Royal Institution Friday | Dec. 8th. 1854.
My dear Tom
At the time you last wrote to me1 I was still in doubt as to whether I ought to go to Queenwood or not, my convictions lay being rather on the negative side of the question. The fact is that I find I must draw in my expenses a little. My income next year will not be equal to that of last. Hence as I spent all my income last year, and more too, in order to make a less one answer I must be more economical than I was. I should like to go to Queenwood, but still as with many another liking I must put it under foot this time. But I anticipate matters. I said I was still in doubt when your last note came. Last night I was at the meeting of the Royal Society.2 The Secretary3 drew me aside and said that though the matter was not yet formally mentioned he knew that the paper I had sent in would be chosen for the Bakerian Lecture of the Society this year.4 The lecture will probably come off on Thursday week next.5 And up to that time I shall be busy with both hands and brain preparing experiments, and arranging my matter. This lecture, as its name imports, is due to a bequest left by one Baker,6 which goes to pay some trifle for a lecture annually, but it is more a matter of honour than of profit – as I believe none but the best papers are chosen. You see then, whatever irresolution might have attached itself to my proceedings before last night, my fate is now fixed and going to Queenwood is out of the question. Your concert is on the 18th. but my lecture will be on the 21st.7 The claims of both cannot be satisfied so I must rest contented with satisfying the claims of one.
Affectionately yours | John Tyndall
RI MS JT/1/HTYP/377
LT Typescript Only
time you last wrote me: letter 1013.
Last night … Royal Society: Thursday, 7 December 1854 (‘December 7, 1854.’, Roy. Soc. Proc., vol. 7, pp, 175–82).
The Secretary: William Sharpey (1802–80), an English physiologist who served as a secretary of the Royal Society 1854–72 (ODNB). Tyndall noted being taken aside by Sharpey at the meeting in his journal entry of 10 December 1854 (Journal, JT/2/13b/703).
the paper … this year: see letter 0981, n. 15.
Thursday week next: Tyndall was told by Sharpey that his Bakerian Lecture would likely be read on Thursday, 21 December (Journal, 10 December 1854, JT/2/13b/703). The lecture would actually take place on 25 January 1855 (‘January 25, 1855.’, Roy. Soc. Proc., vol. 7, pp. 214–19).
This lecture … by one Baker: upon his death, the English naturalist and popularizer of science Henry Baker (1698–1774) bequeathed the Royal Society £100 to establish a yearly lecture in his name (ODNB).
21st: see n. 5. As Tyndall’s lecture was eventually pushed back, he was free to attend the Queenwood concern on 18 December, which he did (Journal, 18 December 1854, JT/2/13b/705).
Please cite as “Tyndall1017,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on