JOHN ARTHUR GODLEY:
GODLEY, [JOHN] ARTHUR, 1ST BARON KILBRACKEN (1847–1932; Principal Private Secretary to Gladstone, Permanent-under-Secretary of State for India, 1883–1909).
A charming, and often amusing, series of autograph letters to his daughter, Helen. 38 letters and 10 part-letters, in all, 371-sides, 8vo. Minley Lodge, Farnborough, Hampshire; India Office and elsewhere; 19th February, 1898 – 29th December, 1899.
Godley is an indefatigable bicyclist and recounts lengthy journeys and visits, commenting much on the their social acquaintances: “I had no one to bow to except the Duke of York (who now always shakes hands with me), and the Duke of Cambridge: there were also two non-descripts, unknown to me though apparently Royal, who did not ‘command my knee’ as Shakespeare says” – “Her dance … with the Comm’r in Chief seems to have been the great event of the week; but it makes one fear that she must have been a wall flower of a very hopeless type to induce Lady Seymour to bring up her last reserves – ‘en avant les grosses pièces’ – in the shape of her husband” etc.
He describes his visit to the ailing Gladstone at Hawarden and, after his death, to his grieving widow: “Mrs. Gladstone I found very much as I expected to find her: decidedly altered, but, for the moment, in good health ……… she was very kind & affectionate to me. She cries a good deal at times ……”
He describes meetings with Lord Curzon: “……Of all the men with whom I have done business, he is the one who comes nearest to reminding me of Mr. Gladstone. If Mr. C. had 100 marks, Curzon gets 75: but he distinctly belongs to the ‘Scula d’Gladstone’ as they say in the Italian picture galleries.” We quote more fully from two of his letters below.
In his letter of 27th Oct. 1898 he discusses the proposed “Life of Gladstone” – “I am afraid that John Morley will make his Life too much the Life of a Politician, and not the Life of a man; whereas in reality (strange as it may seem) politics were only an incident in Mr. Gladstone’s existence; they were one, but not the principal one, of his many interests. A good many people share your view, among them Lord Roseberry, who, partly I think because he did not want it to fall into the hands of J.M., was very anxious that I should do it. I told him … that I could not undertake it unless I resigned my post here – although I could afford it – I did not feel inclined to do; having now had 15 years experience, I thought I was or ought to be of some use, and my first duty was to my employers, the State …… and when … the offer was actually made by the Executors (this is a secret, not to be mentioned on any account) I repeated these arguments ……… the real reason was one which I could not give, but which you will have no difficulty in supplying. As matters now stand, I had not even the slightest wish to undertake the task ……… I can see that the Gov’t are uneasy about Fashoda, mainly for the reason …… that we are dealing with a lunatic, whose actions it is impossible to foretell from one day to another. The French seem pretty quiet today: but in a week they may be under a military despotism brandishing their fists in our faces. I was much pleased with what Uncle William said about it (see today’s papers) …”
From his 20-page letter of 14th June, 1899: “Dearest Helen, I have your letter; quite a good one, though the word ‘medicine’ is mis-spelt (This, to ladies, is a very difficult word) ……… … Your Mother and I have been for a long time engaged to dine last night with Mrs. Romanes, widow of the scientific man [George Romanes, 1848-1894] … rather well known to fame: a disciple of Darwin …… met various people, more or less illustrious, such as Rev. Newbolt, of St. Paul’s Cathedral; Rev. Phillimore, cousin of Sir Walter; Mr. Kempe; Professor Butcher & wife, both very agreeable people; a poet called Binyon, whom Mrs. Romanes caused to sit next to an athletic young lady who had written a book on golf: they seemed to get on very well together. Opposite to me was a youngish man, of rather repellent appearance …… of an olive-oily complexion, so much so that I said to Mrs. Butcher (who asked me who he was) that he looked like a relative of the Senior Wrangler – a native of India, as you would have seen in yesterday’s papers – after the ladies had gone, his conversation became audible to me, & I heard him volubly laying down the law about Ritualism etc. at great length to Canon Newbolt, who listened patiently & silently, occasionally bowing his head. I put him down mentally as a half-caste or Eurasian, of the worst type, & wondered how Mrs. Romanes had picked him up. But he turned out to be a gentleman of the name of Hogg, born I believe, of European parents, & formerly much esteemed by you as a partner ………………………What do you think is the last offer I have had to refuse? Not a biography this time, but the post of Finance Minister of India – what is called Financial Member of Council – It would have involved going to India for 5 years. I ought not to say the ‘offer’ because the only person who can offer it – Lord George Hamilton – did not wish me to leave this office …… Lord Curzon wrote to Lord George suggesting me, and at the same time wrote me a sort of impassioned appeal – ‘Come over and help us’ – hinting that if I did so I should possibly succeed him as Viceroy [Godley refuses the post and informs Lord George Hamilton of his decision, who replies]: ‘I think that there are few things you could not succeed in, and I am sure that you would make an excellent Finance Minister but you are performing a higher role here, and I certainly think you ought not to leave this office except as Viceroy: and then it would be a day of general mourning here’ – I told you of the compliment I received 3 or 4 weeks ago: I now tell you this to cap the other ………………… I saw yesterday the Rev. Young bicycling down Sloane Street in a Norfolk jacket and a stiff wide-awake hat this shape [here Godley inserts a pen & ink sketch of the hat] a layman’s hat. This is the kind of thing that tends towards disestablishment.”
Together with two cartes-de-visite of Helen aged 3 years and 3 months, Nov. 1875.
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No. 8180
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