| Title: | A. Bradley, New Zealand, to Samuel Carse, [?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 276 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Bradley, A/44 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Bradley, A. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Destination | Saintfield, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Carse, Samuel |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | Donated by Mrs. I.J. Beattie, 120 Carsonstown Rd., Lisowen, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 7JN, N.Ireland |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9903189 |
| Date | 01/09/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 19:03:99. |
| Word Count | 825 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Auckland N.Z. 1 Sept 1864 Mr Saml Carse My Dear Sir How much pleasure it gave me and all my family to have a kind letter from you by last mail none but one separated forever from their native country can form an opinion. I have written several letters to old friends, but with one or two exceptions they all seem to think friendship should die out by a change of country. Your letter gave us a great deal of information, some that gave us pain. Your Mother has always been a particular friend with us, and I need not say how concerned we have been to hear of her accident. Her gay happy temperament will I am sure be put to severe trial, for even the encrease [increase?] of years is often sufficient provocation for perishness, and should be remembered by those who attend on old persons. From all I have seen of Mrs C junr [junior?] I am sure she will shew [show?] a daughters regard for your Mother. Mrs. B has often expressed her regret that she could not have had a parting word with her before she left, but perhaps it would have been too painful. We are sorry the loss Mrs. Crosby has sustained in the death of her son. He was I am sure a discreet and steady manager for the family. I am also sorry to know of Mr. D Clelands failing health. I wrote to both Thomas and him in last May and would be most anxious to hear from some one of them how his health goes now. You will please give our kind regards to them all. If we could be thankful for the blessing we all enjoy the best of health for this or the land where Health as made headquarters. With the exception of irregularity of the bowels occasioned by change of diet, and which time alone will rectify, we have no sickness. There is certainly much mortality amongst infant children, more so amongst those of European parents, but unless those who are debauched or of old chronic diseases, deaths are not frequent. The climate is such that neither excess of heat or cold prevails. Our close proximity to the sea on both sides of the island accounts for this. We learn that a large number of emigrants are coming out from the provence [province?] of Ulster under presbyterian auspices. I hope Saintfield and its neighbourhood will not be overlooked but this depends much on the vigilence of the clergy. There is no where else on earth that the willing working man or woman can be so well regarded for their labor [labour?]. Indeed above all others trades people and laborers [labourers?] are the most prosperous. Many lay by the surplus of their earnings, purchase building ground, and soon knock up a weather-board house, which will last some 20 years. They are then on the way to independence. Wages are such, laborers [labourers?] from 5 to 8 shillings and trades people 10 to 15 per day, how can they, if at all careful and avoid the dram shop, but save vastly. Of course as population encreases [increases?] lower wages must follow, but the early worm is now here for the bird. The time will come when the farmer will have his turn, but at present his acres must lie idle unless he can undergo the toil himself. The above wages are the consequence of so much house-building, road making etc and from the draft taken away for militia service. There are agents sent over to the old country to induce & promote emigration. If you know of any party desirious of coming out I dare say full information will be obtained in Belfast, if it has not already appeared in the newspapers or in handbills. You ask do I meet with anyone to join in half a glass of punch. The term half-glass or Johnny is not used here. It is called a Nobbler, but I nobble very little. Rum & ale are the principal drinks. I could still enjoy a tumbler of good old John Millan with a hearty friend. We pay for Dunville's best 4/6 [per?] bottle 5 noggins, it has got established here, but Scotish [Scottish?] Whiskey more so. We are sorry also to hear of Mrs. Anderson's delicate health; she has too much solicitude to undergo in Mr. A's present undertakings. I hope he will be rewarded for his enterprize [enterprise?]. I got a newspaper by your kindness and now send you one. You will please remember me to all old friends, and tender our sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of your poor Mother which I hope she will have secured before this reaches you. All here join me in kind regard to Mrs C and the other members of your family, and in best wishes for your health & happiness I am sincerely yours P.S. When convenient I will A Bradley be glad to hear from you. |
