To John Tyndall, Snr   Saturday night, (Jan. 23rd, 1841)

Youghal, | Saturday night¹

My dear Father

With feelings of the greatest pleasure I received yours of the 19th,² it was indeed a welcome epistle. I thought that you had either totally forgot me or that something unusual had happened to prevent you from writing.

Man it is said is born for disappointment,³ it is a melancholy truth. You congratulate me on my being held in high estimation by the Corpl. in charge;⁴ I believe I may safely say that there was not one in the division held in as high, but the pleasant anticipations which that gave rise to are now totally blotted. Mulligan is to be removed from us on Monday next. He is to take charge of the field party and Collins is to return to the office. Mulligan is replaced by a man named Colder from another division.⁵ He may be a good fellow, but it is with great regret that we part with Mulligan.

We however did not let him go without making an effort to detain him. When I heard of the Lieut’s⁶ determination to remove him I immediately thought that a petition might avert the circumstances. I therefore sat down and wrote what I now send you,⁷ quite hastily, got it signed by all the civilians in the office, and sent it down to the Officer’s lodgings. In the evening we got his reply and indeed every man of us was stung by it – He expressed his surprise at the liberty we had taken and hoped that it would not be repeated. We could hardly suppress a groan when this was read for us. However we must hope for the best.

When I spoke in my letter last of looking about a situation I thought a member of parliament could obtain it, and I also considered that the Capt. could get the Colonel’s interest⁸ for you. However we’re not confined to the revenue;⁹ a situation in the bank of Ireland¹⁰ would be equally as good; the Dean¹¹ and Capt. Steuart I think could get that for me. I wish you’d try what the Dean thinks of it, I flatter myself that he would be my friend – I shall expect to hear from you shortly – Good night | Your affectionate son | John Tyndall

[Enclosure]

Youghal | Thursday¹² morning

Sir¹³

With feelings of the deepest regret we have heard of your intention to remove Corporal Mulligan from the Superintendence of the office duties – this Sir, induces us the Civilians of your division to take a step which under other circumstances might seem unjustifiable.

Since the time of Corporal Mulligan’s being placed in his present situation he has discharged the duties imposed on him with energy and well directed zeal – This remark taken absolutely would be no doubt superfluous, but when taken relatively – when taken in connection with us Sir, it assumes a very different form. He, by manly conduct, his strict regard for justice, and his acknowledged impartiality, has endeared himself to every man in your division; he has imparted energy to their efforts, they hoped under his superintendence to see the deserving man duly rewarded; and the knowledge that none but those who were deserving would be so rewarded induced every man to emulate his fellow in rising in his officer’s estimation.

We therefore earnestly but respectfully beg of you Sir, to consider these circumstances. It is not a matter of surprise that we should deprecate the idea of a separation.

Far be it from us, Sir, to urge anything which in its effects might be detrimental to the business of the Survey (and here we would beg leave to make a suggestion). The field work as carried on at present under the superintendence of Private Collins has given universal satisfaction; inefficiency in that department cannot be the cause of Corpl Mulligan’s being sent out – Every man finds it his individual interest to promote the credit of the division at large, it would then be quite preposterous to petition for anything that would be to its prejudice.

We must here plead guilty to the charge of selfishness. We have not consulted Corpl Mulligan’s feelings in this instance, he is quite ignorant of our present-proceedings coming forward on this occasion.

In conclusion, Sir, we would beg of you not to judge harshly of our present proceeding, nor deem our petition impertinent. We feel assured Sir, from your acknowledged kindness of character that you will pardon its numerous defects.

Should the result of your reflections on this subject be favourable to our wishes it shall be repaid on our part by increased assidulity and redoubled exertion.

Signed &c.

RI MS JT/1/10/3202–3

LT Transcript Only