Trinity College - RJ has probably lost his chance this term 'but pray be forthcoming at the beginning of the next' [ concerning his book and possible assistance from the Cambridge press syndicate - 'An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth, and on the Sources of Taxation: Part 1. - Rent', 1831]. The proposition to admit Bachelors to the public library [see WW to RJ, 18 November 1828] was blocked by Geldart [James W. Geldart]: 'If the matter had come to a vote you might have been wanted, for there would have been a strong opposition to the measure and particularly, such is the growing liberality of the age, among the younger masters of arts - you may depend upon it that we lived exactly at the right time for catching all the better influences of the university and that there have been nobody half so wise and enlightened in the later generations. Ask Attree [William Attree - RJ's nephew] about a sermon of Hare's [Julius Hare] at St. Mary's last Sunday; it was very much after the manner of a guess [Julius and Augustus Hare, 'Guesses at Truth by Two Brothers', 1827] but fearfully long; and as there is a sort of Wordsworthian ferment among the boys at present and from other causes 210 of them have petitioned him to print it. Attree is in the list'. The 'animal Geldhart is as you know our Civil Law Professor and is a horrid fellow in the way of all improvement'. Charles Babbage has returned and is ready for his professorship [Lucasian Chair of Mathematics].
Trinity College - Attree [William Attree] tells WW that RJ has composed an epistle to the syndics of the Cambridge Press. WW has not yet spoken to any of the members 'thinking it better not to do so till I could press the matter to the utmost by producing details or manuscript' [see WW to RJ, 20 Sept. 1827]. WW will have to soon decide on the professorship: 'I do not intend to devote my life to mineralogy and should probably not keep the professorship many years'. Nevertheless he intends to become master of the subject and introduce reforms. He would also 'like the kind of rank which it gives here'.
Letters dated 25 Oct. [1858] - 1 Mar. 1859.
Trinity College - WW is surprised that he has not heard from RJ: 'I hope someday to have an opportunity of convincing you that I have ten times as much reason to be angry and weary and dissatisfied with my life as you have '. WW gives an account of the progress of Attree [William W. Atree - RJ's nephew] at Trinity. WW is sorry that RJ has 'promised not to come and vote for Lord Palmerston. I shall think the worst of the University if he is turned out upon that eternal no Popery cry which I do not think impossible. I cannot however persuade myself to care very much about the matter and am almost sick of hearing of that or any other subject of politics. Principally I believe because I can find no general principles at all to my liking and therefore cannot have the pleasure of applying them. If I could get rid of my tiresome occupations here and find time for some glimpses into your world of moral speculations I should at least have the pleasure of theorizing'.
Trinity College - WW has put Attree [William W. Attree - RJ's nephew] into rooms, and set him to read with Romilly [Joseph Romilly]: 'I am much pleased with your youth and have not yet found his vanity at all prominent'. Scholefield [James Scholefield] has been appointed Greek Professor - 'they missed an admirable professor by not appointing Hare' [Julius Hare]. When is WW to hear anything of RJ's political economy?
Trinity College - WW has just returned from his German trip [see WW to RJ, 25 June 1825]. He will keep an eye out for Attree [William W. Attree - RJ's nephew]. WW will make time to read RJ's political economy if he sends it to him. He has 'got hundreds of mineralogical maggots in my head which I found in Germany and which may crawl into daylight hereafter - but now mind this my injunction - Do not go and conspire with Peacock [George Peacock] or any body else to tell our friends that I am bedeviled with german philosophy, as you once raised an essay with the accusation of a priori metaphysics [see WW to RJ, 16 August 1822]. If you do so you may easily give people an impression which you will not be able to remove when I have convinced you, as I certainly shall at the first opportunity, that everything which I believe is most true, philosophical, and inductive. Another injunction I also would give you. Do not imagine I am doing all for the material sciences with my mineralogy. If I do not fail altogether, it will be seen that this is one of the very best occasions to rectify and apply our general principles of reasoning; and my science shall, without ceasing to be good and true mineralogy, be also a most profitable example of that higher philosophy of yours which legislates for sciences - Remember also that we have got to do something for that same philosophy one day'. The talk of Cambridge is the Greek professorship - 'Rose [Hugh Rose] and Hare [Julius Hare] are considered the most likely candidates'.
Trinity College - WW expects to be in London 'about the beginning of June to go down to Greenwich and eat white bait with the Royal Society'. For the rest of the vacation he will visit the Rhine, the Tyrol and Venice - could RJ accompany him along any of the journey? WW read RJ's pamphlet 'with great satisfaction and was much entertained with your distinction between money and other commodities ['Reasons Against the Repeal of the Usury Laws', 1825]. I am afraid that people hardly fright enough about the question to do you justice. I hope to find the demolition of the Ricardites very forward if I see you, for it is a proper adventure for you to set out to kill such a dragon as that system'. WW gives details of next year's lectures which RJ's nephew [William W. Attree] can start preparing for.