Crewe Hall, Crewe. - [written in third person]. Pictures should be kept until Mrs Milnes comes to town; would like proof of new print of Archdeacon Hare framed in gold.
Draft of the table of contents, preface, and pp. 29, 33, 39, 41-57, 67, 227, 229-239, 244-262, and 271, in several hands, including Whewell, Julius Charles Hare, and John Gibson Lockhart.
RS is down to his last £10. Besides his college bills he owes WW 100 guineas to be paid by Christmas. WW owes him £100 payable now. Could WW pay him if he comes to London and if possible lend him a further £50-100. Could WW thank Julius Hare for his Guesses [Augustus and Julius Hare, 'Guesses at Truth by Two Brothers', 1827]: 'I can with perfect sincerity admire the spirit and candour of his opinions and the pure language in which they are expressed, I cannot say that in my opinion he has not frequently guessed wrong. But when I think it the work of a gentleman and a scholar he will excuse me when I dissent almost entirely from his political and not infrequently from his ethical maxims'. RS thinks he should see a little more English Norman architecture before he embarks on his tour of Normandy.
Herstmonceux - JCH will be attending the the tercentenary of the foundation of Trinity College with his wife.
Declares that he has read with interest his correspondent's 'résumé of the fortunes of Philosophy at Cambridge in recent times.' It seems in the main true and consistent with what was said at their 'late meeting'; felt after their interview that he had not done full justice to the philosophic aptitudes of the three men about whom he had specially enquired, and that 'in a more congenial atmosphere they might have formed a genuine philosophic triumvirate, of which Thirlwall with his depth of thought and irony should have been the Socrates, Julius Hare...the Plato, [and] Whewell...the Aristotle.' Believes that the attempt to contract all philosophy within the limits of physics and mathematics, and its 'partial emergence into greater breadth and freedom, through the classical and moral triposes' has been 'fairly sketched and accounted for', and believes that this aspect of the subject cannot be left out as it constitutes a main part of the history of philosophy, and may not be very familiar at Oxford 'or in the world at large.' Admits that [Sidgwick] is probably right about Whewell's later lectures, Maurice's and Grote's. Discusses his own assertions with regard to philosophy's failure as an intellectual system, and its failure to 'sustain the weight of a full and truly human life'. States that he has made one or two slight corrections in his correspondent's paper, and asks him to do likewise with this letter. Gives him permission to append it to his own paper if he so wishes.
London. - If he can get to the Athenaeum, which he is 'now very seldom able to do', will certainly show his respect for Hare's recommendation by supporting his friend.
Macaulay, Thomas Babington (1800-1859), 1st Baron Macaulay, historian, essayist, and poetHurstmonceux, Hurst Green. - Regrets he can only supply one copy of the Vindication of Bunsen; the few remaining copies of the extra hundred are earmarked; had not studied Ewald closely enough to give an informed opinion, especially against so learned a man as Pusey.
Presented to Joseph Edleston by Elliott.
RJ has seen John Herschel off at Portsmouth: 'They had 30 passengers on board - 7 of them ladies many apparently agreeable people and every prospect of beginning happily what they wisely determine to consider altogether a party of pleasure'. RJ called on Julius Hare and saw some of his pictures - 'He has several of the Venetian school - splendid specimens of coloring but I think (I am no great connoisseur) only two really first rate pictures one the portrait of a man by Giorgione [Giorgio Barbarelli Giorgione] - The other the Madonna - it is perhaps a Raphael - undoubtedly of his school'. Hare's pictures and mansion must have cost a great deal. However, 'His country is I think ugly and his neighbourhood I suspect bad'.
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].
Collingwood - JH has been reading about WW's speech in Lancaster [to his old school] in the Cambridge Chronicle. Julius Hare was at JH's yesterday 'speaking of you and the cause of honour and utility now before you' [appointed vice-chancellor of Cambridge University]: For 'the good of the university and the country', JH and JH hope that WW's appointment 'may be a long one'.
Concerns the candidatures of Prince Albert and the Earl of Powis for the office of Chancellor of the university.
Some of the notes and a fragment of a letter in Julius Hare's hand.
Trinity College - WW was to travel to the Rhine and on towards Switzerland with Lady Malcolm and Julius Hare but 'this beautiful scheme is now I think likely to fall through'. WW will try to go towards Bonn.
Trinity College - WW has sent RJ various travel books which he hopes will answer his ends. 'Lady M. [Lady Malcolm] is ill and unsettled but I think getting better and M.M. is speculating in conjunction with the guesser at truth [Julius Hare], who has been for some time with them and is almost domesticated in the family. I expect him here today or tomorrow as he is to spend the summer here in translating Niebuhr's [Barthold Georg Niebuhr] Roman history'.
RJ has read and enjoyed WW's review of his book ['Review of An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth and the Sources of Taxation by the Revd Richard Jones', The British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review and Ecclesiastical Record, 1831]: 'there can be no question that it will do much good and you snub it too much'. RJ has not had much time to look at WW's paper on Ricardo ['Mathematical Exposition of Some of the Leading Doctrines in Mr Ricardo's Principles of Political Economy and Taxation', 1831], because William Jacob came and saw something in it which he declared would help with his book and subsequently took it off to London. Could WW thank Julius Hare and Connop Thirlwall for their work on Niebuhr [Julius Hare and Connop Thirlwall trans. Niebuhr's 'History of Rome', 2 vols., 1828 and 1831]. RJ suspects that there is 'a storm brewing' at the Edinburgh Review [J. R. McCulloch, 'Review of An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth and on the Sources of Taxation By the Rev. Richard Jones', Edinburgh Review, 1831]. Since writing the above RJ has heard that a review of his book will be in the next Quarterly Review ['Review of An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth and the Sources of Taxation by the Rev. Richard Jones', The Quarterly Review, 1832].
Three letters, the first dated 12 January 1823 disputing the bill sent him by Bohte and returning the Casanova, as he had already ordered it of Messrs Boosey; the second dated 16 November 1823 features a two and a half page list of books desired from Bohte's catalogue; and the third a letter dated 10 April 1824 informing Bohte he will not be in town before Bohte leaves for Germany, arranges to pay his bill in part, but notes he will sort out erroneous charges when he sees him in person.
Bohte, John Henry (1784-1824), booksellerWW is sorry he has taken so long in replying to JHR's letter, and has dealt with his request concerning the manuscript in the library. WW does 'not think I can tell you anything very distinct with respect to the counsels which you have in common with Hare [Julius Hare]'. WW has read 'Bretschneider's book against you, and would have sent it you if I had not thought it likely to fail of reaching you. I did not think it very formidable for you, but I think one may feel some indulgence for those persons who never having looked on Christianity in the light in which we look upon it, do not feel, and cannot comprehend, the horror with which their views are received'. WW thanks HJR for his positive comments concerning his sermons: 'I seem to myself to have got a perception of one or two truths, which, if I can make other people also perceive, I am sure it will do them good'.
Hallsheads - JCH's congratulations on WW's engagement to Cordelia Marshall were particularly welcome: 'She is what you tell me the poet describes her to be, and will, I am persuaded, fulfil his predictions'. WW had long been feeling that his life at Cambridge was no longer morally and spiritually wholesome: 'I was desirous of marrying that I might become a better man, and I hope it may please God that the step may have that result...I trust you will think that though Cordelia is not perhaps the wife you would have expected me to chuse, I have chosen well, she is gentle and good and affectionate'. WW thinks they shall live mainly in Cambridge where he will continue to pursue his philosophy. He saw Ma-man with her husband a few days ago in London. [WW attaches a comical verse to the letter].
Trinity College - Thomas Romilly has provided JCH with a tangible reason for writing to WW while he is on the Continent: 'Constanten Prevost has been elected a member of our philosophical society. So much for the impetus from without, the effect of which alas! has already died away, leaving one to mourn that the mind does not exist in that fiction of yours a vacuum, where, when once set agoing, it wd reason for ever. What might happen then, if one could thus discover a perpetual motion of the mind, it is difficult to say. I fear the heart would not run well together with it and would pine at losing its moments of repose and peace and would rub its eyes and stare about it, very much as you do when one comes into your rooms of an evening'. Can WW ascertain where JCH's books are and let his brother, Augustus Hare, know. Reading 'Southey's [Robert Southey] History is, I grieve to say, very little more than doing nothing, and listening to Don Carlos is decidedly less'.
JCH welcomes WW back after his continental holidays. WW should join JCH's party composed of 'Romilly, Coddington, Thorpe, Peacock, Fisher, etc all of whom, I believe, talk of staying till the first stone is laid on the 12th August' [at King's Court]. Kenelm H. Digby had gone to Switzerland before JCH could see him: 'Wordsworth liked his book of course exceedingly'. The Oxford music meeting was rather dull.
JCH congratulates WW on being appointed a moderator, and thanks him for his book on mechanics ['An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics', 1819]. Does WW 'intend to keep your history of the science for the next volume, or to publish it separately, or to keep it back to form a part of a history of mathematics from the creation of the world down to the year of the Lord 1836'. Two of the Cambridge women they know are married or getting married. Next week would not be the best time to come to London. [The rest of this letter was destroyed by J. L. Hammond - with a note to that effect at the bottom of the letter].
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?
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?
Trinity College - JCH is sorry he has not replied to WW's letter or informed him on the progress of WW's books, but he has been too busy. However, since WW is 'with seven pupils, and the sea, and Welsh mountains, notwithstanding the uninteresting character of the inhabitants, who, I fear, like most mountainous people, seem rather to be confined than elevated by the scenery in the midst of which they live, you cannot be in any very famishing state from want of occupation; and perhaps it is as well after having feasted so long in the rich pasture of our library to join the goats for a short time in browsing upon the barren rocks'. JCH enjoyed the services he attended at Ely. He 'shall be delighted to find you infusing mathematics into our undergraduates. In our system, as in every other institution, there is much, very much, to improve; but I fear you must be content to do good slowly'.