Queenwood Sunday 19th Sept. 1852.
My dear Tom.
I have got through a mortal mass of work this day and now I bring my fagged energies to its completion in writing to you. It was not and is not in my power to give you the least notion as to when I should be required in Galway1 in the event of my being called there – I know nothing about the matter and am therefore unable to enlighten you. I am glad to hear you speak of Dickinson as you have done and can most cordially sympathise with your wish of seeing him safely settled in Berlin. Those worth taking care of are so rare that they ought to be taken care when found. Dickinson has a little brother here who though quite a child promises well – it is amusing to see the grim earnestness with which the little fellow copes with his task. When the time comes I will lay the whole matter2 before Mr Edmondson and if possible secure you the quiet nook you desire – I don’t know how far this is practicable as the place I believe has been converted into a place of meeting for the quaker boys and Mr Edmondson’s family on Sundays. We must never forget that all this is only conditionally spoken; I have antagonists in the field3 who have the advantage of being upon the spot and what I have to depend upon is that I have more to shew in the way of work and testimonials than they have.
When I last wrote to you4 I had no notion of going to Belfast where the British Association met this year. Col. Sabine was president and he made many kind enquiries of Francis as to whether I intended to go; asking at the same time whether I would like to be one of the secretaries of the physical Section as he thought it might be of service to me to be put in such a post. Well I resolved to go, and did go – We had a most pleasant meeting – the weather was good natured, the subjects brought forward interesting the speakers eloquent and cordial – all went off capitally – My old scientific antagonist Thomson5 was President of the physical Section; once after he had made a communication which contained much that I dissented from I rose to express my dissent – I heard a bustle of making way behind me, when lo! the Lord Lieutenant6 – his countess,7 Lord Naas8 his lady9 and several others entered the room – They seated themselves and I was called upon to proceed – I stated my case as coolly as if his Excellency had been my schoolfellow.
An incident took place one morning in the Committee room from which I derived both pleasure and instruction, Sir David Brewster has usually appeared cold and indifferent towards me, an exception I must say among the scientific men of England. Well I contrived to feel indifferent about Sir David’s indifference whispering to myself that a day might come when he perhaps could not afford to be so great as he was. I went therefore on my own quiet way and let Sir David pursue his – Well one morning in the Committee Room he came up to me asked me how I did in the most friendly manner possible, shook me cordially by the hand and apologized for not answering a letter which I wrote to him two years ago.
With regard to the bismuth10 I must have expressed myself equivocally I never meant to say that its polarity is the same as that of iron – I believe it has the polarity which is attributed to it by Weber and my experiments go to prove this. In fact it was on this very point that Thomson and myself had the discussion before the Lord Lieutenant.
Of the progress of the Galway matter I can say nothing – I have sent in my testimonials which have been duly acknowledged and so the matter rests – I am told they are anxious to get the best men possible for such posts; and am also informed that I have pretty strong interest on the spot more I know not.
If you can conveniently do without it for a time don’t draw upon me for the 2nd £10 – I have paid the first – My going to Belfast has swamped all my loose cash and I am afraid Edmondson wont be in a condition to stand and deliver till after Christmas. If you have already done it its no matter – I will manage to meet it.
thy affectionate | John
RI MS JT/1/T/553
required in Galway: see letter 0658, nn. 1 and 2.
the whole matter: concerning a teaching position for Hirst at Queenwood. See letter 0658, n. 1.
antagonists in the field: probably a reference to G. Stoney.
When I last wrote to you: the last extant letter to Hirst is 0638, but letters from Hirst allude to a note of early August (0652, n. 3) and a letter written in mid-August (letter 0658, n. 1).
scientific antagonist Thomson: William Thomson, with whom Tyndall differed in opinions concerning magnetic induction in crystalline substances.
the Lord Lieutenant: Archibald William Montgomerie (1812–61).
his countess: Theresa Howe Cockerell, née Newcomen (d.1853).
Lord Naas: Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo (1822–77), from whom Tyndall had received acknowledgment of his application for the Galway position (Journal, 26 August 1852, JT/2/13b/580).
his lady: Blanche Julia Wyndham (1826–1918).
with regard to bismuth: see letter 0658.
Please cite as “Tyndall0661,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on