My dear Sir,
I have just returned from a short visit to Queenwood;3 and before the engagements which are thickening upon me at the commencement of our session here divert my thoughts into other channels I will take the liberty of troubling you with a word upon a subject which has long been one of interest to me. I went down to Queenwood on Saturday and was gladdened by the sight of a houseful of as fine boys as any man could wish to have committed to his guidance. I am sure it would have gratified you to see them, although the strong personal affection, resulting from acquaintance which I entertain towards many of them would, of course, in your case be wanting Perhaps also the reflection may have mingled with my feelings that I had myself lent a helping hand towards rescuing Queenwood from the state of derangement in which it was plunged three years ago4 and placing it in its present prosperous condition. Before I left Queenwood, however, it was my fate to learn that the beauty and the happiness and the prosperity which I saw before me were, on commercial grounds to be sacrificed and superseded by a state of things which, in prospect at least, stands out in dismal contrast to the present. I felt a certain sickness at heart as the matter was fully made known to me.5 If you have acted with your eyes perfectly open, if you are accurately informed of the prospects of Queenwood and still consider the cash stipulated for an equivalent for the interests you destroy, then I have nothing to say. Mr Edmondson indeed did tell me that you have been accurately informed, that the figures were already laid before you. But you may be justified in doubting figures, you have already seen Queenwood advance and again decline. The figures in 1848–9 may nearly cope with the present ones but there is this capital difference which the statistics cannot reveal: at the time alluded to Queenwood, though fair outside, had a worm at its core; while at present it is sound within and without, and the men engaged in it are able to preserve it so. For my own part I must believe that higher considerations than mere pecuniary ones ought to have entered into stipulations of such moment; but even on money grounds I take the liberty of doubting whether if Queenwood had lived a year or two longer you would not hesitate before taking your present step. But I will end. If you demand my object in writing this letter I can give you none. ‘A sigh is sometimes a relief to the human breast6 and you may interpret these pages as a sigh from one who seen in your present act the hope of an honourable future for Queenwood frustrated.
I am | very sincerely yours | J. Tyndall.
RI MS JT/2/13b/647–8
LT Typescript Only
William Pare: William Pare (1805–73), a co-operative movement activist who played a role in the lease of Queenwood to George Edmondson (Brock, ‘Queenwood’, p. 16).
[20 December 1853]: Tyndall wrote a copy of this letter in his journal entry for 20 December (JT/2/13b/647–8).
a short visit to Queenwood: Tyndall left for Queenwood on 17 December to attend Queenwood’s annual Christmas concert (see letters 0848, n. 6 and 0849, n. 4). Tyndall returned to London on 20 December (Journal, JT/2/13b/646–7).
the state of derangement in which it was plunged three years ago: when Tyndall began his second round of teaching at Queenwood in 1851 (his first round was in 1847–8), the school only had 33 students. When Tyndall left the school to take up his position at the RI in July 1853, it had grown to 76 students (Brock, ‘Queenwood’, pp. 13–14).
the matter was fully made known to me: on 20 December, Tyndall noted that Edmondson told him ‘Queenwood was to be sold for £27000 to a community of American shakers’ (Journal, JT/2/13b/647).
A sigh is sometimes a relief to the human breast: a common idiom used at the time.
Please cite as “Tyndall0857,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on