Royal Institution | 12th June 1860
My dear Miss Moore
I thought this morning as I lay resting my weary head an hour longer than usual that I would write to you today. Indeed my first impulse when I heard of your recent loss2 was to write to you. I used to trust my impulses, but not quite so much now as formerly; and on reflection I thought it might be more agreeable to your feelings if I refrained from expressing mine. But I cannot allow this to pass without saying to you that I heard with deep sorrow the intelligence of your father's death. I do not forget how kindly and cordially he used to welcome me, and with what great interest I have listened to the recital of his wonderful memories. One of my earliest meetings with him was at Wimbledon,3 and as I left the house and bade him goodbye, he squeezed my hand and hoped that his son,4 and his son’s son5 & myself should be good friends. Well he is gone—gone at an age which mortals rarely attain;6 still, however the mind assents to this, as the inevitable law of nature, well I know the hearts by which he was surrounded will not so easily reconcile themselves to his loss. But that which was pain at first will melt into a gentler feeling by and by, in which pain will scarcely form an element.
On Monday next I hope to be able to commence my excursion to Ireland.7 My book will be published during my absence8 & I shall leave directions to have a copy sent to you. I should rather have liked to write my name in it, but should not like to keep you waiting till my return. Will you present my kindest remembrances to your mother & sister; to Mr John Carrick Moore; & to his son—good bye
Most sincerely yours | J. Tyndall
RI MS JT/1/T/1073
RI MS JT/1/TYP/3/867
Miss Moore: Harriet Moore or Julia Moore.
your recent loss: her father James Carrick-Moore (1762–1860) had died on 1 June 1860, at 9 Clarges Street.
One of my earliest meetings with him was at Wimbledon: On 12 July 1856, Tyndall recalled a visit to the Moores in Wimbledon, commenting that the old Mr Moore’s brother was the Sir John Moore who fell at Corunna (Journal, RI MS JT/2/13c/861–2).
his son: John Carrick Moore (1805–98). He was a Manager of the Royal Institution 1857–8.
his son’s son: John Graham Carrick Moore (1845–90).
an age which mortals rarely attain: he died aged 97.
my excursion to Ireland: According to Hirst, Tyndall was in Ireland for a ‘short holiday’ from 14–26 June (Hirst Journal, RI MS JT/2/32c/1540–2). On 18 June he was in Killarney (see letter 1665).
My book will be published during my absence: in the event, Glaciers of the Alps was published on 6 July 1860, after his return. See also letter 1595, n. 4.
Please cite as “Tyndall1713,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on