The present volume continues Marshall's correspondence up to the year of his death, 1924, and thus completes the entire edition. The reader should turn to the introductory matters of Volume 1 for general information on Marshall's biographical background and on the editorial principles and procedures followed throughout the edition. It suffices to note here that when individuals mentioned in this volume are not explicitly identified or cross-referenced they will normally be listed in the Biographical Register, below. Cross-references take the form [740] for reference to letter number 740, [740.1] for reference to footnote 1 of letter number 740, and so on. Cross-reference to the other volumes is explicitly indicated as such.

The volume opens in the year 1903, a doubly significant one in Marshall's life. It saw the successful conclusion of his campaign to establish a new Tripos in economics and related subjects. And it saw his literary aims diverted from completion of his Principles to composition of a book bearing on the fiscal controversy provoked by Joseph Chamberlain's campaign for protection and imperial preference.

The campaign for the new Tripos, and the burdens of organizing and managing it, placed Marshall under heavy strain, especially as extra resources were not provided to staff the new courses. Even by 1908, only one new lectureship in economics had been established. Despite this, and in part because of his willingness to support two young lecturers from his own pocket, Marshall soon became convinced that a brilliant creative group of young scholars was in the making, and this did much to compensate the burdens of his Professorship and the cramping of his own literary efforts.