| Title: | Patrick Fitzgerald, New York, To Michael Cahill, Quebec. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1054 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Fitzgerald, Patrick Jr/11 |
| Year | 1846 |
| Sender | Fitzgerald, Patrick |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Albion, New York, USA |
| Destination | Quebec, Canada |
| Recipient | Cahill, Michael |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers in law |
| Source | Emigrant Letters of the Fitzgerald Family, Co Tipperary, 1829-1907. Copyright reserved by Edwina Goddard, 750 Sanfernando St., San Diego, CA 92106, U.S.A. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9510162 |
| Date | 30/08/1846 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:10:95. |
| Word Count | 1330 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Letter from, Patrick Fitzgerald, Albion, Orleans County, New York, 30 August 1846, To his brother-in-law, Michael Cahill, Quebec, Lower Canada. Addresssed: Mr Michael Cahill, care of Messrs, Lemesurier & Co., Quebec, L.C. Lower Canada. Postmarked: Albion, N.Y. [New York?] Aug [August?] 31; Quebec, Sept 6; Quebec, (faint lower half of mark); PAID. Long white paper in poor condition, folded, creased, tearing on creases, fragile, some holes, sealed with red sealing wax. Albion Orleans Co. N.Y. [New York?] Aug 30/46 Beloved Brotherinlaw and Sister. You see I have at last come to the conclusion to write to you whether this is wise or an act of superfluity will be determined by your actions. But never standing on the chill formalities which society generally demands I have thrown myself upon your notice without perhaps a single hope that it will be received with ferv'd warmth of [feeling?] which ought to greet its reception, or if received as a mere matter of form it will in your eyes be worthy any more attention than a superficial perusal. To ask you to answer it I cannot lest I ask too much and to supercede the necessity of "arguing the point" I leave it to your unqualified discretion as well as to your discrimination and appreciation of the whole matter. I say this much for you ought to be as fully conscious of the propriety or impropriety of such an act as I am, and for me either to ask or advise "in such a matter" would be a presumption as uncalled for as perhaps it would be unjustifiable. But while I preface what I have to write with the above I would not be understood as such my words would greatly belie my feelings: but such reconstruction cannot be tortured from anything written unless by a wanton attempt of a perverted imagination to torture it so as to accord more agreeable to the feelings which should so construe it. I have however but very little fear such an interpretation will be put on this by any body much less by you who I should suppose would be amongst the first to ward off every attempt, come from what source it may, designed to injure me either in thought word or deed. I said "much less by you" and yet my brother why do I say so? An answer to this question will throw the mind into a state of reflection and carry it back long previous to this. (Page 2) When indeed I consider the abruptness with which you broke off a former correspondence and the seeming (or real I dare not come to the conclusion to say which) indifference you betrayed in not thinking it worth your while to answer a letter from (for no reason which I could divine) is rather presumptive evidence this missive will receive the same fate as the former. How I have answered it God alone knows for so far as my fallible judgement goes I do not know that I ever by thought word or deed, directly or indirectly, expressed or implified any thing or any act that would injure you or cause the blush of shame to start to your cheek: and I ask again how have I deserved it? Can it be by many a bitter pang at the negligence or rather indiference which you have betrayed towards me can it be because honest poverty has been my companion for the last seven years wherever fate or fortune has been pleased to send me. And oh! who this the ban which prevented if nothing more a nod of recognition from a brother and sister or could they not pollute their fingers by touching the pen and acknowledge they received a letter from me assuring me they were well. Poor I am I will fully admit in a pecuniary point but thanks to Him who readeth the Universe I am honest and if poverty and I have struggled hard, hand to hand, she has left me independent after the contest, with the prospects of an honest mechanic subject as we all are to the vicissitudes of this life, we must bend to the inscrutable ways of Divine Providence,and patiently submit to the consummation of his wishes. We know not the moment we are marked for the infliction of His just chastisement and should be careful that no act [of?] [ours?] should be brought against us to meet it, merited portion of justice. Forgive me then my brother if from the time of our correspondence the reflection of that period causes not a doubt to start when I said "much less by you" and that doubt if not corroborated it is at all events fully justified by the consideration of your seeming indifference toward me. And here permit me to return you my most heartfelt thanks for that single letter and I shall (Page 3) ever retain it if no other presents itself as a mark of that deep love and esteem which you entertain for me I will preserve it as one of those treasures which the sweet past by all the ties of its hallowed associations encircles around the tablets memory. Oh! never, never, can I forget every kind word or action which endears your name to me and though you held a dagger to my bosom my dying gasp would be spent in thanks for the past. Affection sure & strong and tender induces me now to write and though as I said before I have not much hopes I will get an answer [soon?] The strong current of feeling compels me to adopt a course which under these circumstances would not only be unadvisable but unwarranted. I can with equal justice complain of Wm.[William?] O Donnell who has never condescended to write to me though he could not but know as well as you where I was if he had taken the trouble to enquire but I suppose he did not think me worthy of notice and so let the matter drop. I could extend this letter much farther If I had no thought from what I have said and in consideration of what have been here represented as my feelings to believe it will be unwelcome and while such are my convictions I need only appeal to the past to justify my position. I have but a small space remaining to inform those who may be interested of a little news perhaps later than you have heard. I had a letter from Eliza thursday last. she is well she is now in Hyde Park Dutchess Co. N.Y. [New York?] with the family during the summer months.I had a letter from John Doyle New York City about 2 weeks ago who says Thos.[Thomas?] Buckley is well. James Burnett is in Montreal. Pat R. Harney went through here in July was going to Illinois to settle with his family & John Maher from whom I received every particular about home.I went with them some three miles up the canal. Eliza says John Harney is where she is, hired out as Gardener and in rather strained circumstances May God help him but she says he seems quite contented. Patrick Sheely is also there. My kindest affection to your children and also to Mr. Mrs O Donnell tell them I am surprised they at least have not written to me.to your brothers to Mr & Mrs Fox and all well wishers Yours as ever P. [Patrick?] FitzGerald When you write Direct to me Albion. Orleans Co. (Written on reverse side of paper) Should you desire some newspapers from here I could send you one weekly but I think if it were practicable it would be much better to send them to you without to the care of anybody.You need only mention it if you wish it which will give you a good insight into the state of the markets and prices current generally beside other news of a political bearing. P.F. [Patrick Fitzgerald?] P.S. Should you write let me know whether your friend Mr Cohen (I believe if I recollect right is his name), is yet engaged in the flouring business and comes to Rochester I live about 32 miles west of there on the Canal and if I could know the time he would be in Rochester I would go there and see him if he wrote to me from Rochester when he arrived I could be in Rochester next morning. I should like to see him this fall if possible. P.F. [Patrick Fitzgerald?] |
