MY DEAR WHATELY,
When I accepted the vice presidentship2 of the Alpine Club I fully hoped to be able to attend your meetings and to fulfil to some extent at least the duties of my position.
For a long time previous however I had entertained the idea that I ought to withdraw from the Club, as I felt that I was a mere cumberer of the ground.
This idea has become stronger than ever within the last few days. I am and shall be oppressed with work and hence it is utterly impossible for me to attend your meetings or to do anything which could practicably promote the interests of your body.
I therefore with regret ask you to accept my resignation, and I beg of you and those of my friends whose kindness I could discern in the act of my election to pardon me for temporarily accepting a position which I am in no way qualified to fill.
My brain at present is rushed almost to its bearing limits: Do not ask me therefore to correspond further on this matter. In accepting my resignation without any expostulation3 you are doing me a kindness and behaving as my friend.
Believe me, dear Whately,4 | Yours most truly, | JOHN TYNDALL
Life and Work, p. 389.
[early January 1862]: see letters 1836 and 1850 for date range rationale.
When I accepted the vice presidentship: letter missing. See letter 1836 for communication informing Tyndall of his appointment to the position.
without any expostulation:: on the other possible motives behind Tyndall’s resignation, see The Ascent of John Tyndall, pp. 224–5.
Whately: See letter 1850 for Whately’s reply.
Please cite as “Tyndall1849,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on