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

Youghal, | Saturday¹ night

My dear Father

I believe a week has elapsed since you last heard from me² and as I promised that you should hear from me weekly I now raise the pen in order to fulfil that promise.

Silence I think has spread her wings over the County Carlow people. I wrote to Mr Conwill a good while ago and have received nothing as yet in return. You must recollect that you yourself are already indebted to me a letter so that on the postage of this I may set you down on the debt side of my account for two.

Things are going on in their old routine here I’m as strong and have as good an appetite as ever. I found a twopenny³ quite insufficient for breakfast. The lads complain dreadfully of my undue share in the consumption of the mess.⁴ One thing in particular they protest against loudly and that is my inroads on the sugar bowl. I am sure my mother must feel the benefit of my absence with respect to this portion of the furniture of the tea table.

You may recollect that we calculated on leaving this country about the end of September. We counted on having all the work with which we were furnished totally cleared up by that time. We had no idea whatever of getting any more in Ireland. Our views on this subject proved fallacious and yesterday we received an additional supply of 29000 acres,⁵ this will detain us about 5 months longer in Ireland. I am not sorry for this though I believe our pay in England will be superior to what it is here.

Our present division is but the skeleton of Mr Wynne’s. It has undergone a complete purgation. Roberts, Mackay, Packer⁶ and several others have left us since we came here. Linedale took to his heels on Sunday morning last⁷ – scarcely any one know anything of his going away, he appeared studious to conceal his exit as he has left the town greatly in debt. He was sick for a good while before he left this, and during his sickness he was well attended by the person with whom he lodged. He ran to the amount of nearly £2 and when he recovered he took no measures whatever towards the liquidation of the debt. He went in debt with other persons also, he took some drawing instruments from a person who lodged in the same house with him. You are aware that we keep a Journal in which the daily work of each of us is entered,⁸ before Sinedale went away he crammed this Journal with every sort of filth and vagabondism. In fact the production would be a disgrace to Paddy Molloy.⁹ During the time we have been in Youghal he has conducted himself very badly; he always kept low company, had several fights with the townspeople, had to appear at the Sheriff’s Court in the Mall house – In fact he has left behind him the character of a depraved and immoral lad. He boasted I believe before he went that he was going to Bagnalstown. Mrs Payne and I were speaking together the other day about him. I was astonished to hear from her that Miss McGee was favourably inclined towards Linedale. I laughed at the idea. However, at the time, but she appears to be so serious in her declaration that I know they must have some foundation. I know that reports are exaggerated but for Miss Ann McGee’s sake I could wish them to be totally groundless. You will much oblige me if you let me know whether Linedale has gone to Bagnalstown. The idea of the thing however is so absurd that I cannot bring myself to entertain it for an instant certainly nothing could astonish me more than to hear of Miss Ann McGee fixing her thoughts on such a scapegoat as Linedale.¹⁰ Evans is snoring like a pig, the harmonious notes of his nose appear to me as a warning voice which tells that bed time has arrived, write to me as soon as possible.

Good night | Your affectionate son | Jack Tyndall

How are my Mother and Emma?

RI MS JT/1/10/3221–2

LT Transcript Only