From William Ginty   Monday evening, (Oct. 3rd, 1842)

Crosby Monday evening

Mon Cher¹ Tyndall

Here goes to discharge a debt (but not the poetical one). I commenced one for you in Ormskirk² on Saturday, but I had to leave it there ½ written and this I expect will not be posted these two days or so. I met an old friend in Ormskirk, (at least he came here first and then there to see me) – Burrowes³ of immortal memory – The terror of Griffin – the dread of Collins – the torment of Marshall⁴ – the annoyer of Davy – and the delight of all lovers of genuine wit fun and frolic. He is now one of the ‘Tarry tribe’ as fine and as noble a looking tar⁵ as I ever beheld — whiskered to the eyes and belted round the waist; he is after returning from North America, where (in his own words) ‘I’ve scoured like a reindeer over the wide extended plains of the prairiee; I’ve traversed the shady banks of the mighty St. Lawrence;⁶ yes, and I’ve knelt, by Heavens, with admiration before the sublime cataracts of Mont Moratz⁷ and Niagara’ – He seems to like his present occupation right well, he intends stopping 18 months more and then (oh foolish Burrowes!) getting married in Wales (where he is going now to visit his charmer). Oh Tyndall dont you feel devilish curious at the mention of ‘his charmer’ (ah miséricorde!)⁸ He bought 3 or 4 wedges of splendid cavendish.⁹ But now to other matters – you know him not. If you did you would not regret the acquaintance.

I went to Ormskirk last Thursday, to an Inspection of stores (by the way I intend giving you a verbatim et literaturm¹⁰ account of the proceedings on the last side of this letter, if my furious imagination does not occupy too much room ere then). Hamley has left word with Sheppard¹¹ that we five ex-office men are to be taken in-to the office¹² previous to the cold weather which he considers will be next month. Oh’ Crickey! This I’m afraid will put a stop to my Prestonic¹³ anticipations – alias hopes. Oh unfortunate Ginty – there to be installed amongst a lot of strangers, during secula secularum!¹⁴ I must curse a while now, and smoke away the infernal blue devils of hateful disappointment. Oh! infernal disappointment, excruciating tormentor of my soul – agonizing anticipations of the future! Perdition seize thee, fate! chance! or what ever thou art. Why treat a poor devil’s expectations so cruelly – But enough of this. I must nerve myself into philosophy, grin at fate, laugh at chance and steer steadily along towards the final goal of all earthly peregrinations. I must rout all the loved ideas – put them all to the left counter march in double quick time, shouting ‘forward!’ with the lungs of a stentor¹⁵ – away! away! away!

‘Gone glimmering thro’ the dreams of things that were.

I thought to stand where beauty smiled

My Friend, beside thee yet

But no! the thoughts are now exiled

God! that we ne’er had met!

I thought to share with one and all

Sweet friendship’s tête a tête

To smile and hear a brother’s call

‘Boys don’t yet separate!’

I thought – oh heavens! – and now I think

Such thoughts are at an end.

On me at least, no more on me

Shall such loved thoughts descend.

I wish ye all a friend can wish

All fortunes favourite flowers

Your hearts the resting place of bliss

Your souls of strength the towers

Should time your memories rend

The present may the past recall

To ’mind ye of a Friend.

I must leave the inspection affair a clean side and a new day. I’m in too pathetic a mood to write any more. Them five verses are the extemporaneous essence of Ginty’s soul. I will expect to hear from you shortly. I will now say good night and good bye for I suppose I wont have room on the other side to sign myself as usual

Yours ever truly | W. Ginty

I had a letter from Dick.¹⁶ He is sporting himself at salmon fishing and says he will send me a ‘pinkeen’¹⁷ in the next letter. Are you not at the completion of the Tithe Survey?¹⁸ And do you expect to be sent to Skipton¹⁹ – I heard so through Wm. Latimer. Remember me to Jim²⁰ – he owes me one. Holmes got 4d. What did that old single-handed dotard mean by such a circular! We wont get leave to think next, without being guilty of a crime

W,G,

I enclose a note from Jack²¹ — I will go to live with him at the end of the week.

THE INSPECTION

A Farce! in two acts

By the author of ‘The Moonlight Shore’!²²

_______________________________

Dramatis Personae:

________________

Hamley - - - a Lieut. of Engineers

Sheppard - - - The Corpl., in Charge

Bracken²³ - - - The Corpl. out of Charge

Ginty - - - - -One of the Squad

Labourers lookerson &c &c

___________________

Scene — a highway — with a ²⁴ in the perspective (apropos)

Act 1st, The Stores.

Bracken (transferring the stores to Sheppard) ‘Wm. Geenty!’ – ‘Here’ – Hamley (interrupting him) ‘You’re a draftsman are you not?’ – ‘Yes Sir’, (aside) ‘a kind of one’. Hamley ‘Which do you like best surveying or drawing?’ Ginty ‘Drawing Sir, I’m hardly able to stand the fatigue’. Hamley – (in a loud tone of astonishment) ‘The Devil! you not able to stand it — you seem to thrive on it then’. Ginty (with a blunt emphasis and audible grin) ‘Oh do I; I’m very sure I don’t’ (a general giggle and move). Hamley ‘Why are you not?’ Ginty: – ‘I’ve never been used to such awful walking’ – Hamley (looking pale and in a tone approaching the pathetic) ‘I only wish I could bear as much’ – Ginty:– ‘I’m willing at all events Sir to do my best’ Hamley ‘very right very right’ Exeunt.

Act the 2nd, The Books

Hamley (taking my book): – ‘You learned to survey since you came to England?’ Ginty ‘I learned the practical part Sir – chaining’.²⁵ Hamley ‘Hum’ (turning over to some awful big figures in a diagram) Well! them are woppers’ – Ginty ‘So much the better for the office men Sir’ – Hamley ‘Ah, oh, yes, I cant say there is any particular objection’ Ginty ‘No Sir! there cant be!’ – Hamley (turning another page and seeing ‘total 167’) – ‘That’s a good day’s work’ (another, 114) ‘That’s passable’. – Bracken: ‘He is a very excellent steady and diligent workman Sir’ – Hamley ‘Oh! oh!’ – Ginty ‘My work Sir for the last two months has been very very difficult, all demesned’.²⁶ – Hamley ‘Not here abouts, eh?’ – Ginty ‘NO Sir, Crosby, and Ince Halls’²⁷ – Hamley ‘Oh Ince Hall – I hope you will make a clever job of that Ginty – (a nod).

Finis.²⁸

RI MS JT 1/11/3584

LT Transcript Only