Thursday
My dear Tom
I hope your lecture2 will pass off to your satisfaction. Today a young German3 called upon me with a note of introduction from Dove. He wishes to be a teacher in England. He speaks English pretty well. Chiefly as mathematician but has read physics and astronomy. He can teach arithmetic and all such matters. Has had several years practice as a teacher in the Gymnasium in Berlin,4 was accustomed to take charge of the boys at the Turnplatz5 and appears to be well acquainted with jumping, springing,6 climbing and all those things that boys delight in on the playground. He is a decent steady-looking fellow and might be useful to you. I give you therefore notice of his existence. He says he knows what discipline is, knows its difficulties and is able to meet them; but here the proof is the only thing that would satisfy him.
This morning’s post brought me a letter from the son of Prof. Hessel7 who is now in Liverpool and also in search of a situation. So here are two, in case you do not know where to turn. Hessel I should like to serve on his father’s account. He also is a first rate Turner8 and a nice looking fellow, but I fear he lacks the practice necessary for Queenwood. I don’t urge you to have either, but if you want a man you know where to look.
I had a note from Dr. Coxe9 which I would enclose to you were it not just now in Faraday’s hands. James Forbes of Edinburgh has been long ailing and he will probably soon feel himself obliged to resign his chair. Dr. Coxe thinks if I became a candidate that my election to it would be next to a certainty. The income is about ₤800 or ₤1000. If you were near me I would ask your opinion as to how I ought to act. 6 months of the year would be free. (Private)
I think either of those10 that I have mentioned would accept a small salary, or go on trial for 3 months.
Affectionately yours | John
Many thanks for the magnet problem.11 I have not yet read
RI MS JT/1/HTYP/375
LT Typescript Only
[23–24 November 1854]: Hirst dated this letter ‘Nov. 24th’ likely reflecting the date he received it. Tyndall likely started writing the letter on ‘Thursday’, 23 November, but finished it on 24 November, given the reference to ‘This morning’s post’ in the second paragraph.
your lecture: Hirst gave a lecture at Basingstoke, Hampshire, England (see letter 1013).
a young German: not identified.
the Gymnasium in Berlin: not identified.
Turnplatz: a German outdoor exercise area.
springing: this was handwritten by LT as ‘springing?’.
Prof. Hessel: see letter 1007, n. 1.
Turner: likely a reference to J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851), a well-known English landscape painter. Many of his works were studies of perspective. Hessel had noted in his letter to Tyndall that he was suited for giving lessons in ‘drawing (freehand and perspective drawing)’ (see letter 1007).
a note from Dr. Coxe: letter 1005.
either of those: Tyndall noted in his journal entry of 3 December that he had written to Queenwood about both of the potential teachers, but that there was no vacancy at Queenwood (Journal, JT/2/13b/702).
the magnet problem: not identified. The last time there is record of a problem sent to Tyndall by Hirst was in letter 0965.
Please cite as “Tyndall1008,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on