via Frankreich | [Postmark] 25 Oct 48
Messrs. Hirst & Craven | Horton Street | Halifax | England | [Franco]
For Tom
‘These things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended’ He knew well that this way would not be always on the delectable hills and therefore he developed a toughness within them able to face the evil when it came – The reason I write is that in your aftn1 reading you will find men of profound attainments and devout hearts differring from Fichte2 and if you be guided too much by the beliefs of others you will get perhaps into a whirl which will take you off your own legs, which be they strong or be they shimbleshanked3 are far better to you than any other mans can possibly be – Look to the notice preceding the advertisements to the catholic series4 – ‘It cannot be hoped that each volume will be essentially catholic in its nature &c–’ You will find Fichte [sneering] mere Knowing – you will find Emerson saying that he is satisfied if he can know a little and treating action in his turn with a half [sneer] – the secret of the matter is to see the correctness of both views not to cling with a party spirit to either, nay Emerson sometimes seems to contradict himself, but there is no real contradiction in the case, it is due to the imperfection of language which must shew its subject in details – a revolving light at sea will shew successively – soda,5 [strontium], & borax6 – yellow red green and black, but a full revolution is necessary to see the whole – you may see the green another man may see the red and say so very earnestly, but you must swear by your own eyes, or look round the matter and find that the man was strictly right from his point of observation. J.T.
(x)One of the best practical helps to this that I have found is to keep your pen in your hand when reading and set down in the spot any corroboratory or analogous thought which flashes thro’ your own mind – The author thus becomes only an awakener he makes us possess ourselves without possessing us
I have intentionally forgotten the poetry!
RI MS JT/1/T/522
aftn: afternoon.
Fichte: based on the content of the letter, Hirst was probably reading Fichte’s Grunddage der gesamten Wissenschaften (English title: Foundations of the Entire Science of Knowledge), first published in 1794.
shimbleshanked: slang for weak or misshapen.
catholic series: the Catholic Series was published by Chapman Brothers in London from 1845-8. The series included volumes by J. G. Fichte and R. W. Emerson.
soda: a compound of sodium, carbon, and oxygen.
borax: a compound of sodium and boron.
Please cite as “Tyndall0364,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on