Dear Dr Tyndall
You are quite at liberty to talk to Mr Gassiot as you would to me about the Royal Institution.1 He also will in a few weeks be one of the managers2 and he has every desire to serve you. I do not think it is impossible for you to hold both professorships.3 The two would make up a tolerable income & not give you too many lectures. In all not 30 I think at most.
As to Dr Frankland’s note,4 I hope before June you will see our London atmosphere clearer.5 If you could tell him that until after that time nothing can be done by you about Manchester6 it will be well I think.
I received a letter from DuBois7 yesterday rejoicing in your success. He is furious against Matteucci & asks for his letter8 which went yesterday with an extract from your letter9 as to the course you thought best for him which I also urged. At all risk he must not be abusive. It will injure him more than it will hurt Matteucci.
I hope to be at your lecture on Wednesday.10 Mr Gassiot has the strongest desire to help you. I met him last Tuesday.
Ever yours truly | H. Bence Jones
March 11 1853
RI MS JT/1/J/44
RI MS JT/1/TYP/674
Mr Gassiot … Royal Institution: Gassiot was a manager at the LI who Tyndall relied on for career advice.
few weeks … managers: new managers of the RI were elected at the annual meeting of the RI at the beginning of May each year.
both professorships: Tyndall had been offered a professorship at the LI, as well as the opportunity to lecture at the RI in order to qualify him for a professorship there (see letters 0715 and 0717).
Dr Frankland’s note: not identified.
London atmosphere clearer: likely refers to the confusing situation regarding Tyndall’s career options and the hopes that decisions would be made by June.
Manchester: the reference to a note from Frankland in n. 4 suggests that Tyndall was possibly being considered for a position or series of lectures at the University of Manchester. Frankland, however, was chosen as the first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Manchester (Russell, Edward Frankland, p. 149).
DuBois: Emil du Bois-Reymond.
his letter: refers to a vitriolic letter Bence Jones received from Matteucci on 28 February (see letters 0724, n. 3 and 0730, n. 3).
your letter: perhaps the unidentified letter mentioned by Bence Jones in letter 0730.
lecture on Wednesday: Tyndall was scheduled to give a lecture at the LI on 16 March (see letter 0731, n. 2).
Please cite as “Tyndall0732,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on