To Sarah Tyndall   June 8th, 1840

Youghal | June 8th, 1840.

My dear Mother

It is with inexpressible delight that I am now enabled to write to you, I am fully convinced that this will be received by you with as much pleasure as I feel in writing it, you will no doubt wonder at my using the word ‘enabled’. I could no doubt have sent you a letter before this, but I did not like to send it empty but the moment I have scraped together the first pound I hasten with great satisfaction to make it and the letter fellow travellers. You will give John Mooney 5 shillings in payment for some books which I got from him at my departure. I am sorry that I am obliged to make the pound so much less, but I know you will not think me the less goodnatured on that account. Believe me it would give me five times as much pleasure were it a five pound note I was going to send you. Apologize for me to John Mooney I did not expect to keep him so long out of his money but being so unsettled when I first came here I was put to great expense which rendered me utterly unable to save a pound any sooner. Though I ask you to apologize to John I am fully convinced that he did not harbour the slightest doubt of my integrity. I am very comfortably situated here. Evans and I and a lad from Cork named Tidmarsh, a nephew of Tidmarsh of Kilkenny,¹ live together, we pay 5 shillings a week² for two very comfortable rooms and we call for what we please in the way of board. Mr Read had just come to stop with us for a month or so, I was informed by Wm³ Heydon that my father was ill I’m astonished that you did not let me know it if such was the case, do not neglect it when you receive this. I hope Emma still preserves her appetite it would give me much concern to find that she was losing it. I hope you do not waste your time in thinking of me. I would not have you forget me totally, but it would be a cause of deep regret to me to find that I was the cause of one sleepless hour or melancholy thought to you.

I remain my dear Mother | Your affectionate Son | John.

Upon second thought I find that it is safer for me to send you the half note first and upon receipt of it for you to let me know and I will immediately transmit the other half.

RI MS JT/1/10/3186

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