From Jane Benson   June 5th 1860¹

1 Albert Terrace | Moss Side² | June 5th 1860

Dear Dr. Tyndall,

My pen had almost written the old address, ‘Dear brother John’ for the account from Queenwood of your weary head and worn down strength awakened the old desire to nurse and comfort you which originated the title. I hope the change and quiet have been of use to you; this ‘interesting contribution to Alpine literature’ which I see Mr Murray promises,³ must have been a heavy addition to the ordinary demands on your time and thought, for a book, to be worth reading cannot be hastily written. I should have thanked both you and Dr. Hirst,⁴ long ago, for your kind expressions of good wishes, which I valued much; but ‘some how or other’ one does not settle down all at once in the new life, and letter writing is too often set aside. One’s habits are as much broken up as the particles of glacier ice but do not regelate so quickly as I think you say they do.⁵ Do you remember Mr Benson in those early unsettled days at Queenwood?⁶ We both hope so, and that the acquaintance may be renewed at some not very distant time. I should have felt considerable contempt for any prophet who had told me the last time you and I said good bye, that, he—my old friend—would prove the strong man ‘with power to rule my will’ for whom I was waiting: yet so it was; we met after ten years’ separation, shook hands, and behold! ‘the little wilful sister’⁷ finds herself managed beautifully—and happily, or she would not be so ready to confess it. We were delighted to notice in your note,⁸ the little ‘perhaps’ inserted as an afterthought in your assertion that ‘it was good for man in your case to be alone’; it implied a doubt after all, in which we quite agreed, most sincerely wishing that some loving little heart had the right to tend and cheer you. You would only be a ‘terrible plague’ to a wife who had not full faith in you. We will not despair of you yet. Next summer is a long time to look forward to, but my good husband wishes me to remind you that the British Association is to be held here then,⁹ and to assure you how much pleasure it would give us to welcome you to our little home. Small as it is, we have two spare rooms for our friends, and if we cannot offer them the freedom of country doings out of doors, they may depend on full liberty to do just as they please within the house; cocoa or mutton chops—puddings or oatmeal porridge &c. &c. being obtainable here as well as at Queenwood. So—we will say nothing of the honour we should feel, but tell you simply that at any time if you wander in this direction there will be a warm welcome awaiting you at No. 1 Albert Terrace. At No. 2. lives Mr F. Crace Calvert,¹⁰ he removed from this house when we took it, preferring a front room for his study, which he could not arrange here. His nerves must be strong, to enable him to write amid the rumble of the carriages in the front; but he does not look as if he were troubled with nerves, as he walks up from the omnibus with portly frame and elevated chin, at peace with himself apparently, if not all the world. I surely ought to apologise for so long a scribble, but you know of old I am a rambling letter writer when once my pen is at work.

I will not tax your memory, but if it should occur to you when you see Dr. Hirst or Dr. and Mrs Frankland¹¹ will you kindly remember me to them. I am looking forward with much pleasure to spending a few weeks at Queenwood doing the summer holidays, the dear old place will be looking beautiful soon.

United by Mr Benson in kindest regards | Believe me | Yours sincerely | Jane Benson

RI MS JT/5/14/33–4

LT Typescript Only