Item 70 - James David Forbes to William Whewell

4 pp

Edinburgh - JDF is pleased WW approves of his review of Humboldt [Alexander von Humboldt, Cosmos], and that WW's 'History and Philosophy' are to be reprinted with the additions [Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences: Founded upon their History, 2nd edn., 2 vols., 1847]. 'In the Philosophy, I suppose that you will do battle with Mr Mill' [John S. Mill]. JDF is glad that WW still intends to do something regarding the Cambridge system of education but realises that 'it will be a struggle'. JDF assumes WW has the sequel to the 'Vestiges': 'It seemed to me an improvement on the book itself and to be written with considerable skill and temper; and to have clearly the upper hand with the Reviewers on several points. I must say the Edin. Review seemed to me a grievous failure - I do not mean in point of argument, but in the method of putting it and the temper in which it was put. It was to me utterly unreadable - I did not read a quarter of it - and so it was generally felt here. The author of the vestiges (who is now generally believed to be a denizen of modern Athens) has shewn himself a very apt scholar, and has improved his knowledge and his arguments so much since his First Edition that his deformities no longer appear so disgusting. It was well that he began to write in the fulness of his ignorance and presumption, for had he begun now he might have been more dangerous'. WW will see from JDF's tenth letter on glaciers that Louis Agassiz 'has found his way into my mortar tub at last; though whether he will admit it or not...remains to be seen' [For the Agassiz dispute see 23 May 1842].