From W Marquis   31 Dec 1843

Preston | 31st Dec 1843.

My dear Tyndall,

I cannot say the degree of pleasure I felt in receiving a line from you.1

It is Sunday and the last day of the old year. Parker is gone to visit the Banisters2 and I sit alone by the fire enjoying the social companionship of my old friend the pipe – Allen pops in ‘I am just writing a line to Jack’. ‘Are you? will you remember me to him and tell him I will write to him in a few days’? ‘I am going to a wedding tomorrow a clergyman is to be married, he is 40 the bride 30 I am to be groomsman! ‘and I suppose – Smith3 is to be Bride’s maid? No, no that would be too good a thing – but she will be at the party in the evening’.

This was some of our conversation. Allen and your French tutor Sindal4 took their Christmas with me – Sayers and Parker were at Banisters. It is surprising to me the effect of this moment’s interruption – I am quite driven out of my course – When Allen came in I was closely perusing your note – believe me my dear Jack I appreciate – I feel the goodnatured – kind feelings that pervade your – I mean that dictated your letter.

Damn this annoyance! I say – here comes Banister5 – He has a temporary engagement at Blackburn came home today to see his family and returns by the coach at 7 o’clock. His mother6 went to London with Sayers yesterday morning 20 to 10 o’clock he desires to be kindly remembered to you. Miss Banister often asks me for you I assure you that you are not lost in the remembrance of any of your acquaintances, they all speak in the highest possible terms of you and regret exceedingly your leaving Preston.

Well, this is too bad – that I cannot communicate with my old and well-be-loved friend – even in silence, without being annoyed by repeated interruptions – Here comes Fitz Patrick7 with his God save – and how the devil are you &c. – ‘I say Marquis will you come to the Ball tomorrow evening there will be some fine girls there – Do you know Marquis that the finest girls in Preston are Roman Catholics – ay my boy and some of the richest too – there’s Miss – ,8 her father is one of the richest men in Preston’.

I am sorry I can’t go – I have a very sore foot – I could not go to the office yesterday at all – for which you know Stanley9 gave me a blowing up – James Martin10 was checked by order – made public 5 days for absenting himself 4 days last week.

In come Allen – Is this you Fitz – how are you Allen &c. &c. He has a letter in his hand – the seal speaks its contents – ‘Without you I die’!!! he sits down and opens the letter very carefully and reads – but inwardly – his countenance brightens – his eye sparkles with ecstasy. ‘Good news I hope Allen’? ‘A-y’ – but will you come to meeting tonight and usher in the New Year. I am sorry I can’t call for you as I said I would – but I will see you there I hope – My services are required in another quarter or else I should be most happy to go with you. I went to Lune Street Chapel at 10 o’clock – heard a very God-like discourse – a humiliating exposition of our past follies – a solemn supplication to heaven for forgiveness – Three minutes before 10 o’clock all was in solemn silence and serious prair – Even in the awfulness of this moment I perpetuated a – no I won’t say a crime – I only looked at a pretty girl – but she looked at me and so had the sin to answer for. As the clock struck 12 upwards she darted her eyeballs and thus for some time seemed to be in communion with the Spirit – I left her so!!

My dear Jack you must recollect that I am finishing my letter to you – Fitz is busy preparing for the Ball – he was here just now and he desired to be most kindly remembered to you. I haven’t seen Allen today, so I cannot tell you how the wedding came off. Holland was employed to day Mr Gowan11 left for Ireland on last Friday. Fitzpatrick and Bob Small12 are living at 11 Butler Street. Barker13 and I at No 5 Bow Lane. Parker had a letter from Phill today will you please to remember me to him, and tell him I felt disappointed at his not calling on Mr Macklion14 – he does not speak of having done anything in Dublin. Did he call at Griffith’s15 [himself]? As to yourself Jack I must say that all your travels and adventures are a perfect mystery – at least to me – N’importo16 – as you say will talk of love and Goosnaugh17 matrimony. I haven’t been there since but when I do go you shall not be forgotten to them – to Miss Lucy18 – I beg your pardon – it’s ‘poor Lizzy’ I mean, the ‘star of your soul’!! Eh! Jack you’re a rum ‘un – Come now Jack you must not think that I am disposed to trifle with your better feelings, no far from that – I’ve a sore foot or else I would go out to Goosnaugh next Sunday and represent you to her in the most loving manner – Yes and if opportunity would permit I would give her half a dozen kisses for you.

Now about the writer – I was taken in beautifully the last evening then. You have heard of the Mistletoe Bow I happened most unwittingly to get under it – and maybe I hadn’t kissing you ever saw. The girls kiss first, the boys kiss after of course – they told me it was Lancashire fashion when they saw me blushing and embarrassed – the dear creatures what a nack they have for soothing difficulties – Note the following Receipt – Take a bough of Mistletoe and hang it up in a warm place. Put beneath it a young lady with whom you are rather sweet. When she begins to melt, which you may know by her change of colour, you should run your rigs and mould your tips for kisses. We had a splendid party the last night I might say the best we ever had. Need I say that I shall always be happy to hear from you – I have an affection for that part of the country near which you reside I have lived in Bonnie19 a fortnight the girls there wanted to know I would Goke.20

very sincerely yours | W. Marquis

To John Tyndall Esqre | Leighlin Bridge | Co Carlow21

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3750-3751

LT Transcript Only

a line from you: letter missing.

the Banisters: though there were many Banisters in Preston, this probably refers to the family of Mary (b. c. 1801) and Samuel Banister (b. c. 1791). Samuel Banister was the High Constable of Preston. His children Emily (b. 1820) and Frederick (b. 1823) are mentioned in the letters; see letter 0280.

Smith: not identified; possibly Robert Allen’s future wife, who had many relatives with the surname ‘Smith’.

Sindal: not identified.

Banister: Frederick Dale Banister; see n. 2.

His mother: Mary Banister; see n. 2.

Fitz Patrick: not identified.

Miss –: this name does not appear in the transcript, though it may refer to Miss Emily Banister, see n. 2.

Stanley: possibly Charles Edward Stanley.

James Martin: not identified.

Mr Gowan: not identified, possibly John McGowan, a Civil Assistant on the Ordnance Survey who had been dismissed alongside Tyndall; see letter 0262.

Bob Small: Robert Small, a civil assistant on the Irish Ordnance Survey. He worked in the A District 1st Division under the command of Captain Tucker. Small joined the Survey on 30 August 1838. His station was at Waterford. He primarily worked as a surveyor, but was also examining groundwork at certain junctures. His daily rate of pay rose to 2s 8d by the time he left the Survey. Small left the Survey along with the majority of the A District workers during the autumn of 1841; his reappearance in Preston suggests that Small had joined the English Survey.

Barker: not identified.

Mr Macklion: not identified.

Griffith: probably Richard John Griffith.

N’importo: not important (Italian).

Goosnaugh: more commonly spelled Goosnargh; a small village near Preston.

Miss Lucy: not identified.

lived in Bonnie: not identified.

I would Goke: the meaning of this is unclear. Goke means at the heart or core (OED).

To John Tyndall … Co Carlow: address given by Louisa Tyndall.

Please cite as “Tyndall0282,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0282