Description compiled by Robert Steiner, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives.
Sir James Stephen (1789-1859), colonial under-secretary, was the son of James Stephen (1758-1832), Master in Chancery. His brother, Sir George Stephen (1794-1879) was a barrister and reformer. Sir James's marriage to Jane Catherine Venn (d.1875) produced five children, Herbert Venn (1822-1846), Frances Wilberforce (1824-1825), (Sir) James Fitzjames (1829-1894), (Sir) Leslie (1832-1904) and Caroline Emelia (1834-1909). Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, 1st Baronet and judge, married Mary Richenda, and had three children, Herbert (1857-1932), James Kenneth (1859-1892) and Harry Lushington (1860-1945).
1. Letters (1-45) from Sir James Stephen to his third son, Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, c.1834-1859.
2. Letters (1-34) from Lady (Jane) Stephen, nearly all to her son, Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, 1837-1871.
3. Letters (1-13) from Sir James Stephen (nos. 1-8) and Sir James Fitzjames Stephen (9-13), all but two (4 and 5) to members of their families.
4. Letters (1-21) from Caroline Emelia Stephen to Sir J.F. and Lady (Mary) Stephen (1-5); letters from and to Herbert Venn Stephen (6-19); a letter from Sir Leslie Stephen to his nephew, James Kenneth Stephen (20); and a letter from Lady (Mary) Stephen to Sir Harry Lushington Stephen (21).
5. Letter from Sir George Stephen to his brother, Sir James Stephen, 1855.
6. Letter from Sir James Stephen to Thomas Carlyle, with Carlyle's reply and another letter from him, 1853-1854.
7. Extracts by Lady Stephen from letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to his wife, 1855-1873. Letters dated 1869-1872 were written from India.
8. Letters (1-53) from Sir J.F. Stephen to his sister-in-law, Lady Egerton, 1861-1887, with extracts by Lady Stephen from some of the letters.
9. Copies of letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to his sister-in-law, Mrs. L. Stephen, and her sister, written from India, 1869-1872.
10. Letters (1-6) from Sir J.F. Stephen to Dean George William Kitchin, 1847-1848 and 1851, and a letter from Kitchen to Leslie Stephen, 1894 (7).
11. Letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to John Stuart Mill (1, 3, 4, 6, and 8), with one from Mill to Stephen and drafts of two others (2, 5 and 7).
12. Letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to George Stovin Venables, 1859-1887 (copies made by Lady Stephen).
13. Letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to Lady Grant Duff, 1874-1889 (copies made by Lady Stephen).
14. Copies by Lady Stephen of letters from Sir J.F. Stephen to Lord Lytton, 1876-1880 (1); original letters from J.F. Stephen to Lord Lytton (2-31 and 33-40), and one to Lady Lytton (32), 1882-1891; and copies by Lady Stephen of letters from Lord Lytton to J.F. Stephen, 1876-1891 (41).
15. Letters (1-226) from various people, mainly to Sir J. Stephen and Sir J.F. Stephen.
16. 'Choice of one of the three learned professions ' by Sir J.F. Stephens, 1850, an essay in a notebook.
17. Extracts from letters of Sir J.F. Stephen relating to three criminal trials.
18, 19. Unfinished autobiography, running to c.1855, of Sir J.F. Stephen, with a copy by Lady Stephen.
20, 21. Unfinished letter to his children by Sir J.F. Stephen, concerning his religious opinions, with a copy by Lady Stephen.
22. Essay, 'The Nature of Belief', by Sir J.F. Stephen, 1862, with a copy by Lady Stephen.
23. Miscellanea (1-10).
Presented by Miss D.J. Stephen, 1953.
Open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
Additional Manuscripts Catalogue.
Cambridge University Library holds other papers of Sir James Stephen, MS.Add.7888, and family notebooks, MS.Add.8381.