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Glenhindy, Scotland - Any hopes TT has of 'opening my books' will depend upon him reaching Cambridge, 'and placing myself under the strict surveillance of such friends as Sheepshanks [Richard Sheepshanks] and yourself'. TT 'could not have come to a better place for misspending my time: for all the amusements and occupations of this hardy race lie out of doors'. He has not had any luck with the 'Highland Lasses' and has spent most of his time hunting.

41 Chalcot Villas, Adelaide Road NW - Thanks him for his History of Discovery [Philosophy of Discovery 1860?]. Notes that WW has 'at last admitted that Induction = Induction means Induction < > Induction. Whether you have gone as far with logic I have not yet found out'. Roger Bacon is a great favourite of his 'and he ought to be allowed his share of the name of Bacon'. Wonders if less dignified names hinder reputations; says a latinised version of Sheepshanks' name would have 'looked grand' in the Middle Ages. In a postscript, he shares a few notes on the book.

Trinity College - Why has he not seen or heard from RJ this summer? 'Sheepshanks [Richard Sheepshanks] has been down and has used my garden as an observatory with great industry. - He confines himself principally to the kind of astronomy which you despise so much and which consists in seeing that the stars pass the meridian at the proper time - I suppose you would not suspect him much more than a person who notices exactly the times of which the stage coach passes his door'. RJ will stay some time when he presents his university sermon. 'I must also always request to be remembered to your Polit. Econ. as a personage that I have a great affection for and hope to be better acquainted with shortly. - What is come of your projects of becoming a vicar?'

73 South Audley Street - Can WW tell JCH 'when there is likely to occur any opportunity for incepting?'. JCH describes his disgust at British art collectors: 'To be sure it is all in character to place a far greater value on a horse than a Madonna'. JCH aspires to the time when Britain has a National Gallery like the Louvre in Paris. 'In looking over the Report of the Committee on the Elgin marbles, which is altogether a book that reflects little credit on the country, I could not help bursting into a laugh at the last sentence, which recommends the purchase, in order that England may thus (by the purchase) become first in arts as in arms: as if supremacy in arts were a remarkable commodity. But here the other devil by which the country is possessed, the economizing spirit cries out against its parent, the commercial, and where comfort and sensual pleasure are not affected, is but feebly opposed by his brother, the luxurious one'. Richard Sheepshanks 'read to me your gradually softening accounts of your new occupations; yet I cannot wish such a curse as ever to become completely reconciled to them; and pray do not imprecate a similar one of me; for I cannot help now and then feeling a little distrust of myself, when I consider the disposition of the stomach to adapt itself to the food with which it is supplied; and look around at the numerous instances of intellects degraded by professionalism, especially by law'. Has Nancy Dennis been at Cambridge and is Mary Anderson developing her beauty?

WW and Richard Sheepshanks's expedition to France did not take place because they were shipwrecked: 'We lost everything even to our hats and Sheepshanks's smart frock'. This means he will be able to work intensely on his mechanics in Cambridge [An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics, 1819]. WW is to comply with JCH's request for him to fall in love with Miss Reynolds: 'a little more time and a few more moonlight walks I should have been very far gone'. All WW's 'little loves' in Cambridge 'are likely to die away; especially now that I have no one alas! to talk to of them - Marianne is going to be married to that porpoise looking man the landlord of the Red Lion and I never trouble myself about her'.

WW sends R. W. Evans's [Tutor of Trinity College] printed reply to Connop Thirlwall's critique ['A Letter to the Rev. Thomas Turton, on the Admission of Dissenters to Academical Degrees', 1834]: 'I hold that it has little bearing on the question of the admission of Dissenters'. Evans's lectures were not an imperative issue in the controversy but it will show JCH 'how it may happen that Evans feels very bitterly about what Thirlwall has said'. WW is pleased JCH agrees with most of his reply to Thirlwall ['Remarks on Some Parts of Mr Thirlwall's Letter on the Admission of Dissenters to Academical Degree', 1834]. As to WW 'making an analogy between religion and knowledge I should not have done it, if I had not known that a dislike of compulsory chapel and compulsory lectures go together in the minds of some of our lecturers here - and being firmly persuaded that such opinions are as destructive of church and college as they are of chapel and lecture room I took the opportunity to say so'. WW did not think Thirlwall's printed reply to him 'very judicious for who can be 'private, reserved, and full in answer to a printed circular from an intimate friend beginning 'gentlemen'?' The seniority met to discuss the issue: 5 persons were in favour of Thirlwall (Adam Sedgwick, Thomas Musgrave, Joseph Romilly, Richard Sheepshanks and George Peacock).

Brighton - All of WW's luggage is at the bottom of the Channel. Could RJ supply them with some spare clothing?

Asks on behalf of M. Biot what is meant by supersedeas in Newton's 'otiore expensa'. He has written an article on Richard Sheepshanks for the Examiner; wonders who will have both power & leisure to help young observers now.

WW was surprised to find RJ in Paris: 'Sheepshanks [Richard Sheepshanks] and I are preparing to take wing but it will be nearly a fortnight before we reach Paris'. Due to the lack of time, they have had to abandon their philosophical plans of becoming acquainted with 'its state, moral, political, literary and culinary'. From Paris they go to Switzerland, then to Italy and then back via Paris. Their plan is not definite and they would add a week on if they new they would meet up with RJ: 'I wish we could persuade you to take one more extensive ramble - you would be the better for it in your life afterwards and you may take the length and breadth and height of the French constitution at some future time when the edifice has settled into a more permanent form'.

Refers to an inscription and G. B. Airy's opinion. Refers to the use of the words 'modulus' and 'vindici', [for the Richard Sheepshanks memorial in Trinity College Chapel?]

WW is now re-established into College life. After RJ left both WW and Richard Sheepshanks in France [see WW to RJ, 16 July 1820], they 'were principally employed in seeing earth and stone and wood, either in their natural or artificial combinations and had not much opportunity for speculating, or collecting facts for speculators like you, about the animals who inhabit these localities'. WW got on adequately with his French but RS 'continued to talk the very worst jargon that ever man uttered - Notwithstanding this however he was very strenuous in his attempts to expound and give his ideas on all points, especially political, to all the people who came in our way'. WW did not use to believe RJ's 'conclusions as to the chance of a revolution in France but all that we saw after we parted had certainly a tendency to confirm them. An expectation of the same kind seemed to be entertained by most of those who would tell you their opinions and everybody appeared to have some modification or other of hostility to the Bourbons. And this is so much the worse because the powers of political and moral reasoning of the mass of the people are not such as to make it likely that they will make themselves any thing better than what they have. However if their house of cards stands a few years longer I hope to go and take a most accurate look at it. I am convinced that for a quarter of a year they would be delightful people to live amongst'. WW would recommend RJ to visit Switzerland: 'If you could stay there a little you might see the working of a set of miniature constitutions consisting of all conceivable mixtures of aristocracy and democracy. So far as externals are concerned the aristocratical parts are much superior'.

RS cannot give any information as yet about lithography. WW's 'barometer only pretends to be comparative and is adjusted by another which is positioned to give yourself no uneasiness upon that head. The Galvanic plates look ugly enough to be very scientific but you know best what use you intend to extract from them. As the barometer and thermometer both require care they must stay here until I can bring them down which will be also as well for the Plates. What day this will be I am not quite certain but I hope on Thursday morning to mount the telegraph'. RS has sent and addressed his circle to WW and it should arrive at Shepherd's Bridge Street on Friday morning. He will bring his own barometer so that WW can compare it with his. Donkin [Bryan Donkin] has finished the Zenith Sector. RS hopes the observatory [Cambridge Observatory] 'may get so far advanced that to recede or limit the plan may be impossible even for the heads'. RS has been testing his instrument: 'Two lines of observations nearly contemporaneous gave me the same error in the chronometer within a second of time but that only proves that the instrument gives the same results and that the fault was not in the observer making the contacts'. RS gives Troughton's [Edward Troughton] answers to George Peacock's questions concerning the Transit.

RS gives a detailed description of a radical political meeting at York: 'I passed an immense number of people but scarcely a horse or a carriage. These people were quiet and decently dressed but of a very low cast and as I rode past heard more than once some allusions to their hopes of riding soon'. RS estimated that there were 'from five hundred to a thousand decent people there and from fifteen to twenty thousand radicals nearly all from our good town and neighbourhood'. 'After the real business was over a mob orator of the name of Mitchell...got up. He spoke of the affair of Manchester as an eye witness and then entered into the uselessness of petitioning parliament...I believe most of the mob thought that was the object of the meeting'. Eventually they proceeded to the detail of the petition which was easily carried. 'If you ask me if I see any danger I must say that taking the folly of ministers and the disposition of the people together there is much danger for unfortunately the wise heads that rule us seem only to understand by vigour and disdain of laws and prudence...The thing I am afraid of is local damage. I wish my family and property were quietly out of the way'. RS gives his comments concerning Whewell work ['An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics', 1819]. WW should dilute his preface to avoid any confrontation with the old guard: 'I don't myself see any need if softening this part but, if you could speak handsomely of the ingenuity with which they have handled their cumbersome engines without lugging it in'.

RS gives various comments concerning faulty aspects of their respective barometers and the Cambridge telescope: 'I find I shall want a second quicksilver horizon on account of the telescope not being in the same vertical plane so that one cannot serve for the purpose I wish to try. I consulted [Edward] Troughton about the slits for the mural. He says he does not like to cut the building quite in two but he does not see any serious objection to doing so'. RS describes how he would pursue this plan (with a diagram). He has spoken to Troughton with regard to correcting for the expansion and contraction of the brass scale (on the barometer) when the temperatures at the upper and lower station are different. He gives the mathematical operation which makes this correction. Since writing the above he has seen Troughton who says he is 'against cutting the slits to the ground and would even prefer the raising the reflecting surface from the floor. This indeed might be easily done by having a little square pier thus [diagram] in front of the wall detached from it and covered by the floor. A stool which adjusted in altitude like a music stool might be placed upon it and thus take in all stars you wanted. Would not after all this be the cheapest and best way'.

RS hopes to be with WW on Thursday: 'I will bring what I can with me of our efforts and will take especial care of your unfortunate barometer with its invisible lower surface'. He has just come from Greenwich Observatory: 'Their quicksilver is placed upon a board which goes from the mural to the wall and they say it is steady enough'. He met an architect who wishes to try for the Cambridge Observatory contract.

WW showed great foresight in sending AS the screw: 'He [Edward Troughton] must see and make me some others which will do the business completely'. AS gives news and suggestions concerning the parts made and under construction for the new Cambridge Observatory. He 'gave Troughton [Edward Troughton] my Woodhouse ['Physical Astronomy', 1818] and I was going to beg you to send me another but it need not as I shall probably soon be with you. I think our matters are coming to a close'.

RS has sent WW 'four little compasses, the least and cheapest I could get. There is a smaller kind, but not fitted up in a plain way; they are mounted like your little watch compass but I could get you some made plain'. Both [Schmalkalders] and Casey would be willing to make one.

An account of his trip through Europe with particular reference to Gothic architecture (Paris to Florence): 'The first view of Florence disappointed me excessively. The Cathedral is large and built of the most costly materials but there is littleness in the design at least to my eye'.

An account of AS's travels in Italy. He was impressed with Pompeii: 'The architecture is in good preservation and would hold about twenty or five and twenty thousand persons'. The museum of Naples has to be seen to appreciate the beauty of its articles - statues, pictures and antiquities. However 'The truth is I find myself more English and more tied to my loves and friendships than I ever suspected before. I almost begin to suspect that I shall never like any place but Cambridge. The dirt and filth of the people quite sickens me and I have now very nearly seen as much of pictures and statues as pleases me'.

Thanks WW for his letter full of Cambridge news: 'I shall be entirely happy to have any opportunity of showing my teeth or even hitting the heads...our opponents are the very ones of all others that I should like to hurl defiance against'. RS gives an account of his European tour: 'It was hot at Rome and so hot during our return that I think we did not travel more than one day from there to Milan'. 'Terni is as Lord Byron says worth all the waterfalls in Switzerland but together twofold'. However the 'number of beggars and idle rascals who want to be paid for sweeping and cleaning the paths and making bridges where they have never laid a finger is very provoking'. RS was not pleased with his courier who ordered a meal above his status: 'we took him on to Milan and dismissed him there as we had had a set purpose to do some time before. There too we got rid of our femme de chambre who was a sad useless idle impertinent and unprincipled little baggage'. RS gives his architectural observations of various cities in Italy. He thinks the painted arch originated on the northern side of the Alps: 'The prevalence in Italy of round arches and insulated columns in the later age as far as I can understand of all the painted arches I have yet seen makes me almost sure of this'. There is some good and early Gothic at Dijon.

RS was unable to persuade Lens to stand as a candidate for the Cambridge election: 'what is the least of the evils presented to us. I cant help thinking Robert Grant after all. He has taken his regular degrees (which I think is a considerable point for it is high time to undeceive the young sprigs of nobility and to alter that system) he was highly distinguished amongst us, he was a fellow of a college and is I fancy a man of highly respectable character'. Besides which they can always change him when someone better comes along: 'the high church men sooner than have a saint would join us to throw him out and bring in a Xman of looser religious and (in our way of thinking) stricter political principles. The game is I fear too fine but I think something may be made of it. Scarlett will not do for a constancy and yet it would [be] awkward bringing another candidate forwards if he were once in. Now there can be little doubt that we could bring Grant in and there would be no delicacy about kicking him out again'. Edward Troughton has begun work on the 'our circle and will soon draw upon us for some money' [Cambridge Observatory].

The various cuttings include an article on the Chair of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh with an article from the Madras Government Gazette on Hindu algebra dated 15 July 1830; a cutting pasted on to the first two pages of a letter to Whewell sent by an anonymous correspondent concerning the work of American mathematicians dated March 1843; another, a physics problem signed in manuscript by James Walters Jun., 25 Feb. 1848; a description of the "Astronomical expedition to North Spain" in the Times, July 1860, and two other articles about solar eclipses.

RS's views on the forthcoming Cambridge election [see RS to WW, 28 Oct. 1822]. If Scarlett retires as RS trusts then WW should canvass for Robert Grant: 'To keep the speaker out is a matter of the highest importance so high that I think all other matters (now that Lens will not stand) are comparatively trifling. Only think what a triumph for the master's Toryism! He is ruined for any liberality and so are we, as far as he has any influence, if such a thing should take place. But two years in college and kicked out the Morning Chronicle and the Whig member for so he and his friends will think what may not be expected in a few years more'. AS thinks 'there must be yet time if a good majority of the Whigs vote for Grant'. 'On every ground a liberal Whig and as Trinity men you must do your best to keep out the speaker and as I said before Shore and Hervey are not to be thought of'.

RS offers his first vote to Scarlett and Grant if the former retires [see RS to WW, 31 Oct. 1822]: 'After all this is the safer way and though I don't like the principle of going through with a party one must go a certain way. If only Scarlett would retire I should be quite clear and as it is upon reflection I have not much doubt. Grant has everything but politics but then politics in an MP are almost everything'. RS will try to convert Greenwood to the same course. He will certainly vote for Scarlett, I doubt his coming down for a man who is not a whig'. Lawyers are 'a set of weak or nothing men they must either have all their own way or none. If they can't have a whig they say they won't vote and they don't see the short sightedness of such sentiments'.

Thanks WW for his account of the build up to the Cambridge election. RS is surprised no date has been set for the day of the actual election: 'I don't feel quite easy at being so far off for I wish to vote though I don't like our candidate and I should not like to be left in the lurch'. RS was very impressed with the York Minster. He has also been twice to Kirkstall: 'it is interesting from being one of the earliest painted arches we have'. AS gives his views on its architecture. He is looking forward to visiting Lincoln.

Since there was no chance of RS catching WW at Dresden he had put off replying to WW's letter. RS gives an account of the architecture of Milan: 'One thing however is certain that Gothic as a whole scarcely ever got in at all here and you find what we call Norman as low down as 1300 how old their pointed arch may be I cannot pretend to say but I should question them being older than ours'. From here he went to Venice and on to Bologna.

RS is too ill to be examiner at Cambridge. He is glad WW cannot stand for the Lucasian professorship: 'The Heads I dare say have made up their minds so that your chance would have been small...I should have felt sorry if you had tried and failed in obtaining anything else. Besides the ladies'. Edward Troughton 'has forgotten all he knew of clocks, springs etc and though he may talk about them will not of course think much now. I fear the springs but the experiment might be worth trying, only, don't expect any light from anybody as nobody knows anything about it except that it goes by a spring'. RS understands that the intended advantage of Hardy's work in the first scapement is to make the moving force constant. He got the following information from Molyneux concerning the pendulum: 'The compensation for heat and cold is contained of course in the pendulum for long and short arcs in the irregularity in the moving force in the spring at the top of the pendulum. Now the difficulties he apprehends are from the thickening of the oil upon the pallets. When the oil thickens from age the vibrations are of course smaller and then if the vibrations in long or short arise are not correct the clock may gain or lose according as the spring at the top is too tender (I fancy) or too stiff...The pendulum and its compensation are relied upon I believe to supply all occasional defects and Troughton swears that a perfect pendulum won't go well that he has made such but that the clocks went no better perhaps more with them'.

RS has just had a letter from Simms [William Simms] requesting him to return the theodolite which WW and George Airy used in Cornwall: 'I informed him some time ago that it was so incomplete as not to answer my wants'. Will WW or Airy send it to him. RS's two sisters have gone to Bray therefore he has the house to himself - would WW like to stay? What has been done in University matters?