From Phillip Evans   Thursday morning, (July 8th, 1841)

Carlow, Thursday¹ morning

Turn over & read from A to B first

My dear John

I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Sunday last² which I received in due time, it happened that it arrived in the morning and your humble servant did not get up till 10 o’clock. I had a most craving appetite and believe me I devoured the contents of your letter in the first fashion Oh, what an awful account have I to render at the last day when summoned before the tribunal of Heaven When you my learned and high minded friend or I would rather say Erin’s³ only child shivers at penning a few lines to an ould friend on Sunday Heaven I would say ‘L--d incline our hearts to keep this day holy’⁴ AMEN. You say that I have let the cat out of the Bag by my soul, I have not let the cat out of the bag yet, you thief let me know did you see any of the girls after I left town Jack how did you part with the Miss Whites.⁵ I think I could answer this question myself for the next part of your letter supplies me with a sufficient answer. You parted well enough Jack future anticipations of meeting with those ‘whose bright blue eyes and flowing locks would shake the saintship of an anchorite’⁶ much less the heart of John Tyndall. This kept you from even casting a thought upon those from whom you were about to part, I am sure that instead of Ginty having one corner on his second visit to Cork I think he took the round of the table and done justice to the four, I have a pretty good idea of your abilities in tugging into a leg of mutton, thank G-d⁷ you could not say on the occasion that I was mess-man for you never to befull savages. I suppose instead of saying I gave you tripes, it would now be: <words missing> Oh, ever dear and nonforgotten shades of Evans, roasted beef and York-pudding, spring from the bowels of the earth to 99 George’s Street, Cork⁸ and there bear testimony against your gormandizing and ill-natured mess-mates. You may well say eaten bread is soon forgotten. Jack I am not quite done with Cork yet. I doubt not the attraction of the joint of mutton, but come Jack for once be candid as I was, and let the cat out of the bag and say rather the attraction of the fair ones, from the description you hitherto gave me of your proceeding there, upon my s--l⁹ I envy you very much. I think if the secrets of your heart when parting were known they were much of this description:–

‘Now the time has come for parting

Now my heart begins to swell

Now the silent tears are falling

Scarce can I say – farewell’¹⁰

Jack I did not think you were such a blagyard.¹¹ you say the cohesion had great influence on you. I know very little about it, but I think the laws of cohesion say nothing about human bodies sticking to a chair, a table, &c &c, and now Jack what were you going to stick to? I’ll leave you to guess at my ideas about the attraction which overpowered you. I think I am done with Cork. Your description of the town of Kinsale was very short and sweet.

A. Oh Jack! this moment my mother has brought me upstairs your unexpected letter of Tuesday evening¹² and now that I have finished reading it, I would tell you that something of the occurrence which you wrote about did occur. I am happy to be able to make your mind easy on that matter and that the paper from which it sprang set forth 7/8ths of that occurrence in the blackest lies that man could invent.¹³

John I have been at the scene of action during my visit at Leighlin. I will now commence & give it as far as it lies in my power without favour or affection. The transaction took place on Friday night last was a week¹⁴ on that day the agitators were in Leighlin stirring up the minds of the people in the most horrid manner. All this passed pretty well, until about 11 o’clock that night, when a mob (headed by Hacket from the R. Oak)¹⁵ from the Co. Kilkenny (having a few from Lr.¹⁶ among them) was coming from Bagnalstown, they commenced shouting for O’C,¹⁷ and groaning for Bruen. Well Sir this done very well until they arrived opposite your uncle’s¹⁸ door, some in the crowd said Tyndall is not in bed let us give him a groan. Your uncle was not in bed and came to the door immediately. On his appearing there was a volley of stones pelted at him which did not hurt him but had the desired effect on the windows, I think. It was now high time for him to defend himself so he let slip, hurted Hacket’s nose and two small slugs entered a woman’s thigh (the D---ls¹⁹ care to her what brought her) her name is Macassey lives a little above your uncle’s and would not say a word about it only for that ill looking savage Maher.²⁰ she has sworn information but much about her or the whole county and Dan²¹ at the head, they cant do any thing. He will come off with flying colours, John you mention about bail being refused, I can tell you with confidence that he could be bailed if he wished what would prevent him? Doctor Roache²² states that it was not more than the scrape of a pin. He is quite comfortable in the Turnkey’s appartments²³ at the gate. He could go home if he wished but he prefers stopping until after the Election. All his family are at home I believe, minding their business. John I think this is as near the truth as possible, if you think I have neglected any thing send me word in your next; and now before I end this part of my letter I must tell you that it was partly by my advice that your father kept back from writing to you about it. I thought no matter how it happened that you would feel pain, and that it would be full time for you to hear it on my return, but as you have asked me about it I send you all I know. I would advise you not to mention it to your father but you now know how to act better than I can advise.

B. I will now return to Kinsale. I am happy that you hit upon so good a place on your first entering the town. The last part of your letter in some little degree surprised me – that portion about Mr Fenwick’s plans.²⁴ I am proud in being able to join with you in saying ‘we will in short acknowledge none as our superior’.²⁵ John I hope we will be trifled no longer – is Barney²⁶ gone Is there any talk of recommending John.²⁷ I must now hurry on to say something about the times. you I suppose have got my letter²⁸ in which I stated about the Bor.,²⁹ being lost, lost John by bad Protestants who wanted too much for their votes. no matter, England has done her duty, let Ireland go as it may, we will have a majority in the House. John it is the current report here that on Monday and the following days that we will have hot work, nothing expected in the town but open assassination. the police are here from Meath³⁰ the military still continue coming in which will have Col. Jackson as commander he is a true blue.³¹ Four pieces of cannon are expected in every moment eh boy does not this look like hot work. Some of Col. Bruen’s freeholders were coming in to day. on arriving at the potato market the cars³² of potatoes were drawn across to prevent them from proceeding (I was an eye witness). Well Sir in front of the brake you might behold 2 middle-aged determined men (at this moment you appeared to me telling me about those men who form the American Congress)³³ here Sir you might in miniature behold two of that description – true, bold and determined men they Sir without delay displayed 2 fine blunderbusses their appearance calmed the boys, the police arrived and after a little the car and men arrived safe at the Club House³⁴ the next moment you might behold 10 cars laden with the Newtown Barony Boys³⁵ escorted in front and rear by the 12 Royal Lancers³⁶ John it is expected that the beggar man³⁷ will be kicked out of Dublin and will then start for this County. We still hope to welt Dan himself. John rest assured that you will have the poll of every evening. Write to me soon any time I have any news I will not delay in writing to you. Give my love to Tid,³⁸ Ginty, Joe Payne, Corp. Colder, Mr Collins and poor Tom Foy,

John now that I have finished this part of my duty I go first with this to the post and thence in search of the newspaper Sentinel³⁹

Yours dear John | P.D. Evans

Should you say anything about your uncle to your father let me know. Excuse this as I am in a hurry until I get it off.

RI MS JT/1/11/3563–4

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