To Thomas Archer Hirst¹

Dear Tom,

I enclose you a letter received this morning from M^r Edmondson.² I wrote to Queenwood as a matter of prudence, which in some circumstances becomes a matter of duty and this is the reply. Your last letter³ set me thinking as I said, for on weighing the matter I felt convinced that so far from our being together in Germany being of injury to either of us we should reap reciprocal benefit from each other. This feeling was so strong within me that had I permitted myself I should have regretted writing to Queenwood at all – I intend to meet M^r Edmondson in London and should hardly hesitate even now if I could arrange the matter to his satisfaction to put off my engagement for 6 months – I say I ought to be a proud fellow and I am – in here are two fellows in my hour of need coming forward and offering me their purse. You are one, and the Inspector of Railways for this Kingdom⁴ is another a true born aristocrat but one whose aristocracy finds the noblest [issue], a man whose very appearance gives the lie to any thing mean or unworthy. A man who knows in his heart that I care nothing for his aristocracy, that I in a measure defy him and it but who is still my friend. I have sent him your letter – after correcting the blunders of your style a little. You must pay a little more attention to this. No man has a right to eat before he has proved that he can do without eating and no man has the right to blunder without first proving that he can do without blundering.

I have not the least expectation that I shall go to Germany with you so dont dwell on that – I will see you before you go, and write out a record of hints and admonitions – besides we must constantly write to each other. I will certainly visit you there!

An hour ago your last letter reached me.⁵ Can you find the date of the Morning Chronicle⁶ which contained that thing? I should like to get a few as I have failed to provide myself with Athenaeums – ‘More plainly’ Tom⁷ – I’m like Dogberry⁸ and could wish myself written down ass! ‘More plainly’ my beloved boy it is here – you wrote a letter to me to Germany once mentioning the thing itself this made me curious and I fancied I saw the same at Halifax. I knew it could be readily trampled down by a little more intercourse I knew it had no deep cause and therefore did not trouble myself about it, but I have been fighting a shadow, and I declare to the immortal Gods that I believe the defect is mine and not yours. I’m glad I mentioned it though I am an ass; for it fosters a tendency that I ever feel and that is to weld myself more closely to you and crush all barriers to our free intercourse – this time will come: I speak with⁹ the authority of a prophet – this time will come.

I shall be in Manchester on Saturday I expect and shall remain there over Sunday.

tie all those things together in one bundle and send them to Manchester – directed to Ginty, 9 Howard St, West Broughton, Manchester.

I have had an offer of 80 or 90 pounds a year in the Ordnance¹⁰ – I believe if I gave myself the trouble I might make it more but this I wont do.

Send me M^r Edmondon’s letter back by return – I want it particularly. You shall receive your latter day pamphlet soon.¹¹

M^r Tho^s Hirst | Harrison Road | Halifax | Yorkshire¹²

RI MS JT/1/T/533