Item 25 - Letter from William Whewell

WW is pleased he came when he did - 'I found Mohs [Friedrich Mohs] just preparing to leave Frieberg for Vienna where he spends his vacation, and at his invitation I have resolved to join him at that capital, where I shall stay, I conceive, till near the end of September; so that all communications there will be very welcome. Previous to receiving your letter I had met with your friend Hase who accosted me with enquiries after you'. WW would be happy to help HJR with any researches he may desire WW to undertake. 'Some of my principal employments at Vienna will be seeing mineralogical collections and sitting at the feet of Professor Mohs while he discusses them, but I hope to find time for other things...I saw Hermann at Leipsic who enquired after you; and I had the satisfaction of hearing a lecture of his on the art of Criticism. I do not know whether I shall be able to give as good an account of the German schools of Mineralogy, as you have given of their Theology, but there is much to be said thereupon. They have got a Natural History system of my science, as they have got a Naturalist scheme of yours: and a very dangerous heresy it is considered to be. I am afraid however that I may not bring about a union between the two creeds, which I hope will not be such a horrible thing in science as you hold it to be in faith'.