| Title: | Robert Smith [Smyth?], Philadelphia, to James Smith [Smyth?], Co. Antrim |
|---|---|
| ID | 2542 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smith, Robert W/141 |
| Year | 1840 |
| Sender | Smith, Robert W |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Presbyterian Check Jonathan And Jon. W, Robert And Robert W Presbyterian |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Moycraig, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smith, James Sr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | D1828/15: Presented by J.Steele, Mosside, Ballymoney, Co.Antrim |
| Archive | The Public Record Office Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 9501016 |
| Date | 07/04/1840 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT/JW, 21:12:1994. |
| Word Count | 1609 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: James Smith [Smyth?] Moycraig to the Care of the Mosside [Moss-side?] postmaster County of Antrim Parish of Derryceighan [Derrykeighan?] Ireland From: Philada [Philadelphia?] April 7th 1840 Dear Parent. I take up my pen on receipt of yours of the 1st January which I received on the 24th of March and was glad to hear of you all being in good health your letter found me enjoying the same blessing and these few lines leaves me in the same hoping to find you all enjoying the same blessing which is pleasanter than eny [any?] other earthly comfort I was very Glad to see such improvement in my fathers hand writing and to find it so legable [legible?] as we do not make a publick [public?] example of our letters in this country like you do in Ireland I might find it dif[f?]icult to as I recognised it to be the workmanship of my old instructant M. Mcfadden I found no dif[f?]iculty in under[s?]tanding the [w?]hole history althoug[h?] no person saw it but myself however I am well satisfied to have a letter from one I esteem so high but think that my brother Wm. [William?] Smith mig[h?]t find time to write to me when the rest is spending their time at some frolicksome [frolicsome?] occupation although he disap[p?]eared from my presence when I was taking my leave of you all I have not forgotten him nor his industrious habits I think it strang[e?] that you never mention what my brother John is doing I am also alarmed that you did not mention the loss that Brother Jonathan met with it is a heart rendering [rending?] sircumstance [circumstance?] to have our best loved friends both skin and boady [body?] fastened to a currier (sic) to drop as he pleases I am all but in morning [mourning?] for his wo[e?]ful condition when you write mention every particular respecting the family for, bear in mind I have not forgotten any of you I received my brother James letter of september last and answered it in a few lines in James Scotts letter to his parents on receipt of hearing of his brother Ritchard [Richard?] Death I am well satisfied that Brother James toock [took?] my advice as I have little more experience in this wourld [world?] than him although he is the oldest I would bet one hundred Dollars that if he was to come to this Country this season that against next spring he would be in debt for his board for there is plenty of the labouring Class in this City that is native borns that Can get nothing to do and take my word for it that it would be worse for green hoarns [horns?] for it is dif[f?]icult for them to get employ at any time he must not be so innocent as to think that I could have a situation ready for him I am alarmed to think that the Irish is so soft as to think that the[y?] will get rich by coming to this country for it is one out of ten that you will find eny [any?] improvement respecting riches as you requested me to mention anything that I would want I do not want anything in particular there is meny [many?] a thing in Ireland that would be of use here but you not knowing the fashion of this country and no doubt you can find enough to do with your money and I having always a little among my hands I can purchase what I want to I return home and then I will let you know what would be of use in this country a few hundred Sovernsn [Sovereigns?] of speice [specie?] would be of use as the[y?] are selling very high now respecting the little present to my unckle [uncle?] Wm. [William?] you use your pleasure I mearly [merely?] hinted to him that you was going to it but as the one I brought with me was damaged you will require to have a base round it You mention of my Grandfather talking of me give my love to him and let him know that I hope to see him once more before he seper [seperated?] from among you to Join with the saints in heaven I did not expect ever to see him when I parted him in 1837 but I hope to see him end his day in peace James Scott is got out of a situation on account of the bad times his employer could not finn [find?] work nor money for him he is rather in a delicate state of health for the last too [two?] weeks but is getting well this count[r?]y do[e?]s not suit him he advises his brother Hugh against Coming out this season as he is going home with me Wars and rumers [rumours?] of wars things begin to loock [look?] equally touching the Country question. The tone of the recently published correspondance [correspondence?] between secraty [secretary?] Forsyth and the british Minister Mr Fox, is enything [anything?] but affectionate. We note also some preparation for defence A company of Artillers has been ordered to Maine, and other reinforcements will follow on the other side great activity preveal [prevails?] in warlike Canada to the cheefs [chiefs?] of Indian tribes in the North West, urging them by the promise of presents to come down immediately and Join in an ar[r?]angement for hostilities along the American frountiar [frontier?]. have been received and forwarded to washington if this be true it is high time goverment [government?] was preparing for the worst, the President we doubt not will doo [do?] all in his power to preserve unsullied the integrity and honour of the union. and the people ever are equally sure will sustain him in a noble manner. Much as we Depreciate [Deprecate?] war and deplore the consequence thereof yet we cannot say that in this instance a little brush with [torn] would be advantageous in a national point of view. if we thorly [throughly?] could get our necks from under the yoke of that most ruthless of Despots. the money of powers of London it would not a little justify the most pacific in engaging with contest as for may [my?] part I will tak [take?] to arms against great Britain and Ireland of hoom [whom?] I was hearetofore [heretofore?] a subject but have denounced that for ever and become a Citisen [Citizen?] of the United States - let me give you a scetch [sketch?] of the times heare [here?] as the[y?] stand Everything here is dull, miserable, and glloomey [gloomy?]. that is I mean Buisness [Business?] and matters thereunto belonging - the w[e?]ather is fine plesand [pleasant?] and glorious; the the (sic) sun is shinning shining?][, ice is melting, birds are singing, bees are hum[m?]ing, the mud is drying, trees are budding, frogs are croacking, roses Blooming,rivers rising, steamboats puffing, Creditors dunning, and Debtors running off to Texas. if this do[es?] not satisfy you respecting the times I will give you a fool [full?] description of them in my next Please letter John Whites parents know that he received a letter from his father and one from his Brother Robert Mrs Neill received one from her son Alex [Alexander?] Murphy the[y?] are all well and I beleave [believe?] answering there [their?] letters please let James Burnsides friends know that he came in from the country to see me a few days ago and wishes me to let his sisters know that he Declines sending for them this season on account of the bad times he is in good health and has engaged to stay another year where he is When you write let me know where John McFadden and andrew McElhose is and this address if there has been eny [any?] account from them as i intend to Write to them befoer [before?] I go home I called in to see John Stewart a few days ago and found that he has succe[e?]eed in sowing his seed in fruitful land at last he has a young son three weecks [weeks?] old by wife formerly Miss Sarah Hatter Give my repects [respects?] to Wm. [William?] Campbell and my advise to him against Coming out this Season my Unkle [Uncle?] Robert is well and and (sic) I think in the co[u?]rse of a short time he will be better of[f?] than ever he was James Cethcart is gon[e?] to farming Thomas Lindsay [Linsay?] is well give my love to every individual that I may [torn] or the[y?] be male or female attention me to J McCay [MacKay?] Junior [?] and let him know that I was glad to have a few lines from him and well pleased with the few heartly laughs that wa in the raper [were in the paper?] that Enclosed his letter to me directed from forwarding which I did I must finish wit[h?] few lines to my affectionate Mother which I composed for this oc[c?]asion Like flowers that softly bloom together Upon one fair and gentle stem Mingling their sweets to sunney [sunny?] weather Till I myself have parted them. So were we linked unto each other, Sweet parents in my Childish Ower [hour?]. [?] or then one fond and gentle mother To me was like the stem to flowers She was the Golden Chane [chain?] that bound us in one bright Chane [chain?] together there Til[?] time uncloased [unclosed?] the coard [cord?] around us and were [we are?] now parted far and near I must conclude with hoping to see you all in 1841 I remain your Affectionate and dutiful Son with respect Robert Smith [Smyth?] NB when I wrote this letter I did not expect James Scott to be the bearer but he toock [took?] a sudden notion |
