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Title: Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa Illinois, to His Brother.
ID1234
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileGreenlees, Andrew/7
Year1854
SenderGreenlees, Andrew
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationfarmer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginOttawa, Illinois, USA
DestinationMagheramore, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
RecipientGreenlees, John
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipbrothers
SourceT 2046/5: Copied by Permission of Aiken McClelland Esq. 3 Beechill Pk.Ave., Saintfield Rd. Belfast 8. #TYPE EMG Emigrant Letter from Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa [Illinois?] to His Brother: March 10, 1854.
ArchivePublic Record Office, N. Ireland
Doc. No.8911024
Date10/03/1854
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
Log13:11:1989 LT created 19:12:1989 L input 16:01:199
Word Count1200
Genre
Note
TranscriptOttawa March 10th 1854

Dear Brother
your kind favour of November 14th was duly
recieved [received?], and I now proceed to answer it it gives me great
satisfaction to hear of your welfare, truly your Collegiate course
has been strewed with honours and indeed I rejoice with you in
them all, how quick time is rolling past it seems to me
but a few days since you and I used to enjoy ourselves as children
only can do under the Parental way, but those days of childhood
are passed away and we are now passed as it were into
manhood, as men therefore we are called upon to discharge our
duties with vigour and energy, we have both a work to do,
you in Providence of God will soon or probably is now called
upon to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ tis [it is?] a blessed work
a high and holy calling God grant that you may be sustained
by strengthing [strenthening?] grace from on high and like St Paul be
instant in season and out of season shining not to declare the whole
counsel of God, I have also a work to do all men are capable of doing
some good the man who had only the one Intent entrusted to his
care was held as responsible [how?] he used it as him who had five
from this I would infer that all rational men are held accountable
how or in what maner [manner?] the [they?] have improved the Intents that
God has given them under this argument I am then as accountable
to God for the few talents he has given me as you are for the many
or rather the augmentation of what he has given you
pray therefore that I may not hide my talent in a napkin
but that I may improve it for Gods glory and my own Good
you ask my how I spend my sabbaths I go to Church
occassionaly [occasionally?] though not so often as I would like we only
have preaching once in two weeks and then it is a methodist preacher
and not very benificial [beneficial?]at that we had some prospects of having a presbeterian [presbyterian?] Minister last fall but circumstances occurred [occurred?] to hinder him from coming I do not enjoy the same privilege living in the country as I used to when in the City of hearing
good Sermons, a talented Clergyman here would command a good
salary but the eastern folks thinks anything will do the
barbarians in the west and send on few that is capable of
doing any good, as for books we have plenty of them the
American people are emphatically a reading people,
if you would come out here you might be the means of doing a
great deal of good if you did not like the country you could go back
again and I think after six years such close study as you have
had a six months or twelve months tour would do you good
I would like to see you once more I think if I could afford it
a three months visit at home would do me good
I answered Fathers letters some time ago you mentioned in yours
that sister Jane was about to write to cousin Helen I think she is pretty
long about it Helen thinks she is [rather?] neglectful about writing
please remember me to all my old friends and accquaintances [acquaintances?] how I would like to visit home again, but such a thought
I need not indulge in I persume [presume?] there is no better prospects
for a mans making a living there now than when I left it
markets are high and tenantsrights will necessarily be high too
our friends here are all well as far as I know I have
not had any word from Troy this long time I don't know what's
the reason none of them writes to me Samuel and John Semple
were well the last accounts from them James and Jane Brown and
family were well.) we have had a very severe winter here
the like of it has not been known for a great number of years
markets has been pretty high but the prospects of peace in
Europe has damped them a little. you will see by the papers
that we have rather exciting times now slavery and freedom
seems ready for a fight freedom gained the first victory in Congress
by the election of Banks to the speakership after a hard struggle
Banks is a strong antislavery man I think the time has now
come when slavery has got to fall there is great excitement
about the territority [territory?] of Keansas [Kansas?] the south determined to bring under the curse of slavery abolitionists of the north determined that slavery shall never extend its domain over the free soil of Kansas there the matter rests blood has already been shed by the [billigerents?] a civil war would not be anything unnatural to look for
and if it be the means by which slavery is to be done away with
the sooner it comes the better
I must now draw to a close I will direct this to home
in case you may have shifted your boarding house
give my kind love to Robert Jane Ellen Agnes and them all
I hope Father and Mother are well I send them my best
respects I expect to have a letter from Father soon when I shall
here [hear?] all the news I hope Aunt Brown has again recovered
I am sorry to hear of her sickness also of Cousin Eliza
I hope the afflicting rod will soon be removed give her
my warmest wishes (I want to know who sings in our
church since the death of William Brown or if you have any singing
this country far excels the old for church music in general) every
Church in the city has a good organ and a choice choir of singers
which is very pleasing at least to the ear and is a very essential
part of the worship of God David speaks of Praising God
with timbret [timbre?] and harp upon a ten stringed instrument sing praise
to the most high, in old testament times praise seems to have
been the most essential part of the worship, we lack a great
deal of coming up with them in this particular branch of worship
of God
forgive all mistakes
and except [accept?] of my warmest wishes
very affectionately
yours
Andrew Greenlees

Dear son - We are sure this will be very welcome to you - you
can say in writing that I have replied to his last - and that
Ellen replied to cousin Ellen's but it appears to have miscaried
[miscarried?] but Jane will write again - Ellen was at uncle's marriage
yesterday - they returnd [returned?] to Janes from Hillhead and Jane
went down in the evening Robert was asked but his state of health
prevented him - none of his family were there - Mother is still suffering
from tooth ache [toothache?] - Aunt
Semple was at the [?] when I saw her yesterday but still poorly