['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.

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.