Board of Trade | Whitehall | 26 Nov. 1851.
My dear Tyndall,
I do not deserve that you should write to me for I am acting shamefully in leaving your letter1 unanswered – but I have been very busy for some time back, and my journies to and out of town daily2 occupy so much time that I may say I am chasing time all the rest of the day. A vain pursuit you will say – I read with real pleasure the testimonials you sent me and Mrs Wynne read them out to Mr Russell3 who was greatly pleased with them and his expression was that of regret at a probability of your being withdrawn from the country – I should greatly wish to see you established here, but with the easy communication that now exists with America I do not look upon a residence there as the banishment that others do, there would be a great field of usefulness before you and you would have time and means to prosecute the studies you have here engaged in. I would much prefer seeing you established in this country but if that does not offer I would not regret the other – Were I to find myself placed in a position similar to yours, I would seek at the highest source4 to have my way made plain before me, and when such information is sought in faith it is seldom sought in vain – perhaps you will think this foolishness, but if you do you will I feel assured respect the motive which makes me speak on a subject on which I feel strongly but to which I am not in the habit of alluding except with those that I know well.
I have at the present time for no more – pray keep me au fait5 as to your movements and prospects and believe me to be
most truly yours | Geo. Wynne
RI MS JT/1/TYP/5/1843
LT Transcript Only
your letter: missing.
my journies ... daily: Wynne lived at Harrow (see letter 0577). There was a train link from Harrow to Euston station (distance approx. 12 miles), but he then had to get about 2 miles south across London to Whitehall.
Mr Russell: John Scott Russell, Wynne’s brother-in-law.
highest source: the Christian God. As the letter goes on, it becomes clear that Wynne expects divine guidance will be given when requested.
au fait: fully informed.
Please cite as “Tyndall0573,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 3 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0573