To Mr Wren¹

Sir

I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours² of the 27th and am sorry to find that I entertained a misconception as to the nature of the services you require.

I am aware that I would have a better sphere of action in America than in these Kingdoms, but my feelings are strongly in favour of an engagement nearer home. This would induce me to forego considerable pecuniary advantages if the sacrifice of them would ensure me employment in England.

You want a person who could draw up advertisements, catalogues, books, pictures &c and keep your books ‘correctly’. In each and all of these capacities I may briefly say that I’m your man. I am willing to bend to circumstances, and where no compromise of principle is involved, to mould myself to suit the peculiarities of time and place. It is all equal to me whether the subject of an Advertisement be an estate or a Cruet-stand,³ whether I have to stretch my imagination over green fields, waving woods, and silvery streams, or concentrate description on a pocket edition of the ‘Beauties of Byron’.⁴ I know something of pictures too – I have made the acquaintance of nearly all the old Masters and may, I trust, descant on their peculiar excellences without being guilty of profanation.

You have in your note laid an emphasis on the word ‘correctly’. Man is fallible. But if steadiness and fidelity avail anything towards counteracting the effect of man’s inheritance I can assure you that neither shall be wanting in me.

I follow the course of your note seriatim.⁵ You wish your son⁶ to learn Surveying – here also I’m your man. The remarks under this head which my last letter contained, had reference to my qualifications as a Surveyor exclusively. I may now add that I shall feel most happy to take your son under instructions and to give him a knowledge, not only of Surveying in the common acceptance of the term but also of the concomitant branches of Engineering. These include trigonometrical observations, constructing maps, of cities &c having references to sanitary purposes, to drainage, sewerage &c., traversing, levelling, contouring, and constructing sections, laying out lines of road &c &c. all according to the most approved systems—systems recommended by men who unite the greatest professional experience to the highest scientific attainments.

I may, I think, with safety assert, that if the young gentlemen you intend for this profession lay his shoulder to the wheel and face every difficulty with a determination to overcome it, at the end of one year he will find himself possessed of more solid information than he would acquire in any Engineer’s office in the kingdom during the same time.

From your position in Lancashire I have little doubt of your ability to render the Surveying worth something – If we get a fair trial, I flatter myself that the execution of a single job will give you a strong claim to further patronage.

Now comes ‘the rub’.⁷ What salary will I require? Here I am thrown out of my reckonings. As a Surveyor I would know what to say without hesitation, but for the present I must consider myself an Accountant &c. Well I shall at all events endeavour to render further correspondence on this subject needless. I propose then to engage with you on trial for one, two, or three months at a salary of 30 shillings a week. Your knowledge of me at the end of this time will enable you to judge of my efficiency, and I hope to find you willing to act on that judgement.

I am Sir | Yours very truly | John Tyndall

Mr Wren | 122 Fishergate.

RI MS JT/2/13a/51

LT Transcript Only