| RefNo | HSF/1/3/2 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Charles Pritchard, Clapham, to Sir John [Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Pritchard; Charles (1808-1893); British astronomer |
| Date | 28 March 1844 |
| Description | Acknowledging the receipt of Herschel's note. His little boy [William James Herschel] is full of talent and amiable. Herschel has taught him Latin very well and Pritchard wishes he had Greek also, as a finer and easier language. Herschel's son is behind other boys in that. Pritchard describes their mathematical studies and how he takes the child into his private house for an hour before breakfast to sit with his private pupils. Pritchard showed some of [Michael] Faraday's elementary experiments to his pupils, and Herschel's son 'shouted for joy'. In Pritchard's opinion, Herschel's boys' brains should not be overtaxed, and that anything from them should be arrived at with prudence. He dislikes the current weather and his boy has fared no better than the others. Sanskrit will be commenced after Easter. He has given freely of his opinions and hopes Herschel will forgive him for that.
An extract from this letter appears in: 'Charles Pritchard...memoirs of his life, compiled by his daughter Ada Pritchard' (London, Seeley and Co., 1897), p.73. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA5459 | Pritchard; Charles (1808 - 1893) | 1808 - 1893 |