| Title: | W. Montgomery, Cincinnati, to J.Seawright, Philadelphia. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1839 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Montgomery, William/53 |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Montgomery, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |
| Destination | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | Searight, Joseph |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | D.2794/1/2/26: Presented by H.H.Montgomery, 4 Kensington Gardens, Belfast 5. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9510133 |
| Date | 21/09/1848 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 13:10:95. |
| Word Count | 963 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Cincinnati September 21 1848 Dear Joseph, Your letter duly to hand. I had written you a day or two previously and directed to the Post Office. I hope you received it. I had a letter from [Alicia?] the "Europa" and it would seem they have construed some of my former letters into a wish on my part "to give up all my ambitious views of future advancements and quietly return home and spend the remainder of my hither to chequered life in quietness in Portadown, Lurgan or Tandragee." There is an old song which begins with "what a getting up stairs" but in my opinion this would be such a getting down stairs [I never?] did see. She also makes a remark that "Dada is very particular that every person connected with the establishment must be in the house before the Shop is shut" adding that all the persons who were companions after hours had now left the town and that being out after hours had been to our knowledge the ruin of so many not meaning any [---?] to me on this head. Very Salutary regulation but not one that would just come up to my ideas of Liberty. In a letter written about a week ago to Elizabeth (who by the way is now at [Bartons?]) I had said amongst other things that the proudest feeling that I now had was that I am master of my own Salary and my own time after hours and that I had also the pride of knowing that I could use both without constraint in such a manner as would neither disgrace myself or my Father. When this is read at home it will give them to understand that I never much approved the coercion system used with boys and young men at home and that little as I approved of it before I approve of it much less now. Suppose I had some intention of [-------?] to live in Portadown a place I almost detest this one regulation if extended to me would make me change my mind. In writing to my Father you are at liberty to copy these sentiments. There is nothing new [here?] I suppose you heard of John Carey being drowned W.J. [---?] Hamilton's [brother?] shooting himself accidently and death [---?] in the potato crop [te te te?] Dr & Miss Banister were over in Ireland for about six weeks and sister Lizzy returned with them to [Barton?] all were well and going on well temporally as well as spiritually My letters are filled with accounts of the latter exhortations & Sermons to me on the subject of Religion Alicia seems to lead the way in the good work but I may say "that perhaps ought not to say it" None of these things move me no that I am indifferent to the importance of the subject but that's lecturing me and writing me on this never did and I am persuaded never will do me any good. The Western States I assure you are not the places to promote the "Life of God in the sons of man"- My mind is now made up on the subject of going South and I will probably start for New Orleans about 10th or [.?] of October. If I succed thus according to my expectations I will most likely be able to visit (and would like to meet you there) the Halls of [-----?] next summer. When folks at home know I am going down there they will [--?] up the whites of their eyes and pray that I may be preserved from the contamination of that sink of Iniquity. I know they have a holy horror of it and without being able to give you a reason for that same [--?] [--?] [--?] think no more of it than any other place in the Union and better than most others for the winter season. I am an advocate long since ( I may say before I left Ireland) of the cheap adinistration of the Government of this country; and all notions of the person of Royalty being sacred; and that the nobility must be fed in the lap of luxury at the expense of the poor man that connection must exist twixt Church & State, otherwise our Holy Protestant Religion must sink; that sincere offices must be created to feed Idiot Lords and licentious courtiers; and that a Dutchman must be paid œ3000 per annum,besides prerequisites, to breed another stock, to tax the country with their œ30 & œ3000 per annum for pocket money, besides keeping up their establishments with all such [lavish?] and nonsensical ideas have long since banished from my mind. The March of Improvement is onward and the days of Kings and Queens in my opinion must shortly be numbered, with the things that have been, the sooner the better as kept up in England Royalty with its attendants is an [ail?] not to be [-----?] by a people calling themselves free and must one day be swept as with a whirlwind. I see Punch & others of the London press are advocating Separatism with Ireland and depend on it this idea is gaining ground in England. An Englishman is most vulnerable in his [profit?] and taxation for Irish poverty will not be much longer endured by them. You go for [Van Biner?] I go for Taylor and as [-------?] says would rather have [-----?] at [---?] than either. Van Biner is a deceiver and is only running in opposition to [Cass?] upon personal feelings [-----?] for old [----?] I am Dear Joseph You'll [---?] me a long letter!- Your affect Coz [Cousin?] W. Montgomery. |
