To Thomas Archer Hirst1

My Dear Tom.

I wrote to you precisely a week ago.2

My letter contained a portion of one for3 Mr Edmondson in which he requested me to draw upon him for 25 pounds at three months –

I requested you to go to Bang and draw upon Mr Edmondson for the sum of 20 pounds at three months not thinking that Bang would have the slightest objection to doing so –

I requested you for a speedy answer but no answer has yet reached me4 –

If the letter has not reached you then go to Bang and do as I have requested.

Be good enough to let me know [of] his reply by return of post – I dont want the money by return of post 10 days hence would be soon enough.

This delay is a dead loss to me – I intended to purchase nearly 20 pounds worth of apparatus for Queenwood but now if I order them there is hardly time to get them ready – They must be slurred5 – perhaps not made at all.

Berlin is one wide scene of Hero worship6 to day. The statue of Frederick the Great has been uncovered – it certain7 was the grandest picture I ever witnessed.8 The King princes Marshalls generals and about 20-000 troops Cannon roaring, bells ringing – men cheering[,] hats and handkerchiefs waving –

Good bye – write to me. | your affectionate Tyndall

Saturday evg.

Herrn Stud. Thomas Hirst | beim [Herrn] Weissbinder Baum | Marburg. Kurhessen9

Frei!10

RI MS JT/1/T/541

1

[30–31 May 1851]: Tyndall dated his letter Saturday (at the end). The relevant Saturday was 31 May and the unveiling of the statue of Frederick the Great, alluded to in this letter, took place on that day (see n. 8), but see n. 2. Postmarks are ‘Berlin | 31 5’ and ‘Marbug | 1 | 6.’.

2

wrote . . . precisely a week ago: letter 0485, of 23 May 1851, is 8 days before the date of this letter. Tyndall’s claim would be correct only if he began this letter one day (Friday 30th) and finished it the next day (Saturday 31st).

3

for: Tyndall meant ‘from’.

4

no answer has yet reached me: Hirst sent his reply (letter 0488) the same day as Tyndall posted this letter.

5

slurred: done hurriedly (OED).

6

Hero worship: a Carlylean allusion.

7

certain: Tyndall meant ‘certainly’. This is the second example of hasty writing in this short letter.

8

The statue ... ever witnessed: Tyndall recorded the event, in some detail, in his journal (31 May, JT/2/13b/545).

9

Herrn … Kurhessen: address on envelope.

10

Frei!: trans. free, note on envelope alluding to his previous letter to Hirst (0485) which was not prepaid.

Please cite as “Tyndall0490,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0490