scarcely an expression to modify. I know that T. H. Elliott, and doutbless others, object to this Tract as misleading. But I can't see it. What they really feel - as C. Booth does in his own books - is that the ascertained statistical facts lend themselves so easily to the support of what they think injurious proposals, that they dislike their wide circulation among uncritical people. It is the old doctrine of 'economy'. But this I do not myself hold. Still, I mean to be even more careful in the future: in particular I want to try more completely to realise the 'opposite' position at any time, and be not only fair to its expression, but also to its real 'inwardness'. This with your help. I spent a quiet 'domestic' afternoon with the Mathers family yesterday, and my headache gradually got better. (It was the champagne I don't doubt!) Mathers said that T. Un had done much in Leeds; it had greatly diminished strikes, raised wages, and above all, educated the men. There is no Employers Association in Leeds, and the men would like to have one. He said the Co-op Store was passing into an inferior class of directors; and that they had been always very timid and conservative in their policy. He yearned vaguely for Co-op production. He said about 50 years ago about 40 foremen and other superior workmen in iron joined together in a simple partnership as machine makers; they were known as the 'Forty Thieves' - no significance in the name - they prospered exceedingly, but gradually bought out dissentients until now they exist as a small rich private firm of ordinary type. Do you know of this? The instance may be instructive, and worth enquiry when you come to Leeds. It is also interesting that the local 'merchant' (warehouseman) in cloth was both evolved and eliminated within 50 years. The hand-loomers who stood in the cloth hall to sell their products, naturally produced the local

dealing middleman, but he has now almost entirely disappeared with the telegraph etc. The Cloth Hall is pulled down, and the Millowner sells direct for export or to London, from a small office in Leeds, and keeps little or no stock (so capricious is modern taste). I hope my letter from Leeds reached you at Reddich Hall before you left on Monday; if not, I suppose it will be sent on to you. Might we not urge the Co-operators to sell books? Walter Scott sells annually two million volumes, and other cheap publishers must get rid of as many. Books are an article for which the demand is easily stimulated by the presence of a supply. Formerly few Co-operators were buyers of books. Now many must be. It seems odd that books should be joined to alcohol as the only articles not dealt in. Would it not be a good thing for you or me to write to the Co-op News suggesting that they might try the experiment this Christmas? It would be a gain, in any case, to get a new channel open for the distribution of cheap books - whosoever they were. But it would serve well the purpose of us who want social reforms, because the Co-operators would probably encourage that class of books. This morning I have done little but meditate, but I hope not quite idly. Still, I feel that I do not work half so steadily without your presence. I believe we stimulate each other a good deal - which is a wonderfully sure sign of 'affinity'. Rev. W. Moore Ede, The Rectory, Gateshead incidentally reminds me to ask you to let him know of your presence in Newcastle. He evidently wants to see you. He says Wardroper's address (enough for post) is Grosvenor St Gateshead. Now I must leave off to go on with my work. Goodbye dearest one: I am sad when I think there are still 9 days before I shall see you. Sidney [} [\172 PP SIDNEY TO BEATRICE\] }]

4 Park Village East, N.W. 31 Oct/91 Dearest I am glad you are safe at home: pray take it easy. I only wish we could be together to 'play round' in conversation all the much that we have to think about. It was good of you to ensure me a letter this morning. As I lay in bed I sorrowfully decided that you could hardly manage it. I missed your letters sadly at Fleet: which was my own fault. (By the way the address is 'The Retreat, Fleet'. But Mrs Green will be in London again about Nov. 9). I return Ritchie's letter, and enclose another to me, which makes it almost certain that my date will be the 29 Nov. I have therefore told Haldane this. In a few days you will be able to write to Haldane and confirm this. I believe in Haldane's good intentions more and more. And it is evident that his rapidly growing disbelief in the future of the Liberal party is now shared by Acland, R. T. Reid, Buxton, Grey and perhaps Asquith. R. T. Reid, by the way, whom I saw yesterday at a small Eighty Club Sub-Committee, asked me to stay behind and was very flattering. He had just read the Eight Hours Day, but wanted to know what could be done for women in sweated industries and expressed a yearning for Municipal Workshops. I expounded 'Potterism' in the one case and 'Wallasism' in the other; with, I think, effect. He strongly pressed me to go into Parliament, but did not demur to my statement of my intentions thereon. I am sending him your Sweating article and Buxton's Bill. I do not think the Chilean news is serious; neither Chile nor the U.S. could possibly go to war, I think. I send you the Economic Review with a long review of your book by Hewins. (Need not be returned.) He cannot content himself with the necessary limits of individual independence in industrial democracy. The paper for me has not yet arrived from Waterlow's. Did you think to order it? Yes, I think your sisters have been, doubtless in all unconsciousness, very selfish. But what I am most impressed by therein is the ease in which one slips into that kind of unconscious, heedless selfishness. Pray don't let me slip into it. As I have over and over again said, I rely on your being frank and candid with me - I shall need it! Now we will be patient. You may very likely find that you cannot easily come up to town even for a day. If so, I must wait until the 29th before feeling the magic of your voice and hand. But I had almost forgotten to tell you a small piece of news. Massingham unfolded last night a scheme by which he should join our London Letter to another man's, who can bring in several papers - and for greater

convenience of working he (deprecatingly) suggested that I should take no part in the management or risk, but merely be a paid contributor, doing as now, a daily half column, for œ200 a year or so. This of course would suit me admirably, as I could more easily withdraw wholly or partially if we needed the time and did not need the money. So I told him I quite agreed. Now goodbye dearest Sidney