Has a copy of CJM's review of Blomfield's Prometheus but not the 'British Critic'
Plans to expose E H Barker
Letters dated 9 Nov. 1841 and 3 Oct. 1846.
Sends congratulations on being awarded the Members' Prize
Concerning [Enfield?] and the Bishop of London's proposal to divide it into two.
Shall be pleased to ordain [Alfred] Ollivant, C J Blomfield had a lucky escape when the team of his gig bolted
To visit Blomfield, plans for travelling in Europe
Thanks WW for his quick response to RJ's draft [see RJ to WW, 11 Jan. 1850]. It has been warmly approved by the Archbishop. RJ has sent a copy to Lord John Russell, James Graham and a few others: 'I shall get at the leading Radicals next week and must somehow or other secure the Duke of Wellington and get at Oxford'. RJ knows nothing of Oxford - does WW know anyone there who can help him? RJ has altered the passage about the tribunal to satisfy the Lawyers. The 'Bishop of London's plan of passing by the Queen in Council altogether was a monstrous, perhaps unconscious, outrage on her supremacy - I take it it will not be difficult so to remodel the judicial committee in ecclesiastical cases as to satisfy reasonable people without ousting the Queen'. If RJ gets favourable answers from the leaders he will turn the draft into an original address.
RJ sends 'back the paper - I have a copy - I have no doubt it came to Cambridge from Brighton but it originated in London and the author is some eminent barrister I do not know who but I have little doubt he wrote the article in the Times I spoke of - there is sense in him but he is rather bear-pawed' [see RJ to WW, 17 April 1850]. RJ wrote a 'pretty strong though friendly remonstrance to the Bishop of London against his attempt to oust the Crown in council altogether of its jurisdiction by his Bill and I have a frank and kind letter of thanks to-day. He clearly had never taken that view of his project'. RJ does not know when he will next see WW: 'I am just now much plagued about a bill to be founded on our epis. and cap. revenues report'.
Trinity College - WW has been to London and has heard that the business of RJ's possible Professorship at King's College has not yet been settled. He met the Bishop of London: 'I asked him if the office was filled. He told me there was a difference of opinion whether it should be continued but that he wished it to go on, because you were to be Professor. I thought him extremely sensible and was very glad to find he had got such a notion'. WW would like to meet RJ to discuss his book ['Astronomy and General Physics Considered with Reference to Natural Theology', 1833]: 'I am coming now to the speculations about the effect of the study of science upon the mind'. There is going to be an election for the University: 'you will hear that Peel [Robert Peel] has retired - I think this must puzzle the Tories hugely for they had got up a strong declaration here in favour of the sitting members and will now have to look out for a new man'. WW will vote for Lubbock [John W. Lubbock] 'as my particular friend and as the mathematician of London. But I meddle not with Whig or Tory'.
Written from Fulham.
5 Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway. - Is 'the most unfortunate author in... literary history'; Milnes must sympathise on reading enclosed statement; also encloses note from Rev. John P. Wilson. Is humiliated by having to seek aid in this way despite endorsement of a bishop. Postscript: last Saturday's Oxford Herald contains appeal by the Fellows of Magdalen; appends list of donors.
'Extraordinary Statement addressed to the patrons of Literature in behalf of a well-known historian', containing copies of letters from the bishops of St. David's, London and Llandaff, Lords Ashley and Brougham, the Earls of Clarendon and Haddington, Lord Francis Egerton and Hugh James Rose, Mar.-Jun. 1841, as well as critical opinions on Dunham's writings. Printed, 2 ff. [1842?]
Letter from John Posthumous Wilson to Dunham, 17 Apr. 1842, Magdalen College, Oxford. Sends £4; he and Mr Faber will advertise case in the Oxford Herald. 2 ff.
RJ wishes WW would burn his last letter [RJ to WW, 16 Sept. 1852]: 'No good could possibly come from bothering the Bishop of London in Ireland'. Nothing can be done till Parliament next meets. RJ's 'knowledge as to the consular courts relates to their judicial functions as between individuals[,] their contentious jurisdiction the lawyers call it I believe[,] which forms a curious episode in the history of modern European Tribunals and throws light on the progress of manners which has interested one much. I have never been able to get a sight of the book Grotius refers to and have met with no national law in my reading connected with their functions'. Leone Levi has just published a book 'on the Commercial Law of the World with an a priori account of national codes etc. They are more numerous than I expected but I get nothing from it as to international rights and remedies but I have not done searching it'.
Concerning letters from William Whewell to his father, Charles James Blomfield.
Harrow. Compliments him on reply in the Edinburgh Review to [C J Blomfield's] attack on him, Samuel Butler's comments on the Porsonian school
House of Lords - speech on the "Chapters Bill", poor speech by the Bishop of London, [William] Whewell's book
WW has 'been dining with the Bishop of London of whom you talk so ireverently. In defence of my reference to him I have this to say: that my principal object in the passage you refer to was to present to peoples minds a view in which they might rest, with no disquisitive from fear of dangerous error, and wish something like a primitive idea in a case when human nature craves it'. WW thought that in 'such a case the opinion of a man of good practical understanding, which Blomfield [Charles J. Blomfield] is, though no metaphysician, and of a bishop to boot, was very much suited to my purpose'. John M. Kemble is to lecture on Anglo-Saxon next term: 'It appears to be likely that he will be well attended, and one might if once chose make it an occasion of reviving the Philological Society'.
Congratulations on C J Monk's first class degree
Supervised College Examinations from 9 until past 8 each day, 5 out of 7 in the first class of the first and second year are his own pupils, election for the Woodwardian chair, Thomas Smart Hughes' opponent in his act for BD was Blomfield, James Smith's attack on Cambridge for opposing his application as Professor of Botany on the grounds of his nonconformity, hopes he will get a set of rooms vacated by Hailstone, Professor Everett in Cambridge
Thanks Monk for the copy of his portrait
Fulham - unable to accept his invitation as he caught a cold on a confirmation tour of Essex
Rheola, South Wales - Davies Gilbert has consulted CJB regarding the subjects to include for the Bridgewater Treatises. He has recommended WW to do the branch on astronomy, for which he would expect him to receive six or seven hundred pounds.
London - CJB has not time to look over the whole MS of WW's Bridgewater Treatise [Astronomy and General Physics Considered with Reference to Natural Theology, 1833]: 'much harm may be done to the cause of Revealed Religion by the use of weak and untenable reasonings, and the injudicious pressing of questionable analogies'. CJB would be willing to read a part of the treatise which WW thinks is representative of the whole. WW should not make his account of undulations a material part of his argument.
Fulham - CJB has read the remainder of WW's manuscript for his Bridgewater Treatise with 'great satisfaction'.
Fulham - CJB has received WW's Bridgewater Treatise: 'I may very safely thank you for the service which you have rendered to the cause of Religion'.
London - CJB has now read over half of WW's Bridgewater Treatise with great pleasure. The Archbishop talks about it in the strongest terms and 'thinks it is the most important work we have had for a long time'.
London - Mr and Mrs Blomfield enjoyed their visit to Cambridge and look forward to WW and Cordelia Whewell staying with them on Friday.
Preparations for the first volume of the Museum Criticum, Blomfield's remarks on The Electra to be incorporated inMonk's article, notices of new classical books, Monk's 2nd edition of Hippolytus, disagreement between Monk and Dobree over the editing of Porson's Aristophanes