A mistake of the postman’s kept Huxley’s note2 out of my hands until last night, otherwise your request would have been attended to before now. Looking at the matter in hand3 I can hardly imagine how so many fruitless interviews could have taken place about it: half an hour’s frank conversation might have settled the whole. Huxley says that you wish to know exactly the nature of my proposition or of my wishes: Now I have made no proposition, for I conceive that my part in the transaction was to listen to one. The fact of my going to Jermyn Street4 so often at Sir Henry’s5 request proves that I was prepared to entertain a proposition, and the only question is whether the requirements of the Museum6 could be made to harmonize with what I must for the present consider the prime question of my life – my researches. I have repeatedly stated my willingness to lecture at Jermyn Street and have used my best endeavours to ascertain the extent to which my services would be required. By word and note I have sought to obtain distinct information upon this point, but have hitherto been unsuccessful. I declare to you the perfect truth when I say that I have no wish in the matter: or if the wish exist it is like an equilibrated force, balanced by considerations equal and opposite. I am still ready to give a frank reply to any proposal that may be made to me. I am ready to lecture, but not to sell myself to lecturing. In Sir Henry’s first intimation to Faraday he mentioned thirty as the number of lectures to be given before Christmas. Is he prepared to make this number the basis of negotiations. What I want is a distinct proposal. I have written thus much simply because you wished me to write to you. I know your intentions are those of kindness to me, and however this matter ends I trust you will see reason to think kindly of me; for if my instincts of human character do not mislead me your friendship is a thing which I should like to deserve
Believe me | Yours very truly | John Tyndall.
RI MS JT/2/13b/648
LT Typescript Only
[23 December 1853]: Tyndall transcribed this letter on 23 December (Journal, JT/2/13b/648).
Huxley’s note: letter 0856.
matter in hand: the possibility of taking up a position at the Government School of Mines (see letters 0856, n. 2 and 0858).
Jermyn Street: a street in London, England on which the Museum of Practical Geology and the Government School of Mines were co-located (see letter 0721, n. 9).
Sir Henry’s: Henry De la Beche.
the Museum: the Museum of Practical Geology (see n. 4).
Please cite as “Tyndall0859,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on