From James Davy   16th Sep. 1841.

York 16th Sep. 1841.

My dear friend,

I am sorry that you think so much of the remarks I made to you after what I said in my last¹ I said that I thought I could not mistake the person but it appears I did as I do not think for a moment that you would pen a falsehood I ever had and still hold a much better opinion of Mr Tyndall and I do feel thankful to you and Mr Evans for your kind defence of my conduct when I might be spoken ill of not that I value the opinion of many in the old 5 Division² yet permit me to say that I do not think my successors would please every person more than I did, I was very sorry to hear that Hugh Murphy was discharged for dishonesty³ – this I do believe was a foul charge against him which every action of his life as far as I knew him give the lie to, and I would have considered it my duty if I could have been of any use to him to say that I never knew a man in his place or station conduct himself better or more honestly than Hugh Murphy.

You have been so kind as to tell me that you value my good opinion, for which I thank you, but permit me to say that actions speak louder than words and I would request you to lay aside any bad feeling that you may have formed against Corp. Griffin. I know that he is a curious man in his way of thinking but I cannot for a moment think him a bad man. I do not like to say that he did not write some remarks respecting the Division or not because was I to do so you would form an opinion of some other person. This much I will say that several persons in the Division have wrote to me since I have been in England and every letter has had remarks of what this man said and what another said about me, and as no one person ever considered that I would mention their names, so I think I would be doing an improper act to do so. This I will say, that I do not think you have any guess of the person who drew such a picture that I concluded it was you and nothing but your denial of it would convince me that I was mistaken. Now I hope this will suffice. Believe me when I say I shall at all times be glad to hear from you and should be glad, very glad, to find that those great talents which the giver of all good has blessed you with would be brought to bear on your chief good and that they may never raise in judgment against you – you might be able to do great things remember this, to glorify your God below and find your way to heaven is the Chief End of your existence and I would pray that God might enable you to see what is your duty and what would eventually be your temporal and eternal happiness. Give my best respects to Mr Evans and accept the same from

Your sincere friend and wellwisher | J. Davy

Mrs Davy and John⁴ sends their best respects to you.

RI MS JT/1/11/3557

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