TALBOT6007

Milford
Oct 10

Dear Sir

I lately passed through Bath on my way to my Revising Circuit ¹ & wish I had known you were there ² as I could have explained matters much better vivá voce ³ than by letter There have been great difficulties to contend with Every good working man ⁴ is anxious for scientific reform but every one has a plan of his own which differs from his neighbours, & thus no change is made<.> The Ph. Club ⁵ has at length now got together & although it is quite probable that better things might be done still I think if you should attend any of the meetings you will be of opinion that much good will come of it<.> At all events you may speak your mind freely there & every thing hitherto has been freely & yet courteously discussed The great object is a reorganisation of the Royal Society ⁶ not the formation of a new body <–> two centuries of human labour should not be put aside – notwithstanding its present defects the RS has done much & every effort should be made to keep that up even at some sacrifice of what would be more agreeable & more immediately useful<.> A separate society formed of such men as compose the Ph Club would if it [illegible word] at once throw over the RS & if not would create an antagonism greatly injurious to science –

[illegible deletion] You will see that there are 3 or 4 evenings on which there is no meeting of the RS & then the discussion my be prolonged to any extent. We have already had some most interesting ones & the dinners have been excellently attended [illegible word] the [2 illegible words] Faraday ⁷ Herschel ⁸ R Brown ⁹ &c &c. have been present I hope you will be at the Next

Yours vy Truly
W R Grove