Last Years. ^Cyy 



ing comes in the nick of time to confirm my desire to leave 

 the trust in the form originally contemplated. The ar- 

 rangement you have made is in the highest degree satis- 

 factory. 



We did, as you surmise, return from the Alps strong 

 and well. I am glad that you liked the address upon the 

 Sabbath, but I did not know that you would consider it 

 suitable for the pages of The Popular Science Monthly. It 

 is a pleasure to me to see it there, and a still greater 

 pleasure to learn that it is likely to produce a good effect. 

 Longman has published it as a separate pamphlet. An 

 audience of three thousand heard its delivery with marked 

 attention, and, I think I might add, with enthusiasm. 



A long letter written with your own hand reached me 

 in Switzerland. One expression in it gave me very deep 

 concern, and that was where you referred to the state of 

 your own health. I trust it is now better, and that for a 

 long time to come you will be able to continue the good 

 work on which you have been hitherto engaged. 



Believe me, dear Youmans, yours ever faithfully, 



John Tyndall. 



In February, 1881, in the midst of hard work, there 

 came the sudden blow which after a while was to be 

 attended with fatal results : 



New York, April 20, 1881. 

 My dear Spencer : It was ten weeks ago day before 

 yesterday that I was struck with a chill, the result of writing 

 in a cold room, and came down with pneumonia. I was 

 prostrated bodily and mentally from the outset, I grew 

 better, but the stupid nurse washed me with cold water, 

 which brought on a relapse with pleurisy. I got better 

 again and became very smart, so that the doctor began to 

 omit his visits. I was too weak and emaciated to walk or 

 stand, but I could sit up for considerable intervals; but my 



