From John Sinnett   15th March 1844

Liverpool | 15th March 1844.

My dear Tyndall

I suppose that by this time you have given me up for a bad job but I hope before you proceed to judgment you will hear what the prisoner has to say in his defence. You must know then that I have a very heavy job in the office so much so that very often I have scarce time to look round me. Then at home I have got hold about a month since of a very valuable work on perspective and as I must give it up very soon I have been working at it hammer and tongs. I have a night sometimes I am on it still and only I fear you might slip off to Cincinnati¹ before I could write probably I would have deferred some time longer. I have unfortunately mislaid your last,² but I recollect that you wished me to do a specimen of wood in sepia – this I will do – this evening if spared – so that you must not attribute my silence to neglect and this you will perceive is not the usual excuse under such circumstances. Poor Larry Eivers sailed yesterday morning I believe, or at least will when the wind proves favourable, as his passage is paid and all his traps on board. He goes to New York in the Sheridan, a fine Packet ship. He called on me several times and old relations which indeed I had thought were quite broken off were again renewed. Poor fellow I never knew a worthier soul, but Cap. F’s³ removal done him up for the Survey. Old dogs can hardly learn new tricks. We have just started 15 sappers⁴ from this to Cork en route to the disputed B Y⁵ in Canada. I don’t think you knew any of them, Lonegan⁶ you did and perhaps Walkem who was at Preston. We have a young officer here under instructions. We are in hopes that if Mr H.⁷ goes he will replace him, he appears a very nice man. The grant⁸ I hear is considerable this year whether the commons of the ‘hogs lard’ [1 word illeg] will be improved thereby I can’t say nor have I much expectation of it. I had a letter from Ginty – the fellow is doing nothing but going to orange meetings!⁹ He goes there however he says to blow them up. I believe he had a narrow escape of a kicking at some of their orgies. He says very coolly that he is not particularly anxious about employment as long as he gets plenty to eat! I made Larry laugh at your quotation from one of his lucubrations¹⁰ (‘twould be absurd to call them letters) i.e. about Dame Reason¹¹ reading the riot act to his disorganized thoughts. You ought surely to take him with you to Cin. only among our brethern Jonathan¹² will be in his element. I hope to have a letter from you before you start, if it were only to show you can return good for evil. I trust also that if you and George¹³ go to the far west that that our correspondence will not cease for, independent of the wish I will always anxiously feel to hear of you both, I would like much to hear what sort of country it is, as I must now in a very few years be looking out for a new course, for surely I do not intend to remain here till I am unable to make some sort of a dash at settling myself comfortably; and why not there anywhere where I would get fairplay. I am sure you will not fail by writing now and then to assist me in this matter. I hear from William Latimer that you are likely to spend a few days at Newtongore¹⁴ before you start. If so tell George that I do not forget him, but am hard up for time. I must write to the scapegrace in Carrick¹⁵ tomorrow. All the lads¹⁶ are well, vegetating on the two bobs as well as they can. So now to conclude and make an end

Believe me ever yours | Most sincerely¹⁷

Larry does not stop at New York but goes into the interior to some warm climate where his uncle and brother¹⁸ are, his health is his principal object.

You know Baker,¹⁹ he is gone to Woolwich sick and recommended for a foreign station. A happy riddance we have had of him and his rib. You also knew Newton the sapper at Leighlin Bridge he has just come out of some penitentiary where he has been for 6 months for 9 months desertion.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3865-3866

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