From Eliza ?   Sep. 8th. 1841.¹

Youghal, Sep. 8th. 1841.

My dear Mr Tyndall I have to return a thousand thanks for your very kind letter² which I received on Sunday evening. I need not say it gave me infinite pleasure to hear you were well and had succeeded in refuting the calumny of that hateful Linedale.³ I was not surprised at what you related of him as I was aware from the first evening of my acquaintance with him of the excessive dislike he had of you – he tried to turn you into the greatest ridicule, besides representing you as most treacherous and insincere. You may be sure that he did not rise very high in my good opinion, when I heard him descanting at such a rate on the character of one whose part in my opinion he should rather have taken. As for your character, it would be well for him if (while in Youghal, even, he could say) his own was half as blameless. I am sure you will hear a little more of his treachery from Mr Roberts, I suspect he was most assiduous in making mischief in that quarter too, I told Mr Ginty and Jim⁴ all I heard on that subject a little before they left Youghal. His character is so despicable that, it should (as you have remarked in your letter) ‘be buried in oblivion’.

So Kinsale is not improving since I heard last from your friends there, and by way of comfort I must add I fear it will be insufferable in winter. I was sorry to hear Messrs Ginty, Evans and Tidmarsh had nothing better to employ their thoughts than reflecting on by gone days, tell them from me, they ought to be ashamed to own themselves possessed of so little philosophy as to be dejected by so trivial a circumstance as having to live in Kinsale for a few months – it would be time enough to be cast down when the cares of the world should seize on them. I think you are the only sensible person among them in amusing yourself with every trifle that comes in your way. I suppose you study French still and are by this a great proficient. I hope you will soon be ordered to England as I really pity you for being immured in that horrid place.⁵

We are quite gay here, Collins has arrived and his company⁶ I believe. They were here when you first came, I was there one evening and was quite pleased with the performance. Have you any sort of amusement in Kinsale? I heard the greater number of the inhabitants were Methodists,⁷ so I dare say they would think such a thing as a theatre very wicked. Pilkington is still in Youghal⁸ waiting he says for a letter from his family. I don’t know how he contrives to live. Miss Aubrey⁹ told me he was in Cork last week with the Lieutenant for a recommendation, it seems Mr Whitingham promised him a discharge, but forgot to leave it, he said he was successful in Cork. I have not spoken to him since the week after you left this, indeed I go out very little to walk, he is not a very great friend of yours but as little as Linedale, but at the same time I dont think him so treacherous. I fancy all his dislike proceeds from envy. I will not say why I think so, lest you may think I was learning to flatter, and of all things in this world I consider flattery the meanest propensity. Je pense que c’est aussi votre opinion.¹⁰ I had a melancholy account from Jim of your trip to the Killarney,¹¹ and Mr Ginty mentioned that he was much amused with the cool manner in which Jim seemed to wait his doom, how did he look? I suppose most interesting. I am sure my dear Mr Tyndall you are at this time quite tired with such a stupid epistle but as you have promised to become a correspondent of mine, I must try and summon up a little more variety when next I write – to tell you the truth I have so little of my time at my own command that I can scarcely write six lines when I am called away, and then I quite forget what I should write. I feel certain with your accustomed good nature you will excuse all deficiencies. The dancing school will open for the winter on Monday next, I was invited to attend but have declined as I fear the society would be rather too refined for me, the same pupils they had last year are all to commence again, what a set they were. My sister unites with me in kindest remembrances to Messrs G E and T¹² and with most sincere wishes for your happiness and welfare believe me

always dear Mr Tyndall | Your sincere friend | Eliza

I quite forgot to say, I hope your head is now quite well and that I will anxiously expect an answer. I have not time to read over this horrid scrawl as Mrs Bagge¹³ is calling me to prepare for a drive to Ballynatray¹⁴ and I would much rather stay at home this evening. I will send you a paper this week.

RI MS JT/1/11/3891

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