Paris 21st July 1854
My dear Cousin John
Whether it is your fault or mine I don’t know, but it is somebody’s or I should have rec’d some news of and from you before this. On my part I can only say that I have been working so hard to get through my business here and have had, of necessity, so much writing to do that I could think of, or do nothing else until I had finished all. Having nearly closed up everything here I shall remain but about a week longer to enjoy Paris under this blue Summer sky1 – the which I shall do heartily as it ceased raining but the day before yesterday, having commenced the day I entered France, and with the exception of five or six days, has rained incessantly dampening me completely up to this moment.
And now let me ask you whether you will be ready and willing to make a trip of about a week2 on my return to England? You see I have shortened the time we spoke of for travel3 from three weeks to one – but recollect I am homeward bound and it is accounted for. If you feel like tripping it say so, and if you have not the inclination or the time why say so. Of course you will feel under no obligation as tho’ fulfilling a bargain – at least I hope you won’t. Now if you can spare the time and can raise the courage to sustain a week’s ennui in my company, can you also think of any particular place, person or thing on which to bestow ‘all our tedium your worship’?4
In plain English will or can you go & when and where can we go for one week?5 Pray pardon this rambling note of mine, but I have been now nearly three months without hearing more than an occasional English word and have forgotten the little Yankee English I had learned before.
If you have the time to reply to this addressing me to the care of
E. Didier | Cité Trevise No 5 | Paris
I will be obliged. Anything in the way of comfort you can throw into your note will be very acceptable – also any stray bit of news you may have for I have heard nothing since I left London worth remembering. With my kind regards to Doctor Francis should you see him – I am Cousin John very faithfully & truly
Your friend | Hector Tyndale
I shall bring you a beautiful portrait6 when I come!
RI MS JT/1/T/45
RI MS JT/1/TYP/5/1589
in Paris … Summer sky: Tyndall’s American cousin was visiting England on business and had taken a trip to Paris (see letter 0916). The mention of the blue sky references Tyndall’s previous letter to Tyndale (see letter 0923).
trip of about a week: Tyndall discussed their trip in his journal entry of 5 August 1854 (Journal, JT/2/13b/680) and in letter 0960.
time we spoke of: On 4 April, Tyndall noted that he and Tyndale had discussed taking ‘a ramble together’ once Tyndale returned from Paris (Journal, JT/2/13b/671).
‘all our tedium your worship’?: this is paraphrased from Shakespeare: ‘But truly, for my own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find it in my heart to bestow it all of your worship’ (Much Ado About Nothing, 3.5).
where can we go for one week?: they determined to travel throughout the Isle of Wight (see letter 0960).
beautiful portrait: Tyndall had asked Hector to have a portrait taken (see letter 0923). And Tyndale would indeed give Tyndall the portrait. Tyndall wrote in his journal on 5 August that Tyndale ‘left his portrait with me at my request, but this was not needed to keep my affections for him alive’ (Journal, JT/2/13b/681).
Please cite as “Tyndall0957,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on