[Queenwood, Stockbridge, Hants. | 2nd Dec. 1851.] 1
Dear Sir,
It would be unbecoming in me to permit your kindness in consenting to Sign my certificate for the Royal Society to pass unacknowledged.2 Most sincerely do I thank you for it; and shall endeavour as far as Science is concerned to prevent your name from being disgraced by the association. I suppose by this time your papers are under the eyes of the authorities in Toronto. Whether it be my privilege to accompany you or not, I wish you success with all my heart.
believe me dear Sir | yours most faithfully | John Tyndall
H. Huxley3 Esqre | &c. &c. &c.
IC HP 1.1
Queenwood … 1851: this address and date are on the typescript copy (HP 8.4) but not the manuscript letter (HP 1.1). They were probably assigned by Huxley’s son and biographer, Leonard Huxley. Given that Tyndall enclosed this letter with letter 0581 to Francis (probably no later than 2 December) and wrote a parallel thank you letter to Sylvester on 2 December (letter 0583), the 2 December is probably correct.
consenting ... unacknowledged: before writing to Huxley directly, Tyndall had asked Francis to thank Huxley on his behalf, but then decided to write directly (see letter 0581).
H. Huxley: Tyndall missed Huxley’s first initial, which suggests that he did not know Huxley well, and sent the letter via Francis (letter 0581), which suggests that he did not have Huxley’s address.
Please cite as “Tyndall0582,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0582