To John Tyndall, Snr   Jan. 9th, 1841.

Youghal | Jan. 9th, 1841.

My dear Father

I hasten to give you a receipt for your welcome present and to thank my mother for her’s. I was just sitting down last night to write to you when I was hauled off to hear a controversial sermon preached by an English gentleman the subject was ‘private judgement’¹ he was not what you might call a thunderer yet he treated the subject in a clever manner he went calmly and coolly to work and reasoned dispassionately on every subject he introduced he dragged the scarlet covering from the beast² exposed him to his hearers in his naked deformity but forbore further laceration, I suppose he was afraid of offending the Roman Catholic portion of his hearers.

The boots fit me capitally. I found it rather difficult at first to get on the right one but now it goes on quite easily.

Mr Ryan’s pamphlet³ is an interesting one, I suppose he has returned to America. I hope you did not neglect getting Robinson Tyndall’s address from him it might prove useful at a future day.

We have just got an unexpected addition to our work which will detain us nearly a year longer in Ireland.

An order has just been sent out to the field directing a great number of surveyors to be discharged. Major Waters’ letter was read for me this morning – the conclusion of it runs nearly as follows:–

‘I expect that the remainder of the men in your division will exert themselves, as those who do so and those alone will have any chance of being selected for the Survey of Great Britain.’⁴

I was up in the room with Mulligan the other day on some business; he asked me would I go to England. I said I would not if I could get any better situation, he said that I would rise to good pay on the Survey, that my pay would be increased immediately on embarking for England and that I would not be there six months without receiving five shillings a day. This, however, is only conjecture.

I know I stand pretty high in Mulligan’s estimation and I’m working hard to make myself worthy of his good opinion.

Has not your interest increased since the Colonel’s⁵ return? What do you think of an application for a situation in the Revenue?⁶ I think it would be a surer speculation than the one in which I have embarked. The Dean’s⁷ and Captain Steuart’s interest is I’m sure very powerful at present.

I met Jeffries the ganger⁸ on the Parade in Cork I looked in his face of course but no sign of recognition passed between us

My situation in the office is at present very onerous, on me rests the whole responsibility of the most important part of it, they have already begun to call me Corporal Tyndall.

You may tell Mr Murray that I saw Wm. twice last week the first time I saw him I made him promise to write home, when I saw him last he told me he had done so, he is at present in the town of Middleton⁹ just half way between this and Cork a letter addressed to J. Collins R.S. & M.¹⁰ for Wm. Murray will be received by him. How is Mr McGee? Remember me to both him and Miss McGee.

Don’t read what follows aloud – I wish when Emma is writing to me that you would look over her letter. I always thought that Emma was a better speller than you, but I now think you are able to beat her at it, I make this request because I know if you do so it will serve her greatly. In her last letter she spelt Phil Ryan’s name Fill and in a former one she commenced Billy Henry’s name with a small b thus – billy.¹¹ It would serve her much if you correct these mistakes – dont let her see this on any account. This is a long letter, I have sent you all the news I could collect. I leave it to yourself to judge whether its worthy of a reply or not. I think it is, it’s a long time since you wrote to me, dont delay any longer. Remember me to Miss Clare.¹²

I remain your affectionate trooper | John Tyndall

Don’t forget to send me word about R. Tyndall’s address.

Note – Mulligan is the person in charge of the office – he occupies Davey’s place.

RI MS JT/1/10/3200

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