| Title: | John James Murphy to Martin Murphy, 25 March 1864 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4041 |
| Collection | Argentina - Murphy |
| File | murphy/16 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Murphy, John James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle breeder |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Buenos Aires, 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 | 1320 |
| Genre | request for workers, life in the colony, family, friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dear Brother, I thought it better to make a sort of a finish of the other part of my letter in case you think well of letting others than yourselves see it. But this I consider only fit for the ears of my own friends in Haysland, or at least the greater part of it. The business part I enter into first. With the plough, you will be pleased to send me out three men, as James, Joseph & Nick, leaving my place left me scarce of hands. I will mention one to you: Tom Lawler, that was with me in Crosstown. The other two may be of your own choice. Arrange with Captain Lenders of the Raymond Dublin. If you cannot get them cheaper by a Liverpool ship, La Zíngara, [which] will be in Liverpool about the same time. If there were any three or four men of respectable family coming out, and choose to come to Uncalito, it would save you the trouble of arranging about the others. If not the conditions to be understood with others are that they serve me fourteen months hire, and [I] pay all expenses committed with their coming but the passage money. We must raise the time of their servitude, on account of the exchange so high. You can send Jack Carr’s son as one of the three, if he is as when I left. Send the plough in charge of one of them as if it was his own, so as it may pass without charge on the passage as his own luggage, or implements that he require. If you think well of paying the passage there, you can do so. If not arrange for it to be paid here by me. If you adopt the latter mode, enclose the order I send to whatever captain you are about to arrange with, as it may answer as a security. Dear Friends, you will likely know in the course of a year or two how things will do with you in that country and don’t fret or be scared if you should fail in your endeavours to live comfortable and independent, for you have here before you friends, and the best country under the sun. My opinions and feelings of this country are very much altered since I left home, and the changes for the better has been greater than I could have expected them to be for the time. I see every man here that desire it on a direct race to independence, possessing all the comforts and happiness that any reasonable man might desire. The habits and customs of the people are greatly changed, and they have taught a good lesson by English and Irish which are now overrunning the country with their flocks. And the richest and most respectable natives can now see how money can be made, and has command to work tooth and nail. And wherever a piece of land is up for sale, it’s an Irishman is sure to get it, as no other dare go to the figure it’s now selling for. In fine, I must say it’s only you Dear Friends being there that would occasion me ever to think of Ireland, that distressed and ever oppressed country. Dear Friends, I must say that my presence here was very much needed. Things was going on fully as bad as I expected, and brother William never gave charge to Patt, as he ought to have done for motives tending to his own interest, for which I assure you he has been extremely selfish, and during his time as manager here, he treated Patt with over due severity, and not even obliged him with things he required (though being mine) which strangers and neighbours felt a pleasure in doing. When leaving Uncalito he took with him five horses of mine and almost left them on foot. Patt has frequently asked him to send in one or two of the horses (though he had plenty of his own), but he never did. And I assure you I had to turn the rough to him before he would ever give them to myself. In fact, he has acted in a manner (not only in this case but in many others) that I can never more look upon him as a Brother may, even as a good neighbour or honourable man. I cannot think from what I’ve already seen by him, but that he is seeking reasons to separate himself from us. Now as he is got married, has an estancia, though he has 80,000 $ dollars of mine in his possession, and has only paid 1/4 of purchase money yet out of his own pocket. This money of mine he has without interest, but now he need not expected any indulgence you need not let on, in your letters to him, that you hear any thing from this quarter. I am at present living with Patt and his family at Uncalito. I feel very happy and contented, and amuse myself by taking a ride round the puestos (houses) on the Estancia every day. This has been a very warm summer. The sun has been so strong that I have not been able [to] knock about much up to now, fearing I might get sun stroke as not being accustomed to such heat. I expect you have already hear of poor Robert Baggon’s death from exposure to the weather, in moving with William the brother’s sheep. It is awful what people suffered that had to move their flock, and the losses occasioned by so is immense. If the plough could be made to as to take it apart, and store away the small irons in a box, and to tie up the beam and handles together, they might be handier to bring out. Dear Brother, let me know all particulars of how the people and all things in general are going on at home, at Crosstown, both your own part and your neighbours, Ballyconnor & Haysland, of how the cattle has done with you, and how the young ones offer, of the National Bank Liverpool & the Galloway line, how the hunter got on with Day and how Brian O’Lynn offer this year, and if the lameness is gone, if there is any sign of the spree at Kilrane. Tell them it’s useless to think of collecting here now as they are collecting for a new church in Salto and for the Irish priest that has been sent to this neighbourhood. Matt Connor & Mrs went out to Jack when they arrived but remained only a few days when they returned again to town, and has now gone to work with the same man that John Howlin is with. I think Jack gave them no great reception. Old Barry is first rate doing as well as he likes. I have not yet seen him. James Murphy (Ten Acre) is about as big and as fat as the big man of Tagoat. These and all such make a lucky change when they leave there to come to this country to live on mutton. In conclusion, Patt, Mrs and all friends here send their best love and regards to you all and wishes to be remembered in your prayers. All the people that I know of is well, Peter Cormack had a narrow escape from lightning, so we cannot tell the moment we are called. Dear Friends, we solicit your prayers and don’t imagine for a moment that you will be always remembered by your affectionate Brother, John Murphy Note Bs. Ayres 25th March 1864 If you choose to bring out to this country any passengers that my brother (Martin Murphy of Haysland) arrange for, I shall hold myself accountable for the payment of same on their arrival out here. John Murphy. |
