| Title: | R. J. Waddell, New York, to Joshua Peel, Armagh. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3150 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Waddell, R. J/61 |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Waddell, R. J. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | preparing to become a licensed solicitor |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | NYC, USA |
| Destination | Co. Armagh, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Peel, Joshua E. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | Mr. Waddell used to be apprenticed to Mr Peel, he |
| Source | D889/7/1: Deposited by: Messrs Joshua Peel & Son, Solicitors, Armagh. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 1200274 |
| Date | 20/10/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 19:12:00. |
| Word Count | 774 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 802 East 135th Street, New York, Oct. 20th '99 Dear Mr. Peel;- Some months ago I wrote you asking you to send me a letter or certificate setting forth the fact that I had been your apprentice for five years (or whatever time you believed I was) and informing you just why I asked for the same. I have never had any reply to this letter, and so take the liberty of addressing you again on the subject. I do not know, nor can I believe that you would with-hold this from me on religious or personal grounds, for I had always thought you were of a different stamp from that, and that what you believed conscientiously to be your duty, you would do it, let the consequences be what they might. If you will refer to my letter, you will find that I did not ask you for anything in the nature of a recommendation regarding my character, or what you thought of my moral virtues or anything of that sort. I simply asked you to state in black and white what you HONESTLY thought of my work and general ability when in your Office and your apprentice. I cannot for the life of me see what objection you can honestly have to writing me such a letter, to be used for the purpose I told you, inasmuch as for this purpose I dont require from Keady or Armagh, fromclergy (sic) or laity, any affidavit as to character. Right here in New York which has been my home for the past six years, I can get as many high toned recommendations on this score as I require, so there is no necessity for importing them. There is however a necessity for my having such a letter as I have asked you for, but of course if you decline or refuse to give me this, I will have to do without it. That is the logical result, of course. But is it fair for you to refrain from doing this--deing [being?] what I candidly think is your bound en duty (sic), for mind you, I am honest enough and fearless enough to tell you, that I dont think I am asking a single thing but what I am entitled to, and what you, if you look at the matter in an honest, straightforward and fair manner, are entitled to give me. I got from Mr. Wakely a certificate giving the fcts [facts?] as they appear from the books in his Office, and with this clause at the end "I further certify that the said Robert J. "Waddell is entitled at any time to present "himself for the final examination of this "Society". As a straightforward gentleman, I dont believe you will let religious bigotry or any such cowardly subterfuge interfere with what you consider to be your duty in this case, for I think, you at least, will admit, what the majority of the people over there will not admit, that I have the God-given, inherent right to worship the Creator of the Universe in what ever way I please, and that in so doing I am answerable to none--not a soul--save He who endowed me with the facilities and powers to think and act for myself. I refrain from writing any further on the subject as I think it is uncalled for, and hope that you will kindly spend a few momentsin (sic) writing me out a letter which you think fairly sets forth the character and amount of work of every kind I did while with you. I dont know what your opinion on the subject is, but I believe I served you as well and faithfully, worked for your interests as hard and industriously as any apprentice or clerk who ever wielded a pen or pencil in your Office. And it is because I think thus that I address you on the subject for the second time. As I get all the local and Irish papers that is (sic) worth having I am fully posted in all the Irish news, and note that every week brings changes. Times are certainly changes [changing?] in Armagh, when Mr. T. G. Peel has "to take his medicine" from a young gent of the name and reputation of Mr. Lennon. But old Father Time changes both men and circumstances, for strange to say he changed me --and that was no small undertaking. For the present I will conclude, and hoping that you are all well, and expecting to have a line from you in reply to this letter at your early convenience, I remain, Yours very truly, R. J. Waddell |
