Mr John Tyndall | Ordnance Survey Office | Kinsale
Leighlin Bridge | Oct. 24th, 1841
My dear John
I received your letter1 after passing through the Queens County and part of the County Kildare, and am glad to hear that the one you received from me caused you so much pleasure as to make you jump, buck-like, when you saw my well known hand in Kinsale. I have now to accuse you with a very great sin – that of humbugging your father with regard to the transaction with Bergan. You said that your neck stretched crane-like when you read of the courage I displayed on that occasion. At all events, to throw joking over board, I did show some pluck on that occasion, and if the police had been at home at the time I would have had some of the ringleaders apprehended. I forgot to tell you that after I left Bergan in search of the police the mob asked who I was. They were told my name was Tyndall, a brother to the man who shot the woman.2 They said if they knew that I would be prevented from seeking for police – that is be murdered. They told lies though, as I passed them in a few minutes after without receiving the slightest injury Ally Kinsela, who first called ‘Black Sheep’,3 and a man by the name of R. How, who was seen striking Bergan with a stone, are returned to the assizes to abide their trial for the offence.4 I am happy to find that you are contented with your present situation. It’s an old saying Don’t throw out the dirty water until the clean comes in,5 however if you did not like the Survey I am still able to support you bad as the times are and as extensive as exclusive dealing is carried on. Its thought the Colonel6 wont come home immediately; be that as it may, I intend going amongst my friends shortly to see what plan is best to be adopted with regard to the getting of a better situation for you than the one you have at present. If I am beaten in my efforts so was Bonaparte.7 Patt Moran is dead and buried8 and Bill Tyndall living in Carlow. We are all well.
I am your affectionate father | John Tyndall
RI MS JT/1/10/3249
LT Transcript Only
your letter: letter 103.
the man who shot the woman: Caleb Tyndall who wounded Mary McAssey; see letters 0071, 0073, 0075 and 0078.
Black Sheep: see letter 0102, n. 4.
their trial for the offence: ‘William Tyndal sworn – I saw a great crowd in Leoghlin-bridge on the evening in question; I saw Bergin passing down the street, and heard a woman named Alley Kinsella, say “there is a Black Sheep” – when the crowd commenced hooting and shouting, and followed him towards the bridge; is as afraid they would murder him, as there were about 200 men there; … I saw the defendant, James Roe, take up a large stone and burying it in Bergin's head who, on receiving the blow, fell heavily near the wall, where he attempted to defend himself against his assailants’. Report of the trial of Alley Kinsella and James Row at Bagenalstown Petty Sessions in CS, 25 September, p. [3].
Don’t throw out the dirty water until the clean comes in: a proverb first recorded in the fifteenth century.
the Colonel: Colonel Henry Bruen.
Bonaparte: Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Patt Moran is dead and buried: see letter 0095, n. 7.
Please cite as “Tyndall0104,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 2 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0104