To John Tyndall, Snr   Monday morning 5 1/2 o'clock, (October 1842)

Preston, | Monday morning 5½ o’clock.

My dear Father

I believe there is an old promise of mine on record to the intent that you should hear from me once a week.¹ Well I believe the specified time has elapsed since last I wrote, so here goes to redeem my promise, tho’ I was expecting to hear from you ere this. In the first place my health is as usual. It would be impossible to speak stronger in its commendation. You know my usual state of health – Sound in body and limb, and if I get a fair run, can jump the height of my chin. I’ll let you know now how I employ myself. Our office² hours are from 6½ to 5 o’clock. They were from 6 to 5½ but were changed on account of the darkness of the weather. We come to breakfast at 10 minutes past 8, and return at 9; come to dinner at 1 and return at 2. So that our hours are nicely divided. When I come out in the evening I have a cup of coffee or perhaps soluble cocoa, resembling very much a medicinal dose in appearance. The moment it’s swallowed I am off to school. Dont start, I’m learning French. A man named Malone, a brother of one of our fellows, has set up here lately, he’s a classical teacher.³ He devoted two hours every evening to me alone. His terms are £1 a quarter at 6/8 a month. Its dear, but then his whole time being devoted to me I cant complain. I fear however that he is not altogether as competent as I could wish, I have resorted to a plan, which I often pursued before, to test his knowledge. I raise a difficulty now and then and as I am rather unwilling to take mere assertion from any man we often have a bit of an argument. He usually endeavours to baffle me with Latin analogies, but I see thro’ him and keep him to the point. My knowledge of English enables me to give him some dry rubs. To sum up all, he may do very well for one month. I’ll remain with him no longer, as I shall then be able to get on myself. It is not for the purpose of being able to call things by duplicate names that I am learning French. I have very little ambition in this way. It is because the writings of many clever Engineers are locked up from me on account of being written in that language. I use French then merely as the key of a treasury, not as the treasury itself. When I want to write letters I get up at 5 o’clock in the morning. 5½ is my usual hour, then I have an hour to spare for reading &c. Direct your next to No 11 Butler Street,⁴ as I intend quitting my present lodgings⁵ on Saturday night.

Good bye, my love to mother and Emma | Your affectionate son | John

I owe you some money which I hope I’ll be able to pay shortly, that sentence sounds rather queer to me. I suppose it will affect you in much the same manner. I know however you’r a kind creditor, you’ll not be hard on | J.T.

RI MS JT 1/10/3280

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