| Title: | Mary Cumming, Baltimore to Rev. Andrew Craig, Lisburn. |
|---|---|
| ID | 791 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cumming, Mary/37 |
| Year | 1814 |
| Sender | Cumming (n. Craig), Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | middle class housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev. Andrew Craig |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | daughter-father |
| Source | T 1475/2 p.128-131: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9 Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006112 |
| Date | 16/10/1814 (?) |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 01:11:1993. |
| Word Count | 1076 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Springfield, near Baltimore. October 14th. 1814. My dear Father, On the 11th. inst. I was made very happy by the receipt of your letter of the 30th, April, along with several others from my dear friends at home. It was a long time since I had heard from you before and most happy I am to hear you are all well, William and I left home for the Springs about the latter end of July, where we spent some time, but whether it was owing to the fatigue of travelling or some other cause, I did not derive the benefit from them which I expected; on the contrary I think I got weaker during my stay, but as there is no subject I dislike so much to dwell on as my own bad health, I shall say no more about it, only that I am much better and hope soon to be quite well again. We arrived here about a fortnight ago, and on Wednesday last William set off for Petersburg alone. The reason he left me was this;- my journey from New York to Baltimore fatigued me so much he was afraid of me undertaking as long a one as from this to Petersburg until I got stronger, and he had some business that required his immediate return. My dear Father will have heard long before this reaches him that all hope of peace between America and England is at an end, perhaps for many years. By the arrival of the "John Adams" about a week ago we heard the unwelcome intelligence that the American ministers were about to return without being able to bring about an honourable peace for this country. This was a sad disappointment to us, for now it is impossible to say when that event may take place. I never in all my life saw any person bear disappointments better than my dear William does, he always keeps up his spirits and hopes for happier days. To my great joy he has now determined on returning to Ireland in the course of next Summer, there will be little or no business to do in this country now, and I suffer so much from the climate that he will not run the risk of keeping me longer in it. The thought of this happy event which I have so long and ardently wished for makes me feel very happy, and I feel convinced my beloved friends at home will feel so too. I expect to be able to return to Petersburg about the beginning of next month, I shall be very anxious to see William, as it is the first time we have been separated for so long. We expect James Cumming here some time soon. I shall return with him or one of Mr. Brown's sons. I feel quite at home here, indeed the family pay me the greatest attention imaginable I saw Mr. John Oliver here the other evening, he and his brother's family are all well, they are all very intimate with the Browns. Mr. John Oliver showed me a letter which he #PAGE 2 received from you lately. Mrs. Oliver called to see me since I came here, she is a very pleasing lively women. Their country house is a very short distance from this. Mr. Brown has a very elegant carriage which I have the use of when I wish to go out. I am very pleased with Mrs. John Brown who came out to this country this Spring. She is daughter to Dr. Patrick of Ballymena, whom I dare say you have met with, she and I have long conversations about Ireland. Her husband's friends are all very much pleased with her. You will have heard long before this reaches you of the capture of Washington, and the attack made on Baltimore by the British. Mr. Brown's family went into the country till the alarm had subsided, two of his sons are in the army, they had to remain. We are almost now in the middle of a camp, nothing to be heard but the discordant fife and drum. The inhabitants are all busily engaged in preparing for another attack, which is feared will be made on them, how dreadfully situated this unfortunate country is. I hope and trust it will soon have a termination. I think the late demands of Great Britain have served to unite the people in favour of the war more than any other event that could have taken place. I mentioned in one of my letters of a purchase of flour which William made in Summer, and I am now happy to tell you that he made a large profit by the sale. This is pleasant and helps to keep up his spirits in these gloomy times, but he is of so cheerful a temper that he will never despond. I thank you for the seeds which you sent me, which I shall distribute among my friends, for I never hope to see them arrive at any perfection. I shall endeavour to collect as many roots and seeds for you as I can. If I have good health this winter will pass quickly away, for I trust and hope it is the last I shall spend in America. How delighted I am to hear of the happiness of my beloved Margaret! Long may it continue, and may I find all my dear friends well and happy on my return is my sincere prayer. I shall answer all my other letters when I get home and feel stronger. How proud I am at the flattering accounts I hear of my dear James and my sweet Rachel. I am very sorry to hear that Margaret Byers is in delicate health, I hope she is better long before this time. Remember me very affectionately to her and Miss McCully and to all my other friends. I know my dear Father will not neglect any opportunity of writing to me. The surest way always is to send your letter to W. Brown of Liverpool. The weather at present is very pleasant, and the woods beginning to assume their bright Autumnal tinge, which is beautiful beyond description. I envy Margaret that she lives near all her friends, but I cannot expect everything as I #PAGE 3 would wish. Give my kindest love to her and Rachel, and in wishing you every happiness I am, my dear Father, Your affectionate M. [Mary?] Cumming Rev. Andrew Craig. Lisburn, Co. Antrim, IRELAND. (Belfast Ship letter). |
