Item C19 - Letter from William Hunter Campbell, Demerara, to John Hutton Balfour

1 letter

Letter from William Hunter Campbell in Demerara to John Hutton Balfour dated 6 January 1855.
Campbell writes from Demerara; Nothing for years past has shocked and grieved me so much as the account your letter conveyed of the death of poor Edward Forbes leaving him as I did in full health and intellect as it were but yesterday, and apparently entering on a journey which promised the most abundant reward. It is truly deplorable to think how all his hopes and ours have been suddenly dashed to the ground. It will indeed be difficult, perhaps impossible to supply the place of one possessed of so much talent and such varied accomplishments and the loss to the University is in that respect a serious one. Among all the names you mention, save Owen, there is not one equally illustrious, although most of them were many years his senior. Perhaps long and continual friendship may have made me more blind than others to his faults and more prejudiced than I ought to be as an admirer of his genius but even at this distance from the scene of his brilliant, but short-lived career, and with the opportunities I had of judging for myself on hearing of the opinions of others, I cannot but think there were very many so equally admiring of him as I did and anticipated the highest results from his brilliant career. I am truly obliged to you for your kindness in giving me such full particulars of the melancholy details attending his last days and I cannot help thinking it must have been a consolation to him in his last moments to have had so many of his old friends around him, and to have breathed his last almost in homage in a place endeared to him by so many recollections and associations: the scene, in fact, of his first aspirations as a man of science and of his triumphant attainment to the the height of his ambition, I would well content to die if I could achieve as much praise as he has done. As to the bust it is one of the few remaining tributes we can pay to his memory and I shall feel obliged if you will arrange to add my name to the subscribers’ list. I have no doubt that my friend Brand will pay the amount when called for. I am in the greatest haste to be in time for the mail, else I would give you some account of our “Industrial Exhibition" which has been more successful than expected. However one of my qualities is obstinacy and I would not listen to doubts of failure. I worked on it for three whole days during the Xmas holiday and the result sufficiently rewarded me, for all who saw what we had done said how pleased they were and the Governer has said he would support similar exhibitions in the future. The fibres were excellent and I hope to save some for you. The woods were a disappointment but I have now laid the foundation for getting what I need in that way for the future. I shall keep your museum in mind and hope to contribute something for your acceptance. I send a list of the prizes. Remember me to Mrs Balfour and my warmest congratulations on the latest addition to your domestic circle. You have now got a long way ahead of me in that department as in all others and long may you continue. Your old friend ,etc.-----

Letter summarised by Simon Muirhead, 2024.