Wilton Crescent - HH has received a book which is certainly that which WW led him to anticipate in his last letter of December 28th [WW's anonymous publication, 'Of the Plurality of Worlds: An Essay', 3rd edition, 1854]. The subject is one which occupies all reflecting men: 'The belief, or conjecture, that other planetary bodies are inhabited like, or somewhat like our own, naturally began with the moon and obtained reception, half seriously and half in sport, through many writings long before that of Fontenelle, who expanded the hypothesis'. HH does not altogether agree with the book where it argues 'that there is no transition from human and animals; certainly there is an immense leap, even in the case of the natives of the Alderman islands' or 'New Guinea. But taking in the whole constitution of man. I cannot say that the conformity to type, on which the author so well dwells in another part of the book, has been disregarded'. Neither does HH agree with another part of the book - 'that we can connive to being but man. If this were so, it would still only prove the limitation of our conceptions. But surely it is easy to alter in imagination the bodily structure of man, as to a great degree his mental faculties'. With regard to WW's notion of space: 'if space is no objective reality, the nebulae themselves are but luminous phenomena, part indeed of the non-ego world, but no more really distinct than our own notes, if we could see them. I have not however been able to go along with Kant as yet in this'. HH thinks the geological argument presented in the book is very sensible. 'On the whole, it is an original and very remarkable book, and will probably make an epoch in such speculations'. HH is 'not sure whether this book is yours - some things suggest it, some might make me doubt'. In looking over again WW's edition of James Mackintosh's Dissertation [James Mackintosh, 'Dissertation of the Progress of Ethical Philosophy', with a Preface by WW, 1836], HH 'was surprised at some facts and incorrect assertions of his, what you have not noticed. Is it not strange that he should charge all moral philosophers with confounding the theory of moral restraints with the criteria of virtue'.
Wilton Crescent - HH is not familiar with the work on moral philosophy WW refers to. Thanks WW for 'the Professor's Wife' [Auerbach Berthold, The Professor's Wife translated by WW, 1851].
Wilton Crescent - HH has not yet looked at the paper on Aristotle that WW sent him ['Criticism of Aristotle's Account of Induction', Cambridge Philosophical Society Transactions, 1850]. An invitation to WW and Cordelia Whewell to dinner on May 17.
Clifton - Thanks WW for his three works: 'One is above me, but I have read your remarks on Hegel [On Hegel's Criticism of Newton's Principia, 1849] and Mill [Of Induction, 1849] with much pleasure. The former you have well demolished; and I concur in much the greater part of your criticism of the latter, though not having his system of logic by me, I cannot go fully into it'. HH gives his comments on some of WW's remarks in his Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences (1840): 'I have no right to object to your definition of Induction, though it seems to me more limited than ever the modern use of the word'. HH's remark is primarily directed at what WW says of the ancient induction. HH situates his understanding of Aristotle in the debate.
25 Brook Street. - The inscription Milnes has sent [for the Hallam memorial in St Paul's] is 'excellent; & obtains my entire vote in its favour'. Offers as his only suggestion that 'his own people' should be replaced by 'his own people'.
Asks Milnes to make a correction in his own Essays [on Scientific and other subjects contributed to the "Edinburgh" and "Quarterly" Reviews] - on page 289 'smiles' should read 'similes', 'an awkward erratum to have escaped my notice'.
Clifton - WW is probably aquainted with the work of Count Valerian Krasinski - the author of the History of the Reformation in Poland. Krasinski is now desirous of giving a course of lectures at Cambridge, and hopes he can obtain the patronage of the Chancellor and heads of houses to sanction the proposal.
Clifton - HH is stuck at Wranall until the second week of December and thus cannot accept WW's invitation to Cambridge. However, he does intend going to Norfolk before Christmas, and will dine with WW at the Lodge (if he is there) on his return journey. The conversation HH refers to having had with WW on Conic Sections, took place at Cambridge.
Pickhurst, Bromley - Thanks WW for his work [Lectures on Systematic Morality?]: 'But I have additional reason to thank you for the very handsome manner in which you have mentioned my own little attempts to place the fame of Grotius, in his great works, in the light which it appeared to deserve'.
Wranall Lodge, near Bristol - Thanks WW for his book on education [Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge, 1845]: 'It has given me much pleasure to behold the rigours that you make for old geometry, which, perhaps from ignorance of other methods, I had long been led to think to be falling into neglect'. HH is surprised that someone like WW, 'still give the preference to the geometrical, as an exercise of the mind, and as the basis, at least, of permanent studies in mathematics'. The advantages of geometry seem to be among other things that WW mentions - 'that it is more logical and deductive, and that it makes the properties of the external world more distinctly before the eye'.
Letter of introduction for the friend and biographer of Georg Barthold Niebuhr.
Wimpole Street - Thanks WW for the two pamphlets [James Mackintosh, Dissertation of the Progress of Ethical Philosophy with a preface by WW, 1836; Newton and Flamsteed: Remarks in an Article in Number 109 of the Quarterly Review, 1836]: 'You have conferred a great benefit on the public by rendering Mackintosh's dissertation so generally acceptable; it will really show that there is a want of interest in ethical philosophy, if it now fails of becoming a standard book. Your own preface, being a clear analysis of the leading parts of the dissertation, will undoubtedly contribute to the result'. HH notes that WW has 'modestly expressed yourself to developing Mackintosh's opinions, without introducing quite so much of your own as I should have desired. There are, in my opinion, some difficulties in the way of the theory which both he and you have maintained, not perhaps irreparable, but such as I have not yet seen removed. I mean particularly the old objections to the existence of a moral faculty, as a standard of right and wrong, drawn from the great diversity of emotions connected with actions which we find among mankind. That moral qualities are the object of emotions, may be easily conceded to Mackintosh and his school' - this seems very different to the line taken by Butler [Samuel Butler] and Hutcheson [Francis Hutcheson]. If we are to admit of a moral system as an authoritative auditor of right and wrong, 'it can only, I think, be done on the hypothesis of a distinct primary faculty; and I cannot understand how any process of association, which must be objective in its origin, and consequently dependent on carnal and exterior circumstances, can generate an uniform rule of judgment or sentiment among mankind'.
The Athenaeum Club - Congratulates WW on becoming Master of Trinity College, and his marriage to Cordelia Marshall.
Text on base of memorial statue of Hallam by Theed in St Paul's cathedral (birth and death dates not completed). Initials belong to members of the Hallam Memorial Fund committee: S [Lord Stanhope?] W. E. G[ladstone]; H.H. [Henry Holland]; R. M. M[ilnes]; H. H. M[ilman].
First copy has MS additions, one of which, 'June 6. H.H.M.' is adopted in the second, the other, 'The constant benevolence of his disposition', is not.
16 Suffolk Street - The Statistical Society 'went off well - Hallam[,] Babbage, Drinkwater and myself are a committee - It was proposed not by me but by Hallam to ask you to be one of the Council (we count you see on your joining us) will you be a counsellor?' If RJ had been resident he would have signed the Cambridge petition if it could not be altered. However, he believes he could have altered it 'so as to bring in Smythe as I understand his objection and I half hope yourself. Why not have put forward prominantly a declaration that the Petitioners were determined to do or submit to nothing which should endanger or lessen the means or efficiency of the University in her appropriate and peculiar function of an instructress in the doctrines and discipline of the Church of England'. In this way leaving 'the whole question of what privileges should be given to and what withheld from dissenting graduates open'. RJ believes 'residents and nonresidents will have the question brought before them again and again and though I hope we could take separate sides without danger I confess I could not do it without sorrow'.
Also literary notes; a printed broadsheet of Tripos verses, "Datur in Mundo continuus Entium Ordo" (with MS notes) and "Male statuit Newtonus de Origine Colorum'; one half-envelope labelled 'Hallam: Classical Notes' containing about twenty pieces; one half-envelope containing about nineteen pieces, including a list of errata for Hallam's Constitutional History.
Complains that he has not heard from her, and that he saw that she had written to William in Oxford, and was envious. Reports that William looked well, and said that he stood his work pretty well; states that he didn't see much of William, since he was entertaining Professor Fawcett. Asks whether she thinks Lord Houghton worth autographing. Encloses a note of introduction [not included] that he got from him. Announces that he has set his examination papers [for the Moral Sciences Tripos], and is amusing himself with reading Hallam's Middle Ages, which he describes as 'inexpressibly dull'; this is strange, as Hallam is 'clever, enthusiastic, and has a good style'. Complains that it is very difficult to work at that time, as 'everybody is giving dinners at half past seven. Reports that Trevelyan promised to lecture to the Edinburgh people 'on "Impressions of a tour in Greece" and when he got to Corfu he found there was violent quarantine going on everywhere, so he turned tail and went to Austria instead.' Remarks that 'he will have to lecture out of his inner consciousness now.' Mentions that there is talk of a petition against him. Undertakes to bring Colonel Browne's book [the 'Persian MS' referred to in 99/42?] home with him. Doesn't know when he shall come home.
Includes: vocabulary and other notes on classical texts; a sheet of Latin verse (hand unlike Henry Hallam's usual); draft letter from Henry Hallam to an unknown recipient on the subject of Croyland [otherwise Crowland] Abbey; draft Italian verse Se la rosa vivace, e il bianco giglio, with note by T. H. Vail Motter, 27 Sept 1967, giving his opinion that it is in the hand of Arthur Henry Hallam. Another piece of verse, Sisters that guard the charmed isle... is the name of a file amongst Vail Motter's papers at Princeton, and perhaps may also be by Hallam.
Includes calling card of J. G. Cooke, 2 Upper Grosvenor Street.