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Observatory, Armagh.—Will come and see him, unless something unforeseen arises.

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Transcript

Observatory Armagh
4th Septr 1876

My dear Thomson,

I have just got your telegram. I was nearly on a balance and your telegram makes the go side preponderate; at least unless some unforeseen hitch arises. So I will say expect me unless you get a telegram to the Contrary. I hope you have not kept for me anything but the smallest room at your disposal as I come alone.

I intend to go by the later Mail boat and stick to it (i.e. not go by rail from Greenock) so as not to get in inconveniently early.

Yours sincerely
G. G. Stokes

Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London S. E. - Thinks it 'best to put in writing the purport of what I have said or have intended to say in reference to the Mathematical Studies in the University'; comments first on the study of partial differential equations, which 'are very useful and therefore stand very high., as far as the Second Order. They apply... to the great problems of nature concerning time, and infinite division of matter, and space.. Beyond that Order they apply to nothing'.

Discusses 'what I may call the moral part' of mathematical studies: thinks a 'heavy responsibility' lies on those responsible for the course of education in the University to direct it 'in the way in which it will be most useful to the students' by 'disciplining their powers and habits' and 'giving them scientific knowledge of the highest and most accurate order (applying to the phenomena of nature) such as will be useful to them through life'; does not think that the 'mere personal taste of a teacher is sufficient justification for a special course' unless these aspects are taken into consideration.

Has for some years inspected the examination papers, and considers that except for the very best students there is currently 'a prodigious loss of time without any permanent good whatever', since only a very few such as Adams and Stokes retain their study of abstract analytical geometry. Believes that in contrast a 'careful selection of physical subjects would enable the University to communicate to its students a vast amount of information; of accurate kind and requiring the most logical treatment; but so bearing upon the natural phenomena which are constantly before us that it would be felt by every student to possess a real value' and therefore remain in the mind and 'raise the national character'.

Is 'old enough to remember the time of more geometrical processes' and believes that 'for the cultivation of accurate mental discipline they were far superior to the operations in vogue at the present day. There is no subject in the world more favourable to logical habit than the Differential Calculus in all its branches...'; thinks a return to study of it would be 'far more advantageous... than the simple applications to Pure Equations and Pure Algebraical Geometry now occupying so much attention'.

Edinburgh - JDF thanks Lady Affleck for sending him a report of WW's sermon given at St. Paul's cathedral: 'I notice the strong hint you give about the regime of Public Schools. But can we find better education? Even if not, that does not hinder us from improving the best we have got. As one's sons grow up, the thought of educating them well becomes a very anxious one. Training has no doubt great weight. Example even more. But the result of my observation leads me to attribute more to physical constitution than I used to do, and this of course applies to races'. The new Scottish Universities Act gives certain important powers to the Senior Principal of the University, under St. Andrew's regulations he is the junior. Does WW think George Stokes would apply for his professorship at Edinburgh when he vacates it - 'the commissioners will make it worth about £600'.

Headed mourning stationery, 'Springfield, Cambridge'. - Returns one of the letters she had retained [now Add. MS a/716/2]. Thanks him for his 'kind and considerate reception of the book' [her Life and Letters of Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb...], and for his corrections; asks him to send her any other errors he sees. The Pitt [Cambridge University] Press expect that they will have to reprint before long. A few slight errors 'cannot easily be changed' and will be left in place unless reviews draw attention to them. Discussion of a mistake involving Henry Cecil Raikes and Sir George Stokes.

Postscript; wishes there 'could be a gossippy review somewhere with copious quotations'; afraid that the 'high level of the Times' delightful Review' [Times Literary Supplement, anonymous but by J. R. Thursfield, 10 Oct. 1907] may give the impression that the book is not for the general reader.