From John Francis Julius von Haast   27 Aug 1861¹

Christchurch Province of Canterbury | New Zealand 27 Aug[ust] 1861

Sir,

I have the honour of presenting to you by the mail a little volume,² the title of which: Report of a topographical and geological exploration of the western districts of the Nelson Province New Zealand undertaken for the Provincial Government by Julius Haast Esq. will sufficiently explain its contents. If you should find time, to look through it, I hope you will judge it with indulgence, for as a fearless traveller yourself, you will surely perceive the great difficulties, under which I laboured. The contents of this little work will show you, that I have named many mountains and rivers after the great savants of Great Britain. I will not apologize for the absence of your name amongst them, for I had before starting on my hazardous journey made arrangements with the Canterbury Government to enter into their service as Geologist, after having finishing my work in Nelson and I purposely reserved your name for this part of the country.

Being under engagement to survey the Southern Alps, a magnificent mountain chain of an altitude of 10 to 13500 feet and covered with perpetual snows, from which in every direction glaciers descend, I thought it my duty to reserve your name for a mountain giant only, intending there to name it after one to whose labour Science owes so much in the investigations of these beautiful phenomena.

I chose the huge pyramidal peak in this astral chain from which I found several large glaciers descend, feeding the two main source branches of the Rangitata and the Southern source branches of the Rakaia and I am certain you would enjoy it very much should you gaze upon M^t. Tyndall³ in all its stern and savage beauty, even the base of which has never been tread on by a human foot before. At the close of my 1 year by which time I shall have finished a great deal of my work in the Alps, I shall begin to construct my maps and I will take the first opportunity of sending you a copy, so that you may see where M^t Tyndall lies.⁴ The investigation of the Southern Alps is a most pleasing task, presenting numberless points of the highest geological interests; in the case you wish my information concerning their numerous glaciers, I shall be only too happy, as far as it is my power to do so, to comply to your wishes.

Believe me Sir | Yours very faithfully | Julius Haast.

Professor | John Tyndall FRS | etc etc. | Royal Institution of Great Britain | London.

BL Add MS 53715 0001 to 0003