To John Tyndall, Snr   Tuesday morning, 6 o'clock, (Jun. 28th, 1842)

Cork, Tuesday morning, 6 o’clock

My dear Father

I have been this hour back exploring the mysteries of a quadratic equation.¹ It has proved a gordian knot² to me and being heartily sick of striving to unravel it, I think it will afford me some degree of relaxation to write to you

It’s a good while since I received your letter, you should have had one from me ere this had I not written to Mr Conwill and in his letter³ requested him to read it for you.

You appear anxious to prevent my mistaking the evening you ment when you spoke of my arrival in Cork, I see the Queen’s County⁴ trip has not yet quitted your mind. You imagine I have committed a great bull⁵ in speaking of the Milford flour conductors.⁶ I shall now try and relieve myself from the weight of your argument. Here are your words ‘I would be glad to know which was it the metal conductors or the flour they contained which you drew your figure from, you say you were as white with dust as if the contents of a half a dozen of the Milford conductors were heaved on you. Now the conductors are metal and how metal could cause you to be white or dirty I am at a loss to conceive’ !!!!!! Bravissimo!⁷ This is worthy of the opponent of Lynap.⁸ Did I speak of the conductors being heaved on me? No. I spoke of the contents of the conductors, alias what the conductors contain; alias flour. Look to a former part of the page and you will see the word CONTENTS staring you in the face. Who made the bull now? Go now to my mother and let her console you after this drubbing. I hope you wont get this before breakfast as I would not wish you to lose your appetite which I am afraid the thrashing I have given you would infallibly distroy. You spoke of my being affected at Foy’s going away,⁹ and also of my being sorry for leaving my old lodgings; why if such things would grieve me I’d be wrapt in eternal sorrow. I have learned to treat such things with the most sublime indifference. I went down to see Mrs Payne last night on entering her room judge of my astonishment at seeing Maria¹⁰ there. What in the name of wonder can have induced her to take this step. She speaks of going to America, in fact I was down at the emigration office last night enquiring about vessels. She knows her own business best.

With respect to my being introduced to Mr Carroll, its a thing that would gratify me much. But to go to him depending on the merits of any of my rhymes for a favourable reception is a thing I could not think of. I know the merit of my productions as well as any one, and I feel convinced that it is not such as would justify me in imagining that on their account I was worthy of the notice of any literary man.¹¹ This is my candid conviction. You ask why I did not waken you the morning I came away. ’twould be a sin, you were revelling in the very luxury of sleep, there was no fear of my forgetting my shirt. I dont care much about Burns.¹² I got a letter from Ginty the other day,¹³ the drollery is inimitable. Give my love to my mother and Emma. I am very comfortable in my present lodgings.

I remain | Your affectionate son | John

RI MS JT 1/10/3274

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