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Title: John Caldwell, New York to Robert Simms, Belfast.
ID430
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileCaldwell, John Jr/12
Year1802
SenderCaldwell, John Jr.
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginNew York, USA
DestinationBelfast, N.Ireland
RecipientSimms, Robert
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfriends
SourceT 1815/2: Copied by Permission of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.8809101
Date18/10/1802
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 09:11:1993.
Word Count2813
Genre
Note
TranscriptMr Robert Simms
Merchant
Belfast

New York 18th October 1802

My Dear Friend

I only received your letter dated in December a few
days since by Docter Cummings, who seems to be a [very?]
worthy man, [?] he will do well here an [eminent?]
[original?] character strongly recommended & with good
certificates from Edinburgh or elsewhere of his professional
abilities could not fail of succeeding, a man may its true
be a man of [merit?] without all there [their?] appendages,
but there he has to struggle with perhaps the prejudice of
strangers & if he is lucky he will [overcome?] them Doctor
Johnston formerly of Downpatrick was an [emigrant?]
Practitioner he was much encouraged to make this the
[place?] of his settlement, but previous to coming here he
had made an [engagement?] with Mr [Richard?] formerly of the
Antrim [Militia?] to [visit?] & make a trial of the German
country they there settled in the most beautiful [spot?] you
can imagine [Briley Town?], on the west bank of Lake
[Lenecca?] between that lake and Lake [?], 360 miles from
this [island?] but not [withstanding?] the Doctor being a
firm [?] of strong mind he had not within himself efficient
reserves against [?] and being deprived of [?] the
[pursuit?] of his [distilling?] having bother [?] if his
industry could not make up for the void he felt in his heart
& he litterally [literally?] became a victim to [despair?] &
died a martyr in his own [obstinacy?] in [refusing?] the
advice of his friends in a settlement in this place. I am
the more particular in this narrative, [as you?] seems to
wish me to [enter?] [?] into the everything that might be
supposed to [?] on, to influence or to affect an Emigrant
[coming?] to this country the United States do
[undoubtedly?] promise much to emigrants of every
description provided they are Industrious & well [educated?]
but no country under Heaven [throws?] more [obstacles?] in
the way of an Idle or [dissolute?] Man procuring a
livelyhood [livelihood?]. We are too [?] when we approach
these shores [that?] this land of liberty [hence?] to be too
sanguine in [over expectations?], & as Doctor Franklin has
[?] observed to expect the Dollars on the [sea-shore?] the
Apple pies hopping down the Chimnie [chimney?] & the little
birds perching on your shoulders crying come who'll eat me
but in general every stranger coming here is inclined to
increase his wealth by some means or other the misfortune is
#PAGE 2
that many of us mistake the way the scotch farmer or
Labourer on his arrival in a transatlantick [transatlantic?]
[Town?] calls on his countrymen, advises with them goes back
to the country and becomes a farmer & of course a
respectable member of Society the Dutch & germans frequently
with two & three hundred pounds Sterling of property will
bind themselves to the Pensylvanian [Pennsylvanian?] farmer
& while the husband attends his employer through his
advocating the wife will be learning the more domestic
business of the farm, as [suited?] to her sex when the
engagement of the people expired they again emigrate to an
uncleared piece of Land & set an example of industry by
blessing the country with the fruit of their labour. I wish
I could say so much for our own countrymen the labourer, the
farmer, the weaver, on coming here, all inclined to live in
Large Towns, this may arise from the known character of the
Irish we are to use a [trite?] saying so warm hearted we
wish to live together & to be in the way of hearing often
from [our?] friends, but this disposition is often attended
with [vision?] to Individuals and dishonour to our national
character. I have often seen the Man who with his family
might have made a figure 100 miles from town there [been?]
respectable as a citizen & a man lose his little prosperity
in the [Town?] shop he kept [?] his time by attending to
Political controversy & matters that as an Alien did not
concern him or at all events which his [interference?] could
not better, & lose the respectability of himself & his family
by the [consequences?] which [?] generally arise from such a
line of conduct The general establishment of Banks, the easy
means for people of good character tho [though?] of small
Capital, to require accommodation of Money gives the
industrious & careful Trades considerable advantage. Its
true [?] and Speculative Man, have been ruined by availing
themselves improperly of the credit offered them, but such
people are closely watched & if your neighbours can hear of
you doing any busines out of your line, your credit is at an
end then a Hardware Merchant is hard looked at if he is known
to speculate in [?] [?] [& we?] have withdrawn credit from
[Houses?] in [our time?] whom we discovered to be dabbling in
shipping business - In fact there is no Country [?] a
president alien who has been brought up to a mercantile life
can make a better livlyhood [livelihood?] particularly by
avoiding all foreign [shipping?] [Specialisation?] The
[Importing?] merchant offers his cargo for [sale?] ten or
[twelve?] of us will call on him, purchase it & sell it
[out?] to the Country or the retail [Grocers?] - [Our?]
worthy, dear, & respected friend Joseph [Stevenson?]
sailed a few days ago we most sincerely feel & sincerely
lament being deprived of his Society you will be much
#PAGE 3
gratified by an [hour or twos?] conversation with him on
the variety of subjects which will occur to you respecting
this Country - this [?] [?] [?] for a great part of the
Emigrants both Vagabonds, Rebels, traitors & gentlemen,
from an native land - for when a fellow turns out badly at
home, the family [consult?] & according to their different
grades in Society they determine if he is stupid or good
natured to educate him for the Church if he is a devil for
the Army, if he is a spendthrift to Sea with him but if he
is a nere do well send him to [America?] tho' [though?] of
all places in the world, it is where he is most unlikely
to succeed the Tavern at the falls of Niagara is now kept
by a "Gentleman" whom I have seen make a [conspicuous?]
figure in the [out boxes?] of Crow Street & Belfast Theatre
but here [?] himself, every [calling?] is honorable that is
honest, every pursuit respectable that is reputable, here
indeed People are subject to the like [fashions?] as
elsewhere. We see too often [Malice?] Hatred, Revenge
prevail here & we can only place it to the account of poor
human virtue whom we blamed so often, & so unjustly [?]
with certainty as happy a form of government & with laws
administered at least as wisely, as elsewhere on the Globe
prevails but you will not find discontent among the
[farmers?] who certainly compose that body properly [?] the
People - hit us more on this subject!!! My father since he
came here has visited a farm at [Flushing Bayside?] in the
county of Queens Long Island the situation is truly
beautiful, but the land in general poor as you may suppose
for the Rent of 200 Dollars [per?] annum within [17 miles?]
of [?] but the home is good, they have plenty of [fuel?] for
the cutting & a sufficient qty [quantity?] of Land [under?]
grass and tillage for the purpose of raising [necessaries?]
for the family. Cattle [?] [?] but notwithstanding all
this, [silly?] father intends removing up the north River
[as soon?] as he can get a place to purchase to his
[liking?]. Our family is large every one of them inclined
to industry a place just now offers it contains about 150
acres of tolerable land, with a [Merchant mill?] & a
printing Mill, a good comfortable dwelling house, a large
Store for the [reception?] of wheat, [barley?] etc., [?]
offer the vending of Merchant goods or rather for their
barter a Barl [barley?] Mill [?] [is my?] meat [Tom Marsh?]
all within 60 Miles of this town eight Miles off the North
River 4 from West Point & 8 from Newburgh 4 Miles from
General Clinton in a full settled Country on an excellent
Road & a plentiful supply of Water 15000 Dollars is asked
for this place, but how much will be taken is another point.
It comes up so every way to such a place as would have
[awaited?] you had you come here that [I dwell?] on it
#PAGE 4
perhaps too long. If my father gets it, [our?] great [end?]
will be accomplished [?] to find full scope for the Industry
of two branches of the family without wishing much Capital,
[&?] without [grating?] [our?] feelings by parting or
separating our family, at least to any distance, as between
this Town Newburgh there is daily communication that little
rising Town alone, 16 [Shops?] of from 60 [?] tons between
this place & that every bit of Leather tanned at the farm
Invention is [vended?] on the spot to the Country People
Newburgh trades [?] your capital is [?] you may either take
in the Rough hides & tan them for payment or purchase them &
pay in [Ireland?] Leather [shoes?] you see [business?] can
be carried on to good [need?] in a variety of methods,
but still provided Speculation is kept in the background. I
had planned in my mind just such a settlement as this for
you, & for my friend Tennent a [bustling?] life of Town
Trade In such a situation as I have described my friend
Henry Jackson might have been happy but in his present
place abode he has to combat the [preposession?] of his
family in favor of their native Country & to lead a life of
inactivity in as much as farming cannot be so congenial to
his long settled habits & ways of thinking so the more
active pursuits of Mechanical [profession?] or calling there
is no Man of your acquaintance become a more [enthusiastic?]
American than Doctor White, he has adopted their ways &
manners & admits he [never?] felt real comfort & happiness
to the [degree?] he now enjoys in the Land he left. He is
held in high estimation & what extraordinary, by the very
violent Political People of both parties [Cranston?] &
Alexander are both respectable young Men & among our most
intimate connections as is Wm [William?] Bailey we have too among
the circle of our [existing?] & friendly acquaintances a
great many others, as many that it is almost invidious to
[particularize?] a few in [short?] from what I know of you &
your willingness even to make the best of a bad situation
you would have been [agreeably?] [?] nay you would have been
highly delighted with the State of things in general here.
As to Religion [?] own tho [though?] the People are strictly
moral, yet I cannot discover much fervency of Devotion. We
too often see either the most violent [Enthusiasm?], or a
total Apathy in these in others there are a few but very few
who [possess?] [?] there are I believe 30 [Churches?] &
upwards in the Town most of them crowded twice every Sunday,
& yet ask a single question to these [same?] godly People on
the subject of what they heard & they will [profess?] their
ignorance, or want of Memory. We have a seat in the Wall
Street Meeting House & for [night?] I [reserve?] one of the
Seats occupied by the Dragoon horses of his Imperial
Britanic [Britannic?] Majesty [during?] the wars for they
#PAGE 5
[converted?] this meeting house into a Stable for which we
pay nine pounds or twenty three one half dollars $ [?] I do
not implicity believe everything the Parson says tho
[though?] they are men whom words or oaths could be taken in
any [Court of Justice?] here or even with you, but I think
it necessary to join my household or family at least once a
week in publick [public?] offering of prayers of praise the
[number of lawyers?] here [access belief?] & but few among
them of bright or transcendant ability among [them?] however
in this place is Hamilton & even he [?] have hoped of [?]
exceeded by Emmett if he makes this his place of residence.
It is said the period of Naturalization will yet be
shortened perhaps to three years which will be a material
point to men of Professional pursuits. In the [case?] of a
Purchase of Lands made by my father John [Parks?] was
obliged to put the Lawyers right in three or four very
Capital instances & they were obliged to admit their being
wrong - the little enquiry made by Purchasers becomes a
source of [endless?] litigation & many, many, a Lawsuit is
bought with a farm & the [averse?] [fit?] entailed as well
as the Acres on Posterity. Joseph Cuthbert is here, I have
little doubt of his doing well, he is industrious, attends
to his [business?] & does not interfere with politicks
[politics?] he has got already a good trade & I hope will be
able to keep it. We have besides of Belfast People here
Thomas [Torry?] the Quinns & Brysons of Newtownards, Nixon
the apothecary gone to [?] Thos. [Thomas?] Kean, Robt.
[Robert?] Wilson & a variety of others. Tom [Bashford?]
went to [?] [?] de Cuba [disappointed?] soon back again.
Robt. [Robert?] McFlinch is making money and adding respect
to our National character, he is worthy of honourable mention.

31st October I have been as much & so [variously?] engaged
since I began this Letter, that you will find it I fear
[unconnected?] & I shall not [recorrect?] it so you must
take it as it is for better for worse the News of the
[conflagration?] at Liverpool has spread much consternation
here, as it is not doubted but that there has been much
American property destroyed, that & other accidents had
caused a spurt in the Cotton Market, which is now 19th &
[scarce?] for [Upland?] - I have said nothing yet of the
domestic habits & amusements of the People of this Town the
old settlers principally the decendants of Dutch, are
[extremely?] cautious & [jealous?] of Strangers, but if your
[character?] bears scrutiny, after a [pretty?] severe ordeal
they become friendly & neighbourly [?] the european settings
here in a degree of style & [splendor?] that would astonish
you & the very poorest Man, if industrious can lie as
comfortable & as well as the Mayor of the Town. there are
#PAGE 6
[900 German?] here under licence. We employ one who keeps
two horses & we have actually paid for [passages?] of goods
in & out of our Store from 1200 to $ 1500$ [?] there is a
very elegant Theatre & a tolerable set of Performers, but I
have been very seldom one of the audience they have a
[Museum?] [Circus?] There as with you repeated
[exhibitions?] of mammoth Ox's - Monsters with two heads
five feet extraordinary tails [etc., etc., etc.,?] The
Publick [public?] [?] the Parks & the [Battery?] [but?]
particularly the latter must I think [by?] the finest in the
world there is elegant gravel walks, wood & water & the top
of the [Battery?] has been by the present Mayor decorated
with [?] & seats all round for the accommodation of the
Citizens, to whom the property belongs. Last summer
presented so Novel a scene at this spot, that the account of
fair land or the Arabian Nights Entertainments came alone up
to it. An [?] of at least 5000 well dressed people of both
sexes would meet & walk about from eight till ten O'Clock,
duing which they were entertained by the Mayors orders with
a Band of Musick [music?] on shore while a [select?] party
of Amateurs in highly decorated boats, followed by a train
of boats all [superbly?] [illuminated?], entertained
themselves & the Company on the battery by very exquisite
performances the brightness of the clear & [unbounded?]
hemisphere the view of the most beautiful Harbour in the
world, the prospect of the opposite Banks of the Hudson &
the Shores of Long Island, the happy look of the Multitude &
the Personal independence of every individual made the scene
most truly [enchanting?] this entertainment continued some
weeks, but the Nights becoming moist, occasioned frequent
colds & the good citizens were obliged to recreate
[themselves?] otherwise Our home has written your [R & W?]
[?] their Letter [?] you for mercantile news. Meanwhile I
remain with best wishes for your [success?] in your
[renovated?] firm & with afft [affectionate?] respects to
Mrs. [Simms?] & family My Dear Sir Your [obliged?] & Aff
[Affectionate?] friend

John Caldwell