My dear Tom
I am anxious to look at you once more [see] you pass away into other hands. The Bakerian Lecture2 is fixed for the 3rd Thursday in January.3 This arrangement is made for the purpose of giving the Fellows4 sufficient notice of the thing. Lord Wrottesley5 announced it last night6 at the Royal Society. This takes a little work off my hands at present. I will go down sometime tomorrow7 – write & I will meet you at supper.
Tell Tommy Grieve that I will buy him the [1 word illeg]. He wrote to me8 very dolefully when he heard that I was not to come. I am delighted with your assessment of Alick.9
ever yours | John
Elton Hall FAM 124
[15 December 1854]: while the letter is undated another hand has written the correct date of ‘15th Dec. 1854’ at the top of the letter.
The Bakerian Lecture: see letters 1017, n. 4 and 0981, n. 15.
3rd Thursday in January: Tyndall initially told Hirst that the lecture would take place on 21 December, but it was not read until 25 January 1855 (see letter 1017, n. 5).
the Fellows: the Fellows of the Royal Society of London.
Lord Wrottesley: John Wrottesley (1798–1867), 2nd Baron Wrottesley and English astronomer, was president of the Royal Society from 1854 to 1857 (ODNB).
Last night: see ‘December 14, 1854’, Roy. Soc. Proc., vol. 7, pp. 183–9.
I will go down sometime tomorrow: Tyndall left for Queenwood on 16 December (see letter 1020, n. 7).
He wrote to me: letter missing.
I am delighted … assessment of Alick: Hirst wrote that Alick (Alexander Cumming) was ‘doing his work magnificently, there is little doubt he will be 1st in the school’ (see letter 1021).
Please cite as “Tyndall1022,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on