| Title: | W. Montgomery, Portadown, to J. Searight, Philadelphia, [U.S.] |
|---|---|
| ID | 1815 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Montgomery, William/22 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Montgomery, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Portadown, Co. Armagh, USA |
| Destination | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | Searight, Joseph |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | D2794/1/2/56: Presented by H. H. Montgomery, Belfast |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9407005 |
| Date | 24/07/1850 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 01:07:1994. |
| Word Count | 1054 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Portadown July 24th 1850 My dear Joseph, I arrived at home on the 3rd inst [instant?] after only a short passage of only 18 days, from New York to Liverpool. I landed on a Sunday morning and heard Rev [Reverend?] Hugh McNeill preach that day in the morning and Rev [Reverend?] Peter McOwen in the evening. I crossed to Belfast on Tuesday following in a perfect hurricane, and although I was not sick crossing the Atlantic had to give up. John had found out the vessel I sailed in, from Mr Lockhart of New York who is over now, and saw her arrival reported at L'pool [Liverpool?], when in Belfast, the day before I got home but kept the secret to himself and Lizzy [Elizabeth?], so that I took the balance by surprise. If I may judge of my welcome by the number of visitors I had that evening, I ought to be well satisfied that my arrival is a source of gratification to my townspeople but "all is not gold that glitters" The country people all say they hope I will remain at home I cannot see a change in the appearance of things here from the time I left, but I am told that many sorrowful scenes have been witnessed since then, that tight times, poverty, and starvation, have been matters of common occurrence, and that the country is but partially recovered. To my view however after living so long in a country where everything seems so animated by youthful vigour, and all around learns evidence of prosperity and comfort I must confess the signs of decay are much more abundant than those of recovery or vitality. Belfast is very much improved not only in appearance but in commerce, and it is the only place that looks like a city of the United States and where I feel at home. The Portadown folk are nothing changed except the changes that years make. Father is very thin and greatly broken down, but continues to work as hard as ever. I now come to a piece of news which I am sure will astonish you, as much as it did me when told it by Mr Woodhouse in the railway carriage coming from Belfast. John has purchased Mr Overan's place in Edenderry, and intends arriving there on 1st Sept [September?] next to commence a grain and commission business on his own hook I am sure I hope he may succeed and I believe the purchase is generally considered a good one though I am sorry to say my father is amongst the exceptions and thinks it might have been bought cheaper. How far this arrangement will influence my remaining at home is not yet determined and though I am certain neither my father nor my sisters would wish me to remain here if I did not feel perfectly content. I believe if any inducement could be put forward to induce my stay nothing would remain undone that could be done to that end. Before however I can consult my non inclination to return to U.S. I must consult my duty to my Father, and satisfy my conscience on that point, and whenever my mind reverts to the question the conviction forces itself upon me, that my duty for the present at least is with him. 29th/ then Harford shall have received what may be considered a sufficient education and can assist his Father in business should he be spared to in so long some pther paths may open up for me. Before coming home I had some faint hopes that I might be enabled to [see?] uncle in Belfast or Liverpool and after seeing both I preferred the former but now to counsel [re?]mains for me but remaining here or returning to the United States, as I would not like to live in a situation in this country, and besides I have an offer of one in [-?] 0. Hannah Rachel & Harford are all much grown and improved but I would like to see each of them get a year or more at school from home and I would willingly give up 3 years of my time to have this effected as I wish. John says the business at present is very good but owning to the confused manner in which it is managed no one can tell whether the expenditure does not exceed the profit, or what the nett gain is and as far as I can see into the Books they are confusion worse confounded. This I am sure I could remedy and put the Books into a system of double entry so as to guess as near as possible the nett profit or loss on the years transactions. You have now before you the precise state of things and I would like you to give the matter your consideration and let me know as early as possible the conclusion you come to candidly and impartially. Dr and Miss Bamber arrived here on Thursday and both look as well as I ever saw them They and this family with Robt [Robert?] & Anne Jane are going on a picnic today to Coney Island. I have been twice to Shanes Castle three days each time & as I only returned late on Sat[urday?] night I don't intend going. Robt [Robert?] & Anne Jane are both well and the linen trade is better now than it has been for some years. Both were very particular in their enquiries after you your letters to this part of the world containing nothing about yourself very little of your movements are known. I hope you will be with me as open about yourself as during my stay in America. Some of the townspeople have been enquiring about you and Mr Paul told me he done all in his power to find you out in Philada [Philadelphia?] enquired at Richardson's and other places, but could not hear anything of you. Fathers wishes me to Coney Island and bids me say as soon as he & I can get leisure the statement of some account will be sent you. what about I know not I enclose you a letter of [Iolens?] written I believe before I came home. All here desire to be affectionately remembered by you. & in haste I remain Your affect [affectionate?] cousin William Montogomery |
