To John Tyndall, Snr   Tuesday morning, Aug. 18th, 1840.

Youghal, Tuesday morning | Aug 18th, 1840.

My dear Father

I am just after returning from a week’s sojourn in the country. I saw a letter of yours which Corpl. Davey received yesterday¹ in which it was stated that I had received three letters from you and never answered one, this surprised me greatly as I did not receive a scroll since I last wrote to you. So it appears that either yours or mine must have been mislaid I hope however that a like fate wont befall this. The time I spent in the country² was not the most agreeable. It was in a farmer’s house I took up my abode – very unlike the Carlow farm houses. Evans was with me I could not procure a room for our use so we were obliged to sleep in the same room as the farmer and his wife. I’m sure I could enjoy myself in the County Carlow listening to the country folk breaking their jokes and telling their stories; not so here – the eternal jabber of Irish³ kept up by them resembled more the clatter of geese on a pond than a language spoken by human beings. My work lay in one of the wildest parts of the County along the sea shore. You know that when the tide goes out it leaves in some places an extensive strand which is generally composed of either sand or mud. Unfortunately it was with the latter description that I had to deal you might sometimes see me wading thro’ the mud with my shoes in my hands at a great distance from the shore while the howling of the wind, the distant roar of the Atlantic and the cry of the Gull descending from the regions above all added to the solemn dreariness of the scene. I have however closed accounts with the farmer and returned to Youghal. I’m now employed in this parish. I’m still in the field. You’d scarcely know me if you saw me at present I’m quite bronzed with the weather. I enjoy excellent health I’m nearly as strong as an ox; every nerve has its proper tone, every sinew is braced, (my feet?) have partaken a little of the nature of a horse’s hoof. So I think to sum up the whole I may consider myself a smart hardy chap. If possible find out for me where Wm Wright lives, I’d like to know as it’s a long time since I heard from him. Mr Wynne is about, on account of Mrs Wynne’s health, he is going to some foreign station in about a month.⁴ There are several opinions respecting the fate of the division when he goes, some think it will be removed to Cork under the eye of Major Waters. Some think to Fermoy⁵ to join another division there, while others think that we will get another officer in his place, this last opinion is I think the most probable. Give my love to my mother and Emma. Remember me to my uncle Caleb and his family, to my uncle Ned,⁶ to Mr Holden and John, to Mr Brophy,⁷ send me word how Mary Anne⁸ is getting on, to both the Mr Kellys, Mr Williams, Mr Henry, Jerry Murray, Mr Hugh and Mrs Murray, Mr Young⁹ – tell him to be prepared for a raking in Position¹⁰ when I meet him – Jemmy Kinsela¹¹ and Jem Walsh, oh what a string of friends! and last tho’ not the least to Mr Mooney, tell him I have forgotten all my philosophy¹² among the Cork savages. I’m afraid that there are others which I forget to mention but they all have my best wishes

I remain your affectionate son | John Tyndall

Write soon.

RI MS JT/1/10/3188

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