To Auguste de la Rive   30th June 1857

30^th June 1857

My dear Sir

It is not without some self reproach that I find your last friendly letter¹ to me still unanswered, but I have been so occupied, and my health at intervals so indifferent, that I have been withdrawn in a great measure from correspondence. I now write to say that I purpose starting tomorrow for Paris, where I expect to remain a day or two, and afterward I shall proceed with all possible speed to Geneva.²

I return your many thanks for your full and truly kind replies to my questions. With regard to the small hydraulic press we have one here which I have been accustomed to use and which I intend to take with me. Circumstances have also placed a very convenient theodolite³ at my disposal, and this I also intend to take with me. So that all I shall need at Geneva will be some material of which to make coloured solutions for experiments on infiltration. Logwood⁴ and ink will I think be the most suitable substances, and they are easily obtained.

Very many thanks for your hospitable offer of shelter.⁵ My stay in Geneva will be very short and it will hardly be worth while to derange⁶ your house for such a brief sojourn. Nevertheless in this matter I am quite willing to place myself at your kind disposal.

I have already given directions to ascertain the price of a hydraulic press of convenient dimensions; I will bring you an account of this, so that if you should desire to have the instrument at anytime it may be sent to you.

Both M^r Walker and myself have consumed all our proof.⁷ He informed me that he has written to you upon the subject. He has also confided to my care a time table which I am to give to you.

And now my dear Sir I will bid you, for a brief period, good bye, hoping to have the pleasure of seeing you face to face before many days have elapsed.

Believe me | Most sincerely yours | J. Tyndall

RI MS JT/1/T/370

RI MS JT/1/TYP/1/350