Item 129 - Letter from Hugh James Rose

HJR rejoices at hearing that WW's book is out [ 'An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics', 1819]: 'My brother has already purchased one for me - but I feel no anxiety about it'. Can WW tell him where he can get information about Barford: 'Do not think I am such a fool as to retain any College antipathy to him - in fact I have lately known a great deal of good of him - and I believe him to be a very good tho' a disagreeable man'. HJR has done a great number of his inscriptions: 'Professor Bockh has sent me one very curious one and will send more ['Inscriptiones Graecae Vetustissianae', 1825]. I had a letter from Payne Knight concerning a reply HJR had from a French man - he says that the man has taken hold of two or three weak points not affecting the main argument[.] I have fully satisfied myself as to Knights's being quite right about them'. HJR is to 'publish a few pages for distribution among the poor in the shape of a sermon - on the folly of reading blasphemous books - which I preached about a fortnight ago ['The Folly of Reading Irreligious Publications', 1819]. I am shockingly hard driven and generally write my sermons on Saturday night - but they do well enough for my County Blockheads'. HJR is keen to do more in Divinity. When WW next writes could he let him know if he thinks the Cambridge Philosophical Society is likely to answer. Where will WW be spending Christmas?