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Title: A M'Leod Staveley to "My very dear Sister"
ID1736
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileMcLeod Staveley, Alex/102
Year1830
SenderMcLeod, Alex
Sender Gendermale
Sender OccupationPresbyterian minister
Sender Religionunknown
OriginAugusta, Georgia, USA
Destinationunknown
RecipientAnne
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceD 1792/E: Deposited by the late Rev. J.C.K. Armour and the Rev. J.S.S. Armour
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, N. Ireland
Doc. No.9909290
Date09/04/1830
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 05:10:99.
Word Count1797
Genre
Note
TranscriptAugusta, Geo. [Georgia?]
April 9th 1830
My very dear Sister
I know that you will be very anxious
to hear from me at length, and I therefore commenced
this letter. It will best suit good wishes for me to
furnish you with a brief outline of my wanderings during
the last four weeks. Suffice it to observe that after
having received much personal kindness in Baltimore I
left for the South on the afternoon of the 8th [----?]
(Sunday) My last stage was to Washington, in the district
of Columbia the Capitol of the United States. I watched
that City 40 miles by Railroad, in a short time and found
my way to the house of Rev. Mr. Smith, New School Paisley
[---?] as I had previously seen him in Baltimore and been
invited to stop at his house. I there met the Rev. Dr.
[Pomroy?] of Boston one of the Secretaries of the American
Board of Foreign Missions, who travelled some months ago
to the land of Palestine - Mrs Smith was just preparing
to attend a service that evening at the White House, the
official Residence of the President of the United States.
I accompanied her and had there an opportunity of
being introduced to General [Ja----?], and many of
the "lions" of the Republic - there was also a full
presentation of the Ladies. Low dresses and
short sleeves to a extent almost [pr------?] - The
President is a plain Old Gentleman, wary to converse with any
one
and no way participated as to what may be the subject of
conversation. He is also [just?] rather common place, and
you feel astonished that such a man should have
gained so many laurels in this field of Battle....
On Sabbath I had an opportunity of preaching to
a colonised congregation under the care of Mr Cooke
a colonised Minister - Monday & Tuesday I
spent at the Capitol, in Congress, and at the House
of Representations - saw & heard [---- ---------?]
[------ -------?] Had I leisence [license?] an illustration
of all this might be interesting but present circumstances
forbid my enlarging. On Wednesday morning I left for
Charleston, South Carolina - By steamboat to
Acquia Creek 55 miles - By cars to Washington 169
miles & thence to Charleston by boat - 180 miles.
Arrived in Charleston on the 15th. Heard that Mrs. &
M Bones were in town - next morning Mrs B & Mr. Adger the
host of the former called at the Hotel - I met Mary
Bones that day at Mr. Adgers where we had a
large dinner party, and a most scrumptious
dinner - I remained at Mr. Adgers house during
my stay in Charleston. On Sabbath next day
forenoon I preached for the Revd. Dr. [Long?] & he
who has had a sight attack of [Punal----?]
and is in a very delicate state of health. Dr. S.
is son in law to Dr. [----?] Adger. He is a very
worthy man, a distinguished scholar, & showed
me much kindness - On Monday we all
dined at Dr. Smiths - On Tuesday at the Revd.
Mr Adgers late missionary to [Imgr---?]. Wednesday was
spent at Sullivans Island, where we had quite
a pleasant party in honour of Mr & Mrs Bones.
under the superintendence of another Mr & Mrs Adger.
On Thursday Mr & Mrs Bones, with Miss Martha
Moon, sister to a young lady that you have seen in
[------?] left for Savannah. - I thought it better
to remain for a time in Charleston as I had
not yet been able to make any collections there -
I felt exceedingly alone after my friends
left, the weather was wet and uncomfortable
a little time and patience however brought the
Sabbath. [torn] I preached [torn] for Mr [torn]
Scotch Kirk minister, & once for Dr Long
The following Monday was was decidedly the best day
in Money matters that I have had since I came
to the States. Altogether Charleston gives about
($160) One hundred & 60 dollars to my general
Building fund - On the following day Tuesday
the 28th of March I left for Savannah, 125 miles
by steamboat - My friends had left for home the
day previous to my arrival. However I had some
introductions & soon found a very comfortable
home with Mr. Duncan a Scotch man by
birth, a respectable merchant - on the following
day I made collections & in the evening preached
for Dr. Preston the Presbyterian [--------- -------?]
it being his weekly lecture - I had very considerable
success in Savannah - The [B----?] and Consul Mr.
[Mollyment?] gave me twenty dollars & found others
10 each. - I remained one Sabbath and preached
on it for Dr. Preston, who has the largest congregation
in the place - the most splendid of all
splendid Churches, and a salary of some
÷600 [S/g?] per annum. I likewise preached
for Mr Ross, the old school Presbyterian Minister
but he has only a few hearers.
On the following Tuesday the 2d. of April I left
for Augusta Came 90 miles by railway &
50 in the night seat on the by stage, a horrendous
night of rain, and a road of all bad roads
bad. I should have come by the Savannah
[----?] which would have been much more tedious
but Mrs Duncan had recommended me to this route
and we did not expect such a torrent of rain -
myself-trunk carpet bag & every thing
suffered much - However this brought me to
a comfortable home and many warm hearts -
Of course my relatives received me with all
possible kindness - Their interests & possessions are
rich and expensive, & with them all I feel
perfectly at home - Mary especially seems
delighted by having me here. Mr Bones has
a Carriage & two fine Carriage horses, & two
beautiful saddle horses - He and I rode out
yesterday afternoon to the Sand Hills - His
countryside truly a delightful spot - It is
beautifully situated three miles from the City
and commands a fine view of the country around
There are many other residences in the same
neighbourhood & a graveyard where uncle & aunt
Bones are interred - I preached part of last
Sabbath for Mr Rodgers in the Presbyterian
Church - & in the evening to a coloured
congregation. There are two [ch----?] men
only in this place collecting at present.
One Agent for the Sunday School house - the
other Agent for the Evangelical Society - I
expect to do better here in the way of
Collecting probably I may [manage?] some one
hundred dollars but I do not expect
now, as they have had a number of demands
and are building a second Presbyterian Church.
I have abandoned the idea of crossing
from this to St Lois [Louis?] - there would be a journey
of 171 miles to Atlanta, by railway - of 433 to
Memphis, principally by stage & 420 by
water to take me there & then I would be 600 miles
from Mineral Point - I intend to leave
for Baltimore on my return next week if no
change comes on my [-----?] - thence to Pittsburgh
which I feel that I must visit - I scarcely
think that I will go further west but
will probably return by Philadelphia &
New York- to my home & I am quite
wearied by my long absence and wish to return
I may be able to do so by the end of May - I feel
that I have done all in my power to raise funds &
hope to make my people nearly ÷400 the
less in debt by my absence. I have much to say
but cannot now Mary Bones has a severe
cold at present which rather interferes with
my going out but I think she is somewhat better
today The letter my father sent last to
Mr [Caldwell?] reached me here - I may from
you by this mail. I scarcely know
where you could now write to me - James [Noodlich?]
409 Market St. Philadelphia might be
as good an address as I could mention - I will
certainly leave for Baltimore en route to Pittsburgh
next week, if nothing special comes to interfere
with my plans - Wednesday
April 10 1830
I wrote the above hastily yesterday afternoon before
taking a ride out with Cousin Mary & preaching
in the evening
as I did for the Rodgers. He by the way
is likewise in a very delicate state of health
& it is unable to preach - you will scarcely find
any of the ministers in this country who are not
complaining less or more - I have therefore been
employed every Sabbath, and generally speaking
once or twice every in preaching
Collecting money for any purpose & more especially
for a Church in another country is not easy
task. There is a great deal of labour and anxiety
and I long for the end of my excursions in this way.
John & James brown are very well - He lives
about 15 miles out of the city. He was in on Sabbath
I intend going out there tomorrow -
I had a letter from brother William last week
He does not insist - particularly on my going
there - If so I would not think of crossing
from this to the Mississippi, as that is alleged
by all to be a most tedious journey - I have
still something to do in the Northern Cities
after all they do most - I long to hear
more particularly of my fathers health
although I hope that he is better - I have
many things to say, but cannot now
When I have leisure after my [wh----?] to St John
I may write to you at length - now I can
only state a few facts and that to in
the most careless way. Miss Longs [----?]
appears to enjoy good health - I do not
particularly admire the young ladies
of this locality - The country is very fine
& its inhabitants are an accomplished people
possessing in an eminent degree the
comforts and conveniences of life
I beg you to remember me in the kindest manner
to all the family & to my friends
I rejoice to hear of little Maggies [-------?]
Mention me with affection to Dr. Moore
I had a letter from John Last week. Mrs Moore
Mrs Moore has a little son about seven weeks
old - Excuse my dear Anne this hasty
scribble from your ever
fond & affectionate brother
Alexander M'Leod [McLeod?] Staveley