From George Latimer   December 27th 1843

Newtown Gore¹ | December 27th 1843²

My dear Tyndall

I am glad that a letter from either of us is so short a time en route, yours of Christmas day³ arrived here the day following. I am happy to hear that you have enjoyed good health since you went to Leighlin. I admire the bold determined stand you have taken, relative to your future destination,⁴ without reference to America, but mind you by this, I by no means despise America, more of this hereafter. Your circular is truly first rate, and not exaggerated, no, I believe you could not exalt yourself above measure in those attainments I think the smattering of Radicalism you got from Charley⁵ has served you no small share, as appears from the general favourite you are become with both parties, to whom you refer. I have no doubt but you will ere long, get some calls, which shall raise you to such an eminence, that you will become not only a conspicuous character but one whose services shall be sought for, with greediness. More particularly as I hope there shall be a jealousy in other minds on account of the specimens that you will have executed - I was so tossed about in mind, when I last communicated with you, that I entirely forgot to say that previous to my leaving Preston I got another character from Capt. T.⁶ much milder than the former, leaving out the obnoxious paragraph with which he concluded before, but still retaining as much of the virus as poisons all. I also forgot to tell you to acquaint Phill,⁷ that Sergeant Rodgers⁸ got his also, and will keep it till he sends for it. I gave Rodgers his address, I know Phill will be raging with me about this neglect, but I leave him in your charge to manage and curb him. I must write him a short note this time, as I have nothing to communicate but what you can acquaint him of. Your American correspondence is quite consonant with the general character which I always heard of your friend Wright.⁹ I cannot say about going to the States in Spring, I am not prepared in the exchequer line¹⁰ for such a journey now. Remember I only speak for myself in this matter – I fully agree with you, that there is a continual drain on the purse when out of a [situation!] I don’t know whether I told you that two of those to whom I showed my specimens in Manchester requested me to leave my address, which I did. I am making some preparations to draw a plan from the Ordnance map as a specimen, to a scale of either 12 or 16 perches,¹¹ I think the latter may be the best, it will not be so large and yet large enough. I hear some talk of one of my neighbouring gents getting his estate surveyed, a part of which he is getting done now. I have sustained a loss by not being at home a month ago, as I would most assuredly have fallen in for this, but I don’t give up hopes of the estate and I hope to have my specimen well on next week. I find it difficult to work on account of this person, and that person coming to see me – In what style should I execute it?, in crow pen, or colour? Let me have your advice about this, I would do two, but I am afraid I would fall short in time. However if time permits I will have one of each, but let not this prevent you of complying with my demands. On the present, I go tomorrow please God with my Father to look at a new line of road which is to be laid out in some of Colonel Clement’s¹² property. The county surveyor wants to run it one way, the tenantry another, and as it is intended for an accommodation, of course the latter must be pleased, and for this purpose my Father wishes me to go, and see it. I could manage it with a circumferentor¹³ rightly, as I have got a level¹⁴ in Liverpool which will answer all the purpose of a level attached to the instrument. Besides the intended line will be nearly a direct one, who knows yet I spent today or at least a young men spent with me in my Father’s who has been seven years back and forward in America he gives a very favourable account of it, and invited me to his place, where he will give me all the information he can on the subject, I think you misunderstood me about writing to Bob.¹⁵ Now I did not write to Bob since I came here until yesterday. I wrote to him from Manchester to which I referred in my last¹⁶ and you have understood it to be from here, not so. I heard something in the way of rumour about Bob’s reemploy but only a rumour, nothing official whatsoever. I wrote yesterday to Bob, Charley, and Otty,¹⁷ and expect to hear a great deal of news the end of the week. Tyndall, I have no desire to go back on my old pay.¹⁸ I was there long enough, perhaps too long, I got a hearty welcome home and will have the same as long as I wish to remain, besides there is a great desire to keep me, hoping that something may arise which will be an America at home but it must be good that will compensate. I never regretted doing what I did, I never had an uneasy 5 minutes about the matter since its first proposition, and Jack, I did not go to Kingstown! I am sorry in one way, that I did not go, to behold the idol of your soul though Jack requested me to go, but I really had not time. I bought a chain that cost me 9/6, 6lbs and at 1/6 per pound, no less could be taken so I had to down with the cash – And now for the whole truth – you ask me about my leaving Preston – why you puzzle me indeed for ‘tis more than I can tell, it would require a poet’s pen to describe that scene, you are possessed with all the truth, and description of a Cowper.¹⁹ Suffice it to say that I got the Testament, and worthy of being looked upon, as proceeding from the house it did, and as for the penknife if only you could see it! and then about the parting of friends. I saw them all, and you don’t know the half of it, what do you think I was to have fallen in for after Xmas had I remained? No less than being best man!! at a wedding, of Miss Fothergill²⁰ and a dissenting Minister the name of Fielding.²¹ Oh Jack how unfortunate, but what? it is all for the better, and then the morning I started I bade farewell to Mr Lowe,²² and family though last of my friends not least! First Mr Lowe, then Miss Lowe,²³ I pause, ‘but oh! I never can forget, the parting look of sorrow’,²⁴ then with William, and here the scene drops which may, and I doubt not but has drawn a veil, between us, which may never be rent – I never raised hopes to crush them! Not like don’t tax me with inconsistency! else the burden devolves on your own devoted head! Now have I not spun a very long yarn, you know my address put me in mind of anything. I forget, but I did not forget the tin case, nor the screw nail boots. You will likely see Phill show him this, really I don’t know what to say to him let this be for you both for the present, I said in the former part of this I would write to him, but I have nothing to say to him, but what I have said to you, let him not be jealous for this time, ask him did he hear anything about the farewell to Miss Simpson²⁵ I forgot to ask Bob about it.

believe me dear | yours ever | Geo. Latimer | 20 minutes of 12!! and all in bed

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3742-3743

LT Transcript Only