| Title: | Robert [?], Toronto, Canada to his sister, Annie. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2317 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Robert/21 |
| Year | 1888 |
| Sender | Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | Annie |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | T 1639/7: Copied by Permission of S. N. Kyle Esq., Solicitor, Limavady, Co. Londonderry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8903131 |
| Date | 22/05/1888 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 21:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 610 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Tuesday May 22nd 1888 5 Carr st Toronto Dear Annie yours came to hand to-day I have got to go back to Long Branch for a few days to finish up another mans job & as to-morrow is the day that the English post leaves I thought it better to write at once Your mention of my remarks of a chance of better times in Canada this summer I am much afraid are premature, coupled as they are with your next namely the enormous emigration from Ireland (you might have included England & scotland) I think I told you before that we are overcrowded as it is and any persons coming to the cities are only adding to the pauper population, what is wanted is good handy men and women with a little money to go back to the North West where there is plenty for all Last week there was about 1000 dumped into this place and nothing to do for them, and when they were interviewed the largest sum any of them had was 2/- I told you before that any body who can [equal?] wont get dying of hunger but it came very near it this time for all the "combined charities" had their hand full owng [owing?] to former batches of the same class of usless [useless?] immigrants but thanks to the "salvation army" and some other well disposed person, they are all housed some place, God only knows what will become of some of them this is not spoken with any irreverence as some of them were mothers with 6 or 7 children #PAGE 2 one of them at the breast Emigration agents have a lot to make answer for You make a remark about Mothers will stating that if I am in need you will arrange to send the amount at once In the strict meaning of the word I am not in need, nor do I think that I ever said anything since I came here that could reasonably be constructed into a hint that I ever have been in that position nor so far as human eye can see will I be in so miserable a state But at the same I think from the following reasons, if you have enough left to live on you may as well send it I am at the present time paying on $2000 insurance on my life so that in the event of my wife living after me she will not be at the necessity of asking any body either in Ireland or scotland to help to bury me, and if the other comes I will invest it in part payment of a house & lot for to live in so long as I live and for her beneffit [benefit?] if she lives after me, perhaps this requires a little explanation which is easily given (every one of my young ones can do for his or herself as far as James is now! and if I have my health for a few years each in his or her turn must be on the same position) so you see it narrows down to a very fine point. Ellen & I In looking back I remember I did send for a loan of 50 pounds from Uncle Wm [William?] but I would not have done so only I thought that he was in reasonably fair circumstances but is [it?] seems we were all mistaken It seems queer to me if cousin Robt [Robert?] after living so long on this side of the ocean settles down on the half of Glasgow (unless you mean the #PAGE 3 Townland) but every one to his taste Your aff [affectionate?] Brother Robt [Robert?] |
