Morale

'How does a wise person like yourself explain that': Sir James Black Baillie moral philosopher and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mrs Stopford’ waxing contemplative on her sending him a cutting.

24715 — 17 October 1836; on letterhead of Bardon Hill Weetwood Leeds Yorkshire. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition lightly aged. Folded twice for postage and in envelope with stamp and Leeds postmark addressed in autograph to ‘Mrs. Stopford / Sussex Lodge / Horsham / Sussex’. Addressed to ‘Dear Mrs. Stopford’ and signed ‘J B. Baillie’. He begins in almost philosophical terms: ‘Dear Mrs. Stopford / How very kind of you to remember this little request. It was such a pleasure to receive the cutting. So few people carry out casual promises which are easily made & as quickly forgotten: when they are fulfilled they seem to contribute to human happiness out of all proportion to their importance. How does a wise person like yourself explain that’ In the last two paragraphs he discusses the weather and his regret about her early departure on their previous meeting. 17 October 1836; on letterhead of Bardon Hill, Weetwood [Leeds, Yorkshire]. unknown