Mr John Tyndall | Ordnance Survey Office | Youghal
Leighlin Bridge | Nov. 8th, 1840
My dear John
I received your letter of the 4th instant1 and am glad to hear from you. I wonder you did not let me know where Mr Reid lives as I want that information particularly. You were informed right with regard to the death of Mr Vigors,2 his remains passed through this town on Friday last to be interred in the family vault in old Leighlin. Colonel Bruen was early in the field, having started before the body left England, but no candidate has yet appeared in the radical interest though they have applied to several to come forward. Some say it will be a walk over with the Colonel others that it will not. My opinion is that it will not. And I was speaking with Mrs Steuart on yesterday evening about you being employed as a writer during the contest,3 she told me that all her interest should be exerted on your behalf. Mr William Duckett4 is expected at Mr Steuarts’ this evening, and I am to be with him tomorrow morning, when I hope to have everything settled to your satisfaction. I was also speaking to Matthew Griffith on the subject, he told me that he would speak to Captain Carey5 tomorrow in Carlow, and at the same time for me to speak to Mr John Alexander of Milford whose interest is all powerful with Captain Carey – which I intend doing on Tuesday next. As soon as the second candidate starts and the writ of election issued I will send you word so as to afford you time to be at home. We are all well and send our love to you.
I remain Your affectionate Father | John Tyndall
Write immediately and dont forget to let me know where Mr Reid lives6 or in what street he lodges.
RI MS JT/1/10/3193
LT Transcript Only
your letter of the 4th instant: letter missing.
death of Mr Vigors: Nicholas Aylward Vigors (b. 1785 at Old Leighlin), the MP for the County Carlow, died at his London residence on 26 October 1840. An ultra-Liberal, who often voted with the Radicals, Vigors also contributed to zoology, was a member of several scientific societies, including the Royal Society of London, and was one of the founders of the Zoological Society in 1826.
employed as a writer during the contest: poll-clerk, the official with clerical duties during the election (OED).
William Duckett: William Duckett (1796–1868) was a prominent Tory magistrate, agriculturalist and landowner of Russellstown Park, County Carlow, an estate of 1,232 acres.
Captain Carey: Captain Henry Cary was Henry Bruen’s estate agent.
where Mr Reid lives: Christopher M. Read had resigned from the Survey on 20 October 1840 (NAI OS/1/17). Tyndall’s father would have known him when he worked on the Survey at Leighlin Bridge.
Please cite as “Tyndall0019,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 18 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0019