9th Nov/59. | Confidential1
My dear Tyndall
Prof. James Forbes is appointed to St Andrews as Principal2 to succeed Sir D. Brewster. The Chair of Physics here will therefore soon be declared vacant.3 It is only worth about 450£ I believe at present, but it is certain to be endowed by the University Commission in March next & will then be worth probably 200£ more if they act rightly 100£ more if they act shabbily.
Is there any chance of your becoming a Candidate? If so I think that you could be brought forward under the most favourable chances for success. The Patrons are the University Court
Yours truly | Lyon Playfair
RI MS JT/1/P/117
RI MS JT/TYP/3/985
Confidential: Tyndall recorded receipt of this letter in his journal for Thursday 10 November 1859, ‘Playfair has written me a confidential note about Edinburgh—he asks me whether I could be prevailed upon to become a candidate—as my chances of success are most favourable’. (Journal, RI MS JT/2/13c/1161).
Forbes is appointed to St Andrews as Principal: Forbes took up the position as Principal of the United College, St. Andrews in 1859, which he held until his death in 1868.
The Chair of Physics here will therefore soon be declared vacant: Forbes held the post at the University of Edinburgh between 1833 and 1860. Tyndall deliberated whether to become a candidate after Forbes (see letters 1646, 1648, 1651, 1652, 1654, 1655, and 1657) but ultimately decided against it (see letters 1656, 1658, 1659, and 1660).
Please cite as “Tyndall1645,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on