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Title: Thomas Smith, [Washington?] to Davison McDowell, Georgetown.
ID2544
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmith, Thomas/36
Year1814
SenderSmith, Thomas Jr
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationbusinessman?
Sender Religionunknown
OriginWashington D.C., USA
DestinationGeorgetown, Washington D.C., USA
RecipientMcDowell, Davison
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfriends, business
SourceT 2305/12: Presented by South Carolina Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9404154
Date25/09/1814
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 20:04:1994.
Word Count591
Genre
Note
TranscriptGeorge Town [Georgetown?] Columbia 25th Sept 1814

Dear Sir

I was unfortunate in fixing upon the sweet
Springs for the destination of [my - ---?], the mail before it
reaches that place makes a considerable circuit, in addition
to which circumstance the accommodations are so bad that
I made but a very short stay there, in consequence your letters
never reached me until long after their date, when I was
upon the road to this place. The letter which I received
from you just before I left home, represented in such strong
[terms?] the deplorable situation of the negros upon Sandy Island
that my mind remained in a painful state of anxiety until
the [?] of that of the 10th July, [& lo?] this announced the
deaths of two negros, my fears of greater mortality had been
so much excited, that I was considerably relieved by your act [account?]
of the convalescent state of the others who had been Ill
Your last letter of the 10th august added much more
to my relief, by [confessing?] the progressive recovery of the sick
and I also derived some consolation from your account
of the crop, as I had been in [dire?] apprehension of extensive
[loss?], if not total destruction of it, by the Storm & Flood
in July, which was represented at the Springs, as having
been very violent and [vicious?] in all the lower parts
of Carolina. I am very much obliged to the
neighbours for the friendly aid they have
given you and approve the measure you have
taken to provide
[?] for the plantation. Could I have forseen the
[present state?] of affairs, I should have got [some?] cotton and
made arrangements for clothing the negroes with stuff of
their own manufacture, but it was so uncertain [whatever?]
I would add to the interest or [conversion?] of the Estate,
[and after?] considering the subject I determined against it
One of my first cares on reaching home shall be to
[?] to you a supply of the most comfortable clothing
[?] [?]. [James Ho---an?] was lodged with my Factor
before I left home, to be [?] [to you?], and he was further
[?] to send as much more as would give a suit to
all the negroes, as soon as = [?] of [these?] then in hand
[should?] be sold, I have not heard either from him or
[even If?] whether this has been done. We have just
got intelligence of a rather [?] victory gained by Genl [General?]
Brown in the neighbourhood of [Fort ---?], but no particulars
The President has lost ground considerably in consequence
of the late shameful capture and destruction of public
property at this place, an enquiry into the causes of which
is [?] [?] to a committee of the House of Representatives,
I suppose it will be some time before they can go through
[faded] and report. [No better conjecture?]
can be formed here than where you are, as to property
of [?] and almost every other public concern.
I am here in hopes of hearing some interesting
debates, but as there is no prospect of business prospering so
far in congress, within the time that it will suit me to stay
I have thought of taking up my route for home on tomorrow
or the next day, & I may possibly go by the way of Georgetown
in which case you shall see or hear from me when I
get time. with sentiments of esteem & respect
I am Dear Sir
Your Most Obdt [Obedient?]
Thomas Smith
Junior