From William Ginty   Sunday morning, [July] 1842

Liverpool | Sunday morning.

My dear Tyndall,

I received your letter¹ about 10 minutes ago while sitting at breakfast. If you can recollect the contents of my last epistle² the word Crosby³ may be familiar to you as I said it was probable I would be sent there when I commenced surveying. ‘My fears have boded all too right’.⁴ There I was sent on last Tuesday week fully equiped with a chain and a man to carry it,⁵ a pole and flag a spud (or juvenile spade), book and cover, and as many copies of the act of Parliament⁶ as would thatch a house. In the printed form before the Extract (from the Act), there is an article headed thus:– ‘I Henry Tucker Captain R.E.,⁷ and officer acting under the orders of the Master General⁸ and Honble.⁹ Board of Ordnance, appoint you as one of my assistants &c. &c.’. Now Sir, owing to the gross ignorance and selfishness of the inhabitants, I have to shake – not one – but a whole dozen of them at the owner of every wheat field; and, as few of them can read, I generally read for them, thus:–

‘I Henry Tucker Captain R.E., being an officer acting under the orders of the Master General and Honorable Board of Ordnance, (Here I stop short; another word and away with the Captaincy.) I look into the fellow’s face with as much Fenwickism¹⁰ as I can scrape up, and then I turn to the Extract and read the penalty for him. I served 2 or 3 this trick already, for I draw this inference or at least come to this conclusion – that if Captain Tucker’s name would have any effect on their beer-imbued brains, the effect would be more powerful if they could be led to imagine that they were confronting Captain Tucker in propriâ personâ.¹¹ I have the chainman as well discipled for the stratagem as need be. When I have performed my part, I walk off with ‘all that strut en militaire’¹² to a respectable distance, while he endeavours to bring them to a compromise lest ‘the Captain’ should enforce the penalty. One old farmer was so fully convinced as to my consequence &c. that he wanted me to come over to the village near my work to have a glass of wine. What a pity it is I’m a teetotaler! Jack¹³ and Dick¹⁴ had a very respectable watch-maker waiting on them at their lodgings in Prescott¹⁵ to see if they could employ him. Jack’s behaviour on this occasion was on a piece with his conduct in general, which I highly commend. They took the fellow into their antechamber and told him they would be with him presently – up stairs they went and got two of the largest books they had and came down and placed themselves in the two farthest extremities of the room from the anxious expectant. After a while the books were opened and Jack’s first question was did he know fluctions¹⁶ well. The poor fellow, knowing as much about even the word as he did about astrology, was completely confounded; by a great deal of exertion he mustered up nerve enough to stammer out a solitary No! a few more like this and they would be under the necessity of calling in their medical adviser. Humanity and the fellow’s countenance alone induced them to refrain. Thus ended the exam. The poor watchmaker left them convinced of his own insignificance and the rashness of the step he was about to take.

William Latimer and I were out seeing them last Sunday week. Prescott is 8 miles from here. Crosby 7. William was out with me last Sunday, I am with him this Sunday, and the other two lads were to be in here last night but they have disappointed us, for which I shall talk to them ‘in the language of a poet’.¹⁷ Alas, poor Evans, he is alone in Preston. The poor fellow seems to be disconsolate and, entering deeply into the spirit of the matter, he says with Tom Moore¹⁸ ‘Twas ever thus &c’¹⁹ As for Holmes he seems to be if anything worse; he says he is ‘estranged from those he would have for ever nigh’ but as this gent talks a great deal about some fair charmer beyond the broad waters of the Atlantic I dont wonder at his discomposure. The only thing I regret is the separation from Tid²⁰ and Dick, it is a sorry thing to imagine ourselves in the same division²¹ and still apart. That’s what I call ‘Disunited tho’ not Separated’ the plea of the cousin was not able to cozen out the desired effect – How did you hear that pray? I commenced surveying Wednesday week and I have finished the first ²² My work averages 40 acres or 130 chains per day since I commenced, and I have given entire satisfaction to the Corpl. in charge.²³ He is I think a right honest man, all the men speak well of him. I have to come to Liverpool every Saturday for my cash. William seen Foy last Sunday evening when he returned from Crosby. I am very sorry I did not see him, particularly as I hear he has got back the V²⁴ Lt. Hamley sent him to Manchester.

Now just mind what I’m going to say: you, and every one of you, will be scattered to the four winds of heaven 24 hours after you land in Liverpool. Some of ye may and will get into the office or offices – for there are some of ye fit for nothing else. When ye come ye will be served just as we were (and, mind, this is not a supposition). Your tables²⁵ &c will be put into the stores, and Captain Tucker will tell ye off in half dozens and away with ye to different parts, and most likely all to the Field for they have nothing to do in the office for they have no points²⁶ observed. In this office, which contains 40 men, they are plotting the work on cartridge paper from the reduced distances; and by that they are able to tell the lines that require remeasurement²⁷ and they are getting those done so that when they do get the points there will be no delay. So now any of ye that has sense will have a good pair of strong shoes of Irish manufacture to prepare for the worst. There are some of ye (between ourselves) that I suppose will go to work with dancing shoes and white silk stockings. It is more than probable that you will find us four waiting for you at the Clarence Dock.²⁸ My best respects and kindest remembrances to Messrs Hunter, Bloomfield, McGowan,²⁹ Eivers, Latimer &c &c &c. And to all those that are at Mrs Cotter’s particularly Mr Robinett.³⁰ – Tell me, did not Evan’s brother and Mr Young³¹ that accompanied him, go to live there? They agreed with her before I left that.

I would’nt doubt Willy Hunter for a bit of mischief. So he told you that I used to be kissing Miss Cotter³² That infant. She is not ripe enough for me, he told you this to take the suspicion off himself. ‘I could a tale unfold’.³³ Ask Mary³⁴ for me how is her Globe.³⁵ Tell Bloomfield that as yet I had no opportunity of making any zeal manifest.

We are all most beautifully sun-burnt if my face or at least the skin of it was analyzed it would make raw sienna.³⁶ Dick is the brownest of the lot and its a toss up between Jack and I. William³⁷ has escaped best – for he pulls his cap over his eyes. Straw hats would be of better service in going thro’ hedges and briers.

RI MS JT 1/11/3583

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