| RefNo | HSF/1/3/48 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from C [Charles] Pritchard, Freshwater, to Sir John [Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Pritchard; Charles (1808-1893); British astronomer |
| Date | 27 February 1866 |
| Description | He returns Herschel's extracts with thanks and he has marked them in his copies of Herschel's works. He noted a remark on causation and reference to [Thomas] Brown in an article on astronomy as a young man and it has been in his mind since, and he has taught the 'sixth sense of effort'. He has read 'Atoms' but not carefully. Pritchard fears that the badinage obscures the drift. He gives his opinions on the popular mind and the 'dreary spirit of materialism which is now on the march'. His brethren may call Herschel's science pantheism, without further explanation. He recommends 'Ecce Homo' as a view of Christ from without and a grand book. He gives instructions for sending extracts. Pritchard chiefly wanted passages on a personal will in the construction of the Universe. His object is to show that the outcry of religion against science is worse than illogical. He thinks he is one of the few men of science that parsons will listen to. It is with this in mind that he closed the eloges of [William Rowan] Hamilton and [Johann Franz] Encke with certain words. He wishes Herschel success in publishing his Homer ['The Iliad']. He notes that 'Poor Worsley' [Philip Stanhope Worsley] is dying nearby. |
| 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 |