To Juliet Pollock   19th July 1864

Pontresina¹ 19^th July 1864.

My dear M^rs. Pollock.

Tennyson speaks somewhere of thunder peals “whenever thought has wedded fact,”² intimating that the processes by which the social and political condition of men have been ameliorated, have usually been processes of violent revolution. I might almost apply the maxim to my constitutions. In Switzerland I am always ameliorated; I pass from weakness to strength; but very often through a revolution. I very often break down for a few days at the commencement pass a stage of fever or something else and emerge from it a strong man. This year I have done so. Since I came here I have been engaged with measurements on the glaciers. Last Thursday I was on the ice and got slightly wet: to shelter myself I crept underneath a big stone till the drifting rain drove me away. I then retreated to a large hollow with a floor of granite and a roof of ice. Here I was protected from the rain, but my London body was chilled, and for four days I was worth nothing. Yesterday I felt that the molecules had shaken themselves into their proper positions—Today I feel still stronger, and tomorrow I hope to be a man of iron.

This is a most lovely country, close to the Tyrol³ and resembling it more than any other part of Switzerland. The mountain forms are very fine, and the valleys crowded with pines very beautiful. At a distance noble snow peaks rise, and form the feeders of noble glaciers. There is a frankness about the people also which reminds one of the unspoiled Tyrolese. I quitted London very soon after I last saw you, and passed through Paris, Bale,⁴ Zurich, & Coire⁵ to my present position. From Coire I made a diversion to see the famous Via Mala⁶, and reached this place last Saturday week (the 9^th). Ever since I came I have been making observations upon the glaciers & getting instruction on other matters. The main problem which has occupied me is the formation of these mountains and valleys, and on this subject Nature has taught her pupil a great deal. In fact I do not think I should enjoy Switzerland were it not for this teaching. Mere beauty, mere grandeur, the enchantment of emotion—are not sufficient to fill a human life. Intellectual occupation must be added; work for the mind which the mind feels a pleasure in performing: the growth of knowledge, the acquisition of new truth. These are the things which keeps Switzerland perennially fresh to me. These are the things which shaken by the emotions make the music of the Alps to your friend.

A M^r. Bradley,⁷ his wife and sister are staying here now. They know Tennyson, and have a house at Freshwater⁸—They know Easton⁹ and thus they bring you to my mind. M^r. Bradley is principal of Marlborough College¹⁰ and apparently a very capable man. He knows Carlyle & <hereafter LT Typescript only> sympathises with Essays and Reviews;¹¹ hence we get on very <Hereafter HW transcription resumes> well whenever we meet in conversation. The weather for several days has been dreary, these happily have been in part the days of my illness—but I have grown strong and the weather appears to have changed. Tomorrow I finish my glacier measurement and I may this be tempted to try the highest peak in the neighborhood—It is slightly dangerous, but danger is overcome by caution, and I should like in this way to assure myself that my strength is really restored.

Next week I pass the Bernina,¹² and go to Santa Catarina¹³ to join my friend Ball¹⁴—We shall prowl together about the Ortler group of mountains for some days.

Thursday

The weather is heavenly this morning and the mountains magnificent. I am on the point of starting up the Piz Languard¹⁵ from which point the eye can range over all the Alps—goodbye. Love to your husband¹⁶ & the boys.¹⁷

Yours ever | John Tyndall

BL Add MS 63092, ff. 210-1

RI MS JT/1/TYP/6/2011–2