From Archibald McLachlan   31st March 1844

45 Swan Street. York. | 31st March 1844 – | Posted on 3rd April 1844

D^r M^r T.¹

I have enclosed N^o. 2² – and on reading it, should you find that it not the one you intended, let me know, and you shall have any one you please, for I have a copy of each – As it is our intention to print all Spec:³ letters, and as they have been honourably mentioned in several newspapers and as the subject will, before long, cause more enquiry to be made, and as we cannot tell the ultimate effect; would you object to the letters of Spec: being curtailed or condensed? I do not intend to alter any part of them, my intention is to omit some expressions and allusions, which would shorten each letter by about 12 or 14 lines – We cannot tell where you may meet those letters hereafter – Perhaps in America! when you are an old man!! We cannot tell under what circumstances, at what time, or in what place you may have the honor to read them – and as you might wish wish⁴ to see them, as originally written – Also – you know some party here might find fault with any liberty taken with them – and say ‘this is done without authority’ and much more to the same effect – I wish to have your leave, or authority for any omission I may think it necessary to make – This, you know, would relieve me from the charge of meddling with that which I had no right to touch – You may think little of this, but I consider it a ticklish point, and would not like to omit anything without saying ‘by your leave’ –

Walkem wished to have a Map of the City of Dublin, I promised to send him one – Just before he started from Liverpool I sent for one, to Hayles & Smith Colege Green⁵ – the Plan came to Liverpool too late – M^r Tidmarsh called at the Steampacket office and got the map, he will give it to you, I hope it is a good impression, keep it for auld acquaintance sake, were I a little richer I should send for one that would be of more interest to you – Cork – but I heard that Cork is not published yet –

I have written to M^r Todd – and am writing another to day – I think we understand one another – and will proceed– You once mentioned a wish to have the letters of M^r Ginty – I have a number of them by me now, should you still wish for them you can have them all, send me your Liverpool address, and should you wish it, the whole shall be sent – otherwise I will look over them, pick out the good hints, & then Burn them –

And now, dear M^r T. – our long correspondence has [closed], I look upon you as a man of the other world – I hear, every other day, the question put, ‘What has become of Spectator’ – it will be a long time before Spectator answers that question! In losing Spectator, every one of us will feel that he has lost a friend – I am no Prophet – that is, no false Prophet – and I predict that the Author of Spectator’s letters will meet that reward in America which is denied to him in his own country – Why should you not succeed as well as many others of my ‘auld acquaintances’, and old O.S.⁶ gentlemen too, they had not half your abilities – but they were young, and persevered – And if you show as much ‘pluck’ in America as you have shown in England, I have no doubt of the results – You will be independent when we are struggling under ‘ – per diem’ – – Oh if I were only 20 years younger!! I should not care much whether ‘Col. C.⁷ is pleased to increase’ &c⁸ – I would do as you are doing now – leave the country – –

Lest I should forget, they say that if you tie a handkerchief tight round the lower part of the bowels, it will prevent, or at least lessen the distressing effects of sea sickness. If you get sick, try this experiment – And now M^r T. – I must say Good bye – and were it not that we are all scattered, such a great distance between the Divisions, you should not part from us without some Public mark of respect – but you know all our circumstances – and you know that this act of Justice is almost impracticable – but we can do you justice in our pamphlet,⁹ and if the authors of the foul injustice have one spark of honourable principle – or one drop of red blood in their veins, that drop shall crimson their face – We will not do it in a passion, but cooly and deliberately – Will you write me a letter when you get to the other side, and say whether a copy of our pamphlet would reach you safe – That you may reach the other world safe, that you may persevere and prosper, & become an independent man, is my sincere & hearty prayer –

A. M^cLachlan

To | M^r J. Tyndall – care of | M^r Tidmarsh | Ordnance Survey Office | Liverpool

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3831-3832

RI MS JT/8/1/4a