And now for a few concluding words:—I cannot help expressing my deep regret that you did not write to me in a different manner.2 I should have gone almost any length to gratify you, had you adopted another tone; and I shall prove my sincerity in writing thus, by doing that which still remains in my power to do. I have to say, then, that from this 3rd of November 1864 to the 3rd of November 1865 I shall not make known, publicly or privately, any experiments on ‘ray-transmutation’. Nearly seven months ago I was, as you know, ready to take this subject up. Out of deference to you I did not do so; so that at the termination of the period referred to I shall have held back for nearly nineteen months. That you will be able to release me long before, by the actual performance of this experiment, is almost beyond a doubt; and in this event I hope to muster sufficient greatness of heart not to envy you.
J. Tyndall, ‘On the History of Calorescence,’ Phil. Mag., 29 (1865), pp. 218–31, on p. 228
[3 November 1864]: the date is given by Tyndall within the letter. Akin’s response to this letter is missing. See also letters 1925, 2075, 2076, 2079, 2114, 2162, 2165, 2168, 2170, 2173, 2182, 2183, 2190, 2197, 2198, 2201, 2204, 2208, 2214, and letters in volume 9.
in a different manner: letter missing; although Akin had clearly written suggesting that Tyndall had acted improperly in pursuing his experiments on ray transmission.
Please cite as “Tyndall2167,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on