Aberdour | Fife, N.B. | 5th. September 1859.
My dear Tyndall,
I met Faraday on Loch Lomond1 yesterday2 and learned from him that you had returned,3 whereby you are a great sinner for not having written to me. Faraday told me you were all sound wind and limb, and had carried out your object,4 which was good to hear.
Have you had any letter from Sir Roderick?5 if not pray call in Jermyn St.,6 and see Reeks7 as soon as possible.
The thing I have been hoping for for years past has come about—Stokes having resigned the Physical Chair in our place, in consequence of his appointment to the Cambridge University Commission.8 This unfortunately occurred only after our last meeting for the session, and after I had left town, but Reeks wrote to me about it at once. I replied as soon as I received his letter and told him that I would take upon myself the responsibility of saying that you would accept the chair if it were offered you. I thought I was justified in this by various conversations we have had; and, at any rate, I felt sure that it was better that I should get into a mess than that you should lose the chance.
I know that Sir Roderick has written to you9 but I imagine the letter has gone to Chamonix,10 so pray put yourself into communication with Reeks at once.
You know very well that the having you with us at Jermyn St., is a project that has long been dear to my heart, partly on your own account, but largely for the interest of the school. I earnestly hope that there is no impediment in the way of your coming to us. How I am minded towards you, you ought to know by this time, but I can assure you that all the rest of us will receive you with open arms. Of that I am quite sure.
Let me have a line to know your determination. I am on tenterhooks till the thing is settled.
Can’t you come up this way as you go to Aberdeen?11
Every yours faithfully | T. H. Huxley.
P.S. I thought I might mention the Jermyn St matter to Faraday privately, and did so. He seemed pleased that the offer had been made.
Imperial College Huxley Collection 8.39
RI MS JT/1/TYP/9/2893–4
Loch Lomond: A lake in Scotland.
yesterday: 4 September 1859.
you had returned: Tyndall travelled through the French Alps during August 1859, see letters 1634 and 1635.
carried out your object: Tyndall undertook experimental research while mountaineering, see letters 1634 and 1635, n. 3.
Have you had any letter from Sir Roderick?: the letter is missing, but Tyndall mentioned it in a letter to Hirst (see letter 1635, n. 10), and Tyndall copied parts of it into letter 1644. See also letters 1639, 1640, 1641 and 1642.
Jermyn St: The Museum of Practical Geology and the Royal School of Mines was located on Jermyn Street.
Reeks: Trenham Reeks (1823–79), geologist and curator of the Museum of Practical Geology and registrar of the Royal School of Mines.
The thing I have been hoping for for years past has come about … his appointment to the Cambridge University Commission: see letter 1635, n. 9–11.
has written to you: letter missing.
Chamonix: see letter 1633, n. 2–3.
Aberdeen: see letter 1605, n. 11. See also letters 1635, n. 8, and 1639, n. 5
Please cite as “Tyndall1638,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on