From Joseph Payne   Monday morning | Feb 12. 1844

Monday morning | Feb 12. 1844¹

My dear Tyndall

I received your never expected,² and I assure you it has given me great pleasure for more reasons than one. I thought from the first of Spec’s³ epistles that you were him, but was not sure until ‘the last dearly purchased smoke wreath mingled with the atmosphere’,⁴ and then any little doubts I had were completely recovered. Yes Father John, nothing but an avowal from yourself to the contrary will ever persuade me that you and Spec, added together would not turn up John Tyndall (oh it’s mortal cold, frost and snow to the eyes here). His letters were received here as clever truisms written in the true spirit of an independent gentlemanly style and as gaul and wormwood⁵ to the gizzard of every tyrannical Engineer Officer. There’s not a true heart amongst us that does not warm at the word Spec and would shake his fingers off for the love we bear his noble spirit. May his pen never flourish in a worse cause and may better success attend his next undertaking! It is hard singlehanded to make way against such a current; but though the main object may not have been attained, yet the villainy of the Engineer officers is exposed and that’s a comfort. And has Tyndall shook off the trammels of Toryism, has he conquered the demon prejudice and, if not in act, is he at heart the son of liberty the friend of the oppressed and the scourge of the oppressor? Will he confess – what he must have felt – his unfortunate country governed by a selfish despotism under the name of a British Constitution? More power such as you made America as she is and such will keep her so. You ask me if I am a Repealer,⁶ I did fear and do still that popish ascendancy would be eventually not the least important result of Repeal. I have tried long to persuade myself that we would have an impartial protection of civil and religious liberty, but I can’t. I fear something Jesuitical has crept into the repeal movement; but as one evil is existing and the other only anticipated I chose the latter and I believe were both existing I would do the same. It’s an old standard and a good one that the majority should not suffer for the benefit of the minority, so that as far as I morally can be I am a Repealer – The corn law league⁷ has a deal for and against it and though the majority of the latter are influenced by selfish motives yet I believe there are a good many influenced by having the good of their country (as a country) at heart. There can be little doubt but it would injure the farmers at first, but the Right Hon. <1 word excised> this and his grace the Duke of Marquis of that⁸ should knock some thousands of his Rentroll⁹ and cover the loss by fewer visits to the gambling house, shortening the season in town, keeping a procuress less on the Continent or at home, and in short whirling less in the vortex of dissipation. Something is wanted to counterbalance the injustice of the grinding groping manufacturer in this country, to reduce the almost incredible number of forty thousand! prostitutes in London, and take no less number (according to their extent) of the other large towns of England. It’s an old proverb that idleness is the mother of vice, poverty might be called its father, I pretend to know little of how it might affect the commerce of the country, but I know this that an English government was never yet at a loss to levy a tax, and (damn time) let them (if necessary) levy it on something that won’t wring the last farthing out of the poor operatives’ pocket. Beatty¹⁰ has promised me the league Newspaper tomorrow, I will send it to you, and for goodness sake send me a few Carlow Sentinels, I am longing for the local news – Things progress as usual here 2 or 3 Journals monthly out of the office, Tithe work¹¹ showering in upon us. Scally¹² has got charge (absolute) of the 6 feet department; I am his right hand man, but Capt. four eyes¹³ has me marked for the limb of a rebel that strove to sow the seed of dissension in his milksop¹⁴ Division, so that my prospects on the Survey are blasted (who the devil ever had good prospects on it? What is the best of them in the end?) Scally’s brother is after returning from America – could not do well there, got a few jobs on Railways and canals but nothing permanent – says none but an American indentured surveyor can work on his own account. I don’t believe that Jemmy Cain¹⁵ for instance surveyed the City of Toronto. He is trying to get employed here, and I think he will succeed as we are here over ears in office work – the thankless Tithe plans to be thanked for that – I have little acquaintance with him yet but if you require any information concerning America I will get it from Allick.¹⁶ What with advertising and registering this last three months it has cost me nearly 30/- and I could have walked into a situation in Bedfordshire¹⁷ of £80 per annum if my uncle¹⁸ only sent me a few pounds. But the old knave would not even answer my letter and now I want you to find out for me (hiding nothing its very cold) his feelings towards me, and how he is determined to act, for something must be done. While I remain on the Survey I can do nothing for myself or mother.¹⁹ I am a big fellow, remarkably handsome, 11st. 4lbs. wears my hair à la Rubini²⁰ and turns out a hell of a swell on Sundays. Kindest remembrance to your father,²¹ mother²² and Emma²³ I’ll cherish the sentiment.

write me soon and believe | Sincerely Yours | J. Payne²⁴

P.S. How is J. Murray?²⁵ Is it as a Surveyor you go to America? or are you going to your uncle’s or do you go it mercantile? | J.P.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3845-3846

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