To Henry Tucker

Sir

I am induced to trespass upon your attention by circumstances which have placed it in your power to render me an important service. Previous to last March Assizes¹ I had everything arranged for my departure to the United States of America, when I found that the Grand Jury of the County Carlow² required an applotment to be made from Mr Griffith’s general valuation. I proposed for the job, and after a very close poll I was appointed; through some informality however the proceedings were rendered void and the matter was postponed to the July Assizes, when proposals will be again received. One consideration only renders my proposal doubtful, and that is my youth – the great majority of the Grand Jury are favourable to me personally, but they consider experience indispensable towards the proper execution of the applotment, and measuring my experience by my years, they infer that it must be limited. Now Sir for the last nine months of my engagement under you, I was employed at work which required the constant exercise of steadiness and caution, namely, the final examination and completion of Tithe Plans;³ and I trust that nothing has transpired since my removal from the Survey,⁴ to show that the confidence reposed in me was misplaced. At all events I can truly say, that while employed under your superintendence, my constant aim has ever been to perform the duties allotted to me so as to merit your approval; your kindness in recommending me twice within the first year after my transfer to the English Survey inclines me to hope that my efforts were in some degree successful; and though my conduct last September was unfortunately contrary to your wishes, still I trust that it furnishes nothing to injure in your estimation, my character as a workman.

Few individuals on the Survey have applied themselves so assiduously as I have in the discharge of its various duties. It was my ambition from the first to render myself as generally useful as possible without being of expense to the public; at present there is no duty connected with the detail Survey⁵ which I cannot perform with despatch, though I never was placed for a single day under instructions in any branch whatever. Observation and industry wrought for me what expensive instruction did for others. The accompanying scraps from my old journal which I was permitted to keep will go far to prove this – I joined the Survey on the 1st of April 1839, and on that day I was employed ‘writing on fair plan’⁶ at which work I continued till the 29th of the same month when I commenced drawing. I joined at 9/- a week and on the 1st of June I was strongly recommended, which obtained for me an increase of 9d a day, or from 9/- to 13/6 a week. From the first I was employed at duties of a high order, such as drawing, examining plans &c. At a time when there were no points in the office I was sent to the field, and my second journal will show, that no man ever lost a day instructing me, nor did I ever lose a day attending on any man, whether examiner, surveyor, or leveller, though I have been engaged in the duties of all of these. While with Lieut. Whittingham⁷ in Youghal,⁸ the charge of laying down points and of attending to the plotting of lines generally devolved on me; my last year on the Irish Survey was occupied in drawing and examining the plans of the City of Cork;⁹ I may further add that up to the 2nd of September a report or complaint concerning me never reached the ears of my Superintendent.¹⁰

My design then Sir in writing to you is to request that you will have the goodness to certify your opinion of my steadiness and fidelity in the discharge of duties which require the exercise of both. You have always borne creditable testimony both as to my moral character and my qualifications as a draftsman; on these points the testimony of Captain Wynne R.E.¹¹ with whom I was first employed is even stronger than yours, but I am most anxious to obtain a testimonial which shall contain a marked reference to my uniform steadiness of character; I have taken the liberty of forwarding with this a specimen of my drawing as owing to the peculiar work at which I was engaged in Preston your opportunities of judging of my abilities in this line were limited. I beg also to refer you to the testimonial of Mr Wynne alluded to above. If you would be kind enough to corroborate the latter and mention further my being engaged at duties which require the attention of a steady and confidential person, you would confer an obligation which should ever be remembered with the warmest gratitude by

Sir, | Your most obdt.,¹² humble servant | John Tyndall | Capt. Tucker | R. Engrs.¹³

RI MS JT/2/13a/34-35

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