| Title: | John Campbell, Louisiana, U.S.A to Mrs. E. Campbell, Donegal. |
|---|---|
| ID | 455 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Campbell, John/4(1) |
| Year | 1846 |
| Sender | Campbell, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Louisiana, USA |
| Destination | Co. Donegal, Ireland |
| Recipient | Campbell, E. |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | D1781/3/6: Deposited by Messrs. Caldwell and Robinson, Solicitors, 11 Castle Street, Derry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310383 |
| Date | 26/02/1846 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 14:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 1069 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Emigrant letter from John Campbell, Vermillion Ville, Louisiana, U.S.A to Mrs. E. Campbell, Milford, Donegal. Vermillion Ville February 26th 1846 My Dear and [-------?] Mother It is now such a length of time since I wrote to you that I feel at a loss how to commence. [----?] [--?] making [-----?] once [-----?] of [-----?] for the future, its all on my [-----?] and Betty [------?] [--?]: for of themselves they are of no real value we promise today and for [-----?] [----?] to morrow [tomorrow?], and continue the same to the end of the [-----?] William received a letter from his Aunt Margaret a few days ago and two news papers [newspapers?], he last week sent two papers together the New York Saturday [------?], which he intends to send regular, that is if she can obtain them through the mail, the papers were a few months old but by sending two each week they will soon come up to this present date. He received a letter a short time back from his cousin a daughter of his Aunt Hall's they were all in good health and doing well I believe. We have now here got agitation both in our [-------?] and country in reference to the territory of Origon [Oregon?], I see by this last [------?] from Washington our seat of government that the House of Representatives (similar to the House of Commons in England) have by a vote of 163 to 64 [54?] instructed the President to notify the British government that the joint occupancy of said territory by [----?] [----?] of both governments shall wan in twelve months, which will amend the agreement entered into by Commissioners appointed by both sides, in London in the year 1827. And now there is great talk of a war, if England does not give up her claim to the whole territory, between the rocky mountains and the Pacific Ocean, a thing judging from past experience I do not believe she ever will do without a severe struggle for it is not her wisdom in such matters. There is no doubt but that England is better prepared by sea than the United States, but there is not a nation in Europe that could send an army here that would conquer the country. The country is large and her resources great so that she can live with in herself what no other land under one government can do. If Brother Robert would feel interested in the subject I will give him in my next a synopsis of the resources of the United States. Sister Margaret mentioned in her last that you wished to send some linen over if you knew how, it would be a very desirable present indeed, #PAGE 2 as we have very little here but what is mixed with cotton, there are frequently vessels sailing from Derry to New Orleans, in any one of which you could send it over, it must be well packed up in a good box diverted to me to the care of Green and McDougall Merchants No. [Number?] 75 Poyaras Street New Orleans. Some flax thread would also be very acceptable when you ship it write to me by mail giving an account of the ship's name and also the captain's, with the time of sailing from port. How happy I should be to have it in my power to visit once more the scenes of my childhood and embrace those dear friends who yet remain who were the guides and companions of my youth. We are now far seperated [separated?] never perhaps to meet again in this side of eternity, but God's will be done. I think very likely in my next letter I may be able to congratulate you on the increase to your family of an other [another?] grandson as before that time Catherine may be married to a very worthy young man a merchant here, with whom William has been these last two years. Catherine and Elizabeth are in very good health. Strangers who are acquainted with [torn] know them from the resemblance they bear to their real Daddy. And their features are very different, so much so that I do not see the least resemblance between them Catherine is very fair and I think resembles what her Aunt Kitty was and Elizabeth is ruddy more I think resembling her Aunt Mary. They say William looks much like your humble servant, so you know he must be a beauty. My dear Mother kiss your sweet grandchildren for me and give them my blessing. Give my dearest love to Sister Margaret and her dear Husband and also to Sister Mary and Thomas the first opportunity, it is now a very long time since I had a letter from Mary and I believe she has written once since she was married and but once. I hope Uncle James and his family are well. I believe I must follow his example and try for another wife (they say the thrice time is the charm) cannot you assist me, I am not so old and ugly yet but that some of the Sadness [sic] (you see I place a capital letter before the words) may take compassion on me do [-----?] yourself and look about a letter for me. I know I would [------?] myself for you if you would at any time wish to change for this letter there are some [------?] I do not say very young ones who through your persuasion might be [-------?] to leave Old Ireland for the sake of one of her Sons.I tried to persuade Sister Margaret some time ago to look out for me but I believe she thought I was joking as she never told me [-----?] of her inquiry. Now if you cannot succeed yourself call in the assistance of Eliza Barry you know two heads are better than one perhaps she might [----?] out some one who would take pity on me and accompany me through the balance of my [-----?] #PAGE 3 [------?] Give my best respects to her and her sisters I believe they are the only [-------?] [--------?] [----?] [-----?] in the heart of the country. My children join me in sincere love to you and all and may you be as happy as I wish you is the [-----?] prayer Dear Mother affectionate son John Campbell |
