No. 5 Lammerlaws | Burnt Island2
My dear Dr. Tyndall
I received your very kind letter3 yesterday morning and I was much gratified to see that you did not disdain to write to a little boy like me. I prize your letter very highly, and I shall always keep it beside me, and years hence when we shall both be pursuing different courses in life, I shall find the greatest pleasure in reading it, and in profiting by the good instruction it contains. I am sure my Father4 would be greatly delighted to hear of the interest you take in George5 and me, for it is no ordinary thing for a man of your mind and abilities to trouble yourself with writing such a kind letter to me. I am sorry you are going to leave Queenwood for I shall never have such a kind and indulgent master again. Although I think I shall like Dr. Hurst very much. Whenever I am in London and when I have an opportunity I shall not forget to visit you in London. I hope I shall never forget the good advices that your letter contains and that when I grow up a man I shall not deceive your expectations. George joins with me in sending you, our kindest and warmest love, Hoping to see you soon, I am ever
Your sincere friend | Alexr. Cumming.
RI MS JT/2/6/c
RI MS JT/1/TYP/1/257
[1–3 July 1853]: as this letter was sent along with letter 0777, it follows that the two letters were written on the same day (see letter 0777, n. 1).
Burnt Island: see letter 0777, n. 2.
kind letter: letter 0774.
my Father: presumably May Anne Coxe’s brother, William Fullarton Cumming (1804–92) who graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University in 1827 and was then employed by the Bengal Medical Establishment (see letter 1087, n. 5).
George: George S. Cumming, his brother.
Please cite as “Tyndall0778,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on