To Thomas Archer Hirst   16th Nov. 1856

London 16^th Nov. 1856

My dear Tom.

I had hoped for a line from you before this; but as none appears and as I have a communication to make to you on business matters I seize the pen this raw, foggy Sunday morning, and with cold fingers, for I have no fire, make in deformed letters my statement of affairs. Firstly, as I told you I had written to Pridie,¹ and soon afterwards received from him a statement of your affairs with M^rs Booth. I sent him duly a post office order for £14-13-7, which was the amount by which your account was overdrawn. Nearly at the same time, I received a note² from Pridie, dated 4^th November, informing me that on the previous Saturday poor M^rs Booth who had been so long a pensioner on God’s bounty in this world had settled her final account with her maker. I enclose the note which contains the acknowledgement of the sum sent to Pridie, and also an allusion to the death of your old pensioner.

Were my journal beside me I should make some extracts from it for Anna’s³ amusement; but it is in the hands of my friend M^rs Pollock⁴ and I therefore must be silent on the subject. I met a lady at Pollocks a few evenings ago who spent with her friends the last winter in Pau,⁵ and gave a description of the place which quite harmonizes with your own. She said the winter was merely a long drawn Autumn. I hope sincerely that Anna finds the mildness comfortable; and that she is able to enjoy a drive without associating with it such perils as those described in your last letter.⁶ John Martin I am informed is with you. This will make your life the pleasanter. Francis⁷ expected him to call, and I thought he might be good enough to look in upon me, but he is quite right to go direct to those objects which more immediately interest him. I have a letter from the Mathematical Master of Eton,⁸ asking my opinion as to the introduction of a course of experimental science into the school,⁹ which should extend over three or four years. He was introduced to me by Mr Moseley; who regards the movement as possessing a very important bearing upon the question of education in this country.¹⁰ I have thought of recommending you to him, but I do not know whether it would meet your wishes, nor do I know indeed precisely what he wants. He would want I imagine lectures on experimental Physics, and perhaps some on elementary Chemistry, but I should recommend to him the combining of a physical class with the lectures. I shall probably write to him before you receive this and will mention you to him—it can do no harm even if neither of you should find the proposal suitable.

I have done very little real earnest work since I wrote to you. I wanted to measure some infinitesimal effects of Magnetism, and for this purpose had to devise an instrument of surpassing delicacy. I have had many trials with it but each trial has suggested some essential change. This week I hope to have it in working order, and I also expect to be able to pursue my enquiries even when the lectures are going on—It is too bad to devote a whole week to one or two lectures which only endure an hour each. Faraday has been working very successfully. You will probably know more about Queenwood¹¹ than I do, so I will not touch upon that subject.

Pridie has sent me a mourning card—on which stands the following:—

In memory of

Sarah, widow of the late John Booth¹²

of Skircoat¹³ near Halifax, Yorkshire.

Died at Bebington¹⁴ November 1^st. 1856

Aged 65 years.

Goodbye my dear Tom—give my love to Anna and believe me as ever

Your affectionate | John

RI MS JT/1/H/482–2a

RI MS JT/1/HTYP/482–2a