My worthy Tom,
Since the enclosed 4 pages2 were penned to thee, I have seen the necessity of acting upon your suggestion. I have written an article3 which I send you, for [which] and for others similar I am ready to accept money, though God knows I thought little of the cash while writing it. Six Tom would take up too much time from me, that is 6 with the possibility that all six might fail: get me an order for six of the same calibre as the enclosed and you shall see how quickly they shall appear I will make one more spasmodic effort to remain here a little longer, if it fail I shall dry my eyes like David over his dead child4 and reconcile myself like a philosopher to the necessities of my [case.] I send thru your hands the continuation of my magnetic investigations,5 you can read them if you like or let [it] alone if you like but in any case forward it without delay to the gentleman to whom it is addressed. Stick two postage stamps on it for me, and fasten it with a seal and drop in the post office.
The above was written a week ago. Unexpected obstacles [have] turned up to prevent my sending the memoir on magnetism. It must remain by me for 10 days longer. I will how[ever send it] through your hands. In the mean time you can try the Leader for [me. I shall] probably send another sketch along with the memoir. Write [to me as] soon as you can Tom. My present arrangement is as follows[. I leave] Marburg at the end of June. Spend a short time in Berlin and return to England in July. I dont intend to accept any situation until I try whether it is not possible to establish some kind of literary connexion sufficient to allow me to return for a [term to] Germany.6 Give me the reply of the Leader as soon as possible. Like a flying straw it will shew me how the wind blows.
Your affectionate | Tyndall
A word7 more Tom – Jimmy may want that money sooner than I can well pay it8 – I can soon discharge the debt be assured when I once make up my mind to settle down – When do you think he expects payment?
[You are9 a good boy to send me the Guardian.10 I read the ‘new outline’ of Mr Smith’s] speech11 with much pleasure, [And with more pleasure still stumbled over] that hardy ‘no’ with which he stopped the mouth of that noisy fellow who wished to draw him into a discussion on American morality.
RI MS JT/1/T/527
RI MS/JT/1/HTYP/74
[7/9–16 May 1850]: this letter was finished on or just before 16 May (Marburg postmark, 16 May 1850, and Halifax postmark, 21 May 1850). It was begun ‘a week’ previously (second paragraph), after Tyndall received letter 0398 from Hirst, to which it alludes. It was posted with letter 0400 (see n. 2). The order of letters 0401 and 0402 is not absolutely certain. Both were responses to letter 0398 from Hirst. We consider this to be Tyndall’s first response, because he deals with urgent matters (such as the Leader article), and 0402 to be the later, more leisurely response.
the enclosed 4 pages: letter 0400 (4 mss pages) was written before Tyndall received letter 0398. He continues here, still somewhat abruptly, but responded to Hirst’s suggestion about the Leader and his information about the money loaned by Craven and Hirst (both in letter 0398).
I have written an article: probably the philosophical article about ‘Propensities’ referred to in letter 0406 (see n. 7), rather than a letter about student life in Germany such as he and Hirst discussed in letters 0392, 0393 and 0398.
I shall dry my eyes … dead child: see 2 Samuel 12:18–23 on David ceasing to mourn for his child by Bathsheba.
my magnetic investigation: as the following paragraph makes clear, Tyndall did not enclose the memoir on magnetism. It was sent with letter 0403.
literary connexion … return to Germany: as many other letters in January–June 1850 make clear, Tyndall was attempting to write for money for the Leader and other magazines so that he could continue his research in Germany.
A word: this first postscript is squeezed into the bottom of the page, to the left of the signature.
Jimmy ... pay it: see letters 0393 and 0398 for details of the loan.
You are: this second postscript is written vertically in the left margin.
the Guardian: the Preston Guardian, a noted liberal newspaper established in 1844 by Joseph Livesay.
‘new outline’ of Mr Smith’s speech: specific speech not identified, but several speeches on the Ten Hours Bill by George Smith of Manchester were reported in the Preston Guardian in April–May.
Please cite as “Tyndall0401,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 20 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0401