From:
John Tyndall
To:
Thomas Archer Hirst
Date:
Feb. 18th. 1854
Source of text:
MS JT/1/HTYP/314, RI
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Tyndall Project
No summary available.
Comments on CL’s plan to visit Tenerife.
Discusses inclination of strata on islands and around mountains.
Personal affairs of several scientists.
Visit by Henslow.
Notes publication by Hooker [Himalayan journals (1854)].
No summary available.
Duties of Examiner of superannuation claims for Treasury will not permit JH to live in Collingwood and may be more burdensome than those of Mint. Upset at losing Charles Elouis, who will leave Mint to replace Mr. Watt as superintendent of bullion at mint in Sydney. Concern for daughter Caroline, whose husband, [A. H.] Gordon, leaves before March, leaving her alone in Malta when 'her hour is due.'
Regrets confusion in signing of gate passes that created awkwardness for Mrs. M. Hopes police arrangements will not trouble Mint residents too much.
Appreciation of JH's son [John]. Admired JH's letter of 2 Feb. 1852 to Treasury, in which WF's most important recommendations [to 1848 committee for Mint reform] have been carried out. Dependence on steam for transportation has raised price of coal. Proposes two methods to replace coal: (a) use electrical conductivity of seawater in presence of dissimilar metals to propel ships, and (b) generate heat in 'Earth Batteries,' similar to dungheaps. Asks JH to approve request by John Gilbert, retired mechanical engineer at Calcutta mint, who wishes to visit Royal Mint, but was refused several years ago.