Neckinger Mills | Bermondsey | London. 18th Feb.1856.
My dear Tyndall
I have been commanded (and in so gentle a voice that to obey is a pleasure) to ask if you will join our evening party on Wednesday the 27th of February – Whether we shall read or what we shall read has not been fixed, but on this point we shall be glad of your advice. For discussion at the supper table we have to decide – ‘Whether Reading or Conversation is the most instructive.’
I shall advocate conversation and shall be glad to have an opponent worthy of my wit. First impressions are in favour of reading and unless some good reasons are shown to the contrary the majority will be against me. But I shall be content if only I can induce in any one to devote more attention to the cultivation of good conversation – In our moody England1 I cannot help thinking it would be a great advantage if conversation were more general.
Geoffrey2 and I attended at the Royal Institution and learned that there was something more in diamagnetism and paramagnetism than we could fully comprehend.3
A few days ago I wandered round that magnificent Palace at Westminster4 and saw some of the notables of the land. There was that well abused and plucky Lord John Russell,5 the Lord Palmerston,6 and many worthies unknown to me – Some intelligent chaps and others whose lights shined internally – Coming away I observed one fellow7 with rather long pendulums8 to his gastronomic apparatus – His toga of fine black cloth hung gracefully on his shoulders. His physiognomy meditative but energetic. Doubtless he was brooding about philosophers in Germany, France and Italy, and how he would leave an unperishable name when the mighty palace was dust again. I stopped for an instant to catch his eye, but no sublunaries were at that time worthy of his thoughts. On he strode, with his big thoughts and was soon lost in the crowd of mortals. Methought one of these days I will catch him in his den. If I stop him now I shall deprive the world of some new idea and moreover I shall be late for the train.
If you could send three tickets for any lecture of Owen – or Lyell or any philosopher on a popular subject I should bring Mary & Geof.9 in a fly and should be very much obliged.
Remember me to Hirst and believe me | affectionately Yours | J.B. Bevington.
RI MS JT/1/1/153
LT Transcript Only
in our moody England: Probably a reference to the growing dissatisfaction with and criticism of the conduct of the Crimean war. Although Sevastopol had fallen in September 1855 there remained the prospect that, after a hard winter, Russia might invade from the west. In fact, Russia sued for peace in March 1856.
Geoffrey: James Bevington’s son, Geoffrey Bevington (1838–72).
we could fully comprehend: Father and son had attended Tyndall’s lecture ‘The Disposition of Force in Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic Bodies’ on 1 February 1856. This was printed in Roy. Inst. Proc., 2 (1854–8), pp. 159–64.
Palace at Westminster: the Houses of Parliament.
Lord John Russell: John Russell (1792–1878), English statesman, leader of the parliamentary Whig party and frequently opposed to Palmerston.
Lord Palmerston: Henry John Temple (1784–1865), third Viscount Palmerston, English statesman and leader of the Tory party; Prime Minister from 1856 to 1859.
one fellow: not identified, but probably a uniformed Palace official.
pendulums: moustaches.
Mary & Geof: Bevington’s wife Mary and son Geoffrey.
Please cite as “Tyndall1192,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on