To Thomas Archer Hirst   23rd Feb. 1852

23rd Feb. 1852.

My¹ dear Tom

The enclosed² has been long written as you will see. Shortly after it was finished, I had to give two lectures which came upon me almost simultaneously at Warminster and Southampton³ and the bustle and confusion of travelling hither and thither and of removing a large quantity of apparatus from town to town took away all my peaceful thoughts. Your letter⁴ reached me yesterday and converted what has often been a source of sorrow and of darkness to me into joy and sunshine; I mean the state of your health. I know nothing that could have imparted more solid satisfaction to me than this piece of intelligence. Gradually, my brother, you will learn what Nature intends and you will ascertain that in many cases ‘her ways are not our ways, neither are our ways her ways’.⁵ Doubtless even after you have learned thus much you will often have to set bounds and limits to indulgence but you will do it with a clear eye and understanding heart; you will see where it is necessary and where it is not necessary. You will act the part of a king confident in his own power and in the love of his subjects, not that of a tyrant who fearing lest his subjects should abuse their liberty makes them all slaves. Many and many a time I have drunk the cup of disappointment in these matters for which I now thank the gods – how should I have ever known the false from the true, how should I have ever sounded the depths of my own nature and that of men generally without such experiments. Even in a physical investigation it is not⁶ by fighting through defeat and disappointment that we arrive at the true end, and shall we complain if the same law hold⁷ good in the sphere of mind? I think it good⁸ that you have got thus far, and my prayer and hope is that each succeeding year will clarify your vision and increase your stability more and more.

Nobody has yet occurred to me as likely to suit you in Marburg.⁹ I had a letter written to one young fellow but on reconsideration I thought you would consider him too young being not more than 16; I did not send the letter.

I dont think it would be wise in you to quit Germany so soon as next spring. I would strongly recommend you to spend some time in Gottingen and afterwards some time in Berlin. What’s the need of haste? Were I in your place I should certainly feel no anxiety about getting away from Germany – Recollect you have laid your hand to the plough and must stick to it¹⁰ – you have begun a work,¹¹ it must be creditably finished – I dont think you could have it upon a happier choice than that which you have made, mathematics and the mathematical part of optics. But remember in the land of England there is a University of Cambridge which piques¹² itself upon its knowledge of these matters – now you must not knuckle down to a Cambridge fellow, unless nature has stated the law to be so – you must prove that her gifts are superior to university drill – to sum up all you must simply do your work in the best manner possible and by next April you will not have learned half your trade. The French language will come in due season, it is all right and necessary that you should spend some time in Paris but no retreat as yet from Germany – that’s my voice, And now again good bye – If you halt between two opinions.¹³ then take the bravest,

Yours affectionately | John

RI MS JT/1/HTYP/185–187a

LT Transcript only