From Phillip Evans   March 17th 1842.

Bandon | Wednesday night March 17th 1842.

My dear John

I was not long breaking open your letter¹ last night as I was rather uneasy till I should hear from you. Your enclosure surprised me as I knew not how or what way you came by it. I thought more bad work had happened,² but if I judge right from what you say I sent it through mistake. I must through some bull³ have left the terrible one on my table and I suppose the folks of the house got it and sent it to – I cant account for it any other way however enough of this.

John knowing your anxiety about how certain things stand (the <word(s) missing> you thief) I loose very little time in giving you some information, you may recollect that I mentioned about their⁴ going to walk after prayers on Sunday – they did for about an hour and I can tell you that this was great honour. Well Sir, as usual we went to preaching and was surprised a little to see the whole family looking now and then at B–⁵ she too would look and hang down her head, B– could not see – that night at all, but at 7½ next morning went into the shop and to his astonishment found the poor thing in a flood of tears O says she, did you hear any thing from Ellen⁶ who is a messenger for them, no says B– O! I am afraid you will have to give it up, my father⁷ was told about the walk yesterday &c &c &c

At this part of the proceedings the girl opened the parlour door and said her father was coming down stairs. Oh no says Miss, he is not dressed yet. O indeed he is Miss, and will be down in an instant. So my poor B– had to fly. – Tuesday (yesterday) passed away without a breath of any kind of news untill about 8 o’clock, when Jim⁸ went out and met Ellen who told me that a sister told the father how C.⁹ had been walking with Srs.¹⁰ on Sunday, he got enraged, got a whip and welted¹¹ her and another who accompanied her, I picked a great deal out of this so much so that a R – y¹² would be quite acceptable yes with a heart and a half. This day had passed without any news, but in about an hour we expect to hear how things are going on. I forgot to mention that she told him she was at her F–¹³ disposal he could call her off to ls.¹⁴ we do not know nor have we any way to know whether that is the case or not but this I know that great confidence can be placed on her authority B is fully determined not to do anything rashly, has not the slightest notion of any such thing except things are settled to his utmost satisfaction, and I entertain great doubts about this, the time is so very short. I have now given you in detail as well as I could of the whole proceedings up to this moment I hope they are satisfactory, I have now to congratulate you all on your recommendations. I am laying out 6d for you boyO! Yesterday the return, which was about the men going to England, was sent back from the Major;¹⁵ he was surprised that more were not named for embarkcation and directed the list to be revised and more sent. Well this news put me in a queer way, I immediately set myself for crossing waters but I have again escaped for the present. Should I continue this way I will have a month at least with you, but I am afraid it will be returned again, tho’ we added 8 to the former one. I am glad the Sentinel¹⁶ afforded you so much pleasure. I am just after reading 8 columns of the Southern Reporter taken up with a speech of Sir Robert Peel’s,¹⁷ by the bye he is a great fellow. I think I will be able to send it to you tomorrow, it is well worth your reading. I say are you and Ginty on good terms, if so tell him I’ll break his big head when I go to Cork for delaying so long in answering my letter. And now I’ll bid you good night the time for news has arrived

Yours | Jim

RI MS JT 1/11/3570

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