Keswick 19th Apr. 1859 | Royal Institution of Great Britain
My dear Sir
I believe I am the sole member who is carrying out the principles of the Alpine Club1 of this season. My presence among the Cumberland mountains2 will deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you on Tuesday. This I regret as I should like to see the apparatus.3
With regards to Mr Barnard4 he would probably gladly avail himself of your offer—I was so busy when your last letter5 reached me that I omitted to send it to him as I intended: his address is Charlotte Street Fitzroy Square, but I forget the number:—the porter at the Royal Institution6 knows it and would tell you if you cared to enquire.
I hope you will have a pleasant meeting on Tuesday—pray commend me to our [President]7.
Ever truly | Yours J. Tyndall
F. F. Tuckett [Esq]
Science Museum, Wroughton (MS 2108/79a)
the principles of the Alpine Club: refers to him being in the Cumbrian mountains at a time when members of the Alpine Club, which was founded 1857, were not likely to be there.
Cumberland mountains: the Lake District in North West England.
the apparatus: not identified.
Mr Barnard: likely refers to George Barnard (1807–90), a landscape artist who was a member of the Alpine Club.
your last letter: letter missing.
the porter at the Royal Institution: unidentified. There were three porters at the time: Thomas Smith (door porter, who slept at the RI), James Eed (hall porter), and Henry Lacey.
[President]: The first President of the Alpine Club was the politician and naturalist John Ball (1818–89), who held the post until 1860.
Please cite as “Tyndall1608,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on