{"product_id":"1839-reformer-joseph-hume-political-and-educational-letter-to-mathematician-william-wallace","title":"1839 REFORMER JOSEPH HUME—POLITICAL AND EDUCATIONAL LETTER TO MATHEMATICIAN WILLIAM WALLACE","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHUME, JOSEPH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1777–1855). Influential Scottish Radical politician, physician, parliamentary reformer, and longtime Member of Parliament. Autograph Letter Signed, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Jos. Hume,”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e approximately three pages on a folded sheet. London, August 10, 1839. Addressed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProfessor William Wallace, Edinburgh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn appealing association letter connecting two distinguished self-made Scots: Radical parliamentary reformer Joseph Hume and mathematician William Wallace, former Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHume begins by promising to obtain a parliamentary publication requested by Wallace:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“I shall have much pleasure in sending you the Report you ask for, if there is a copy to spare…but it may be Saturday next before I know, and shall be ready to forward you with any other Parliamentary Papers worth your attention.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe letter proceeds to discuss the work of a commission, a contemplated academic appointment or professorship, government policy, and the proper organization of university instruction. Hume comments upon the qualifications that students should possess before entering a professor’s class, observing that all should be required to have mastered certain “elementary branches.” He also specifically considers the teaching of geometry—an especially appropriate subject for his correspondent, one of Scotland’s leading mathematicians.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHume additionally offers a candid assessment of the government’s political position, remarking:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The London Ministry is losing ground every hour…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe hopes that this deterioration will not be overlooked by the constituencies. The letter therefore combines university and educational questions with Hume’s characteristically direct political observations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph Hume was born in Montrose, trained as a surgeon at the University of Edinburgh, and accumulated a fortune while serving in India. After returning to Britain, he entered Parliament and became one of its most persistent advocates for retrenchment, electoral reform, religious liberty, expanded education, and accountability in government spending. His relentless examination of public expenditures earned him a national reputation as the “watchdog of the Treasury.” At the time of this letter, Hume represented Kilkenny in the House of Commons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe recipient, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWilliam Wallace (1768–1843)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rose from an apprenticeship as an Edinburgh bookbinder to become one of Britain’s most respected mathematicians. He succeeded John Playfair as Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh in 1819 and held the chair until 1838. Wallace published important work in geometry, promoted continental methods of calculus in Britain, and invented the eidograph, an improved instrument for copying drawings at different scales.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHume concludes warmly:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“I am\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYour old friend\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJos. Hume.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original correspondence folds with light toning, scattered staining, ink offsetting and show-through. Small areas of weakness or separation at fold intersections and a short upper-edge tear. Hume made several contemporary corrections and deletions while composing the letter. The manuscript remains substantially legible, and the signature is bold, complete, and unaffected.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA substantive political and educational letter with an excellent association between a major British parliamentary reformer and an important Scottish mathematician.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52766019059994,"sku":null,"price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2700.jpg?v=1788097748","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/1839-reformer-joseph-hume-political-and-educational-letter-to-mathematician-william-wallace","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}