Home

CORVIZ

Main content

Title: A. A. Longstreet, Georgia to Isabella Allen, Belfast.
ID3598
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
Filelongstreet, a. a/131
Year1839
SenderLongstreet, A.A.
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationupper-middle class housewife
Sender Religionunknown
OriginFairview, Georgia, USA
DestinationBelfast, N.Ireland
RecipientAllen, Isabella
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipfriends
SourceD/1558/1/2/43: Presented by the Late F.D. Campbell Allen, Esq., 15 London Rd., Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, England.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9804179
Date10/08/1839
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 08:04:98.
Word Count1335
Genre
Note
TranscriptFairview August 10th 1839.

My Dear Mrs Allen
My patience is completely
exhausted waiting for a reply to my last letter. The
Atlantic (much as it has her conpriped by steam)
is too wide, or you are too tardy in your answers, I
can wait no longer and therefore must despatch this
forthwith to enquire after your welfare - Hold your
ear close and let me whisper a piece of advice, if
you don't answer this immediately I will send another
and yet another; so in self defence you had better
take up your weapon and throw pen full after penfull
of ink at me; for I assure you I am not to be passed
by in "silent contempt". My first inquiry shall be
after your own precious health, which I, indeed all of
us, sincerely hope is completely restored, and that
now you are able to take (all jesting aside) those
favorite walks around Dear Larne which you did, with
so much glee, not long ago.
The last time I wrote, it was just a few days after
the "destroying angel" had consigned One dear to
all, to his narrow home. Ah! could you see his poor
striken Wife you would "weep with her tear for tear."
Although nearly two months have elapsed since Mr Edgar
was removed to a "better world" Cousin Anna seems to
mourn his loss every day more and more. Her health
seems gradually yet surely to decline and God only
knows but what she may soon be beside her Beloved
Partner, which seems now to be her only desire.
Cousin Oswell Carmichael finding his health did not
improve in Paris left there before the news of Mr
Edgar's death reached him, He is now looked for daily.
All your friends and kinsfolk (if you claim any as
such in the wilds of G. [Georgia?]) are quite well and
moving on in the same way as when you left here. I
have fallen desperately in love with Mrs Henry lately
and you know the reason, only that she always enquires
particularly after you wherever we meet. If strangers
have not forgotten you, how could the Christians of
Fairview, and least of all myself cease to remember
you. The heat has been so unheard (or felt) of
[opprepise ?] that we have had sometimes this summer to
keep the thermometer in ice water to prevent the
mercury from breaking the glass at the top and running
out and if we desire "tired nature's sweet restorer"
it can only be obtained by fanning ourselves toute la
nuit. Besides the heat we are serenaded (now
serenades are pleasant enough when "Oft in the Stally
Night" or "Fly to the Desert" are the songs) by a full
band of, not interesting young gentlemen, but
Musketers (I was afraid you would not comprehend me if
I spelt them correctly).
Aunt, Uncle, and myself, with one or two Darkies
intend leaving here in a few days for the upper part
of this "glorious, free and enlightened State." The
object of the two former is to behold all the
curiosities they can. Mine, "whisper it not in Bath,
tell it not in Askelon" is to look for my missionary
- I am not near so particular now as I used to be in
my juvenile days don't care whether he be long or
short, rich or poor, a Mamba or a William Jones in
intellect. You would give two shrieks of laughter if
I told you who was coming to see me now. If he makes
his "overtures acceptable" although if that be the
case "A change will have to come over the spirit of my
dreams" be assured I shall not be tardy in acquainting
you and Mr Allen and Kate with all the arrangements.
Do not "wipe away a tear of regret" when I tell you
that the Plowtero Hotel was destroyed by conflagration
a few months since. Mr Fauger and his stick had been
so much accustomed to walking up there that it was
more than a week before they learned to turn in to the
"United States." I know it will astonish Mr Allen to
learn that his particular Friend, Mr Harper still
belongs to that fraternity of cliped Bachelors
- and it will amaze him powerfully (as we G.s
[Georgians?] say) to hear that he is likely to
continue so. Your dear Cousin Mrs H. Bryson and
family are quite well. She is beginning to become
reconciled with this place and finds the natives not
quite as dark as she expected, but lies in hopes of
visiting "that Gem in the midst of the Ocean" next
summer, Mr B. [Bryson?] does not look well this
summer. The other Mrs B. [Bryson?] and children are
well and desire to be kindly remembered to you. Mr
I. Davidson Report says intends leading two Miss
Gardners to the Lymenial alter before long. Now how
he will manage or whether it is untrue I refer you to
Old father Time for more particulars.
I cheated a poor little country cracker the other
day out of three mocking birds, of course they were
named, Rosa, Eliza and Bella but as "cheating never
thrives" they all committed Infanticide yesterday
leaving me like a mourning One to deplore their loss.
Aunt Adams and all the Cottagers send a bundle of love
to you. Mary Louisa is employing her talent this
summer in instructing the younger branches of the
family. I never see her but what I request her to
play "A moment there is". Do you recollect one day I
asked you very innocently when "this moment was," and
you, because you happened to know when it was, turned
round with a very dignified air and replied "I suppose
there is a variety of opinion on that subject". Since
then I have found out, that my " passions are sluping"
art when dreaming of you - not when thinking of the
Sandwich Islands - but when eating a cool water melon
while the mercury stands at 98 degrees, with one of
your beautiful knives and forks.
We hear frequently from Our Virginia friends,
Abingdon has been remarkably unhealthy this season,
Aunt Emma is quite tired of staying there, indeed I
think they are all becoming weary to taking such a
journey annually. Uncle Smith will I presume purchase
some place in the upper counties to spend his summers.
The "General" has been very sick but when we last
heard he was much better. Every one of the girls even
Anne are still Old Maids. They are reading "Josephus"
this summer. I commenced it but the work was too
stupendous for my poor intellect. I intend taking
"our own truthtelling Stephens of whom New York may
will be proud" to repenise on the road.
Uncle Paul and Aunt Louisa (you see I am imposing on
you an account of all my relatives) are at Paris, they
intend taking a tour through Switzerland, Up the
Rhine, visit E. [England ?] S. [Scotland ?] and Ireland
before they return home. How I envy them their
delightful trip. I still cherish the hope of taking
it, and seeing you again before I die. Did Rosa lease
as she expected? How is she pleased? When will she
come to Augusta? Hannah is by my side and says I must
tell you her hair is turning black.
I wish you could see the beautiful sky I am now
beholding. It is not one of the "tame domestic"
"darkly, deeply beautifully" blue ones but it is one
of those picturesque, showery ones such as is
constantly hanging over devoted Larne. My best
respects to your Mother and Father, Mr & Mrs Porter.
Regards to your Sisters - Aunt unites with me in
sending this letter full to overflowing with love
warm, and fresh to you - Kiss and tickle all the
children for me - Both respects and Regards to Mr
Allen -
Yours teeming with affection.
A. A. Longstreet.