| Title: | John McClellen [McClelland?], Philadelphia, To "Dear Father". |
|---|---|
| ID | 3763 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcclellen, john/22 |
| Year | 1821 |
| Sender | McClellen, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | teacher |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | D 1005/1: Presented by Mrs M. Smyth, Larne, Co. Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9506127 |
| Date | 28/11/1821 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:06:1995. |
| Word Count | 1133 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [postmarked?] [Philadelphia?] SHIPLETTER TO: John McClelland [John McClellen?[ [Townland of Kilbride?] [Parish of Donegore?] [and County Antrim?] Ireland From: Philadelphia November 28th 1821 Dear Father Sincerely hoping that you may be yet in existance [existence?] I address this Letter to you, as without meaning any want of affection to others of my Connection, the satisfaction in writing to you is much greater than that of writing to any other on your Side of the Atlantic. I felt great disappointment in not receiving a letter either from you or my brother Charles by one or other of the Ships Jefferson or Ceres last Summer, but I soon afterwards received one by the way of Baltimore, which gave me great pleasure, to hear of your being in health and existence I had a Letter ready to send by the Ceres, at her last sailing from this Port, but in a day or two after I saw her advertisement for Sailing She was gone, and with much regret I lost the opportunity, but as this Vessel, by which this comes to you, is a regular [mail?] to Belfast. She will afford opportunities twice a year, at least of our writing to each other, which I hope may not in future be neglected by either one of us, as to me the trouble is not only considered very small but the pleasure very great. You are however to understand, that my Stock of matter for communication is very small, as all that relates to my own private affairs, and to those belonging to me is Composed in a very narrow Compass, and all that relates to our public affairs, you may know from the public prints with nearly as much accuracy as you would from me, but if I knew of any thing in particular that would be more acceptable to you than another concerning our State or General Government affairs I would with great pleasure, at any time inform you, as I have for these 30 years been a pretty close observer of all [?] publick [public?], relations, and State affairs, I am in the habit of[?] newspapers, and other legislative documents, so that I have always a tolerably correct view fo all the passing events of our wide extended Domain, which is an all reason extended wide enough, but Still I think our acquisitions of Louisiana, and the Floridas were for the better, as the former has insured our western Country the uninterrupted navigation of the Mississippi, and the latter gives us greater Security against foreign invasion, and against domestic Indian Enemies. We have now 22 Governments, mature and independent besides a few others, nearly grown to manhood, yet in some essential points they are all under, the parental Care, protection, and Control, of the great foster father, the general Government, we had an enumeration of the inhabitants taken about year ago but the result is not yet published. So that the number can yet only be partially known, it is expected to be published soon after the meeting of Congress, which is to take place on the 3d December. The presumption however is that the number may be nearly Eleven millions, the three States of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have upwards of 3 millions, but they are the most populous, Notwithstanding the very general and Sensible depression to business that has been felt for some years past, Our Country is in almost every quarter making very great advances in improvements, of almost every kind, in Art, Sciences, Manufactures, and in Roads, Bridges, Canals &c to an amazing extent, aye and if banking establishments be any improvement we have them as plenty, but somewhat more Costly, as you have Cot tacks in your Country, and on our Rivers west of the Alleghany hills there are upwards of 70 Steam boats, our manufactures are rapidly forcing their way forward by the enterprize [enterprise?] of individuals, although our general Government has shewed no disposition to encourage them as they ought to have done, by increasing the duties on foreign goods. My son Charles Still remains in the States of Alabama he was not here last Summer for goods as expected, but I suppose he will visit us sometime in the winter, so as to take out an early supply of goods for the Spring Sales, I hear from him once in about every three Months, the time required for a Letter to come or go is 21 or 22 days but between places near the Seaboard the Communication is much quicker, it is no uncommon thing for a person to come from New York to Philada [Philadelphia?] (100 miles) and return to New York the Same evening, partly by Steam boat passage and partly by land conveyance. My daughters are still in Philadelphia, and in good health, they have a maiden Aunt who is rich and getting pretty old, and the probability is that at her death they may get some property, I have yet heard nothing either directly or indirectly from my brother Robert but the probability is that my Son may come that way on his route to Philada [Philadelphia?] and may perhaps see him if he should, I will let you know when I write again, neither [?] I had any thing from any of the families of McKinstrys, and don't know whether the old woman is dead or living, the Son Thomas who has the most property of any of them is as Complete an Earth worm as ever lived he has never ventured to marry, and I really believe from fear of increasing Expenses, he seems to think the great object of his being brought into the world is for the purpose of acquiring property, and he is deserving of Considerable merit in that respect, if merit there is in being a selfish and plodding drudge, but he can scarcely spare the time to write to any of his Connexions. [Connections ?] As far as respects myself I have only to inform you that I retain my health remarkably well, that I live very well, and am very well Satisfied with my lot in this World. I hope you will not miss the Opportunity of writing to me by the return of the Ship Ceres, and your direction may Just be to John McClellen, teacher Philadelphia, I am often enough at the Post-office to get the letter before it can long remain there, and when you write, let me know how my Uncle Robert and his family are, and how all my Sisters and their families are, and of any other old Standards of my acquaintance who may be living near you Flaxseed is selling here at this time for about 50 Sterling a Hogshead Clean and may probably not be much higher if you [______ __________________________________________] [?]ce greatly be [?] [________] down the fr[?] [________?] I remain [?] [?] affectionate Son John McClellen Mr John McClellen |
