To John Tyndall, Snr   Saturday night, Sep. 5th, 1841.

Kinsale, | Saturday night | Sep. 5th, 1841.

My dear Father

Though you are now in my debt a letter still you see I am willing to place another item to the debt side of your account with me by writing this one. You never sent me an answer to my last letter¹ and I am anxious to know the fate of it as it contained the second halves of two thirty shillings notes. I send you a couple of enclosures² now of a different description; one is a bit of a lashing that a friend of mine in Youghal gave to an old priest there. I know the parties well and am acquainted with one or two of the ‘forty apostles.’³ The statement of the writer of the comment about some of them being quartered on the surrounding farmers is strictly true. When I was examining in the parish of Clonpriest⁴ last summer twelvemonth, I had the happiness of meeting one of these embryo priests. He was sitting at my host’s⁵ fire one evening when I returned from my work. I was not long obtaining my usual seat on the hobstone⁶ confronting the intended theologue.⁷ After taking one or two glances askance at the gentleman and finding that

‘Dark ignorance upon his front upreared

His gloomy standard’ –

after finding that

‘There was no speculation in those eyes

Which he did glare with’.⁸ –

my eyes calmly resumed their former position, resting upon the dying embers of the fire. At length the silence was broken by the Monkish gentleman, who questioned me about the Survey. From this the conversation turned on schools. He was loud in the praise of father Foley’s college;⁹ there fair sciences smiled and the learned lore of antiquity was unfolded. ‘I suppose’ said I ‘that you are intended for the church?’ ‘For the church or for the bar’ was the pompous reply. I could scarcely smother a chuckle as I pictured to myself the vacant phiz¹⁰ of my new acquaintance peering from beneath a barrister’s wig – You have read a good deal of science? said I – Yes – You read Euclid¹¹ of course? Not all – You have then read his first six books – No!!! I asked him a few more questions the result of which proved to me that he hardly knew his multiplication table. Alas thought I you’ll make a hopeful hand at turning a gospel sod.¹²

The other enclosure I send you is a part of a letter which I received from Corpl. Davey¹³ the other day. You may see by it that I have been made the subject of calumny by the execrable cur Linedale. He was in York looking for employment on the English Survey. His mission proved fruitless, but while there it appears that he has been most industrious in vilifying me. He must have framed his story in a very plausable manner as Corpl. Davey has scarcely breathed a doubt of the accuracy of his statements. I could scarcely believe that human nature could sink to such a degree of superfined rascality – of sublime villany – as Linedale has exhibited. I have stood beside the bed of that wretch when uncared for by the world he lay rotten with disease and cooled his burning tongue, nay further when he was unable to procure for himself a solitary morsel and without the price even of his miserable bed, when in fact he was about to be consigned to the tender mercies of Youghal Main Street,¹⁴ I was the first to come forward and obtain from a chosen few in the office the means of rendering him comfortable until he recovered. This then is my traducer, this the scoundrel who has dared to brand my character with infamy. I have no doubt but he has cast the dark venom of his vile tongue on me in Bagnalstown also. Those who wish to place credence on his foul allegations may do so. Conscious of my own integrity I can smile on the infamous treachery of this monster of a man. I now drop the fellow in the tomb of oblivion shrouded with unutterable contempt.

I have no less than five persons in my debt at present for letters so that I now may rest awhile until some of my correspondents liquidate my claim. How are mother and Emma has that villanious complaint left my mother’s cheek yet?¹⁵ If I was near her I’d kiss it away.

Good bye | Your affectionate son | John Tyndall.

Corpl. and Mrs Davey desired to be remembered to you.

RI MS JT/1/10/3239–40

LT Transcript Only