From William Ginty   Wednesday 4th Oct. 1843.

Liverpool | Wednesday 4th Oct. 1843.

Dear Alpha¹

I have just returned from the office. ‘The bird had flown’ before I got there, it matters not, a letter will do as well and that letter lies before me sealed and stamped for the gent.² I told him it would be in his hands by Saturday evening or Monday evening at the latest. I spoke of the meeting of C.E.’s³ being rather premature at present – until Spectator’s letter⁴ had exposed the enormous errors of the work to an astonished public. For the life of me I can’t make head or tail of the enclosed little document.⁵ Who does S- - - t mean? Sinnett or Scott?⁶ If Sinnett, he says we are fools! I tell him he dare not say otherwise! If Scott, he seems to be lowered very much in his own estimation. Of course his late conduct has raised him in ours! As for the other scrap, my comprehension herein fails me, or perhaps my memory. As for dates, faith my sweet fellow they are well impressed on my memory! I ‘never can forget’ – All happened together. As for persons – I know them all. But what of that, the ruffians here would swear to a thing here one moment and swear to the reverse the next. Bill Latimer heard Col. Colby say the Ph.⁷ or Township at which they were looking (Downholland)⁸ was doing for 4d per acre, to Col. Cunningham! This was on the last day of the investigation Thursday the 28th Sep. 43 (book this) as you will have more to book than me! Again our letter with 25 signatures⁹ was left on Scott’s table on the evening of Tuesday the 26th of Sep. by Wm. Latimer (no person seen him do this). Hamley’s speeching¹⁰ &c took place on Friday the 29th and the - - - form¹¹ was presented to those who had signed the remonstrance to the Master General¹² on Saturday the 30th¹³ (book all these mind that!) As to Hamley’s speech, I slipped a few sentences in that I did not hear him use. Here they are! (a2)¹⁴ ‘Col. C¹⁵ would be displeased and perhaps part with them readily’. (a2) Again about the breaking up of the survey and it not affecting him or the sappers¹⁶ but throwing the c’s¹⁷ out of employment’. These two trifling things I could not swear to, but I can to all the rest of the speech as reported. Latimer and Dick Hunter¹⁸ and many others can swear to the extract marked (a2). I can’t say who heard him say the other they were both used in George St.¹⁹ on Friday the 29th. On Saturday [Hamley] said to Taylor, or in his presence, that ‘he did not see much harm in signing the form or even in not signing it’. Now this may be important, in case we were reprimanded, if these are not the exact words it is the exact meaning of his words! This I say was encouragement to us not to sign, at least we can call it such, his words will bear us out! I will draw Frank Tid.²⁰ out when I see him. Monday night is ‘our club’ night – he will be there. A club to meet once a fortnight we have established. It keeps us or rather them always ripe for ‘mischief’. We sing a song get drunk and go home. That’s all the harm we poor devils do! You ask me ‘do I think the work in Liverpool exceeds the contract’? – Not a [man] in the office but would not swear it doubles it on chance it is not open work*! Would it not be very easy to obtain from the guardians of the respective townships what the contract was. Preston is a central point, a tête a tête²¹ with a Preston 8²² would [do] all, that is he would ask the question publicly and faith [see] they would answer. There are 3 copies of Downholland,²³ I guess there is [sumat] extra for these. Downholland is within 16 or 17 miles of Preston, it is joining Halsall²⁴ where Marquis was! You must see I cannot manage to make a calculation even roughly. I have set two – Dick and Bill²⁵ – to draw some fellows out in the Lower Ho.²⁶ It may succeed. I have no access to journals nor anything else! I am sure Downholland will exceed the mark considerably, as those that have worked at it have high pay! They are very hard working men. That’s a damn bad job!!! One in particular would do as much as three easily. A rumour is afloat today that the ring-leaders in Manchester²⁷ have been discharged 5 or 6 of them. I don’t believe it. I hope tis false. I had two letters from there yesterday and nothing was said about it! [Ya]

Yours | A Rock.²⁸

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3614

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