15th. Oct. 1853.
My dear Tom.
The cheque1 has just reached me and I am very much obliged to you. I am just going out to meet Playfair at Marlborough House.2 He wrote yesterday3 requesting me to call upon him. I have no doubt it is something connected with the ‘School of Science’4 that he wants to talk to me about – The remainder of your lecture5 has not yet reached me although I expected it today. I am preparing an Introductory Lecture6 and will send it to you as soon as it is ready – I want to have the benefit of your scrutiny which I trust will be as severe as your tender heart will permit of. I shall probably send you a £10 note next week as I have little doubt of being able to get the draft cashed without loss. Make my respects to Mr Best when you see him appropos – Have you read that lecture of the Dean of Hereford7 at the Society of Arts.8 He sent me a copy before I went to Germany. It is valuable both on account of the information it contains but more so to you and me as affording a view of a sturdy practical educator who is not frightened by what would deter many – Edmondson has a copy.
Goodbye. Remember me to John9 when he comes. | Yours affectionately | John
RI MS JT/1/T/573
RI MS JT/1/HTYP/273
The cheque: likely the £20 Tyndall requested from Hirst in letter 0808.
Marlborough House: see letter 0784, n. 12.
He wrote yesterday: letter missing.
School of Science: likely refers to Playfair’s attempt to launch and co-ordinate a national scheme of scientific schooling while he was Secretary of Science, which never came to fruition (ODNB). Tyndall noted in his journal on 17 October that Playfair had requested he write a treatise on physics to be used in schools. He also noted that there may be a post for him in the School of Science in the future (Journal, JT/2/13b/628). On 20 October he noted that he had written to Playfair to decline his offer of involvement (Journal, JT/2/13b/629).
The remainder of your lecture: Tyndall was awaiting the rest of Hirst’s lecture from the publisher, Christopher Legge Lordan (see letter 0808, nn. 2 and 3).
I am preparing … Lecture: the first of twelve lectures Tyndall gave at the RI as part of a course on Heat in 1854 (see letter 0789, n. 2). The lecture took place on 17 January 1854.
lecture of the Dean of Hereford: the lecture was published as R. Dawes, Schools and Other Similar Institutions, for the Industrial Classes. Remarks on The Importance of Giving Them, as Far as Possible, a Self-Supporting Character, and the Means of Doing So. A Paper Read before the Society of Arts, April 27th, 1853 (London: Groombridge and Sons, 1853). The educationalist Richard Dawes (1783–1867) was the Dean of Hereford from 1850 until his death, and is notable for his contributions to developing applied science for elementary education (ODNB).
the Society of Arts: shortened title for The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. A British organization located in London, the Society was founded in 1754 by William Shipley (1715–1805) to ‘embolden enterprise, to enlarge science, to refine Art, to improve our Manufactures, and extend our Commerce’ (W. Shipley qtd. in D. G. C. Allan, William Shipley: Founder of the Royal Society of Arts [London: Hutchinson, 1968], p. 43).
John: Hirst’s brother, John Henry Hirst (1826–82), who worked as an architect in Bristol.
Please cite as “Tyndall0809,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on