| Title: | Thomas Cather, Baltimore, to "My Dear Mother", Limavady. |
|---|---|
| ID | 598 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cather, Thomas/66 |
| Year | 1836 |
| Sender | Cather, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Destination | Limavady, Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | D/3220/5/7: Deposited by the Late Lady Tyler on Behalf of the Other Trustees of the Will of Sir Henry MacDonald Tyler. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9808565 |
| Date | 19/05(?)/1836 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 28:08:98. |
| Word Count | 1071 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Baltimore, April 19th 1836 My dear Mother When we came to this place, we had no idea we should have remained so long. We had intended to have stopped here only a few days, - but our friends have been so very kind, and our engagements so numerous that we could not get away, we have however determined our starting for Charleston the day after tomorrow, and by the time, this letter reaches you, we shall be, I hope far south. As Henry Tyler says, he gave you in his last letter, a full account of our trip to Virginia, I need not go over that ground again, but will commence where he left off, and give you an account of our proceedings since. On our return, we remained here for a few days, & then went to Washington where we spent a pleasant week, & made some very agreeable acquaintances among others, Judge Porter, to whom we had a letter from Mr Sampson was particularly attentive to us, we were soon on as intimate terms with them, as if we had known him for years.- he is a good Irishman, the son of a clergyman who had the luck to be han-ed [hanged?] in '98 and who I believe was the author of Billy Bluff. - The Judge represents Louisiana in the Senate of the U S. of which he is a distinguished member at his table we met some of the leading characters and had the good fortune several times to spend the evening in company with Mr Clay, one of the most eminent men in America he has given us an invitation to visit him at his residence in Kentucky, which we will be very happy to do, if we are in that part of the country. we have also an invitation from another Kentucky man, Mr [Crittenden?], Senator for that State - our acquaintances are rapidly increasing, and we have got plenty of letters of introduction for the South. With the exception of the capital which is a very noble building there is nothing worth seeing at Washington, to be sure it will be a very fine city when it is built, all it wants are the houses. The plan of the town is very extensive and well laid out, but I dont think it will be ever filled up. I must not forget to mention that we went to Mount Vernon, a place I felt much interest in visiting. It is on the banks of the Potomac, and as far as natural beauty goes is a very lovely spot, but miserably neglected there is not even an avenue to the house, the plan has grown wild the garden neglected, the conservatory fading to ruins every thing bears the look of desolation and decay. Near the house is a little dell, in the shade of some cedar trees is Washington's [Grave?] he is bound in a spot selected by himself he spent time before his death. We had the honor [honour?] of a private interview with the President, we were introduced by a member of Congress, to whom Mr Moore gave us a letter, old Hickory received us very courteously he chatted for half an hour with us, and gave his opinion very unreservedly & emphatically on some subjects.- I was surprised at the way in which he spoke on matters of state - but he is a man who never conceals his sentiments - he spoke of the French Government, in language by no means complimentary - & denounced the Banking system in very unmeasured terms - there are two subjects on which I am told he seldom speaks with patience he is a very tall thin old Gentleman without an ounce of flesh on his bones, his face is long, pale & wrinkled, and the way in which he wears his shaggy gray hair combed back, gives him a rather peculiar appearance. he has much urbanity & courtesy of manner, but in disposition is said to be the most unyielding of men, when he has come to a determination, the whole world could not change it, we were next introduced to a very different character the Vice President, Mr Van Buren who it is generally believed will be the successful candidate for the Presidency next election - he has the character of being a very clever man, and such a crooked politican, that he never talks a straight path, if he can possibly go by a circuitous route. Judge Porter one day drove us a few miles from Washington to the house of a Colonel Manford, where the widow of Theobald Wolfe Tone resides, and introduced us to her, she is a fine old lady with great veracity of manner, and a good taste of the brogue on her tongue - she expressed herself delighted to see the Irishmen so fresh from the sod, and begged us to visit her as often as we could, during our stay. Since our return to Baltimore, we have had engagements every day - I cannot express how extremely attentive Mr Moore has been to us, he has all the warmth of feeling & kindness of his family in Derry. Mrs Moore Ditto - We are quite at home at their house - of course we [see?] them every day & also Mrs Moores sisters family - the Armisteads- Mr Moore is one of the most respectable and influential inhabitants of this town and appears to be highly esteemed by every person. every day this week we were engaged, and have several engagements in advance more than we can fulfil tonight we are to be a ball - last Sunday we spent in the country with a Mr Gray, from the neighbourhood of Dungiven, he told me his father was Presbyterian Minister of Bovevagh. He is a relation of the Edwards of [Steaer?], and had a sister married to James Douglas, he has a large cotton factory about 12 miles from Baltimore, and is, I am told, very rich. We have met a great many noblemen here, the leading inhabitants of the town are all Irish. Henry Tyler will write from Charleston - all well at home, I hope We are well - love to all - remember me to the Doctor the Sampsons, [Shiefhills?] I suppose Helen is able to walk by this time - Believe me your affct [affectionate?] Thomas Cather |
