To John Tyndall, Snr   Sunday morning, (August 15th, 1841)

Kinsale | Sunday¹ morning

My dear Father

I received your letter² on yesterday morning, I was very glad to find that you did not delay in sending an answer to my last question³ the motives however which influenced me in writing my last letter are very very much mistaken. You appear to think that I am quite indifferent about going home. To this charge I plead not guilty. I declare most solemnly nothing would give me greater pleasure than seeing you all. This pleasure I was willing to sacrifice, and it gives me no small concern to find it attributed to a comparatively base motive to that which really influenced me. ‘I promised to go home often’ – true, but you know I have not the command of my destiny; that promise was to be qualified by circumstances. Last Christmas it was utterly impossible for me to go.⁴ I told you before how things stood and I’m sure Phil Evans verified what I said, if further proof was necessary, Well the hurry of the work continued thro’ the spring and summer – in proof of this I will just say that three or four of the best draughtsmen had to work from 5 o’clock until 8 in the evening⁵ for the purpose of getting the work forward – this was caused by Mr Wynne leaving it in a very backward state. Well then when we were about to leave Youghal I spoke to Colder about getting me leave and he strongly advised me not to apply until that quarter’s work was finished, this I made you acquainted with and you will remember that you told me in answer that you would not wish for a hundred pounds that I was at home.⁶ This you must confess was sufficient to make me defer my purpose. I think I have satisfactorily proved that it was not neglect or indifference which prevented me from appearing ere this in Leighlin Bridge. And as to my last proposal I have only to say that you wrong me.

But to the point, the moment I read your letter I went to Colder and asked him how he would advise me to act, he told me to go myself to Lt. Fenwick. I did so. I found him in his own room in the office. I made known my business and urged my request in the strongest terms I dare. He told me that he was expected to finish Lt. Whittingham’s work⁷ without delay and if the draughtsmen left him this would be out of the question. I told him that the work was in a very forward state and that there were hands enough to take up all the plans, he told me he was not aware of that and that he would not give me a decisive answer either affirmative or negative until he had found how the work stood. Well, I left the room disappointed, of course. During the day he came into the office and after looking over some of the work he came over to me and uncovered my plan. It is a very large one and I was just after commencing it. ‘There’ says he ‘how can you expect leave while you have this to draw.’ I told him that Evans could take up my plan. ‘No’ was the reply, ‘he has one of his own to attend to.’ I’ll work hard as I am able at the plan till I have it finished, and then I’ll apply again. The number of our draughtsmen has been reduced lately by a circumstance which you would not expect, and that is the dismissal of Mr Carroll.⁸ He was drinking one evening last week at a village about half a mile from this; whiskey it appears makes him very quarrelsome; an extra quantity makes him a perfect madman. Well, a bickering commenced between him and one of the townsmen, it rose at length to such a pitch that they came to blows, a man rushed between them and as townsman had the advantage with respect to strength, he was secured, Carroll being thus set at liberty drew his penknife and stabbed his opponent in the arm. He escaped from the vicinity by a miracle, as he was waylaid on all sides by the sailors and had he been caught they would undoubtedly have killed him. This came to Mr Fenwick’s ears and he discharged Carroll on the spot, the fellow he stabbed I believe is as sorry as any of us for his dismissal, he freely forgave him tho’ the wound prevents him from working and will do so for some time. I have now stated everything. You see how things stand, and I’m sure the conclusion you must draw from these premises is that I am not guilty of the faithlessness attributed to me by my mother. I have relieved my mind of no small weight of anxiety

Good bye | Your affectionate son | John Tyndall

RI MS JT/1/10/3236–7

LT Transcript Only