To John Tyndall, Snr   Oct. 23rd, 1843.

Preston, Oct. 23rd, 1843.

My dear Father

Immediately on the receipt of your last letter¹ I wrote to two London Journals for the names of the Commissioners.² The Weekly Chronicle was one. On account of the great space taken up by Irish news, they were unable to answer any of their last week’s correspondents. I have however obtained the names of the Tithe Commissioners as they stood in 1837, and my informant tells me that he is of opinion the same individuals occupy the situation at present – William Blanmire Esqr.³

Capt T. Wentworth Buller R.N.⁴

Reverend Richard Jones

My informant tells me that he cannot say whether there are any more than three – he thinks not, each of these has a distinct charge. Mr Blanmire is engaged on the part of the landowners, Capt Buller on the part of the Admiralty, and Mr Jones on the part of the Church. They act in concert for the general good. Perhaps it would be as well to wait till Saturday. We may get more explicit information on this subject from the editors to whom I have written. I received yours with Wm Tyndall’s⁵ enclosed this morning. He is a good writer and I believe a man of feeling and generous sentiments. Well the ray of hope which shone over Philadelphia has been extinguished. I however am no way disheartened at his account of things. The man seems to think that my profession is to me what its niche is to a statue, that I cannot stir out of it, why there are many things that I could turn my hand to in America. I’m no way fastidious. I am prepared for anything – I have often looked to the workings of my own heart, and I think from the knowledge I have of myself that a change of fortune, either for the better or for the worse, would not affect me much. I’m ready for anything – from the situation of a cowboy to a Seat in Congress. I have licked up a good deal of information here and there and I’m morally certain that I could turn some of it to account in America even taking the picture at its darkest side. There is no hope in this country – too much competition. The first readings of political economy, nay the plainest common sense will tell you that the value of labour is depreciated by the increase of competitors. They, (the Surveyors) have gone on increasing in England for years, without a corresponding increase in the work to be produced, and the country is now overstocked with them. I shall now give you a few extracts which I think will stand fair against Wm Tyndall’s account. That account is confined to a certain locality, and I have not a doubt of its accuracy. The following is from a friend of mine at present⁶ in York– a cool reflective Scotchman, I have previously acquainted him with my intention of going to America. – I quote – ‘So you are about to vanish as many have done before you, I wish I could vanish too. My energies are completely withered in this employment. Let me know when you intend to go, I have two friends who left the Survey of Ireland in 1829 and went to America. They I’m sure will do all in their power to forward you. I wrote to one of them on chance three months ago. He received my letter and has replied to it. He tells me he will give me everything but Scotch whiskey if I go out to him. He has realized a handsome fortune, and can now return to his own country an independent gentleman’ – Mark, his independence is owing to his success as a Surveyor. That’s a cheering fact, is it not? I shall now make one or two quotations from a letter received⁷ last week by a young fellow who works in the office beside me,⁸ from a brother of his who left the Survey for America about two years ago. I may remark that the letter bears internal evidence that it was written by a man of sense and reflection. It is dated Erie⁹ Sept 4th 1843 – ‘If my uncles and aunts were here they could with very little labour procure all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life. This country differs in many respects from Great Britain and Ireland. There a man by recommendations from gentlemen can get into many public situations, but here a stranger coming from a foreign country must go into the first that offers and trust to his talents for preferment. With ordinary abilities and strict integrity he must succeed, unless he is more than commonly stupid’. Again – ‘Energy and self-dependence is what a man requires when he come to this country’. Again – ‘I could not promise you that the moment you would land there would be a situation for you’.

You expressed a wish to know who the East India letter was from. It was from an officer in the 78th Highlanders who are stationed within 140 miles of Hyderabod.¹⁰ He was my constant companion, messmate and bedfellow for many months in the South of Ireland. His uncle¹¹ is Captain in the same regiment, and thro’ his interest young Higginson¹² obtained a commission. He is a most affectionate young fellow. We were very much attached to each other. He has given me a lengthened detail of his adventures since he left this country. I cannot imagine the reason why his letter should be returned. Was it not directed properly? I owe Mr. Conwill a letter. The arguments contained in his last¹³ would be most unjust premises whence to draw conclusions relative to the prospects of a general Surveyor in America at present. I give him credit for the best intentions though I could not at all grant that his reasoning is valid.

Emma¹⁴ is very well

Yours & c | John Tyndall

Would you send me a fair copy of the letter you wrote to Wm Tyndall?

Send me all my scraps of poetry.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/10/3299-3300

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