17th May 1864
My dear Tom
It pleases me exceedingly to hear such a good account of you.2 It shews me that there is nothing whatever organically wrong with you. That like myself you simply suffer from a weak stomach which will not bear too much intrusion from the head. I hope you will continue to improve and that when I see you next, the pallor will have disappeared from your cheeks.
Debus is getting on manfully with the examination papers:3 I have no doubt as to his ability to complete the task.
I called at Gorey4 & saw Dr. Tyndall5 and his family. They pleased me much. They are nice people, have a nice house and charming garden. I then went on to New Ross6 and saw the big Tyndall.7 Unhappily he and two of his daughters were going out to spend the day at the home of the young ladies’ grandfather. But I met them on the way & conversed with them. I liked Tyndall very much. He was a fine looking gentlemanly fellow. His wife and one daughter were at home, and them I visited and had a stroll with them through their grounds. The place is a very fine one. The house large, the grounds well planted, and commanding a beautiful view of the valley of the Barrow.8 The young lady was beautiful and clever:—dressed with great piquancy and altogether a charming creature. I did not like her mother quite so much. She was large and I thought a little coarse.
I went then to Leighlin9 and found things better than I expected. In fact while I was there I noticed not the slightest difference in the deportment of the invalid10 from what I had always observed. She looked a little more haggard. The doctor told me the Dean11 was quite wrong in taking the matter I mentioned to you seriously. It was simply a portion of the delusion, and a portion which has now quite passed away. On the whole I am in hopes that by proper care the malady may be cured.
I have just had an extremely interesting letter from Clausius.12 I had sent him13 the work of Seguin14 and asked his opinion on it. He is very decided. He has not the slightest claim, and how any man could think ever of comparing him with Mayer Clausius is at a loss to conceive. He complains much of the conduct of those northerners towards himself. “Sie loben sich gegenseitig”15 and pay no attention to the just claims of others. And now good bye dear Tom.
Yours ever | John Tyndall
I quite enter into your feelings with regard to the book.16 It was a matter that I could not alter;17 still it was not to my taste.
It is here out of print.
Dear Tom. This was written long ago. I now send it. I will write again to you tomorrow or next day.18 I send you everything that has come except mere book circulars & Railway Reports. Monday 30th. May
RI MS JT/1/T/663
RI MS JT/1/HTYP/528
This letter, although written on 17 May 1864 was, as Tyndall indicated at the end of the letter, sent on 30 May 1864.
such a good account of you: letter missing.
Debus is getting on manfully with the examination papers: Tyndall sought Debus’s help in grading examination papers for him (that Hirst was originally lined up to do) while Hirst went to Ireland and then France and Italy. See letter 2091, n. 5 and n. 6.
Gorey: a market town in north County Wexford, Ireland.
Dr. Tyndall: John Tyndall (of Gorey).
New Ross: see letter 2095, n. 10.
the big Tyndall: Robert Tyndale (see letter 2095).
the Barrow: a river that flows through Leighlinbridge, one of the Three Sisters and the second-longest river in Ireland.
Leighlin: Leighlinbridge (see letter 2091, n. 8).
invalid: Tyndall’s mother Sarah Tyndall, who had fallen ill.
the Dean: see letter 2090, n. 3.
letter from Clausius: letter 2093.
I had sent him: letter missing.
work of Seguin: see letter 1990, n. 1.
“Sie loben sich gegenseitig”: ‘They praise each other’ (German).
the book: probably a reference to Heat as a Mode of Motion.
It was a matter that I could not alter: reference unclear.
write again to you tomorrow or next day: letter 2098.
Please cite as “Tyndall2096,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on