To John William Parker   Saturday 26th¹

Royal Institution | Private Saturday 26^th

Dear M^r Parker

I have just received a note² in which your name is mentioned and which induces me to write to you.

M^r W[illia]^m Hopkins of Cambridge, who has just completed for you a Review of Darwin’s work,³ is the author of a series of most valuable papers upon glaciers. I am not acquainted with anybody in England more competent to write upon the subject: indeed his high character and scientific eminence are in themselves a sufficient guarantee that any thing he might write would be both able and impartial. He has never had a suitable opportunity of laying before the general public what he has himself done in connexion with glaciers, and I for one should like to see the opportunity granted to him. In a recent note to me he says “There needs a general review of the whole subject—all that I have seen have been wretched one sided things”. Now such a review he is disposed to write, for some first rate periodical, —such for example as Frazer’s magazine—Would you feel disposed to accept it?⁴

Very sincerely yours | John Tyndall

Wellcome Library MS. 7777/80–80b