To Emil du Bois-Reymond   10th Oct. 1852

Queenwood 10^th Oct. 1852.

My dear du Bois.

Will you permit me to introduce to you my friend M^r Hirst¹ who intends to spend some time in Berlin. I dont know what he intends to do there – probably pursue mathematics, but he has a physical head and I am therefore anxious that he should cultivate the acquaintance of the physicists of Berlin. You will not perhaps find him ‘funkelnd’² but if you give him a little time you will I doubt not learn that he possesses abilities of no ordinary kind. In fact he is a young fellow who has been bound to me through years by the closest ties of friendship and concerning whose future I entertain great hopes. I should like him to have an opportunity of visiting the physical society³ and of looking in to the Academy⁴ if it can be accomplished. I may remark that he has already passed his examination and received his Doctor diploma in Marburg.⁵ It may be in your power to give him some information regarding the mathematicians whose lectures it would be desirable to attend. I do not think that he would like you to lose much time with him but I am very desirous that he should at least make your acquaintance.

I am hard at work translating the paper of your friend Helmholtz⁶ which you gave me on leaving Berlin – it will probably be published on the 1^st of November. Die Sache ist nicht immer leicht zu verstehen,⁷ but it is a valuable paper. Remember me kindly to D^r Beetz⁸ when you see him – there are many others also to whom I could desire to be remembered, but my sheet would not contain their names. Trusting that you feel yourself happy and vigorous after your Italian and Swiss journey

believe me dear du Bois, | most faithfully yours, | J Tyndall

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Sammlung [Collection] Darmstaedter, F 1 e 1855 (2): Tyndall