28th Dec. 1864
My dear Francis
I am going to ask a last favour of you, in reference to our conversation of yesterday.1
You then drew my attention to a passage commencing thus:—‘My first interview with Dr. Akin has not ended’—and terminating thus: ‘Let me here illustrate the correctness of my conclusion.’ I have since pondered your remarks and have come to the conclusion that they are of weightier moment than I first supposed them to be.2
Is it too late to omit that passage?3
I would gladly wear any expense that this alteration would render necessary. If the sheets are already marked off I would cheerfully pay for the reworking of them & every other charge incidental to the alteration.
Yours very sincerely | John Tyndall
I should regard it as an extremely friendly act on your part if you would arrange this matter for me.
I will call in at 11 o’C. just to hear your fiat.
St Bride Library, Authors’ letters
our conversation of yesterday: Tyndall and Francis had met to discuss the editing of the text of Tyndall’s ‘On the History of Negative Fluorescence’, Phil. Mag., 29 (1865), pp. 28–43; see Tyndall’s letter to Francis, 2201.
You then drew my attention… supposed them to be: Tyndall had been in dispute with C. K. Akin, and had clearly discussed the best phrasing with his publisher, Francis, at the meeting referred to. See introductory essay to this volume for further commentary and context, as well as letters 1925, 2075, 2076, 2079, 2114, 2162, 2167, 2168, 2170, 2173, 2182, 2183, 2190, 2197, 2198, 2201, 2208, and 2214.
to omit that passage: this passage was indeed omitted.
Please cite as “Tyndall2204,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on