| Title: | Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa Illinois, to His Brother. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1234 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Greenlees, Andrew/7 |
| Year | 1854 |
| Sender | Greenlees, Andrew |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ottawa, Illinois, USA |
| Destination | Magheramore, Co. Wicklow, Ireland |
| Recipient | Greenlees, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T 2046/5: Copied by Permission of Aiken McClelland Esq. 3 Beechill Pk.Ave., Saintfield Rd. Belfast 8. #TYPE EMG Emigrant Letter from Andrew Greenlees, Ottawa [Illinois?] to His Brother: March 10, 1854. |
| Archive | Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 8911024 |
| Date | 10/03/1854 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 13:11:1989 LT created 19:12:1989 L input 16:01:199 |
| Word Count | 1200 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Ottawa March 10th 1854 Dear Brother your kind favour of November 14th was duly recieved [received?], and I now proceed to answer it it gives me great satisfaction to hear of your welfare, truly your Collegiate course has been strewed with honours and indeed I rejoice with you in them all, how quick time is rolling past it seems to me but a few days since you and I used to enjoy ourselves as children only can do under the Parental way, but those days of childhood are passed away and we are now passed as it were into manhood, as men therefore we are called upon to discharge our duties with vigour and energy, we have both a work to do, you in Providence of God will soon or probably is now called upon to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ tis [it is?] a blessed work a high and holy calling God grant that you may be sustained by strengthing [strenthening?] grace from on high and like St Paul be instant in season and out of season shining not to declare the whole counsel of God, I have also a work to do all men are capable of doing some good the man who had only the one Intent entrusted to his care was held as responsible [how?] he used it as him who had five from this I would infer that all rational men are held accountable how or in what maner [manner?] the [they?] have improved the Intents that God has given them under this argument I am then as accountable to God for the few talents he has given me as you are for the many or rather the augmentation of what he has given you pray therefore that I may not hide my talent in a napkin but that I may improve it for Gods glory and my own Good you ask my how I spend my sabbaths I go to Church occassionaly [occasionally?] though not so often as I would like we only have preaching once in two weeks and then it is a methodist preacher and not very benificial [beneficial?]at that we had some prospects of having a presbeterian [presbyterian?] Minister last fall but circumstances occurred [occurred?] to hinder him from coming I do not enjoy the same privilege living in the country as I used to when in the City of hearing good Sermons, a talented Clergyman here would command a good salary but the eastern folks thinks anything will do the barbarians in the west and send on few that is capable of doing any good, as for books we have plenty of them the American people are emphatically a reading people, if you would come out here you might be the means of doing a great deal of good if you did not like the country you could go back again and I think after six years such close study as you have had a six months or twelve months tour would do you good I would like to see you once more I think if I could afford it a three months visit at home would do me good I answered Fathers letters some time ago you mentioned in yours that sister Jane was about to write to cousin Helen I think she is pretty long about it Helen thinks she is [rather?] neglectful about writing please remember me to all my old friends and accquaintances [acquaintances?] how I would like to visit home again, but such a thought I need not indulge in I persume [presume?] there is no better prospects for a mans making a living there now than when I left it markets are high and tenantsrights will necessarily be high too our friends here are all well as far as I know I have not had any word from Troy this long time I don't know what's the reason none of them writes to me Samuel and John Semple were well the last accounts from them James and Jane Brown and family were well.) we have had a very severe winter here the like of it has not been known for a great number of years markets has been pretty high but the prospects of peace in Europe has damped them a little. you will see by the papers that we have rather exciting times now slavery and freedom seems ready for a fight freedom gained the first victory in Congress by the election of Banks to the speakership after a hard struggle Banks is a strong antislavery man I think the time has now come when slavery has got to fall there is great excitement about the territority [territory?] of Keansas [Kansas?] the south determined to bring under the curse of slavery abolitionists of the north determined that slavery shall never extend its domain over the free soil of Kansas there the matter rests blood has already been shed by the [billigerents?] a civil war would not be anything unnatural to look for and if it be the means by which slavery is to be done away with the sooner it comes the better I must now draw to a close I will direct this to home in case you may have shifted your boarding house give my kind love to Robert Jane Ellen Agnes and them all I hope Father and Mother are well I send them my best respects I expect to have a letter from Father soon when I shall here [hear?] all the news I hope Aunt Brown has again recovered I am sorry to hear of her sickness also of Cousin Eliza I hope the afflicting rod will soon be removed give her my warmest wishes (I want to know who sings in our church since the death of William Brown or if you have any singing this country far excels the old for church music in general) every Church in the city has a good organ and a choice choir of singers which is very pleasing at least to the ear and is a very essential part of the worship of God David speaks of Praising God with timbret [timbre?] and harp upon a ten stringed instrument sing praise to the most high, in old testament times praise seems to have been the most essential part of the worship, we lack a great deal of coming up with them in this particular branch of worship of God forgive all mistakes and except [accept?] of my warmest wishes very affectionately yours Andrew Greenlees Dear son - We are sure this will be very welcome to you - you can say in writing that I have replied to his last - and that Ellen replied to cousin Ellen's but it appears to have miscaried [miscarried?] but Jane will write again - Ellen was at uncle's marriage yesterday - they returnd [returned?] to Janes from Hillhead and Jane went down in the evening Robert was asked but his state of health prevented him - none of his family were there - Mother is still suffering from tooth ache [toothache?] - Aunt Semple was at the [?] when I saw her yesterday but still poorly |
