| Title: | John Kerr to David Graham |
|---|---|
| ID | 6233 |
| Collection | Ulster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells] |
| File | ulsterm/36 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | Kerr, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | schoolmaster |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Perrysville, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Newpark, Co. Antrim |
| Recipient | Graham, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1136 |
| Genre | family, change of residence, potato crops, politics |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Perrysville, Pennsylvania Date: 24 November 1845 I received James letter on the 15th of this month, brought by William Kyle to this country. It contains news, which, although expected did not fail to cause sorrow. What a change a few years have made! How uncertain life is, even to the youngest! The manner in which James' letter is written pleased me exceedingly both with respect to the writing and composition. Someone must have certainly dictated it to him; for I think he could not write such a letter himself. If he did write it, however, he is making rapid strides, at least in that branch of his education. I had left Butler County when the letter arrived; but it was forwarded to me to Pittsburgh. It was posted at Locust Hill, Washington Co. in this state, about 30 miles from Pittsburgh. I am again teaching school at Perrysville. I have the same [wages?] 18 dollars per month, and pay 6 dollars per month for boarding etc. My health is restored—the pain has left my side—and I am in good health and spirit. I believe the pain was caused by my sitting [at?] a low table while studying, and my headaches, by fits of indigestion and [ ]. For Butler County is a poor place to live in, much less to study: tables and everything else being scarce there. I would not have gone there to study, only I lent Mr. Oliver money several years ago; he being unable to pay me in money, it was better to take what way I thought. James did not inform me whether Samuel G. had gone to school again or not. I suppose he and David got the pieces of paper I sent to them in A. Black's letter. Rev. A. H. Wright, a clergyman of this country, went to Ireland last September to see his mother, and for the benefit of his health, and also, to beg money for the rebuilding of a church which was burnt during the great fire in Pittsburgh. 1 gave him a letter of introduction to you. I suppose he has called on you before this time. The papers contain most melancholy news concerning the crops in Europe. I fear the people in England and Ireland will suffer very much. The papers say that the potatoes are almost all rotten; that in some places in Ireland, there will not be seed for next year. Let me know if this is true, and what is the state of the crop in the North. The crops in this country were better than expected. In some places there was a failure; but on the whole there has been more wheat this year, than in any [one?] previous. The potatoes have the same disease here that they have in Ireland. They are dear—50 cents per bushel—last year they were only 18 or 25. I am sorry to hear that there have been disturbances in Ireland. The affair at Ballinahaffig was a very melancholy affair. We had it in the papers. The newspaper which you sent last Spring arrived. I am always very glad to see an Irish newspaper. If ever you get hold of the Northern Whig, I wish you would send it. I would certainly be a Whig, if I were in Ireland. The principles of the Tories are too aristocratic and indeed are unjust. Do you yet vote for the Tories? I would almost as soon vote for a Catholic. I see by the papers that the Orangemen are again organising their societies. An immense meeting I see took place sometime ago at Lisburn. Now is it not remarkable that the Orangemen by their organising and processions to transgress that law made, or at least sanctioned by their own party, the Tories, who are now in power? They pretend that they are the defenders of the Constitution, whilst they disregard and break laws made under that Constitution which they pretend so much to reverence. But what is Orangeism? The most tyrannical society in the world. If there be any organization or body of men, which deserves the desecration of the friend of justice, the friend of peace, or the friend of his country, it is that of the Orangemen. A secret society of any kind is wrong—morally and politically wrong; but a society the avowed object of which is to oppress their fellowmen; whose principles arc to deprive men of rights which belong to everyone that breathes; such a society is insufferable, such principles are detestable. Would the Irishman could see things in their proper light. The Protestants do not see that in depriving the Catholics of voting, they are binding the feters of tyranny closer on themselves. The poor Catholicis persecuted on account of his religion by those who have no religion: He is persecuted for his race, by those descended from a people who in their state of barbarism, and even in civilisation, were guilty of the greatest cruelties and injustice the world ever saw. There is one thing certain; no person ever was converted, even to the truth, by persecution. Even the least disposition to intolerance is sufficient to make a man confirmed in his own doctrine, or convinced that the one which has persecutions would cause him to embrace is not the right one. The Catholics should be treated kindly. There should be no penal laws, no religious disabilities; every man ought to have equal privileges—Catholic and Protestant. Then and not till then, may we hope to see Ireland a Protestant country, and her people prosperous and happy. Read Taylor's History of Ireland. Remember Taylor is a Protestant. The Oregon question, I believe, will be rather difficult to settle. A great number here consider that the claim of England to apart of it is good; the President and his party are determined to have it all. What is the intention of the British parliament and people concerning it? I must finish. Give my love to all both at Ncwpark and Liskinie. I am ever your affectionate nephew. Direct: Perrysville, Alegheny County, Pennsylvania, United Slates etc., as you did before. Postscript: number your letters, and I will know if any be lost I have numbered this, No. 1,45. Second postscript: the smallpox is bad in Pittsburgh: those who have been vaccinated are taking it. It is called [veraloid?] when those who have been vaccinated have it. It is only a moderate kind of smallpox. Write soon and send me papers. I enclose a letter to William, which you will please send him. I likewise send enclosed a short essay on Authority for the boys. Let them study it well, and remember it. I enclose also a view of Pittsburgh. John Kerr |
