From John Conwill   March 20th 1841.

‘Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s

And to God the things that are God’s.’¹

Ballinabrauna M.N.S.² | March 20th 1841.

‘My dear Tyndall’

I perceive by your last interesting epistle³ that you possess fortitude enough to repel the bold attempts of the presuming critic on the insiduous intrusions of the atrocious parasite; but that you are completely unmaned by my extravagant eulogiums, because you are convinced, that I pay no respect to those persons who endeavour to raise the edifice of their future felicity on the destructive remains of another’s good name; and that I inherit not the sly artifice of the sordid flatterer who basely exercises his base cunning to carry his objects into effect. Oh! you are perfectly aware the one non-descript of persons is as odious in my view as the other. And while I breathe vital air or float on the stream of existence, I shall use all my energies to subvert the sinister manoeuvres of the malignant critic and the crouching movements of the parasite.⁴

But again as to your being unmaned by my panegyrics; while Conwill can elevate his pen and bring it into collision with paper, the merits of my beloved pupil shall never sink into oblivion. The praise that is Tyndall’s Tyndall must get as well as my limited capacity empowers me to portray it.

Never shall the expression of a refined Poet be verified in the talents of my far-famed Tyndall whilst the humble abilities of his teacher can proclaim these talents to the world, No! no!! no!!! never shall it be said of Tyndall’s capabilities that they sink into the shade unnoticed. The words of Gray shall not be fulfilled in that respect:–

‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.’⁵

I had another interview with Mr Sheean, we discussed freely on the verb, revive.⁶ I put my argument in this manner. A mere English scholar cannot understand the verb, should he construe it as an active verb; therefore Johnson Elphinson, Kenrich, Sheridan, Nares, Entick &c⁷ are mere English scholars, because they have given it as their opinion that the verb in various instances is truly active. Now, Sir, said I, go forth and tell the literary world that Walker⁸ Johnson &c had not a knowledge of Latin Greek &c and you will render yourself a butt for the finger of scorn to be pointed at. Believe me this argument had such an ascendancy that the doctor⁹ became electrified. He received such a shock that his batteries¹⁰ were hurled to the ground¹¹ and he departed evidently ashamed and confused.

I knew I was not astray when I formed my idea of the want of refined knowledge that existed in the south of Ireland. The mode by which the prodigies of Munster¹² obtained so much celebrity is this. They purchased the periodicals and other works published in England, from which works these would-be satellites in mathematics gleaned all that was concise and beautiful and gave that as the result of many a weary hour of their own study, to every satchelier¹³ that through prejudice, or some other fantastical notions, moved up to that focus of plagiarism & imposition in which you have so long subsisted. Your observations on Professor Kelly’s¹⁴ modest paraphrasing of our excellent grammatical jaw breakers, proved to be an invulnerable stumbling block to that puerile creature’s comments. I proved our construction of the expression thus, ‘Windmills are made use of to grind corn’: ‘Windmills are used to grind corn’: the expressions being equivalent, if we take away equals from equals, the remainders must be equivalent wherefore ‘made use of’ is equivalent to ‘used’. I modified the sentence by hints of minor importance that are not worth noting in this place.

I read your last luminary¹⁵ for your mother, whose bosom heaved like the agitated billows of a stormy sea, until I came to that part of the epistle that specified your determination to come home next summer and then her breast heaved no longer, it became like the calmest seas but to our surprise, if I may say so, she made the welkin¹⁶ ring by hurrah! hurrah!! hurrah!!! My Trooper! I will see you once more. Yes I am consoled in the happiness of my contemplating

‘That I still have a son

And that son I will certainly see.’

I am your ever faithful teacher | John Conwill.

Arrah! Jack – at a push, how bad you are for a possession of some of the old witch’s incantations, to enable you to develope the mystery of my dream, on my soul you know the drift of that fancied vision with the very glance of your eyes. I had a comical scene the other night which you will hear from me another time. I have laboured this fortnight under a severe attack from cold.

You will no doubt be amazed at the delay of this letter but a terrific hurricane blew from the direction in which Youghal is situated and therefore it was utterly impossible for me to venture into Leighlin Bridge until Monday evening to post this letter to my revered friend and pupil.

RI MS JT/1/11/3517

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