From Thomas Archer Hirst   Novr. 28th. 1854

Vine Cottage | Nov^r. 28^th. 1854

My dear John.

From your letter to Dr Coxe¹ I should say that you have taken the proper view of the Edinburgh professorship. I think you are quite right in not contesting the election and also in consenting to accept the professorship if offered to you On the one hand if you entered the lists as candidate it would appear as if you wished to get away from the Royal Institution which I am sure you do not and on the other hand I think if the place were offered to you that its superior advantages in a scientific point of view are sufficient to justify you in giving up the close communication with such a man as Faraday even. As I told you when you were here the situation at the Royal Institution is not exactly the one you could most usefully fill and in this respect Edinburgh would be far preferable. From D^r Coxes letter² it would appear that the proposal is entirely his own. I do not know what influence he may have with the Town Council, but judging from the best kind of elections I scarcely think that the matter will be so easy as his letter would lead one to suppose. This does not affect you, however, your reply leaves you perfectly free and unaffected whatever may be the result I think I should omit the sentence about there being many who would consider the prize worth fighting for. It would seem to imply that you do not so consider it whereas on the very best grounds e.g. on those you mention in the conclusion of your letter it is worth fighting for. Again I think I would omit the sentence beginning thus ‘People think me a worker &c.’ and conclude the letter with the sentence beginning with ‘The thought which rises predominant &c.’ which conclusion is in my mind as manly and high minded as could be wished for. I appreciate as fully as most could do your present terms of intimacy with Faraday but upon mature consideration I think you ought to forego even such advantages were this situation offered you. Consequently I hope with all sincerity that the event may come to pass and should it do so or not I believe you will never regret the step you have taken I will bear in mind the two German applicants for situations³ at present I do not see an opportunity to employ either at Queenwood. We require at present a young Frenchman and by Edmondson’s order Haas is already on the look out. In a quarter of a year or so Taylor⁴ will perhaps leave us (you recollect Wright and ourselves came to that conclusion when you were here) and then it is just probable that one of these Germans if at liberty would suit us. At all events I will bear them in mind when we arrange matters with Edmondson which we must do soon. My Basingstoke lecture came off satisfactorily the experiments were all good and successful. Our concert at Broughton comes off tomorrow our Queenwood one on Monday fortnight when we shall expect you.⁵

Yours affectionately | T.A. Hirst

RI MS JT/1/H/208

RI MS JT/1/HTYP/376