June 28th 1864.
My dear John,
This morning a copy of “The Leader” Newspaper arrived here, for which I have to thank you: it is indeed most acceptable, for it tells me of your last lecture,1 for the season, and I am glad they are over, that you may enjoy a little liberty and recreation. I trust the cessation from business, will be of great benefit to your health. I shall feel anxious to hear if you intend carrying out your ideas of visiting Norway2 which will prove new and interesting. I regretted very much that I could not have the pleasure of seeing you alone, the day you so kindly called here: I had many things to say, for your own ear, solely, and it surprised me to hear that you had a companion3 in all your visits to your old friends: whether such was your wish or not, I cannot tell, but it had a strange appearance: As if you required an introduction here, or had forgotten the way to this house! I have been staying with my Brother4 at Kingstown5 for the last 3 weeks, and only returned two days ago: before leaving home, I heard that Emma6 had gone to Tramore7 for the benefit of the sea air, and I truly hope it may restore her to health and strength of mind. I do not believe that medical attendance can assist her recovery in any way, at least not that of a general practitioner:
With every kind wish for your welfare, temporal and eternal, believe me,
my dear John | most sincerely your friend | E.D. Steuart
A line from you is always most welcome
RI MS JT/1/TYP/10/3347
LT Typescript Only
your last lecture: letter 2091, n. 7.
your ideas of visiting Norway: in December 1863 Tyndall wrote to Rudolf Clausius that if ‘I go to Switzerland next year I should make an effort to visit you, but I am thinking of going to Norway’ (letter 2048).
companion: not identified, but it is clear that Steuart was quite put out that Tyndall had not visited her alone.
my Brother: Steuart had four brothers, William Duckett and three others. It is not clear here to which of them she is referring.
Kingstown: see letter 2080, n. 3.
Emma: Emma Tyndall.
Tramore: a seaside and resort town in County Waterford, Ireland.
Please cite as “Tyndall2116,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on