From Robert Allen   18th. Dec. 1843

Preston 18th. Dec. 1843

My dear John

Having some leisure time I think I cannot pass it in a better way than acknowledging in a few lines the receipt of your kind but short note¹ and likewise letting you know all the news that I can furnish you with. I have just returned from having a long walk with Sayers during which I communicated your kind regard but did not read your sentiment as you desired; for this reason – at the time he mentioned the matter to me he charged me particularly not to make it known, however I am very happy to inform you that our opinions with reference to his applying to be re-employed are of little importance now as a better prospect lies stretched before him. I think it was about last Thursday he received a letter from Captain Stotherd² informing him that a situation of no mean character had been promised for him in some honourable department at Woolwich where he should receive the pay of a second Lieut until a trial of his abilities merit a higher rate of pay – this letter to him appears only to have conveyed the intelligence without the appointment as Stotherd mentioned that another would shortly be forwarded from the officer superintending the department – I know you will be glad to hear this, but not one in the office is aware of it; at least so Sayers tells me. Will that settle Garryonne?³ Accept his kindest and best remembrances to you, the next in course is Old Bob, or in more respectful language Mr Martin.⁴ A letter came here yesterday from the Capt.⁵ stating that Martin and Carroll⁶ were to be re-installed at a reduction of 3d per diem each, and that if their conduct in future were satisfactory or something to that effect, they would at no distant period be restored to their former pay or it advanced to them which you please and also a little promise by the way of things better awaiting them not of course directly stated in such plain terms as if entering into a ‘Virtual Contract’. I have not seen the letter but from what accounts I received as far as I can discern you have the substance of it in this. Well, but you are anxiously waiting the effect it produced and that you shall have. Mr Martin has returned to his former occupation accepting the proposed terms and was at work this day, now he might have waited for some time longer as Halliday⁷ the Surveyor was giving him a job or about doing so, but he says the wife thinks that even less wages is preferable in a settled situation, of course the man ought to know better than I how to manage his own affairs. Yet it is the general opinion that by his acceding to Tucker’s proposals in the case, he has done more to strengthen that obnoxious principle which would change a justified mutual request into an unlawful demand, than all we did to uproot and destroy it. Carroll yet sensible of the wrongs enforced and conscious of the justice of his remonstrances, hesitates not to inform the Capt. that on no condition will he return except he has granted to him his former rate of pay as that barely afforded him the means of subsistence. I was speaking to him this morning and these are his sentiments – now he made no application whatever according to what he states but merely requested a regeneration of his character. See then how Tucker like a serpent coils – had Martin not accepted the offer, I am convinced and so is Walkem that before another week a circular would have been issued to affect a more honourable compromise. I had a private discourse with Walkem today on the matter and he seems to think that if a proper document were drawn up by the parties dismissed stating that as Col. Colly⁸ kindly proposed to employ them at reduced wages in cases of not meeting with situations in other quarters that they now offered their services for their usual wages after being out of employment for ---- weeks considering that time unemployed a sufficient loss sustained without a further reduction. This he thinks in some degree would as it were allow them the satisfaction of carrying out their principles and afford the men a chance of employment on honourable terms, without an actual submission by either party – at the same time he would take advantage of the great falling off in the progress of the work for the last month and see Lieut Stanley himself on the matter when he returned from leave of absence showing him the awful consequence of such a discharge of useful men and then by using his influence with Tucker, Walkem is of opinion that all might again be settled satisfactorily. This he wishes me to write to you as his views on the matter, as I told him I would be writing this evening – of course you will have your own opinions and I hope you will not consider me as dictating but my desire and prayer is for your welfare and for all those who suffered in the same cause – the independent struggle for a glorious emancipation for glorious it would have been had we succeeded. I had a long letter from Latimer⁹ on Friday he was then (when he wrote the letter) in Manchester expecting to proceed to Birmingham no doubt you have heard from him since therefore I need say nothing of what he communicated. I hope he may have succeeded in procuring a good gentlemanly methodistical, situation a honest-hearted methodical reformer! – I wonder what he is doing tonight the idea is a queer one but I was about exclaiming in what circle does his ‘nose’ form a ‘segment’! He like yourself stated that he felt no regret for what he had done. I was indeed glad to hear that ‘Tyndall is still’ himself a spirit bounding son of Erin;¹⁰ well but I hope you have before this received your Yankee epistle.¹¹ I am rather uneasy concerning it, I am sure I re-directed it in the post office correctly but most likely they forgot to send it by the same post which conveyed my letter and the paper. The latter came to the office, the letter went to Mulhall’s¹² but they did not keep it so I had to see Johnston the letter carrier¹³ at night when I got the letter from him and returned it assured that it should be forwarded. I will enquire about it as I put in this but I hope you are not until now without reading its contents – dear John art [thee] bound for America? I hope you may have encouraging intelligence from the land of liberty. I must conclude, good night, the Lord bless you, bright prospects yet await you perhaps now bursting the suspended gloom.

I hope so with best wishes I am | yours ever faithfully | Bob.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3482-3483

LT Transcript Only