From Thomas Archer Hirst   Sepr 9th 1857

26 Rue de Lacépède | Sep^r 9^th 1857

My dear John.

As you are no doubt aware I received this morning a letter from Wright¹ requesting me to accept my old situation at Queenwood.² As I told you on our return from Chamouni³— foreseeing at the time the possibility of such a request being made—I feel the greatest disinclination to accept the offer. Disinclination indeed is too mild a term my feelings all prompt me to give at once a decided refusal. Nevertheless in every matter of this importance habit prompts me to seek your advice, and if possible your approval. Before giving Wright a decided answer therefore I should like to hear from you.

We were talking not long ago of the immense advantage in having found the work for which we were best fitted, and to which we were most devoted. I would sooner live in a garret⁴ on bread and water with my mathematics for companion than live in a palace on the fat of the earth with other less congenial occupations. You know what the situation at Queenwood would be for me, you know the duties it involves and that in fulfilling those duties I can never reap that solid satisfaction and unenvious contentment with which my own pursuits are capable of rewarding me. I work slowly, too, and to do anything I must have time and leisure to abandon myself entirely to my subject; on this account I know from experience that at Queenwood my time would be so split up that I should be able to produce little or nothing of a mathematical kind. I shrink less at the personal inconveniences involved in the life, duties and anxieties at Queenwood than I do from the thought of having in a great measure to set aside my favourite study.

So much for this view of the question which would remain the same if Queenwood were a perfect institution of its kind or if I could come there under the best possible circumstances and have the entire management in my own hands. But there is another view of it. Is it advisable to tie myself to a tottering edifice which a miracle only can save from falling? The whole constitution of Queenwood is rotten to its core and fall it must. To attempt the task of restoring it [to] health what obstacles are there not in the way! The principal⁵ is a mere zero or rather worse for he has a decidedly negative value. All your attempts at improvement are cramped first by his imbecility and again by all manner of pecuniary embarrassments, by your own undefined position and by the shortsightedness of another individual on the premises.⁶

The last public revelations in the ‘Reasoner’⁷ will very probably hasten Queenwood’s ruin. Knowing this, and with the firm conviction that as long as Geo. Edmondson is at the head of affairs and stands in the same hollow relations to his partners as at present, and lastly feeling how incompatible the duties of the situation are with my own most loved objects of pursuit I must say I cannot persuade myself to entertain the idea of returning.

It is possible you might have something to say on the subject that would shake my resolution. If so tell me⁸ and I will give it all the consideration which advice from you deserves in my eyes.

For the sake of Wright and Debus I would sacrifice much, but there are other ways of helping them than by tying myself to the wreck to which they still cling.

Write soon that I may give Wright an early reply.

Yours affectionately | T. A Hirst

P.S. How are you progressing with the Glacier subject? How are you? As for me I am working hard and as yet I enjoy excellent health.

‘I desire no better lot on earth than health and strength to pursue with some success the pursuits which long experience has proved are most fitted to my tastes and abilities. My worthy, prudent ancestors have kindly provided me with food and clothing, and I would far rather continue to regulate my wants in accordance with their provisions than seek to increase my income and its attendant comforts by accepting any situation whatever. All things, therefore, conspire to induce me to work on patiently and perseveringly until some other position in life presents itself wherein without too great a sacrifice of pursuits so congenial to me and so adequate for presenting all the employment and self-discipline which a life requires, I can turn my powers more towards providing for the welfare of others.’

Extract from my journal.

RI MS JT/1/H/235