Mr John Tyndall | Ordnance Survey Office | Youghal
Leighlin Bridge
My dear John,
I think you received a letter from me1 about the time I received one from you and that was this morning. I am glad to perceive that you are not sorry for the removal to Kinsale under an Officer2 that will reward the man of merit. You mention in your letter that the Heydons are discharged and that William has enlisted3 it gives me little concern what becomes of them as we have too many of the breed here.4 Their father is out every night with mobs headed by Thimblemen priests5 forcing Colonel Bruen’s freeholders most of them against their wills to quit the country.6 Nothing can exceed the alarm in this County. Several of the electors have been dreadfully beaten by these nocturnal mountebanks. I would not wish – as poor as I am – for a hundred pounds you were here. Men that was on friendly terms with each other now pass by without speaking. Still I say Bruen and his Colleague7 will be the victors I will stop up on Saturday night till the coach comes in. I am not able to write more as the office will be closed
I am your affectionate father | John Tyndall.
RI MS JT/1/10/3226
LT Transcript Only
a letter from me: letter 0066.
an Officer: Lieutenant Fenwick, although Lieutenant Whittingham transferred to Kinsale briefly, but left the Ordnance Survey on 11 July 1841.
William has enlisted: William Heydon, who had recently left the Survey (see letter 0066, n. 14), had joined the British army.
too many of the breed here: The Heydons were Roman Catholics.
Thimblemen priests: scheming, dishonest priests; see letter 0066, n. 6.
Colonel Bruen’s freeholders … to quit the country: A freeholder is one who owns a property which if worth £10 or more permits that freeholder to vote in an election. As Bruen expected his freeholders to vote for him (and against the Repeal candidates) they were allegedly being forced to absent themselves from County Carlow during the election.
Bruen and his Colleague: Henry Bruen and Thomas Bunbury, the Conservative candidates at Carlow.
Please cite as “Tyndall0067,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0067