From William Ginty   Nov. 9th 1843.

33 Windsor Street | Nov. 9th 1843.

Dear Tyndall

Zounds what a crash! With one fell swoop they thinned our ranks I may say to a man – Here we are only three – scions of a nobler stock – we stand ‘few and faint but fearless still’.¹ So you met ‘twas in a crowd, I defy you to make the second line answer eh? Did you think they would have thinned you? I did not. Yes faith I am in a hobble. I hope to get over it though in a short time. This evening I received a letter of introduction to a gent in the Customs² here altho’ I don’t expect a berth in the Customs, he will probably put me on the scent of one. The letter is from Coote Sholley Esq.³ High Sheriff and Depy. Lieut. of Roscommon Co. I have another from an Esq. and J.P. to a ‘Joseph Lloyd Esq’.⁴ This cove I can’t find, even in a directory. Now I wish to heaven you could get a job in Liverpool. I of course will hunt, chase, search enquire, ask, beg, demand and insist like the very devil. Get some letters of introduction to some gents here. Send for such instanter without such it is no go. There is a Librarian wanted in the Athenaeum News room.⁵ Salary £40 per year. £200 security (see ‘Liverpool Courier’).⁶ This appears to be very low but it will only occupy 2 or 3 hours in the day – have you the security if so at it. The Committee at the News Room Church Street⁷ is your mark! The advertisement appeared only yesterday. (The Athenaeum) (?spelling) we can’t say a word until we see the contents of our roving commissions. Then – on the merits of those Testimonials we will raise a whirlwind, a hurricane that will shake the tottering edifice to the dust. I sent a letter to [Colby] (thro’ H.)⁸ demanding two testimonials of mine in his possession I have a copy of the letter I sent. I said ‘They were my property’ and that ‘under existing circumstances were to me of considerable importance’. If I don’t get these, if they are not forthcoming I will give him an emetic⁹ of a forty bucket power. With 4 exceptions are the survivors of the wreck in Preston worth a bob a day on an average. Surely to God this will not be tolerated! It is said here that the survey is to be postponed, [sine]-die,¹⁰ in February next. It may be so, but I don’t believe it. Query, is it not a consolatory rumour to damp our fire – Phsa! it must be broken up, crushed – vanished into air, thin air. Those that had sinecures¹¹ will rue it most before this day twelvemonths. Is it to be tolerated that the best workmen on the Survey is to be dismissed in company with a few useless civilians and labourers. Are these men to be sent adrift and worthies of the Liverpool Borough School kept to repeat their outrageous botchery again. This, in plain terms, is a fraud upon the public and upon us, and in the end an increase of the expenses of the Ordnance Survey and not decrease – Tis scandalous to look at – tis madness to think they can stand by this. And come what will we will shove it with the highest. We have not yet heard from Manchester. If I have not a berth in one week after I’m dismissed I’ll enter the workhouse – Philosophy – Now for the test – some say here that the thing is so preposterous it will not be carried into effect and that it is merely to tame us – This is all flam.¹² Our occupation is no more fixed to all intents and purposes. Hurrah for Spectator¹³ tomorrow morning it is sure to appear.

Yours | Ginty

If I can fork out two corners we will be all right and at hand for future movements.

2nd Edition

I can’t find out what month that number of the journal was for, I suppose it was September. You will be able to judge from the date of Spec’s¹⁴ first letter and Tucker’s speech. Taylor has written an appeal against his dismissal to be forwarded by the Revd. Mr Carpenter¹⁵ to the Col.¹⁶ Carpenter is a brother-in-law of Mr and Mrs T¹⁷ and the Cols. ‘My dismissal Sir’ says he ‘under these circumstances is to say the least of it very unfair of Captain Tucker’ – flam. Sure it is old Tom in reality that is the mover or at least the seconder. Taylor does not wish it to be spoken of – take the hint. Is [Jim’s]¹⁸ shipped? Send me a list of the 19 draftsmen in your next. Lyndsey and Malone¹⁹ are in the mess too I hear. I wish we were each in a situation we could then with the stoicism of an angler who plays the salmon to the death – level the fury of our fire into their teeth and beard them in their dens at leisure. As for the Ordnance Survey ‘its days are numbered’. But in faith we are not ‘sleeping now’. Lash, Spec, as usual – leave this occurrence for the last letter, ‘walk into’ the present system in your next – let it be short, otherwise it won’t appear as a large Free-trade meeting²⁰ is to be here tomorrow evening, and some M.P’s. This will occupy at least one side of Friday week’s paper. Towards the close of Taylor’s epistle he requests if his dismissal is to take place that it will be deferred until the 21st of Dec. He has very fine interest here.

Yours | Othello²¹

See what it is to have a loose leg. Our hats cover all our worldly effects. Geo²² must go preach. Jim sell matches. Tyndall paste bills and Ginty sing ballads.

I suppose Cuddy and Dingan²³ and Holmes²⁴ are martyrs too ‘the great superseded’.²⁵

W.G.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3621

LT Transcript Only