From Thomas Archer Hirst   May 23rd 1857

Pau, | May 3^rd 1857

My dear John.

I have often read your letter of the 4^th of April,¹ and in my heart thanked both Bacon² and yourself. I never read his Essays³ but I have already a great respect for him as a venerable old thinker, and someday out of gratitude I will know more of his thoughts. You were quite right in judging that in thus innocently enjoying your successes by communicating them to me you would also give me pleasure. As I have often told you I feel a brotherly pride in all your victories I recognize in them the fulfilment of an old prophecy of my own, I experience a peculiar satisfaction, indeed, when I notice that qualities of character to which I have pinned my faith actually possess the force for which I give them credit, and are able to make their way in and wring acknowledgement from the world. Indeed you may permit yourself to enjoy the sunshine of sunny days, there is no fear of your being sunburnt. I know that all days will find you working and intent upon your work for its own sake. It is thus you will keep up the necessary warmth even were the sun to absent himself, and it is thus you will protect yourself against every moral “coup de soleil”.⁴ The world little thinks how in paying you homage it gladdens another about whom it knows nothing but so it is.

By this time you will be once more deep in your London work and again storing up new honours. I hope you have used your vacation well and have returned with health to your toil. I have heard of your pale looks, and some of our friends have as usual prophecied that some day you will be ‘carrying things too far.’ But I have strong faith in that reserve of prudence which I know you to possess, and I hope by its exercise you will prove these prophets to be false. You have a strong though a peculiar constitution. I have often noticed how a few days rest of your own sort, namely a strong and unhesitating determination to get strength, has worked wonders; though I have also noticed that the strength thus rapidly gained seldom remains very long. Sometimes I have been inclined to think that with better management you might preserve the necessary equilibrium between health and work more perfectly. But after all, this equilibrium is perhaps not so essential or desirable for you as it is for me, for instance, at any rate you know best.

Francis tells me the R.S. have granted you a sum of money to finish your glacier researches,⁵ and I am glad of it for two reasons. First because we shall probably see you as you pass through Paris, whither we shall go if all be well in a few weeks, and secondly because I cannot but think that of all subjects of research with which you have heretofore occupied yourself this must be healthiest.

Anna is tolerably well just now. As usual, her state of health is very unstable, I live in continual fear and hope, for although well to-day I know she may be suffering to-morrow. I have found change of scene and life to be very beneficial for her, and we have already made one or two little excursions towards the mountains. As yet we have been unfortunate as regards the weather, and have been compelled to return to Pau⁶ instead of completing our excursion. At present we are holding ourselves in readiness to start on our last little excursion as soon as the weather promises to become settled. Our way of travelling is very pleasant. I hire a horse and phaeton⁷ for five francs a day, and drive myself. The phaeton is conveniently built, it has a cover which can be drawn over Anna's head to protect her against the sun or rain. John Martin prefers walking and contrives to meet us at different points of our journey. To take care of Anna at the hostels, as well as to give her pleasure too, we take our French servant with us. She is a good, honest and faithful girl as I mentioned once before I believe. Her affectionate nursing of Anna through the winter has pleased me so much that if I were rich enough I would free her from the necessity of toiling for the rest of her days—for she is growing old herself and not very strong. For my part I enjoy these trips exceedingly on account of their good effect on Anna; under other circumstances my enjoyment would be weakened or destroyed by the consciousness of lost time whereas now it is heightened by the conviction that I am lengthening and brightening the few days that still remain for my poor wife. Yes—struggle as I may—I can no longer shut my eyes to the terrible fact that she is slowly wasting away before my eyes. There are moments when the thought that no force of will no prayers no power on earth can arrest the progress of her terrible disease almost drives me to despair and yet God be thanked I have so disciplined myself that in her presence I can often forget this, and rejoice in her comparative freedom from suffering and share with her her few & small pleasures. It is strange what power of accommodation we possess, how after our sphere of hopes and desires have been gradually diminished we can still find enough to live upon. Two years ago I would have thought it impossible to exist under the circumstances by which I am now surrounded, and yet I not only live, but have also moments of great joy and gladness.

Anna sends her love, and thanks for your assistance in procuring for me the small surprise on the morning of my birthday.⁸ “Aurora Leigh”⁹ arrived safely, and in due time.

Yours affectionately, | T.A. Hirst

RI MS JT/1/H/232

RI MS JT/1/HTYP/491–2