| Title: | John James Murphy to Martin Murphy, 18 August 1867 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4076 |
| Collection | Argentina - Murphy |
| File | murphy/51 |
| Year | 1867 |
| Sender | Murphy, John James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle breeder |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Uncalito, Argentina |
| Destination | Haysland, Co. Wexford, Ireland |
| Recipient | Murphy, Martin |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1371 |
| Genre | money, bills, cattle, profits, decease, family, news |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Flor del Uncalito My dear friends, As brother William was in Bs. As. a little time ago, and as I having the money at hand I thought it better to choose an early opportunity to send you same. Consequently, he wrote by French mail enclosing therein a bill for eighty pounds sterling (£80), which I hope you will receive in due course. It is true I owe a good sum of money yet, but that is no reason I should let you be short as I can get any amount I require here for asking at the current interest. Another thing you cannot look on this is an act of generosity, as I owe something about that amount to brother James. The Exchange is very much against sending home money now, and William was on two minds when in Bs. As. whether he ought to send it or not. I feel thankful to him for not having called on the money before now, as I know you must have needed it. I enclosed the second bill in case the first did not reach you safe. Of course you know the one bill, whether 1st, 2nd or 3rd is sufficient to present to the Bank for cash. This is a season that money is rather scarce with us in the camp. Were it not for that I would have sent a nuptial token to sister Margaret, but I am sure such is not necessary to convince her that she is still, and always will be, dear and remembered by me. I hope by the time this will reach you that you will be quite recovered and that your leg has made the last attack on you, and that Margaret, James and all his family are in good health. My dear friends, this winter has been and still continue to be very dry, and the heaviest frost that we ever seen in this country. The camps in most places are bare of pasture, and many have to move their flocks and some that cannot move for want of camp to move to their sheep are dying very fast. The neighbourhood of Rojas, that is my new place, the Caldera, and many leagues all round are suffering, but it may appear strange to you that the sheep on my place are doing well. As a proof of that they sold capones (whethers) 380 the other day at the same price we sell at inside. The camp no doubt is bare but good camp will support sheep almost at any season. Brother William brought out three men to me from town, and of them a son to a Mr Richards (Wexford), and had a letter to me from Mr Richard J. Devereux M.P., the other two shipmates of his. Englishmen. I have them engaged for six months. Laurence Neil has left me. I was desirous to keep him and do something for him as he was a good boy. Frank Doyle as mentioned in a previous letter has also left me. I preffered him a chance in sheep but he kept peidling about them as he used to do at home with you, so I took him at his ward though he little expected it. I mentioned in a previous letter to let me know how much his mother had received from you on account, and to give her no more neither on his account nor mine, as I wish to close account between him and me and have nothing further to do about it. The sheep on Uncalito are doing very well. I sold a troop of capones (whethers), 660 about a month since at 35 dollars, and expect to sell more before shearing. The increase up to now has been reasonable, about 30 per cent. August 22nd. My dear brother Martin, I wrote the first part of this letter a few days ago not expecting to have received on the 20th inst. such ____ly news from home. The death of poor sister has thrown us all into a state of grief, not altogether for her demise, but the loss she must necessarily be to her forlorn husband and his helpless little family. There has now a great duty devolved upon him, a duty which I am sure he is well disposed to perform. God grant him strength and fortitude to support himself under the trying and unrecoverable loss he has sustained. He has always been a kind and loving husband and I am sure he will prove himself so a father to the dear little ones, whose smiles bespeak their innocence and whose appeals are now made to him alone. How lucky and how glad I feel that I sent home the money so soon. I hope he have received it all right. At this present moment all the consolation I can offer to her poor afflicted husband is to condole with him, pray for those who are now no more and to God to supply her place with those blessing which he knows to be most essential to other future happiness. It is well that a part of his family has grown up sufficient to be of great service to him, now that they are come to the years when reason and since replace innocence, and I am sure they possess that most essential quality in proportion to their years. This, with poor sister Margaret's council and advice, will serve much to lighten the burden and console the anguish of a beloved husband and disconsolate father. Dear brother, it is as well not to afflict you too much by a long letter on this subject. We must reconcile ourselves to the will of God and by of him to prepare us for his call. And may the Lord have mercy on those who is now gone before us and admit her to his divine presence. I leave for Bs. As. tomorrow morning, and will have a part of this letter to finish before I post it. All the people out here are well. Poor Tom, Cady, late of Lammer Hill, has been murdered about six weeks ago by a French Basque. Shot him in the camp, supposed to be without any provocation. The murderer is still in prison. Owing to bad weather I could not leave for Bs. As. on the 23 but expect to start tomorrow the 25th, as I will have time to spare to post this letter for the packet I must finish it before I leave. I send some papers also. They will give you an idea of how the war is going on. They speak of an expected battle every day, but to get there has been nothing done worth relating. The native gentlemen of Salto are getting up a public race course. They are assisted also by the foreigners. I am appointed Vice-President of the Committee. Brother William has also an appointment as one of the Committee. The work is commenced. There is also a bank branch of the Provincial Bank of Bs. As. established in Salto, and there is now a project before the house to extend a branch of railway to Salto. So you see, Salto is going ahead. The latter project is what we are most interested to see carried out. So farewell dear friends, wishing all the blessing the Almighty can bestow I remain your dear brother, John J. Murphy PS. It was the wishes of Father Leahy that I should take the additional name of James at my marriage. J.J.M. Enclosure in John James Murphy to Martin Murphy, 18 August 1867 Cheque of the London & River Plate Bank, 10 July 1867 [text in italics is hand-written, otherwise text is printed] N° 2 due London & River Plate Bank, Limited Buenos Ayres, 10 July 1867 £80.- At days after Sight pay this Second of Exchange (First and Third of the same tenor and date being unpaid) to the order of Martin Murphy Esq. the sum of eighty pounds sterling Value received To the Bank of Liverpool, Liverpool For the London & River Plate Bank Limited: A. E. Smithers, Manager Geo. Warden, Accountant |
