| Title: | W. Montgomery, New Orleans, to J. Searight, Philadelphia. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1816 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Montgomery, William/25 |
| Year | 1849 |
| Sender | Montgomery, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Destination | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | Searight, Joseph |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | D2794/1/2/40: Presented by H.H. Montgomery, 4 Kensington Gardens, Belfast |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9507030 |
| Date | 28/06/1849 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:06:1995. |
| Word Count | 853 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | New Orleans June 28th 1849 My dear Joseph Since I last wrote you I have nothing from you I intend leaving here on Saturday next for Mobile where I will probably spend two weeks and then go up the Alabama River for the purpose of seeing John Kelly Mr Kellys son He has given me an invitation to spend the summer with him but how long I stay there depends entirely on circumstances. The Balance of my time I will spend on the shore of Mobile Bay enjoying all the advantages of sea air sea bathing &c &c. I would not have left the city could I have found anything to do during the summer but in the present state of Affairs that is impossible. Almost every person seems anxious to leave the city who can as generally a sickly season to apprehend Our city you are aware has been suffering from an inundation and now that the water is entirely away the stench in some of the streets is most dreadful and cannot fail in my opinion to create disease. I do not know that I will return to the same situation next year I think it very doubtful. They will not make an engagement for the whole year and nothing else will pay I hope to return to the city on the 1st October and have not much fear but that I will soon after commence the seasons business. On looking over my letters I find yours of 15th May not answered. From the reports we have received here of your late fire companies risk and the police reports to be found in your papers after Sunday I think your "city of Brotherly love" is already very nearly as much disgraced as New York is by her Theatrical Row Phila [Philadelphia?] deserves to lose that title and receive instead "The city of Rowdies & loafers" At the North you all think New Orleans a horrid place for fighting but from all I know of this city you could not get up in any part of it a regularly organised riot Personal encounters are matters of every day occurrence and our courts are constantly employed in their investigation. The firemen are the sworn protectors of the peace and should a row occur they are at once transformed into special constables by a private signal from the Alarm bells. I believe this city is one of the most orderly in the Union I am in receipt of a letter from Alicia at Mr Wilsons near Glasgow and from John after his return He mentions the death of old Mrs Marley and Jemmy McCann of Scotch St [Street?] Charles Marley has been dead some time. The family are well in good health. I do not think there is any probability of Johns moving any farther in relation to Miss Wilson. Her health is so extremely delicate that I would think it very unwise. She hardly ever goes out and when she does not above a few yards. Most of her time she is confined to bed I do not wish you to say anything of these matters when writing to Portadown. Wars and rumours of wars form the greatest part of the intelligence from Europe and doubtless before it is all over England will get into the thickest part of the struggle. Let American Editors talk as they may about England and praise France as they may which of the two nations has done the most for real Freedom. France has done more to hurt the cause of Republicanism in Europe than any other nation. What nation that has watched her revolutions and counter revolutions with all their dreadful carnage and war to the knife in the streets of her Metropolis would wish to undergo and have similar scenes enacted in their own cities. But it is not yet ended and France to day is as far from a settled Government as she was 12 mos [months?] ago. I could not help myself in requesting my Father to send me what would pay my summer expenses It was a matter of necessity. In the course of 12 mos [months?] I hope to remit it back again. You are the only person who is aware of this transaction beyond Father Mrs [---?] John & sisters &c. Farther I do not wish it to go as it is a matter entirely between Father & son. I am sorry to hear of Uncle [Joe?] carrying on in the way he is doing and I think you are acting quite right in keeping your distance as far as possible from his connections. What did they say about my removal to New Orleans? If convenient to a Post town I will write you from Ala [Alabama?]. Meantime direct to me at Messrs. Jno [John?] Wightman & Cos of this city whose manager has kindly consented to forward my letters. I do not think there is much chance of my being in Philada [Philadelphia?] for some years to come but when there will certainly have as little to do with the [Mapery?] as possible I remain your affectionate Cousin William Montgomery. |
