From John Todd   5th March 1844

Preston, | 5th March 1844.

Dear Tyndall,

After a silence of a considerable length I again address you,¹ it may be interesting to know how things are going on with us at Preston, and whether the strong feelings aroused previous to your departure has yet subsided. Everything as regards the progress of the business we are employed on is going on in pretty near the usual way and the only change of importance that has taken place since you left is the removal of Corp. J [Walkem] from the Division, who I need hardly mention is universally regretted. That he has always carried himself smoothly through all parties and pursued a straight-forward independent line of conduct in the discharge of his duties and that he has ever acted so as to give the civilians with whom he was connected the least possible annoyance is the opinion expressed by all who know him. He left here for Woolwich on the 29th Feb. He and the party to which he is now attached will embark on the 19th I believe of this month for America, to be employed under Capt. Broughton² on the Survey of the Southwestern Boundary.³ (They are to be in Quebec on the 5th of May.) Corpl. Quadling⁴ succeeded him in charge of the Drawing Department here. We have got a new Free-trade paper published here called the ‘Guardian’ published weekly by Livesey and son. Spectator’s last letter⁵ was given with some remarks in its last week’s number. (I send it to you). Dear Tyndall we see little hopes of any change being made for the better in our circumstances by our Superintendents,⁶ willingly, and we are therefore resolved to try the effects of further agitation. We have exposed ourselves as much as we can to our officers and to the public, so much that the inhabitants of Preston can point at us in the street and say there go the poor sappers and miners⁷ that have only 12 shillings a week. Whilst in some of the most influential quarters our claims are either altogether unknown or, if known, t’is to those only perhaps who would be better disposed to lay their foot on them than investigate their merits. I am directed to submit the following to you for your advice and assistance. We think that if Spectator’s letters together with the other matters relating to late occurrences which you are in possession of and may be deemed expedient to add were published in the form of a neat pamphlet and copies given to the leading journals in Ireland as well as in this country, and also to those members of Parliament who would be thought might take an interest in it, it might get our case into notice and be instrumental in causing some enquiry which would end in making some change for the better in our situations. About 200 copies of it might be contracted for with some publisher in Ireland whom you can arrange matters with and then there are as many of us here anxious to have it tried as will render the individual expense trifling. Although you are now out from amongst us we thus calculate on your assistance for we believe that it would be gratifying to you to be able to render a service to your old fellow sufferers. Let us have your answer as soon as convenient for ‘If when ‘twas done, ‘twere well done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly’.⁸ I hope the congenial air of home is exerting its influence to some purpose in invigorating your constitution and bodily strength and that your mind is more engaged in contemplating and looking forward with hope for better prospects and brighter days than on regretting your departure from the Ordnance Survey. How is Phil⁹ he promised to write to me but did not, remind him of it in your next and

Believe me to be | My dear John | Yours faithfully | John Todd.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3882

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