Whitworth discusses Tennent's forthcoming book [The Story of the Guns (London: Longman, Green, 1864)]. 'I am very happy to hear that your book on the guns will be published on Saturday and am most anxious to have a copy as soon as possible. The kind manner in which you have handed over your book for the good of the Company after all your toil is I assure you fully appreciated by myself and I consider the Company should undertake all risk.' He agrees with Tennent that the book 'cannot be too largely distributed amongst the press', and considers that 'booksellers should be supplied with copies that they might return if not sold within a certain time, as I believe is done occasionally.'
The previous day Whitworth had received 'a most kind note from Lord Torrington saying he had been having much conversation with the Duke of Cambridge [Commander-in-Chief of the Forces] and other members of the Government, and that he found in all instances they appeared to have been studiously misinformed with regard to my guns.' He hoped he had cleared away much ignorance and prejudice.'
He finds Tennent's report of 'the article prepared for the Times [...] very annoying', but hopes that Torrington's interview with Delane [The Times editor, John Thadeus Delane (1817-1879)] may prevent its insertion. [Torrington (1812-1884) was Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen.] Whitworth records that he burnt Tennent's note 'containing this intelligence as soon as read'. The letter ends with news of the indisposition of 'Mr Pender'.
Dated at The Firs, Fallowfield, Manchester.