Concerns Of the Plurality of Worlds.
Written from Trinity College.
Re smoking in the Combination Room.
Adhesion to the views of the Address RJ wrote have come from all quarters - 'leading politicians of all sorts pretty strong opinions as to the impolicy of moving at all - I acquiesced without being quite convinced and sent word to the Archbishop who acquiesced too and expressed himself fully satisfied'. Lord John Russell told RJ that he wanted him to communicate 'with Montague Villiers from whom I got 2 duplicate letters expressing an anxious wish that his (that is the low church) party in London should be enabled to join in what I suppose I must call my address - I ran down to Brighton to see him and found we could easily concoct an address which would remove their scruples and satisfy I thought my friends beginning with yourself'. RJ 'found him frank[,] gentlemanly[,] able and never transacted business more satisfactorily with anyone. I will not answer for it however that no small attempts will be made. on the whole it appears to me that the low church and all the high church short of the Tractarians are not unlikely to stand together in united brotherly strength and feelings if the Tractarians will fight and so out of evil may come much present and future good'. RJ thinks 'the spirit of the low church very good and I attribute this very much to Carus [William Carus] - I hardly know why'.
RJ has received a letter from Lord John Russell referring to a letter he sent on Saturday with his opinion (RJ did not receive the letter). RJ has asked Russell's office to see if he can get it. He has received a letter from James Graham 'warmly joining in the views of the subject propounded in the draft but arguing against the address and attempting to shew that the Archbishop is invincible if quite quiet and magnifying his defensive strength -- he promises aid in parliament and says he shall be more useful there if he is not committed to a foregone conclusion -- I differ with him much -- because, (I say it with real sorrow,) I do not think the Archbishop quite as strong in his actual position as he (Graham) believes -- so too you will observe thinks the Bishop of Lincoln'. RJ deems it advisable to suspend the actual signing till perhaps parliament reassembles. 'In the mean time it is surely quite clear that a mere low-church address by itself would do harm. Pray exert any influence you have with Carus [William Carus] to keep them back for a time -- a forward move in line may still be recognized as desirable when the members of the legislature have met and talked together'.
Letters dated 22 Mar. 1843 - 4 Sept. 1844.
Berlin - A letter introducing a young German clergyman, Immanuel Hengstenberg (son of Professor Hengstenberg at Berlin), who intends spending six months becoming acquainted with the religious and scientific state of England: 'I should feel very thankful if you would have the goodness to let him see the magnificent institutions of your university and to introduce him to your colleagues, who may give him the greatest interest. Especially I remember Rev. Carus [William Carus]'. BH would also enjoy a few hours with WW discussing public matters - 'though, indeed, they offer not at all a satisfactory aspect in this very moment. I fear that it is only the beginning for a period of war and destruction, by which neither the moral nor the intellectual state of Europe will gain. He, who first provoked this quarrel, has taken upon him an immense responsibility'.
Trin: Coll: - Everyone who has seen WW's Address to the Archbishop of Canterbury 'thoroughly approves of it'.