Letter from Thomas B. Hanham [Thomas Hanham] to William Robinson
Information
Title
Letter from Thomas B. Hanham [Thomas Hanham] to William Robinson
Record type
Archive
Original Reference
WRO/2/050
Date
c.1882
Scope & content
Written from Manston House, [Manston, Dorset]. Manuscript
He values the good opinion of people he respects and cares for; the bad opinion of those who do not know him is a matter of positive satisfaction; if a parson can be exceeded in magnanimity it is by a parson’s wife; the founder of the Christian religion was not considered a very respectable character; he laughs at their abuse as much as at their teaching, which is unbearable to them; he opposed what he believed to be the greatest swindle of the age and is glad to know he did some little good in his generation; prejudice is the only thing he has in common with them, but he trusts they will never degrade him by calling him good or pious; Johannes has sent Robinson a local paper – Hanham could not resist sending Skrine’s letter with his own reply as originally sent to the ‘Standard’; he also sends the ‘Rock’ which printed his letter having modified its abuse; he thinks they were pleased with the scripture quotation; Mrs Reek has invited him, Robinson and Johannes to high tea with her and her son; he also sends a letter from Spencer Wells [Sir Thomas Spencer Wells] which he asks Robinson to destroy when he has read it; He has not seen Richards, who had to return to Exmouth or Torquay; he has taken down ‘our old friend’ as far as the fire box for fuel so if he is away from home there is little for the eye of the curious; if he puts up another it will be at the end of the little shrubbery, on higher ground, nearer the house and further from the sty, ‘which was the one thing which would have given our enemies occasion to blaspheme if they could have seen it’; Sir H.G. Thompson [Henry Thompson] has published an article which is in their favour; he is astonished at the favour with which the action has been received; it may be a good thing to ‘repeat the dose’ in a few months’ time; no cremation society should be formed for gain; he will remain here until he comes to town; he hopes Robinson will soon have all he desires by way of liver but that in the renewal of that organ he trusts Robinson’s heart will not be resolved in a ‘Rock’.
Dated ‘Sunday or Gods[?] day’ [c.1882; Hanham had a furnace built in the grounds of Manston House and carried out cremations in 1882; Robinson suffered liver trouble referred to in other letters dated 1882-1883]