To Thomas Archer Hirst   22nd. Dec. 1855.

22^nd. Dec. 1855.

My dear Tom

My mind was in a strait a few minutes ago whether I should open my journal and write there or write to you. Your personality however warmed my thoughts and decided the direction of my pen. I write although I have nothing to write about; Christmas is drawing near, and one ought to be genial cheerful and communicative whether one is or not. I think we are best off when some madness besets us, faith in some form or other, which enlivens our marrow and prevents us from falling into a leaden lethargy in which we resemble vegetables rather than men. There are few things more contemptible to me than this lethargy which I feel creeping on me sometimes and which converts me into a mere seeing fossil in God’s creation. I have been reading this evening the silly lecture of Dr. Hare¹ of Philadelphia on Spirit rapping and Table turning, and when I closed the paper the thought presented itself to me, that even the folly of this man, prompting him as it does to intellectual and bodily activity, is more respectable than that putrid indifference into which men of deeper insight sometimes fall. I have been reading in the evenings lately the Life and Works of Goethe, written by Lewes of the Leader.² The books interest me deeply, especially where they give me the naked facts of Goethe’s life, and thus enable me to interpret them for myself. The work is dedicated to Carlyle as a result of the intellectual guidance which he has given to the author. Appropos of Carlyle – We have often said that we should one day gravitate towards each other, and this is likely to be fulfilled very soon. I was surprised this morning by a note³ from Lord Ashburton asking me to pay him & Lady Ashburton a visit at his seat in Hampshire. The invitation was kind and straightforward so I wrote back saying that I should join them on the 11^th of January. I learned afterwards that Carlyle is to be their guest at the same time, and if so I shall feel a high pleasure in taking the old lion by the mane. Yesterday we had an animated dinner at the Philosophical Club:⁴ a goodly company were present. Hooker, Graham,⁵ Grove, Playfair,⁶ Gassiot, Ansted,⁷ Miller⁸ of Cambridge whom I saw for the first time. Stokes, Hopkins,⁹ Sabine, Wheatstone, Murchison,¹⁰ Lord Wrottesley &c. &c:¹¹ a kind of gravitation seems established between myself and Wheatstone – at all events the fates or chances throw us very much together. At the meeting of the Royal Society afterwards I was called upon to give an account of my recent experiments which I did much to the apparent satisfaction of every body. The weather is intensely cold here and I suppose still more so in Hampshire. There is an east wind keen & cutting as a Saracen’s sword¹² which searches a man to the marrow. I cannot complain of my health, the awful cold which smote me a fortnight ago is gone and I am able to work a good deal. To my inexpressible satisfaction I find that my bowels have returned to a normal condition, and this without medicine or any other aid save change of diet recommended to me by Bence Jones. I like Bence Jones I am happy to say more and more. He is a man like Goethe’s Manager in the prologue to Faust, ¹³ thoroughly downright & practical, and although we cannot come into contact with each other at all points, still the man’s practical solidity and withal real good nature have engendered in me a very pleasant feeling towards him. Doubtless each of us knows the other better than when we became first acquainted. I have promised to dine with Bevington on Christmas day: he wrote me a long letter,¹⁴ referring to his visit to Broughton which I would send to you were it at hand. Faraday I am sorry to say is a little out of order, but it is an affection of the stomach which I trust will speedily pass away. His lectures are drawing near: he and I are still like father and son: this evening I had a religious discussion with him – yesterday I had a scientific one, and I think were you present you would not have detected much of that irritating quality which you have recently revealed to me as my possession. This quality I shall endeavour to put my heel upon, for it must be there or you would not notice it. I find my new lodgings¹⁵ comfortable but still I think I will leave them before the end of the year: and for this reason. I agreed when I came to pay so much rent, and to be charged exactly as they paid for other things. I find however that whenever an opportunity is given for a little extortion that it is invariably made use of. To whatever they buy for me they always add a stiff percentage I dont like this – it makes my thoughts unpleasant. I have spoken about the matter once, tomorrow I think I shall feel disposed to give my landlord – a respectable tradesman who attends church punctually! – notice that I shall leave him. And now I have charged you with gossip, and I have only to crown it by wishing you a happy Christmas. Long may your soul enjoy its life: long may your heart beat warm, and forty years hence when I am in the dust and you stand looking after me across the bourne of life, may you forget the failings of your friend and think with the freshness of youth upon those qualities common to both which for a time welded you and him together.

as ever | John

RI MS JT/1/T/614