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Letter from Charles Kingsley to Revd Samuel Jackson [Dean of Magdalene College].

He had failed John Nicholson but had promised him another examination in October. His Tutor, Hadley of St John's, had advised that the examination had to take place next Monday but he [Kingsley] was unable to attend on that day as his curate was ill and he was busy. He asked if Jackson knew who his other examiner was.

He had asked [Mynors] Bright for rooms for when he was able to come up for two weeks but there were only garret ones available which didn't suit him. He would take lodgings but come into College for meals.

Photocopy of a letter from Charles Kingsley to Revd Samuel Jackson [Dean of Magdalene College].

He sends a list of men who attended his public lectures and his examination questions and asks for them to be sent to the Pitt Prep. Says Jackson can alter any of his questions if he can do so. Asks Jackson to tell the Marshall that he wont' be giving any public lectures this term as he must devote himself to H.R.H. and the ?? Je would never again do the double work that he did lat Spring as his wits couldn't stand it. He would come to Cambridge in time for the examination rounds.

Files of sermons arranged by the date preached [some were preached more than once]:

(1) 8 sermons, 1842 - 1849

(2) 13 sermons, 1851 - 1859

(3) 14 sermons, 1861 - 1869

(4) 4 sermons, 1870 - 1872

(5) Sermon 40, Aug 1871. A bound volume with accompanying printed text from All Saints Day and other Sermons)

(6) 41-46 c. 1880s and two undated

(7) Fragments

The second set comprises about one hundred sermons 1842-1863, the majority dating from the earlier period, including one on the death of Prince Consort, 22 Dec 1861.

The Kingsley Club was founded as a literary club under the patronage of A.C. Benson in 1906. It was named after Charles Kingsley the novelist who had been an undergraduate at Magdalene from 1838-1842. It's declared object was 'the reading and discussion of papers dealing with literary, artistic and kindred subjects'. The club lapsed with the outbreak of the First World War and was re-established by Francis Turner in 1925. It foundered again with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and was revived again by Turner in 1948 and enjoyed a more or less unbroken existence until Lent Term 1991. Membership was restricted and was by invitation. It was seen as 'the premier gathering of student intellectuals'.

Initially Minute Books listed the names of those present at meetings and the title of the paper given but soon became more of a summary of the paper and subsequent discussion. Amongst the Secretaries were George Mallory, Sir Michael Redgrave, and John Simpson.

The collection consists of manuscript sermons written on exercise book paper and sewn together, and were almost all delivered at Eversley between 1842 and 1872. They are arranged under the date of first delivery (several were repeated), and are in two sets.

There are also two letters (one original and one a photocopy) from Charles Kingsley to the Dean of Magdalene College Revd S. Jackson.

Postcard showing a colour reproduction of the cartoon of Charles Kingsley that appeared in Vanity Fair.