| Title: | William Murphy to Martin Murphy, 18 July 1863 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4030 |
| Collection | Argentina - Murphy |
| File | murphy/5 |
| Year | 1863 |
| Sender | Murphy, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle breeder |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | San Martin, Salto, Argentina |
| Destination | Haysland, Co. Wexford, Ireland |
| Recipient | Murphy, Martin |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 856 |
| Genre | weather, work, politics, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | San Martin, Salto Dear Brother Martin, Many months has lapsed since your letter came to hand, which I should long since have answered had I anything worth relating you. There has been no letter from John these last months. I think there is likely to be one missing as he was likely to write on receiving the money. We are all well here and going on well. We have been blessed with a fine winter, plenty of frosts, but in this part we have pasture quite different for the flocks. Yet in other parts flocks have had to be moved for want of pasture. So you may perceived that seasons here as in Ireland are quite uncertain. I know some countrymen who moved from the South on account of the ___ness of the land to the North, where they met the long droughts the cause of severe losses ad poor men. The thistle these last years has been great against the increase of sheep. Flocks in many parts are quite at a stand still for those three last years. My flocks appear to do very well this year. The first lambing came in a good season. I am loosing an odd lamb by the frost, which we have had these past five weeks for a continuance. I am working away employing myself as best I can to make the dollars all my exertion will be needed to meet the great demands on me. James Furlong has acted very generous with me by allowing me the use of his money. I owe John a good sum but it's uncertain when he may call for it. Having now heard the way business is chiefly carried on in this country I hope to be able to do things more easier in future. Last packet to England carried better news from this country than the previous one. It seems that peace for some time at least is certain in Bs. As. Our troops are returning to their old quarters, having quelled the revolution in Cordoba. Flores is yet in Montevideo. We can now judge what the country people have to meet with from the hands of those ruffian soldiers, for my experience in this country has given me a good chance of learning. We had three horrible murders last month. One an Irishman [from] Westmeath, knifed by another. The others, a shipmate of arms Mr. Kirby (Dublin) and servant, by a gaucho-native, the wife escaping through the dark. This ruffian committed the ____ for the purpose of plundering the house, the family appearing always respectable ____. Such deeds we could often report to you. But I deem it wiser to keep people in Ireland from knowing the value set on lives in this country. Dear Brother, do me the favour to tell John to write to Captain Sanders, and see if he will bring out Matthew Pierce's son Matt. I wrote through Mr. Butler to Sanders but received no answer from him, nor am I sure that he received my letter. I mentioned to young Pierce a few kinds of seeds which I like to get. Will you oblige me in case John can procure a passage for him to see that he brings them. I forgot to mention 2 penny worth of cabbage seed (two kinds), which you will be kind enough to procure for him. There are many things to be got at home, which we have no chance of procuring in this country, but which would be very answerable for it. Let me know what you think of making a trip to this country. Should your leg yet continue to annoy you, perhaps it would be the means of curing it. I have been often thinking of you and Alice Breen, how much you must have suffered. But the hopes of getting well lessen very much the pain. It is painful to think that you cannot find a cure for them in Ireland. I am sure could the prospect of been cured to held out to you by a trip to this country, that you both would willingly undertake it. But the hope of one day finding ourselves better is often the means of keeping us for years as we are. Patt and family are all well. Anne is in Bs. As. in a situation. Kate is first rate and getting on well. She has only been asked once in marriage. She has got time enough to get into trouble. Mary Furlong is now at Patt's, as she wished to be near George. Wishing to be kindly remembered to all friends, James, Bess and family, John, and now your only company Margaret. I could wish to see you all in this country but it's so unlike in many respects to poor Ireland that I am forbid the wish. Adieu, I remain dear brother, yours affectionately, William Murphy P.S. If you can procure any kind of shrub seeds, such as one mixed with hedges, send me a trifle. Also a little Verbanum seed, if such is to be got. W.M. |
