Ballinabrauna M.N.S.1 | October 19th 1840
‘My dear Tyndall’
The examination of the teachers in Mr Butler’s district2 has been deferred until next November; therefore I have taken up my pen to communicate to you Mr Butler’s report of my exertions, and also a few geometrical ticklers for any of those pedantic gabblers, who may have the audacity to come in contact with you on the doctrine of Old Euclid.3 But ere I commence with these subjects, I have waved the liberty of making the following abservations: I had the pleasure, yea, the heart-felt pleasure of drinking three large cups of tea with your much valued mother, on yesterday evening, and it was so strong, that I fancied that its perfumes smelt strongly at the family table of my farfamed pupil in Youghal; bravo! my boy, I knew there was something of magic in you; you have discovered a mode by which you can conjure up a set of boys well able to masticate a large salmon or a good stout cod-fish. Why your mather almost split her sides laughing; I forget, I meant that her mouth was extended beyond its natural width, at hearing that you were able to procure your sons ready cut and dry; she at last exclaimed you droll fellow, John, the ladies will not resign their old way of making children. As for Emma, she is the most assiduous girl whom I know with regard to her study of history. I must now transcribe Mr Butler’s report, and leave you to judge: ‘Visited this School October 12th 1840. Ninety boys present, their answering and the orderly appearance of the school, do great credit to Mr Conwill’s exertions.’ Geometrical questions. [Given ∆ABC,] from BC draw any two straight lines BD [D being where it cuts AC] and CE [E being where it cuts AB], intersecting F; draw AF, DE and bisect them [respectively] in O, N; join ON, CN & CO. Prove by the first B[ook] of E[uclid] that ∆CON is the fourth of [the area of] the trapezium ADFE.
Bisect CB in M. Demonstrate by the first book of Euclid, that M, N, O are in directum.4
Make a triangle equal [in area] to any trapezium, suppose ADFE, one side of the figure is to be one of the triangle. All to be done by the first book [of Euclid], and without producing the sides of the trapezium.
Let the [triangles] abc, ABC be equiangular, prove by the first Book [of Euclid], that axB = Axb; bxC = Bxc; and axC = Axc.5
I have completed my twelve geometrical Apostles,6 and lest some of them might become traitors, I shall send you four others the moment our examination is over. If you have not received a letter of this date from your father, I am sure you will get one from him in a few days.
Excuse haste and let me say in the words of the inspired writer:
‘I will not look on your like again’7
I am your ever faithful teacher | John Conwill
RI MS JT/1/11/3512
LT Transcript Only
Ballinabrauna M.N.S.: The National School at Ballinabrannagh, at which John Conwill taught, was attended by both boys and girls; thus ‘M.’ probably stands for ‘Mixed’.
Mr Butler’s district: Probably Irish National School District 24, which covered the Baronies of Idrone and St Mullins Lower.
the doctrine of Old Euclid: Euclid (c. 325 BC – c. 265 BC), the Alexandrian mathematician whose book, generally called The Elements or The Elements of Euclid, passed through many modern editions and was the basic text for the study of geomety.
in directum: in a straight line.
axB … Axc: a is the length of the side opposite ∠a; A is the length of the side opposite ∠A; etc.
twelve geometrical Apostles: the twelve mathematical problems that Conwill sent to Tyndall.
I will not look on your like again: ‘We shall never see your like again’; from Samuel Warren’s novel Ten Thousand-a Year serialized in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 48 (1840), p. 171.
Please cite as “Tyndall0017,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0017