| Title: | A M'Leod Staveley to "My very dear Sister" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1736 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | McLeod Staveley, Alex/102 |
| Year | 1830 |
| Sender | McLeod, Alex |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | Presbyterian minister |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Augusta, Georgia, USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D 1792/E: Deposited by the late Rev. J.C.K. Armour and the Rev. J.S.S. Armour |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9909290 |
| Date | 09/04/1830 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 05:10:99. |
| Word Count | 1797 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Augusta, Geo. [Georgia?] April 9th 1830 My very dear Sister I know that you will be very anxious to hear from me at length, and I therefore commenced this letter. It will best suit good wishes for me to furnish you with a brief outline of my wanderings during the last four weeks. Suffice it to observe that after having received much personal kindness in Baltimore I left for the South on the afternoon of the 8th [----?] (Sunday) My last stage was to Washington, in the district of Columbia the Capitol of the United States. I watched that City 40 miles by Railroad, in a short time and found my way to the house of Rev. Mr. Smith, New School Paisley [---?] as I had previously seen him in Baltimore and been invited to stop at his house. I there met the Rev. Dr. [Pomroy?] of Boston one of the Secretaries of the American Board of Foreign Missions, who travelled some months ago to the land of Palestine - Mrs Smith was just preparing to attend a service that evening at the White House, the official Residence of the President of the United States. I accompanied her and had there an opportunity of being introduced to General [Ja----?], and many of the "lions" of the Republic - there was also a full presentation of the Ladies. Low dresses and short sleeves to a extent almost [pr------?] - The President is a plain Old Gentleman, wary to converse with any one and no way participated as to what may be the subject of conversation. He is also [just?] rather common place, and you feel astonished that such a man should have gained so many laurels in this field of Battle.... On Sabbath I had an opportunity of preaching to a colonised congregation under the care of Mr Cooke a colonised Minister - Monday & Tuesday I spent at the Capitol, in Congress, and at the House of Representations - saw & heard [---- ---------?] [------ -------?] Had I leisence [license?] an illustration of all this might be interesting but present circumstances forbid my enlarging. On Wednesday morning I left for Charleston, South Carolina - By steamboat to Acquia Creek 55 miles - By cars to Washington 169 miles & thence to Charleston by boat - 180 miles. Arrived in Charleston on the 15th. Heard that Mrs. & M Bones were in town - next morning Mrs B & Mr. Adger the host of the former called at the Hotel - I met Mary Bones that day at Mr. Adgers where we had a large dinner party, and a most scrumptious dinner - I remained at Mr. Adgers house during my stay in Charleston. On Sabbath next day forenoon I preached for the Revd. Dr. [Long?] & he who has had a sight attack of [Punal----?] and is in a very delicate state of health. Dr. S. is son in law to Dr. [----?] Adger. He is a very worthy man, a distinguished scholar, & showed me much kindness - On Monday we all dined at Dr. Smiths - On Tuesday at the Revd. Mr Adgers late missionary to [Imgr---?]. Wednesday was spent at Sullivans Island, where we had quite a pleasant party in honour of Mr & Mrs Bones. under the superintendence of another Mr & Mrs Adger. On Thursday Mr & Mrs Bones, with Miss Martha Moon, sister to a young lady that you have seen in [------?] left for Savannah. - I thought it better to remain for a time in Charleston as I had not yet been able to make any collections there - I felt exceedingly alone after my friends left, the weather was wet and uncomfortable a little time and patience however brought the Sabbath. [torn] I preached [torn] for Mr [torn] Scotch Kirk minister, & once for Dr Long The following Monday was was decidedly the best day in Money matters that I have had since I came to the States. Altogether Charleston gives about ($160) One hundred & 60 dollars to my general Building fund - On the following day Tuesday the 28th of March I left for Savannah, 125 miles by steamboat - My friends had left for home the day previous to my arrival. However I had some introductions & soon found a very comfortable home with Mr. Duncan a Scotch man by birth, a respectable merchant - on the following day I made collections & in the evening preached for Dr. Preston the Presbyterian [--------- -------?] it being his weekly lecture - I had very considerable success in Savannah - The [B----?] and Consul Mr. [Mollyment?] gave me twenty dollars & found others 10 each. - I remained one Sabbath and preached on it for Dr. Preston, who has the largest congregation in the place - the most splendid of all splendid Churches, and a salary of some ÷600 [S/g?] per annum. I likewise preached for Mr Ross, the old school Presbyterian Minister but he has only a few hearers. On the following Tuesday the 2d. of April I left for Augusta Came 90 miles by railway & 50 in the night seat on the by stage, a horrendous night of rain, and a road of all bad roads bad. I should have come by the Savannah [----?] which would have been much more tedious but Mrs Duncan had recommended me to this route and we did not expect such a torrent of rain - myself-trunk carpet bag & every thing suffered much - However this brought me to a comfortable home and many warm hearts - Of course my relatives received me with all possible kindness - Their interests & possessions are rich and expensive, & with them all I feel perfectly at home - Mary especially seems delighted by having me here. Mr Bones has a Carriage & two fine Carriage horses, & two beautiful saddle horses - He and I rode out yesterday afternoon to the Sand Hills - His countryside truly a delightful spot - It is beautifully situated three miles from the City and commands a fine view of the country around There are many other residences in the same neighbourhood & a graveyard where uncle & aunt Bones are interred - I preached part of last Sabbath for Mr Rodgers in the Presbyterian Church - & in the evening to a coloured congregation. There are two [ch----?] men only in this place collecting at present. One Agent for the Sunday School house - the other Agent for the Evangelical Society - I expect to do better here in the way of Collecting probably I may [manage?] some one hundred dollars but I do not expect now, as they have had a number of demands and are building a second Presbyterian Church. I have abandoned the idea of crossing from this to St Lois [Louis?] - there would be a journey of 171 miles to Atlanta, by railway - of 433 to Memphis, principally by stage & 420 by water to take me there & then I would be 600 miles from Mineral Point - I intend to leave for Baltimore on my return next week if no change comes on my [-----?] - thence to Pittsburgh which I feel that I must visit - I scarcely think that I will go further west but will probably return by Philadelphia & New York- to my home & I am quite wearied by my long absence and wish to return I may be able to do so by the end of May - I feel that I have done all in my power to raise funds & hope to make my people nearly ÷400 the less in debt by my absence. I have much to say but cannot now Mary Bones has a severe cold at present which rather interferes with my going out but I think she is somewhat better today The letter my father sent last to Mr [Caldwell?] reached me here - I may from you by this mail. I scarcely know where you could now write to me - James [Noodlich?] 409 Market St. Philadelphia might be as good an address as I could mention - I will certainly leave for Baltimore en route to Pittsburgh next week, if nothing special comes to interfere with my plans - Wednesday April 10 1830 I wrote the above hastily yesterday afternoon before taking a ride out with Cousin Mary & preaching in the evening as I did for the Rodgers. He by the way is likewise in a very delicate state of health & it is unable to preach - you will scarcely find any of the ministers in this country who are not complaining less or more - I have therefore been employed every Sabbath, and generally speaking once or twice every in preaching Collecting money for any purpose & more especially for a Church in another country is not easy task. There is a great deal of labour and anxiety and I long for the end of my excursions in this way. John & James brown are very well - He lives about 15 miles out of the city. He was in on Sabbath I intend going out there tomorrow - I had a letter from brother William last week He does not insist - particularly on my going there - If so I would not think of crossing from this to the Mississippi, as that is alleged by all to be a most tedious journey - I have still something to do in the Northern Cities after all they do most - I long to hear more particularly of my fathers health although I hope that he is better - I have many things to say, but cannot now When I have leisure after my [wh----?] to St John I may write to you at length - now I can only state a few facts and that to in the most careless way. Miss Longs [----?] appears to enjoy good health - I do not particularly admire the young ladies of this locality - The country is very fine & its inhabitants are an accomplished people possessing in an eminent degree the comforts and conveniences of life I beg you to remember me in the kindest manner to all the family & to my friends I rejoice to hear of little Maggies [-------?] Mention me with affection to Dr. Moore I had a letter from John Last week. Mrs Moore Mrs Moore has a little son about seven weeks old - Excuse my dear Anne this hasty scribble from your ever fond & affectionate brother Alexander M'Leod [McLeod?] Staveley |
