From Thomas Henry Huxley   Sepr. 3rd. 1857.

115 Esplanade, Deal | Sepr. 3^rd. 1857.

My dear Tyndall

I don’t consider myself returned until next Wednesday, when the establishment at N^o 14¹ will re-open on its accustomed scale of magnificence—but I don't mind letting you know I am in the flesh and safe back.

The tour round Mont Blanc² was a decided success—in fact I had only to regret you were not with me—The grand glacier of the Allée Blanche,³ and the view of Mont Blanc from the valley of Aosta⁴ were alone worth all the trouble—I had only one wet day & that I spent on the Brenva Glacier⁵—for in spite of all good resolutions to the contrary—I cannot resist poking into the glacier whenever I have a chance—You will be interested in my results which we shall soon I hope talk on together at length.⁶

As I suspected Forbes has made a most egregious blunder⁷—What he speaks of and figures as the ‘structure’ of the Brenva is nothing but a peculiar arrangement of entirely superficial dirt bands, dependent on the structure but not it.—The true structure is singularly beautiful and well marked in the Brenva, the blue veins being very close set and of course wholly invisible from a distance of a hundred yards—which is less than that of the spot whence Forbes’s view of the (supposed) structure is taken

I saw another wonderful thing in La Brenva.⁸ About the middle of its length there is a step like this [image here] of about 20 or 30 feet in height. In the lower part (B) the structural planes are vertical in the upper A they dip at a considerable angle. —I thought I had found a case of unconformability indicating a slip of one portion of the glacier over another, but when I came to examine the intermediate region (x) carefully, I found the structural planes at every intermediate angle and consequently a perfect transition from the one to the other.

< Hereafter Typescript Only>

I returned by Aosta,⁹ the Great St Bernard¹⁰ and the Col de Balme.¹¹ Old Simond¹² was quite affectionate in his discourse about you, and seemed quite unhappy because you would not borrow his money. He had received your remittance and asked me to tell you so. He was distressed at having forgotten to get a certificate from you, so I said in mine that I was quite sure you were well satisfied with him.

On our journey he displayed his characteristic qualities. ‘Je ne sais pas’¹³ being the usual answer to any topographical inquiries with a total absence of verve, and a general conviction that distances were very great and that the weather would be bad. However we got on very well, and I was sorry to part with him.

I came home by way of Neuchatel,¹⁴ paying a visit to the Pièrre a Bôt¹⁵ which I have long wished to see. My financial calculations were perfect in theory, but nearly broke down in practice, inasmuch as I was twice obliged to travel first class when I calculated on second. The result was that my personal expenses between Paris and London amounted to 1.50!!, and I arrived at my own house hungry and with a remainder of a few centimes.¹⁶ I should think that your fate must have been similar.

Many thanks for writing to my wife.¹⁷ She sends her kindest remembrances to you.

Ever yours | T.H.H.

RI MS JT/1/H/518

RI MS JT/1/TYP/9/2883–4

IC HP 8:29