| Title: | W.G. Weir, New York, to His Family, Banbridge, Co.Down. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3256 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Weir, William George/15 |
| Year | 1859 |
| Sender | Weir, William George |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | D1948/3/9: Presented by P.J.V. Doake, Kinallen, Dromara, Co.Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9501396 |
| Date | 01/06/1859 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 30:01:1995. |
| Word Count | 1148 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | The Fairmount water works are another sight of the City this is a large reservoir & filtering bed which supplies the City abundantly. The river Schulkill runs at at the foot of the reservoir there is a weir at this place and a race which turn several large water wheels these work a number of powerfull [powerful?] force pumpers throwing the water up to the reservoir. There is a nice shady walk around the works containing nice fountains. The Schulkill River is beautifully clean as it is purposily [purposely?] kept so There are a great of boat clubs in Philad [Philadelphia?] and they have their boats on this river. They can row 20 miles or so up so that it is a very good place. I visited the mint and saw them making coin of various deseriptions [descriptions?]. Also the navy yard there is only one small Gun boat on the stocks there at present with two or three men of war lying off. The hall of Independence is considered almost as sacred ground by the Americans, as it was here the declaration was signed. It is kept in pretty much the same way as when this was declared, contains pictures and statues of Washington & his family A large bronze bell broken in ringing at the rejoicings for Liberty. Trophies taken from the British & etc. I saw also the house of Mr Penn the settler of Pennsylvania The delaware is a fine broad and deep river A country with such rivers as America should be prosperous indeed. In a former letter in describaing [describing?] Mr Stuarts [Stewart?] place I think I only finished off the Garden. I did not tell you anything about the farm yard which is also most complete in every respect The stables and Coach houses rival that of the [Firze?] Mr Stuart [Stewart?] has some fast horses and fine light carriages. The farm is about the same size as Papa's and is planted with wheat, (which is often bearded here) Indian corn, Potatoes and very coarse and what we would call bad grass. Mr S - [Mr Stuart?] [Stewart?] has no taste himself for farming and he has a steady practical farmer who manages all. They have about 15 cows. The milk house is a curiosity it is built on a spring and the water covers the floor to the depth of about 4 inches. Thi [the?] pans containing the milk are laid in the water and this keeps it fresh and cool. the surplus water runs into a pond about 100 yards long by 5 broad, there are two row boats on the pond and as it is only 3 feet deep it is a good place for the chidren to enjoy them selves upon, I added to the naval force on this sea by making a nice little smack about 15inches long for Geo [George?] Stuart [Stewart?] Junr, I made a good model hollowed out well. the sails to furl up and two little cannons on deck, she sailed pretty fast, and Miss Stuart [Stewart?], who christened her gave the Name of "Harriet Weir" in honor [honour?] of the mother of the builder The water after flowing out of the lake supplies a bath for the Laborsers [labourers?] and then a portion of it is [numfied?] up to the house and the greenhouses, by hydraulic Rams, which are self acting, and work day and night. I forgot to mention that there is a small stream flows into the Lake and that it is soft water that is pumped up, so that they have an inexhaustable supply for washing and other purposes. It occurs to me that water from our garden River could be forced up by the same thus giving a river to supply the house as Mr McGee said we would require. I daresay Papa will remember Mr Jas [Jason?] Garvan who was at our house when we lived in Bellevue He is now dying in Philadelphia of a terrible, disease, called, "stricture of the Aesophagus [oesophagus?]". the same that Napoleon died of - a cancer is growing just at the entrance of his stomach which is gradually increasing, even now although with a very good appetite he is not able to swallow anything almost, not even water and at length the passage will be entirely closed and he must die of starvation! The Doctors can do nothing for him. He knows he is dying. At first when he was told so, I believe it was a most distressing scene. Mr Stuart [Stewart?] told him he seemed overwhelmed, implored them not to let him die said he had not lived for this, (he was a very popular and gay man and a ladies man) and that his peace was not made with god. That it would be an insult to Christ to offer him his heart now, when he had spent his life without him, now when he was constrained to do so. He continued in this frame of mind for some week, although reasoned with by different good men, and attending prayer meetings for he was and still is able to move about At length however he appeared to get over this and is now resigned and calm although his faith is week [weak?] sometimes I saw him often it was a solemn thing to have a man before you, condemned to death as it were and I hope I profited by the solemn lesson. There is great joy here about the Revivals in Ireland I hope they will spread quickly, the fits are unaccountable there was something similar in Kentucky some time ago, however I think there may be some over exitement about it, There are still many people converted in Philadelphia at the tent and other places. When I left Mrs Stewart said she was sorry I had not staid [stayed?] longer, and that I must come back at least at Christmas and spend some time with them I am to write her how I get along in New York with Mr Stuart [Stewart?] the [they?] stopped all night with a Dr Murray called "Kirwan" a famous contraversialist [controversialist?] at Elizabethtown he [his?] wife is a most amiable & kind lady She asked me to come out to spend some sabbath with them. I am trying to get a better boarding house and no doubt I will be able to tell you something more of this by my next. Meantime I must conclude. With Love to Mamma Papa and all the children & kind rememberances to Dr Givan & Miss Deeble (if she is there yet) I remain Your Affect brother Wm [William?] Geo [George?] Weir P.S. I send this by Mr Moore who is going home by City of Manchester 16/2 AM 25th June I am now going to see him off Wm Geo Weir |
