to
Summary
Gustavus Hinrichs is also a [not highly regarded] correspondent of JT’s; he will put GH’s papers on the table at Royal Institution to ease CD’s conscience.
Dined with the Asa Grays at Hooker’s. Told Mrs Gray that CD’s ill health was a benefit because it caused him to ponder a great deal.
Transcription
Royal Institution of Great Britain
9th. Oct. 1868
My dear Darwin.
Hinrichs is also a correspondent of mine.f1 Had he trusted more to the natural weight of his views if they have any and less to the policy of making a noise about them he would in my opinion have acted more wisely than he has done.
He has published an attack upon Dana which I should not like to circulate as he shows a temper not to be trusted where cool judgement is required.f2 But you can ease your conscience by sending his papers to me, and I will place almost the whole of them on the table of the Royal Institution.f3 You can tell him that you have sent them to me.
I was rejoiced to hear from dear old Hooker on Thursday week that were able to have a little party of your friends about you, and then again, Bates dashed my happiness by saying that you were not so well as you ought to be.f4 I hardly think that even your naturalists care more about hearing of your improved health than I do.
That charming man Asa Gray, and his still more charming wife are staying with Hooker.f5 I dined there on Wednesday and endeavoured to make it clear to Mrs. Gray that your ill health was a benefit to you inasmuch as it compelled you to ponder a great deal,f6 and this accounted for the extraordinary proportion of thought which your works display.
Goodbye: I hope you will continue to flourish.
Ever Yours | John Tyndall
Footnotes
- f1
- For CD’s remarks regarding Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs, see the letter to John Tyndall, 7 October 1868.
- f2
- Tyndall refers to James Dwight Dana; see letter to G. D. Hinrichs, 13 August 1868, n. 1.
- f3
- For a list of the papers Hinrichs sent CD, see the letter from G. D. Hinrichs, 31 August 1868.
- f4
- Joseph Dalton Hooker evidently told Tyndall of the visit from several naturalists over the weekend of 12 and 13 September; though Henry Walter Bates had been invited, he was not able to attend (see letter to J. D. Hooker, [8--10 September 1868]).
- f5
- Gray and Jane Loring Gray had recently arrived in England (see letter from Asa Gray, 17 September 1868).
- f6
- For CD’s reference to his agreement with Tyndall on the importance of `pondering’ in science, see the letter to John Tyndall, 7 October 1868.