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Title: S. D. Moore, New York to his mother, [Mrs Bowman?].
ID1885
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileMoore, S.D/55
Year1815
SenderMoore, S.D.
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationmight get a position in a bank
Sender Religionunknown
OriginNew York, USA
DestinationIreland
Recipientunknown
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipson-mother
SourceD 3165/5/11: Deposited by Miss M. H. Malcolm.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9102038
Date25/11/1815
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 16:11:1993.
Word Count1352
Genre
Note
TranscriptNew York, 25th November, 1815

My dear Mother,
I take the earliest opportunity of informing you of
my safe arrival in this delightful country; we made the land on the
19th inst but were driven off again and only got in the 22nd
so that we were sixty three days out, during the whole of which we had
very bad weather having constantly either squally or heavy gales, during
one of the latter we lost our Mainmast being within ninety miles of
Ireland, where it was cold enough - I kept a journal during the Voyage
which I shall transcribe and send you in my next, the present one not
being so very delicate in the complexion as I could wish. On
my arrival I was particularly struck with beauty of the country and
the comfort and wealth that everywhere appeared; of the appearance of
the Jersey and Long Island shore I can only say that had I fallen
into a trance on my leaving Ireland and awoke on my arrival here I
should have thought I was in paradise; every person is well dressed,
all appear cheerful, the very farmers and tradesmen live better than
men in Ireland of a thousand a year, you may think I say too much
in their favour but here every man gets the full price of his crop
or work; the farmer is not oppressed Rack Landlords or the
Proctors of Black Slugs; or the tradesman by a horde of Speculators
who combine to lessen his earnings.
You cannot form an idea of New York at present; the strength
of the fortifications could defy the whole land and naval force of
Great Britain, there are or were upwards of four thousand pieces of
Cannon mounted on the various Batteries; those of the Narrows mounted
each 365 Guns, the chain of redoubts extend upwards of 15 miles round
the city, on the Jerseys, Long Island and York Island, these were
entirely erected by the people voluntarily, the ladies were as busy
carrying earth to form them as the men. So much for the country
and city, I must tell you something of the people; they are extremely
polite and friendly as far as I have had an opportunity of observing,
there is not that stiff formality which is too much the case in my
native Country, they go to dine with another or to spend the evening
without an invitation of a week beforehand. I dined at Mr James
Sterling's yesterday, he is a fine old man, the very reverse of his
Brother William, who is not of the sweetest disposition. Mr S., has
promised to use his interest in procuring me a situation, and I have
strong hopes of getting one in a week or ten days; there is a vacancy
expected in the Exchange Bank, and the proprietor Mr Jacob Barker has
promised a friend of mine (Mr McDonald) to let me have it. I have
experienced the greatest friendship and attention from Mr D. S. Armstrong
of the Post Office, who will, should I get the situation in
the Bank, get Mr Barker security for me to any amount; I feel grateful
for the good opinion he has formed of me in so short a time, the
place would be worth 700 or 1000 dollars per annum. I certainly
would prefer a mercantile house but as I sincerely wish to get
employment immediately it is better to secure some place and I can
#PAGE 2
afterwards have my eye about me for a better. As living in the
City is very expensive I have lodgings at Brooklyn Garden at 4 dollars
pweek [per week?] which is two dollars at least lower than I could
procure them in Town, it costs me about seven pence a day for the
Steam Boat and when I mention her it reminds me to give you a
description of the far famed Steam frigate, she lays at Curles Hook
about two miles up the E [East?] River, she is unquestionably one of the
wonders of the Age, she is about 250 feet long and her sides are 5 feet
thick, bomb proof all over, it is impossible to board her, the boiler of
the Engine can scald the assailants to death, and should they even get
upon her it is not in their power to touch the men who are all covered,
she carried 26 long 32 pounders and 6 long eighteens, and can sail from
8 to 10 miles per hour. She has no spikes sticking out of her side as
was mentioned in the Recorder, but she can be made to have them should
they ever think it necessary. I have been on Board the Albany Passenger
Steam Boats, two of them are 200 feet long each but not more than half
the breadth of the frigate, either of them can accommodate five hundred
persons, the Gentlemen and Ladies have seperate [separate?] Cabins and
seperate [separate?] dining Rooms, all of which are furnished in the
most elegant manner, the Births [Berths?] to sleep in have each a window
and are hung with fines Moreen, have elegant Counterpanes and linen as
white as snow - you will say they charge very high, I will tell you, the
distance to Albany is 165 miles, which takes the boat exactly 24 hours,
you get Breakfast, dinner, tea and Supper, spirits, Ale, Cider &c all
for 7 dollars! There is a Company about to build one for to go to
Charlestown from this, if they succeed in it you may expect to hear of
there being established traders wrought by Steam between Europe and
America. There is also a ferry Boat wrought by steam that goes from the
Upper part of the City and The Navy yard.
The Java & Gurriere frigates are both laying off the City
and are the finest Vessels I ever beheld, they each rate 44 Guns,
but carry 56 all heavy metal. It is now one O'Clock and the
guns are firing in commemoration of the evacuation of New York by
Lord Cornwallis, the Volunteer Companies are all drawn up on the
West Battery and amout [amount?] to 5000 men all armed and clothed at
their own expense, they consist of the most respectable people in the
City.
3 oclock, I have been reviewing the Sons of freedom and had the
pleasure of seeing General Brown the Hero of Plattsburg and the
Conqueror of Sir G Prevost, also Commodores Decatur and Perry, you
may be sure they are idolised by all ranks the ladies in particular
who wear nothing but Decatur Bonnets and Perry shoes. There is to
be a grand dinner this evening in the Washington Hall, to which a
great number of the Vive le Empireur lads are invited among whom are
Joseph Bonaparte late King of Spain, Count Jean De Angily &c, the
first lives in great style at the late residence of Lord Courtney at
Haarlem [Harlem?]; I have heard that Marshal Grouchly is in New York.
There is such a number of things crowding on my mind that
I cannot collect them so as to put them on paper, however I shall
#PAGE 3
write again by the first Vessel that goes to Belfast which I expect
will be in ten days and give you a fuller description of all the
Buildings, Customs, manners &c of this country, and at the same time
hope to have it in my power to inform you of my having got a situation.
My love to Ann, Margt [Margaret?], Mary, and John and all the rest. I
expect they will write me on receipt of this and tell me all the news
and occurences since I bid you adieu. I have a great many things to
say to John when I write again. Send word to John Kane of my safe
arrival and that he will hear from me by first ship.
Believe me to be ever Your most affectionate Son.
S. D. Moore

P.S.
I never was the least sick during the passage, and am now growing
fat.