July 17, 1885.] 



SCIENCE, 



45 



THE TYNDALL FELLOWSHIPS. 



At the close of Professor Tyndall's brilliant 

 tour as a lecturer on physics in various cities 

 of this country during the winter of 1872-73, 

 he devoted with unparalleled generosity the 

 net results of all that he had earned to the en- 

 couragement of studies in phj^sical science 

 among 3'oung Americans. The amount thus 

 set apart was somewhat more than thirteen 

 thousand dollars ($13,033.34), and it was 

 given to three trustees, — Professor Henry of 

 "Washington ; the founder's kinsman, Gen. 

 Hector Tyndall of Philadelphia ; and Dr. E. 

 L. Youmans of New York. After the death 

 of the first two named. President F. A. P. 

 Barnard and Professor Levering succeeded to 

 the vacant places. In the deed of trust, which 

 is dated Feb. 7, 1873, and may readily be 

 found in the Smithsonian report for 1872 

 (p. 104), the giver declared his purpose to be 

 the advancement of theoretic science, and the 

 promotion of original research, especially in 

 the department of physics. The method of 

 employing the fund which he then proposed 

 was to assist in supporting, at such European 

 universities as the}^ might consider most desir- 

 able, two American pupils who might evince 

 decided talent in physics, and who might ex- 

 press a determination to devote their lives to 

 this work. He added that it would be his de- 

 sire to have each scholar spend four years at a 

 German universitj-, — three devoted to the ac- 

 quisition of knowledge, and the fourth to origi- 

 nal investigation. 



For some reasons not publicly explained, 

 and not difficult to conjecture, the trustees 

 have been embarrassed in trying to carry out 

 the precise wishes of Professor Tyndall ; and 

 consequent!}' but a very small part of the in- 

 come of his fund has been directed toward the 

 assistance of young physicists. One of those 

 who received encouragement from the fund 

 generously returned to the trustees the sum 

 advanced to him ; another to whom the benefit 

 of the scholarship was ofi'ered hesitated about 

 pledging himself to remain four years in Eu- 

 rope, and declined the honor of an appoint- 



ment. Meanwhile the opportunities for stud}'- 

 ing physics in this country have rapidly im- 

 proved. Excellent investigators in several 

 universities have been provided with admirable 

 laboratories, and with all the requisite appara- 

 tus for research. It is true that the opportu- 

 nity to go abroad for a brief sojourn is still 

 highly prized by our young men ; but, if asso- 

 ciated with an implied obligation to remain in 

 Germany during four 3'ears, the value of the 

 opportunity is seriously impaired. Meanwhile 

 the trustees have been careful in the manage- 

 ment of their fund, and, having added the 

 unexpended income to the principal, are able 

 to report that the original thirteen thousand 

 dollars have grown to thirt3'-two thousand dol- 

 lars, — a remarkable record in these days of 

 financial shrinkage. 



Fortunately the donor of the fund is still liv- 

 ing, and has been able to modify the original 

 conditions of his gift. At the recent com- 

 mencement of Harvard college. President Eliot 

 announced that Professor Tyndall gave to Har- 

 vard one-third of the accumulated fund, 

 another third to Columbia college, and the re- 

 mainder to the University of Pennsylvania. 

 The income is to be devoted to the maintenance 

 by each institution of a graduate scholarship 

 or fellowship in the department of physics. 



Under these new conditions, the original 

 purpose of this generous gift is sure to be ac- 

 complished. By the maintenance of a wise 

 S3'stem of appointments, such as the experience 

 of these three colleges will certainly devise, the 

 hope of winning a Tyndall prize will prove a 

 strong incentive to young American ph3'sicists. 

 The foundation will have an influence upon 

 scientific studies akin to that exerted upon 

 classical studies for man}^ generations b3^ the 

 prizes of Bishop Berkele3^ It is also interest- 

 ing to remember, that, as the name of Rumford, 

 an American physicist, is associated indissolu- 

 bly with the Ro3"al institution of Great Britain, 

 where T3'ndall holds the commanding station, 

 so the name of an English physicist, Tyndall, 

 will alwa3's be remembered with gratitude in the 

 land of Rumford's birth, for kindred generosit3' 

 in the encouragement of kindred pursuits. 



