My Dear Tom,
I send you as I promised the Memoir on magnetism,2 you will not understand it all, but certainly so much as to convince you that we have made out a strong case. I have had you in my eye at the commencement and therefore have thrown in a few definitions to render the matter intelligible which otherwise I probably should not have done. I have derived a great deal of profit from this investigation, not on account of the results won, though these are of highest interest in a scientific point of view, but from the conviction which I have gained of the power of resolute patience to break down difficulty. The investigation has further shewn me on what an insecure foundation the most brilliant discoveries of physical science rest, and I would wager a thousand to one that many of them will be overturned. I could not have labored in a better field. The subject lies at the bottom of all others, this cutting and cleaving has almost rendered the very constitution of crystals transparent and I seem almost to see into their very molecular arrangement – this as regards light magnetism and electricity is the fundamental point. Then there are one or two undecided questions at the present moment before my mind which have baffled the attempts of men of profound sagacity and I am convinced they are capable of the simplest solution. The subject has by no means absorbed me. I have watched with the deepest interest the workings of my own mind throughout and my deepest satisfaction is that it at the end is stronger, abler to face another difficulty tomorrow. Had I not promised I would not have sent you the Memoir as thereby time is lost where none is to spare. Read it speedily and forward it to Mr Taylor the moment you have got through it. Pay the postage of it – I shall see you soon, my son – and tell you my speculations as regards the future. I have now to make a few apparatus here. Spend some days in Berlin, and then Westward ho! full of trust in God and empty pockets.
Love to Jimmy – love to Philips – love to Smith – and take the last pull of the becher3 yourself.
Your affectionate | Tyndall
If you write here within a fortnight I shall receive your letter on my return from Berlin.4
Thomas Hirst | [Mr] Carter’s office | Horton Street | Halifax | England5
If TH be from home, to be opened and the enclosed forwarded to Mr Taylor without delay6
via Frankreich7
Paid at Marburg June 1st 18508
RI MS JT/1/T/528
[31 May or 1 June 1850]: ‘1|6|1850’ is the Marburg postmark.
Memoir on magnetism: at last, Tyndall sent the memoir promised in letters 0400 and 0401. It was published as J. Tyndall and H. Knoblauch, ‘On the Magneto-optic Properties of Crystals and the relation of Magnetism and Diamagnetism to Molecular Arrangement’, Phil. Mag., 37:247 (July 1850), pp. 1–33.
becher: mug or tumbler (German).
return from Berlin: there is no evidence that Tyndall made this intended visit to Berlin.
Thomas Hirst … England: address from envelope.
If TH be … delay: at the top left corner of the envelope (in two lines).
via Frankreich: at top right corner of envelope. The letter was sent via France, possibly to save postage, and has a French postmark, ‘4 JUIN 50’.
Paid … June 1st 1850: at the bottom left corner of the envelope.
Please cite as “Tyndall0403,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 24 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0403