Tyndall at the Ordnance Survey
Tyndall obtained an appointment with the Ordnance Survey and in Carlow where
he began work in 1839 as a civil assistant for 9s. a week. In 1840 he joined
the Survey Office in Youghal, Co. Cork where he worked until 1842. While in
Cork he wrote to his mother on June 8, 1840:
"I
have scraped together the first pound and hasten with great satisfaction to
make it and this letter fellow travellers."
He
divided the note and sent half at a time. He was looking forward to a
vacation at Christmas and wrote,
"Tell my mother to have the house clean and neat for me against my arrival
at Christmas as if she does not I will have wigs on the green." (Ref 14).
Tyndall’s close friend, the Dean of Leighlin (XII) wrote of a
turning point which occurred in Tyndall's life during his days in Cork:
"A
simple circumstance which occurred to Mr. Tyndall in 1841, when stationed in
Cork, and which as he often relates to us, formed kind of a turning point in
his career, ought to be noted. At that time he worked at mapping in the same
room as Mr. Lawrence Ivers, a pupil of Edgeworth, of Edgeworthstown, and a
very able man. Ivers was looked up to with great respect by his younger
colleagues the most of whom, like himself were Catholics. Various
circumstances connected with young Tyndall's work and conduct were noted by
Mr. Ivers, and one day while walking with his young friend across the
barrack square of Cork, he asked how his leisure hours were employed. The
answer not being quite satisfactory to him, he rejoined, 'You have five
hours a day at your disposal and this ought to be devoted to systematic
study.' 'Had I, he continued 'when I was your age had a friend to advise me
as I now advise you, instead of being in my present subordinate position I
should be the equal of Colby' (XIII). Next morning, Tyndall was
at his book before 5 o'clock, and for twelve years never swerved from this
practice." (Ref 15).
-
-
Tyndall's maps
He
took up French, drawing and rhetoric after office hours. He was also in
regular correspondence with Conwill about mathematical problems, discussions
on Descartes, Whateley's Logic and other matters. In the correspondents both
were wont to head their letters with poetic effusion called "mottoes." He
became very much concerned at this time with the question of
Transubstantiation (XIV) and he and his father corresponded
extensively on their mutual interest.
On
the 7th of July while at Kinsale he received a very interesting letter from
his father who wrote about the troubles surrounding the Carlow elections and
an "O'Connellite mob" which had gone through the county carrying off
freeholders by force.
"As this passed your uncle Caleb's house they gave great cheers for
O'Connell
References:
XV).
He being up at the time gave three cheers for Bruen (XVI). The rebels
attacked his house, broke several panes of glass, and struck himself on the
breast with a stone. He fired out, and the misfortune was that Patt
McAssey's
(XVII)
wife received a ball or slug in the thigh . . .
Your
Uncle Caleb is I believe in jail at present, and more for security than
anything else, for Mary McAssey is not in the least danger, the wound being
but a flesh one and even if she died it would not affect Caleb, though the
villains say they done nothing to cause him to fire; but the oaths of such
rascals no one would believe. Caleb is I think bailed at this moment and
will vote for the Colonel next week. O'Connell says he will have Caleb
hanged from the rapper of his hall door, others say he will be transported.
The assizes commences on the 20th therefore he must have his witnesses
summoned this week, as the election will keep everybody busy next. We
expect an army here on Saturday; if they do not come I will go to Carlow
Sunday morning and remain there for the week. Agitation and outrage done its
upmost in this County by placing man against man and woman against woman.
Still I say Bruen will be the victor." The final result was a very close
victory of the conservatives, for which we believe John (Snr.) was election
agent in Leighlin. Tyndall wrote on 22 July with congratulations and broke
into poetry but ended in prose "Carlow is mine — the wildest furzebush with
blossoms on her braes is dear to me, blame me not then for being warm in her
praise, my heaven strew its choicest blessing on her."
In any
event we learn from P. D. Evans in a letter to Tyndall on the 21 July, 1841
that:
"Uncle
Caleb has been acquitted on riot charges."
In
August 1841 we discover in a letter from John to his father that the local
Catholics in Leighlin were boycotting his business. The intrigueing outcome
of these events was revealed in a letter dated 23 March, 1842 from the
father to his son.
"Uncle
Caleb has been appointed High Constable."
This
was his reward for services to the landlord Bruen!
While
all this was going on in Carlow Tyndall was spending three nights a week
attending a drawing school. He was however also writing "little rhymes of
satire" for the Carlow Sentinel, which he signed with the initials W.S., as
his nickname was at this time Walter Snooks, although he subsequently
assumed the alias Wat Ripton. His sister guessed the identity of the
correspondent and divulged it to their father who wrote: "It filled my heart
with gladness to have a son able to perform the like . . . and the only
thing that prevented you going through the degree of college was my
poverty."
He
spent a second Christmas without leave in 1841 and moved in the New Year to
Cork, where he stayed in the lodgings of a Quakeress for nine shillings a
week.
Tyndall was unexpectedly given six weeks holiday when he had only asked for
four. He was to enjoy a holiday in Carlow, but he was then transferred to
Preston Branch of the Ordnance Survey after only a further few weeks work in
Cork. He was never again to be a resident in his own country but his links
with Leighlin appear to have been immutable and survived until his death.
VIII —
This information comes from Mr. Bill Moore who is a man who lived all his
life in Leighlin and has this information from his early school days. Some
old encyclopaedias state that Tyndall was born in Rathellen. The
authors would however favour the view that he was born in Leighlin Bridge.
No correspondence exists from the father before the 1840's but all of this
is addressed Leighlin Bridge. The family did apparently move shortly after
August 1841 to Uncle Bill's house in Leighlin Bridge. A quotation cited in
Part Two of this article referring to a visit to the Moat strongly suggests
Tyndall spent his boyhood in Leighlin Bridge, This would suggest he was born
in the village.
IX —
It appears that Mrs. L. C. Tyndall stayed at Pollerton House in Carlow for
some of the time during her visits to the country.
X — It
appears from these lists that there were two John Tyndall's in the force in
Co. Carlow. The second was stationed at Bagenalstown. There was two John
Tyndall's in Co. Louth so it is likely both men were transferred at the same
time. The 'nephew' of the Professor, Caleb Tyndall, pointed out that around
1833 the local constabulary was transferred outside their home counties.
This explains the transfer of the father out of Carlow.
XI —
Ballinabranna National School was opened in 1832 and had as its first
schoolmaster Conwill.
XII —
Dean of Leighlin Richard Boyle Bernard and a descendant of the great Robert
Boyle. On Good Friday 1850 Tyndall sent a poem of 58 lines to commemorate
his friend Dear Bernard who had just died. The second part of this poem
began: Gone to return no more,
Guide
of my youth, my counsellor, my friend.
XIII —
Col. Colby was Director of Ordnance Survey.
XIV —
Transubstantiation. A change into another substance. The doctrine that in
the consecration of the elements of the Eucharist the whole substance of
bread and wine is converted into Christ's body and blood, while only the
appearance of bread and wine remaining.
XV —
Maurice O'Connell, son of Daniel O'Connell.
XVI —
Bruen was the large landowner who owned Oak Park in Carlow and many
thousands of acres throughout Ireland.
XVII —
It could be that this lady was related by marriage to Tyndall's mother.
References:
- Ref 5
— Collected Biographical Papers. Code a18.
- Ref 6
— The Development of Scientific Education in the Second Half of the
Nineteenth Century. D. Thompson, M.A. Thesis Sheffield University 1955.
- Ref 7
— Journal of J. Tyndall, 1 June, 1852.
- Ref 8
- Preliminary Drafts for a life of J. Tyndall. L. C. Tyndall, p. 8
unpublished.
- Ref 9
— Box file containing typed Biographical Material held in the Royal
Institution.
- Ref 10
— The Development of Scientific Education in the Second Half of the
Nineteenth Century. D. Thompson, M.A. Thesis Sheffield University 1955.
- Ref 11
— Tyndall Life and Work. Wesminster Populars No. 6, December 1895, p. 5.
- Ref 12
- Fragments of Science, J. Tyndall, Vol. II. Longmans, 1871, pp. 92-93.
- Ref 13
- Professor John Tyndall, Alice Tracey, Carloviana, 1947.
- Ref 14
- Temporary Draft of Life of J. Tyndall, Eve. Unpublished.
- Ref 15
— Unitarians. Biography, p. 727.
- Ref 16
— Louisa C. Tyndall's Gathering from Journals. Held in Royal Institution of
G.B.
- Ref 17
- Professor Tyndall, National Portrait Gallery, Cassell, Poltier and Galpin.
- Ref 18
— On John Tyndall's contribution to Pedagogy, N. McMillan, J. Meehan, to be
published by Oideas or the National Council for Educational Awards shortly.
A popular account of this can be found in Carlow Nationalist July 21, 28 and
August 4. 1978.
- Ref 19
— Science in History, J. D. Bernal, Penguin, 1969.
- Ref 20
— Carlow's scientific genius awaits his due recognition, N. McMillan, Carlow
Nationalist, 5 April, 1977.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the Royal
Institution of G.B. who have been so helpful in giving the authors the use
of their archives. In particular special mention must be made of Mrs. Irena
McCabe the archivist. All those in the region who have helped in the
preparation of this article are thanked, but Mrs. E. Breen and Holly Byrne
must be singled out for their invaluable contributions. The Board of
Management of the Regional College, must be acknowledged for their support
of the Tyndall research.
-
(J. Tyndall Journal 17 January 1850).
-
The principal influence in moulding the character of John Tyndall
F.R.S. was his father.
(Authors).
-
Article completed In 1979 Carloviana on next page.
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