Royal Institution of Great Britain | 13th Oct. 18641
Lieber2 Clausius
Du bist ein Verführer!3 I have been asked many times by my friends in England to stand sponsor for their children but I have always declined—stating that I did not believe one word of what our holy church says regarding the rites of Baptism. But I cannot refuse you, and it will give me great pleasure to stand Godfather for your little son.4 I hope he may turn out twenty times as good a man as his sponsor.
If I could get away from London I would go over to you, but that is impossible. I expect to be a hale old man 15 or 20 years hence, and if that be the case I shall give little Johnny his first lesson in mountain climbing. His father may give him his first lesson in mathematics, and thus the little man will be well taught, both mentally and bodily.
Give my kindest regards to your wife,5 and my respects to Madame Kenngott.6
Believe me dear Clausius | Yours ever truly | John Tyndall
RI MS JT/1/T/189
13th Oct. 1864: the date was later added by Tyndall.
Lieber: Dear (German).
Du bist ein Verführer!: You are a seducer! (German, using the informal address ‘Du’). In his previous letter (2147), Clausius had for the first time addressed Tyndall with the informal address ‘Du’ rather than the formal ‘Sie’. This suggests a move from a formal professional relationship between the two men, to one of a deeper personal relationship.
to stand Godfather for your little son: in letter 2147, Clausius had asked Tyndall to be godfather to his son Rudolf John (‘Johnny’) Clausius.
wife: Adelheid Clausius.
Madame Kenngott: see letter 2147, n. 4.
Please cite as “Tyndall2153,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on