From Thomas Archer Hirst   April 22nd 1852 (being my 23rd Birthday)

Brighouse,¹ (3^rd Jotting)² April 22^nd 1852 (being my 23^rd Birthday)

Well, I have been and appeared and disappeared like a vision at Halifax, if I had been a veritable ghost I could not have startled them more, though perhaps they would have received me less kindly.

Phillips and I on Sunday afternoon³ found ourselves before Booth’s garden gate which was locked; we jumped over, and found poor little Booth in the garden, much altered and more haggard-looking since I saw him; he did not manifest the least particle of surprise, but shook me warmly by the hand without speaking. When I asked him if he was not astonished to see me he replied ‘I scarcely am, it looks so natural that you should walk in so’. In the house we found Roby sitting and smoking with old Mrs Booth. Phillips went in first; in speaking to him Roby had his back to me, Phillips however made him turn round quickly with the startling introduction, ‘Mr Pridie allow me to introduce a friend of mine from Hell’. If it had been January’s friend the Devil himself Roby could not have opened his eyes wider.

We passed the afternoon as we have done many before very pleasantly up there in little Booth’s chamber. The old woman scarcely knew what to do with me, and many a time I caught Booth’s eye fixed on me with a strange and yet significant expression. I have not much hope for him, I find a great alteration in him, he has a cough which will soon shake him to pieces, the only object for us is to prolong his life by lessening his labour and anxiety.

Yesterday he came to me when I was alone, I knew well enough what for, the poor fellow long hesitated and at last succeeded in spite of my efforts in turning the conversation on his difficulties and my letters. He rose to go, and as he held me by the hand he said, or sobbed, ‘Your five pounds⁴ I have used in the same spirit in which it was sent me, no one but yourself could have guessed how it was needed nor have sent it so delicately. One thing however you must promise, and that is that you will let me try to repay it’. ‘With all my heart’, I replied, ‘if you will let me judge when that time comes; above all if I see you exerting yourself to do so, or denying yourself or your Mother any little comforts that you need I will never have I’. He almost ran away from me and all I heard more was ‘God bless you’.

There is much in your letter that I wished to say a word about, but I will leave it now. The 8^VO edition of Shortrede’s Logarithmic tables,⁵ price £1.10.0, is the one I want – will you be kind enough to write to Francis’ clerk⁶ to procure it and I will call for it as I pass through London. Did Debus hear anything of my stick or Swiss hat?⁷ Write directly and send the lecture⁸ to Perkinton and Cravens. You will hear from me again before I see you.

Yours affectionately, | T.A. Hirst.

Just enquire once more if the Log. Tables contain sines and tangents for intervals of 10 seconds.

RI MS JT/1/HTYP/193

LT Transcript Only