From William Ginty   Tuesday evening, (Mar. 14th, 1843)

Tuesday evening

My dear Tyndall

I received the transcript of your ‘Sober Seriousness’1 from Tidmarsh this afternoon and may I be struck serious if it has not sobered me to the very lowest ebb of pump-water sublimity What in the name of common sense does this harangue mean. ‘Tyndall’s compliments’ (how infernal polite!); ‘Singular circumstance’ (very singular ’pon my soul!) ‘Serious cause’ (serious effect too!); ‘quite ignorant’ (strange coincidence! ); ‘Discontinue correspondence’ (symptoms of lunacy!); ‘State the fact’ (monomaniac I suppose!); ‘Sober seriousness’ (raging madness!); ‘Speedy explanation’ (A hopeless case I fear!). Now let me to counsel – My Lords and Gentlemen of the Jury. I the accused Ginty – prisoner at the bar of your most honourable court of conscience am indicted under the unmanly and un-Milesian2 charge of ‘SILENCE’. Gentlemen this is a crime for which my abhorence is as ungovernable as my innocence is unquestionable. If, gentlemen, I was guilty, and could show cause or provocation for the hideous crime, you would not longer detain me – but gentlemen it is the extreme reverse. I am not guilty – neither have I had cause – nor have I been silent. So fully confident am I of your unanimous acquittal – that I shall only detain you while I call on one evidence. Postman Mailbags Esquire:– I am letter stamper at Liverpool; I recollect the evening of the 28th ultimo,3 I remember stamping the letter alluded to by the prisoner. I could not suspect him of the accusation – I know the prisoner’s handwriting well. The Court:– Gentlemen of the jury, you have heard this conclusive evidence together with what the prisoner has urged in his defence. You can have no hesitation in acquitting the prisoner. A Juror– My Lord we are of opinion that the prosecutor is no longer a safe member of society – as no doubts can remain of his insanity – we would recommend your Lordship to commit him to the Ass--ylam. The Court. This is beyond our Jurisdiction, as we have not any indictment – Gentlemen I await your verdict. The Jury. NOT GUILTY GINTY.

‘The court awards it and the law doth give it’.4

We were honoured by a visit from whats left of the Colonel5 to day – but you had him yesterday – So let that pass. We had a precious fire blaze here last week at Fawcett’s and Preston’s foundry6 where Chadwick is bound. On Tuesday morning last about 2 o’clock the glare of the flames aroused us altho’ at least 3 minutes walk from here and 3 streets between us and it. I could hardly persuade my half asleep senses that the windows were not of red-stained glass, so brilliant were the heavens illuminated, every star was eclipsed and the yellow-silvery moon looked as if she got a cup of ermine thrown in her face — from the foundry it spread like fire to some adjacent cotton stores, on the whole it was all that I wished it ‘great glorious, and free’.7 Just imagine what it was, when Willy8 was first to move for an adjournment to the scene of blazes – exclaiming with a half yawn – half snore ‘oh if Tyndall was here’!!! We remained witnessing the operations of some 20 or 30 engines until the bell tolled the ominous five.9 There was a great deal of damage done10 and even this moment there are some engines playing on it.

Hamley took it into his head last week to place me under the necessity of risking the receival of 2s and 2d per diem11 at some short future period. The fourth time may have the charm. Devil admire and recommend them to his prime-minister12 – if ever I turn prayer vendor13 I’ll be ‘at their service’.

What am I to do with this eighteen pence of yours? I thought you would have commisioned Willy as a stock-agent.14 Beware Tyndall – there is great talk of a reduction!15

Jack16 and Bill Latimer are a distinct mess now, five together was too much, particularly when them 5 were mad devils, and more particularly when them 5 devils were 5 Irish mad devils – they are now in St. Georges Terrace!17 We are about leaving here, it is nearly 10 minutes walk from 33 Windsor St.18 Is it a fact that you and Willy and Jim19 caught George20 one evening about to prostrate himself before the shrine of Miss Mullhall’s21 beauty!

Of course you know and must be well aware what my opinions are regarding the valentine and wild effusion which you sent me last week. 22 Your curses were delightful. One feels pleasure in being cursed so. I would have written on Sunday evening but I went to church and wrote the following while the themes of the preacher were yet tingling in my ears. You shall see what circumstances can do even with me. I would have written last night but I went with some others to hear a favourite piece in the ‘Theatre Royal’.23 Mrs Fitzwilliam and Mr Blackstone have just left the ‘Liver’.24 ‘Oh she’s a charming woman and he is a most wonderful man’. But now for my Sunday night’s work!–

Should curses thus your pen control

And thus consign immortal soul

Where flaming billows madly roll

For that dull valentine!

Hear me ye powers of earth and air

While I vociferate a prayer

That such may ever be his share

Who wildly wished it mine!

May fiendish temper’s fearful ire

Which jealous souls alone inspire

His haughty bosom never fire

Nor curses scape his tongue!

Calmed be that passion – dire and dread

Which wreaked its bitters on my head

Its horror hushed – its vengeance dead

Its very echos gone!

Gone like a ripple on a wave

Lost like a hope within the grave

May soothing Lethes25 fondly lave26

Athwart his burning breast!

And when his glass of life hath run

– His griefs forgot – his sorrows done –

– The Goal of goals well surely won

A calm celestial rest!

÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷

Yes beauteous Ellen27 – twas from you

That all this fiery vengeance grew

As grows the nettle in the dew

That’s dripping from the rose!

From you the frown – the angry curse

Unconscious sprung for him to nurse

And shower on me with bitter force

Scum of his heart’s hot throes!

From you – but no! that thought must rest

The name alone disturbs this breast

Tis graven here! – by grief impressed

By time but firmer fixed!

By sorrow nurtured – hope caressed –

In dreams alone an angel-guest

Fond dreams! to life the only zest

A cup of sweets unmixed!

On – on may roll fast flitting years

While every hour my spirit sears

And memory’s tablet stains with tears

For thee and thee alone!

But even tho’ Time his hoary pall

Shrouds o’er thy beauties one and all

That spirit still will on thee call

And hail thee for its own!

When love’s forgot – when hope is gone

Thy name shall guild his every song

Thy praises glitter on his tongue

Thy image in his breast!

And when the cold sepulchral stone

Rears its dread o’er beauties flown

The soul that wished thee once its own

Will wish thee purer rest!

The clock struck 10 just as I came to the centre of this page, so that delays this a post. I suppose by the time this reaches you, your ire will be raging in all the horrors of Ethnic splendour. There was one little circumstance which attracted my attention very particularly about that valentine – How came my name under it and at the right hand side? as if I wrote it – and to make my suspicions more substantial – you then drew the pen thro’ the ‘W. Ginty’. You know what I mean! I say Tyndall – you dont say the Goddess Muatta28 controled my pen to night at all events

Yours very sincerely | Ginty.

Either read or give the enclosed – to the ‘wee bit of a thing’29 (Oxford St., to wit)30 We shall see the effect. It is now nearly three months since I wrote to him and he never answered it.

Lilly came in to see me this evening in company with Taylor. Lilly has resigned!31 He remains here for a few days with his uncle on his way to the land of his fore-fathers.

O’Neill’s journal went with mine32 – The only two out of 140 civilians and 20 or 30 sappers --!!! --!!! So that in 7033 we may expect another!

RI MS JT 1/11/3596–7

LT Transcript Only

the transcript of your ‘Sober Seriousness’: letter missing.

un-Milesian: un-Irish; see letter 0183, n. 23.

ultimo: of last month (OED), so 28 February.

‘The court awards it and the law doth give it’: W. Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, IV.i.300.

the Colonel: Colonel Thomas Colby.

fire blaze here last week at Fawcett’s and Preston’s foundry: On Tuesday 7 March 1843 a huge fire partially destroyed the Phoenix Foundry of the Fawcett and Preston Engineering company, which stood between Suffolk and York Streets in Liverpool.

‘great glorious, and free’: T. Moore, ‘Remember Thee!’ (1821), 5.

Willy: William Hunter.

the bell tolled the ominous five: The Liverpool Mercury reported that the ‘flames raged with great fury till about six o’clock, when a plentiful supply of water having been obtained, the efforts of the Fire-police were of some avail’ (‘Partial Destruction of Messrs. Fawcett and Preston’s Foundry, by Fire’, 10 March 1843, p. 82).

a great deal of damage done: The Liverpool Mercury reported that ‘the ruins had the appearance of a desolated town, so extensive was the establishment … Happily, no lives were lost at this fire, nor have we heard of any person being seriously injured. The disaster, however, cannot fail to be most calamitous in its effects’ (ibid.).

per diem: per day (Latin).

his prime-minister: presumably Robert Peel, then serving his second term as Prime Minister.

prayer vendor: Ginty presumably has in mind the Roman Catholic clergy whose practice of selling indulgences, a temporal substitute for prayer in the remission of sins, helped provoke the Reformation.

a stock-agent: a dealer in livestock (OED).

there is great talk of a reduction: In a District Order issued on 9 May 1843 Captain Henry Tucker stated: ‘Warning was given some time since that in consequence of the smallness of the grant of money for carrying on the survey it would be necessary to make a reduction of the force employed on the Detail Survey’ (RI MS JT 8/1/4b).

Jack: John Tidmarsh.

St. Georges Terrace: on Comus Street in central Liverpool.

33 Windsor St: the location of the Ordnance Survey Office in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, south-east of St George’s Terrace.

Jim: Phillip Evans.

George: George Latimer.

Miss Mullhall: not identified.

the valentine and wild effusion which you sent me last week: letter missing.

a favourite piece in the ‘Theatre Royal’: Opened in 1772, the Theatre Royal on Williamson Square was the first theatre to be built in Liverpool. On the evening of Monday 13 February 1843, it hosted ‘Mrs. Clarke’s Benefit’, featuring ‘this favourite actress and highly talented lady’ in ‘a performance … of a most attractive character’ with ‘one of the fullest and most fashionable houses of the season to reward her exertions’ (‘Mrs. Clarke’s Benefit’, Liverpool Mercury, 10 March 1843, p. 84).

Mrs Fitzwilliam and Mr Blackstone have just left the ‘Liver’: Fanny Fitzwilliam (1801–54) and John Baldwin Blackstone (1802–79), two of the most popular actors of the period. Ginty is likely referring to their appearance in Blackstone’s own opera The Pet of the Petticoates (1841) at the Liver Theatre on Church Street. The Liver opened in 1829, when the Pantheon Theatre, the second theatre built in Liverpool, was renamed. The owners of the Theatre Royal and the Liver were in dispute over the latter’s unlicensed status, a controversy which, later in 1843, led to the passing of the Regulation of Theatres Act.

Lethes: see letter 0132, n. 1.

lave: wash or bathe (OED).

beauteous Ellen: from Kinsale.

Goddess Muatta: There is no goddess Muatta in any world religion, so this is perhaps a mistaken reference to Mutata, an alternative name for Ino, one the four daughters of the Greek god Comus.

the wee bit of a thing’: not identified, but LT’s handwritten insertion suggests this was ‘proby. [Phillip] Evans who was small’.

(Oxford St., to wit): Tyndall had lodged at 18 Oxford Street in Preston; see letter 0164.

Lilly has resigned!: John Lilly had become disillusioned with the Survey’s low pay, as well as the ‘dull and stupid monotony of plotting and drawing’, although he had no alternative job to go into when he returned to Ireland and instead occupied himself with gardening; see letter 0206.

O’Neill’s journal went with mine: presumably the ‘Journal of Progress and Weekly Report’, which, after they were submitted, were used to compile the ‘Monthly Report’; see letter 0038, n. 3.

in 70: possibly in 70 days’ time, as Ginty had previously complained of having to wait for the return of ‘Progress Journals | Of which no tidings yet are come’; see letter 0143. In fact, Ginty’s journal was returned after a ‘six weeks “leave of absence”’ (i.e. 42 days); see letter 0200.

Please cite as “Tyndall0194,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0194