To John Tyndall, Snr   Jan. 31st, 1841.

Youghal, | Jan. 31st, 1841.

My dear Father

I received your letter¹ about two minutes and a half ago, the news it brings is a cause of both pain and pleasure to me, pain because my hastiness was the means of making you and my mother fret, and pleasure to find that my last letter had effaced your sorrow. When I wrote my first I was unconscious of the pain that in a calmer moment I knew it would cause. I am only sorry to find that my last did not arrive in time to prevent you from shewing my first to Captain Steuart. I’m afraid he’ll consider me troublesome, however it will be a while before I trouble either you or him on such a foolish subject again.

The sun of contentment again shines on me, it has dispelled the cloud of unhappiness which for a while hovered over my way. Mulligan left us last week to attend at Foy’s Courtmarshal.² Foy while he had the payment of the party in the field run about £20 in debt. It was for the purpose of making stoppages in his pay legal that the Courtmarshal was held. After it was over Mulligan returned here for the purpose of recommending some men for a rise of pay, it being impossible for the new Corporal to estimate their abilities. I yesterday invited Mulligan to dine with us. He at first assented but afterwards he came down stairs and called me out and told me that as he had made up his mind to recommend me his dining with us might be looked on with suspicion by some individuals. I admitted the truth of what he said and at the same time asked him did he think that it was through an interested motive that I asked him to dine – ‘no! God knows I don’t’ was his reply – So my Journal goes off tomorrow.³ You judge aright respecting Roberts not paying me. When Roberts was in Leighlin I firmly believe he was an honest man, but now I regret to say he is devoid of every vestige either of principle or honour. He has now departed for Dublin⁴ but before he went I did not forget to impeach his integrity to his teeth and expose his want of principle. His intentions may be honest, but he has involved himself in such a manner here as to render them very questionable.

I don’t think it would be the least use for John Mooney to write to John Hennessey, we expect his dismissal every day,⁵ I however will speak to him on the subject.

I wrote to Debby⁶ last week I have received no answer from her as yet. I am extremely glad to find that Thomas⁷ is doing well.

I commenced this letter just before dinner. I am just now after despatching an enormous meal of corned mutton and turnips, we are all here now secluded from the bustle of the town and a bystander I am sure would not hesitate to pronounce us a very happy little family.

As my dinner has rendered my mental faculties a little torpid I must conclude my letter with a desire to be remembered to my mother and Emma.

Your affectionate son | John Tyndall

Tell Emma I’ll write to her shortly I intended to do so this evening but the same cause that prevents me from lengthening this letter entirely precludes the idea of writing to her – I mean my dinner.

RI MS JT/1/10/3205–6

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