| Title: | William Stavely, Nationa, to his brother-in-law, James, |
|---|---|
| ID | 3063 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Stavely, William J/42 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Stavely, William J. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | sales supervisor |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Natrona, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Stavely, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers-in-law |
| Source | D1835/27/3/5: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310739 |
| Date | 26/12/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 26:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 135 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Nationa December 26th 1864 My dear James Enclosed please receive receipt for last half yearly dividend which I have dated, on the day it was received, accept my grateful acknowledgement of your attention in this matter. Yours of 12th November to hand on the 30th during my temporary absence in Pittsburgh, my not having replied sooner was because, I knew it was not required, that I knew that if I lived untill [until?] this day I would be disengaged, besides I expected to have all my family with me this day. You appear to consider, I neglected your hurt, about my visiting my native land I did not take notice of it, because I knew my returning thither would answer no good and, You know their [there?] are radical objections against my returning at present. These I need not now enumerate, but if their [there?] were no objections, on your side, the water the cost would be considerable, more than I can save, out of the labour of an entire year. Besides it might operate against me in retaining my present situation. And I would rather remain with this company for the present. Having said this much, I would also observe, it would have been desirable for me to have seen my father but I must be content as it is God has fixed the boundary of my habitation. You appear to think it would be well for me to get acquainted with religious men; with good men I some times meet, truly religious men, those who do as they would be done by who love their neighbour as their self are very scattered. In 36 years I have met with but few. The Mr. Gregg, of whom you write is not very much either in the Church nor out of it. I consider him an ignorant, purse proud, selfish man. He is displeased with me because I do not buy goods from him. I meet him very often in Philadelphia, when his "How do you do" is very dry _ but he is more affable, if at any time, I make a small purchase in his store. My advice to you is if you have any means to spare, expend it in sending the Bible to the Heathen, or in buying food and clothing for the poor, in the lowest alleys of Belfast beyond as much civility as will decently pass you, expend nothing on Americans whether in the Church or out of it, they take advantage of your kindness. If you were working in some bodies [somebody's?] factory from six Oclock [o'clock?] in the morning untill [until?] 9 at night for £60 or £70 per annum and living in some secluded place these people would scarcely see you. Their [There?] may #PAGE 2 be an honourable exception but the above is the rule. My family are all well, and with me this day _ Joseph returned here about 12 days since and leaves again in the end of February. Hannah came home on Friday and leaves tomorrow week. I think these children are improving _ at least I hope so, whither they are or not it is clearly my duty to do all I can to educate them, in the hope the instructions given them may be found after many days [?] The news this morning is favourable for the Federal Armies. We have captured Savannah, with 33,000 Bales Cotton this success will, lower the price of some things, and increase the price of others. Goods generally are very high we retail probably at $120 per bushel Beans 12 to 15 cents per [lb?], flour $12.50 per barrel, green pork $16 per cut by the hog, Butter 50 cents per pound, the heavy brown muslin intended for [------?] is retailed at 75 cents per yard and fruit are from 40 to fifty cents per [..?] and good brown sugar 28 cents per pound, [---?] less [?] 1 60 [--------?] 180 [-----?] and Imperial green 2.25 per pound everything has assumed a ficticious [fictitious?] value people who have only fixed incomes have enough to do with their means. We con[------?] to late stock on Monday next, I think we have done well the past six months. Please let me know as often as you can about my Father. Please present my kindest regards to Anne, and wishing you all many happy returns of the season. I am sincerely your attached brother, Wm. [William?] Stavely |
