Additional Manuscripts c

WW is sorry that he caused RJ any uneasiness in his last letter [see WW to RJ, 10 December 1826]: 'I never intended to publish, and I do not think that I shall preach any thing which will brush the most delicate bloom of novelty off your plums'. Moral considerations are only considered in WW's last sermon, the others are mainly concerned with the physical sciences. He will not 'in fact have any possible room for more than a very short attack on the principle of population'. WW is aware 'that I see all this far more clearly than I should otherwise have done, in consequence of our dicussions on such matters...The principal advantage I shall derive from knowing your views - and indeed it is one of the greatest possible - will be that I shall talk confidently of that which I do not prove and assent loudly that a good deal more may be known and will be so when any body comes with the right kind of wisdom to the task'.