Autograph letter signed : [Glasgow], to William Angus Knight, [1866-1893].

Apologizing if he misled him to believe that he could advocate on his behalf; saying that his claims might be met by a special grant; saying "...there is no Senate at present that could take up your case, even if we could get such a body to agree upon a definite line of action - upon a matter not directly our own. Individually there are some of us at least who have every sympathy with you. The great hindrance in your way I believe is yet the Dundee business - which I believe even members of the Government suppose that you have not managed well : but I am repeating mere hearsay...the Dundee people have so great control over the sources of your supply, that I am not even sure that you could permanently resist even an ill judged wish on their part[.] However I hope you will not think all this very unsympathetic. I felt bound to let you know what is - not the sentiment of myself or my colleagues - but rather what I have heard said in different quarters;" adding that his brother has agreed to look at the Spinoza article and if he has time he will offer his comments; saying that he hopes he will not give the proofs to Leslie Stephen as "He is a very able man & almost a genius of common sense - if there is such a thing - but he has no metaphysic in him;" concluding that they are going to Patterdale and inviting him to visit them there.