| Title: | John James Murphy to Martin Murphy, 25 March 1865 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4055 |
| Collection | Argentina - Murphy |
| File | murphy/30 |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Murphy, John James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle breeder |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Uncalito, Argentina |
| Destination | Haysland, Co. Wexford, Ireland |
| Recipient | Murphy, Martin & Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1674 |
| Genre | family finances, his sister's dowry |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Note 1 If it is convenient give Martin Barry 2£ to give to Frank Doyle’s mother. J. M. Note 2 Buenos Aires Dear Brother, The war is commenced in the upper provinces. We are all well. I have not time to write as the Mail close now, and I having only arrived in. You see by this paper that we have horse racing here, as well as at home. Matt O’Connor & Mrs. is come out to my Uncalito. He have met same hard times since he arrived. He fell into a hard situation but it will do him good. I got your letter of 6th March. I cannot understand you exactly about the hoax. I sent by French packet my opinion about Margaret’s wedding. I will write by next. Your Dear Brother, J. Murphy Letter Flor del Uncalito, 25th March, 1865 My Dear Brother Martin & Friends, On receipt of your kind letter of Feby. 6 I hasten to answer that part of it that I feel most interesting, and after assuring you of the satisfaction I feel at finding you all in the enjoyment of good health. I proceed with this very important tasks. You are well aware of the pleasure I feel at any change which might, or can, make either of you happy, particularly dear sister Margaret, which is now (if I may so express myself) the only lone one amongst you, & though having a will of her own, may in a great measure be guided by your influence and good advice. The family of Philip Keating are indeed very respectable people, and he is himself a man [who] will (I am quite assured) will make a kind and loving husband. And from his industrious and temperate habits, I dare say procure for her a comfortable life, that is providing he has the other means, and wherewith to do so. As to the amount of fortune he ask, I am only sorry that he is not in the possession of property to entitle him to twice or thrice the amount. For if he was, the pleasure I would feel at their union would be far greater than what I feel under the present circumstances. I consider the amount of fortune Philip Keating ask for is not unreasonable. But to this she is not confined providing a suitable proposal he made, as she shall have the amount above mentioned, to whatever amount the proposed property will entitle him to, not exceeding the amount invested in the National Bank of Liverpool at present. From the 200£ above mentioned, up to the whole of the amount invested in the National Bank of Lpool is at her command, and she is at liberty to make a choice suitable to whatever amount of that she chose. She can take the present offer or wait for a better, but in changing the latter there may [be] many changes take place before one present itself. And then it’s God only knows within it would make her more happy than Philip though they may figure higher in the world. The only advice I can give is that she invoke, the Blessed Virgin may to come to her assistance in this very important case, and that she implore of her Only Son to guide her for the better. Let her consult her Father Confessor, and make up her mind to be guided by him. Let her show him this letter and I am sure she will be conducted the right way. I cannot say more than that whatever changes take place that can in any way make her or either of you happy shall cause me happiness also. You have my consent in whatever arrangements be made. You can either sell the number of shares that will amount to the £200, or transfer them over in their or her name, as may be arranged. As you know I am not circumstanced after having bought the land to send it home in cash. The shares are in your name, so you will have no trouble in doing so. If there do any documents or papers meant to be signed by me, send them out and I will do so and return them. In conclusion, I really think that Philip Keating is a very worthy man, and that Margaret will be happy with him. This and the happiness of you all is the greatest desire of your sincere and loving Brother John Murphy. 3rd April. My Dear & Affectionate Sister Margaret, I am indebted to you a letter and I take this opportunity of writing it, and as usual hoping it may find you and all friends in the enjoyment of good health. Dear Sister, of all the stages of our mortal life, the one which you are now called on to enter, or not to enter, is the one the most important of your whole life. It is one no mortal man can advise you to or from, without infringing on the prerogative of Divine Providence. We may all give you our opinion, we may all look to the future and survey the past, we may make our calculations, but what do they all come to in the hands of Divine Providence. Dear Margaret depend not on the feeble means we have in our power to direct you. Seek it through these means I referred you to in that part of this letter to Martin. Seek assistance from Mother Mary. Make up your own mind, consult your father confessor, and leave the rest to God, who above can make the change a good or bad one. Dear Margaret, although I have not as yet entered the marriage state, yet at the same time I really believe there is no life so happy. I can also almost venture to say that I think the person who has proposed for you, Philip Keating, is a man who (from his temperate and I believe virtuous habits) is sure to prove a good husband, and no doubt you would be happy with him. Dear Margaret, You have many friends about you and have in my brothers Martin and James good and wise counsellors, and who will advise you to nothing wrong. And I am sure [they] will act with a good intention both for your spiritual and temporal happiness. Dear Margaret, in case your wedding take place the little present I send to you the 20£ you will endeavour to make it reach to buy the little necessaries suitable for the occasion. Out of same you will buy as a token of remembrance of me one gold bracelet to wear on your right arm. Let it be a good one. You may likely get one at Simpson’s, as I can have no way of sending you one from here in time, in case the ceremony will go on. Let things be for the ceremony as respectable as circumstances will permit, and as becoming yourselves and me. let not a few pounds cause you to want things that would make it otherwise. You know I would have it so if I was there myself, and I shall be happy to hear that you have it so even though I must be absent. Were I to be there, I should feel pain at parting with you, a dear kind sister. He is happy that will get you and I hope he will prove himself worthy of the treasure he receive. It may not be long tell I have the pleasure of seeing you (I hope) happy in your own family, thankful for the good and kind husband which I hope God will send you, and pleased with the world, and yourself for the change which you are now about to make. Brother William cooperate with me in saying that whatever change take place amongst you, may we hope be for the better. He regrets also that he is not circumstanced to send some token of his regard for you on this occasion, but the intention, as circumstance permit him, will be as much to you as if he did in reality do so. So Dear Sister, all we can do for you at present is all that is contained in the above letter with the exception of our prayers to Almighty God, that He may direct you for the better, and that the Blessed Virgin and his Dear Son may conduct you in this affair as she wish to do with all her own children, is the prayer that shall continue to be offered by your Dear and ever affectionate Brother, John Murphy. P.S. Dear Brother Martin, In case sister Margaret wedding take place, you will give her also with the fortune twenty pounds 20£ as a present from me to buy fittings for the occasion. Get this as you do the rest, and out of it let her buy a gold bracelet (one only), to wear on her right arm. Let it be a good one, as me not being there in person. That I may be represented in a token of my affection and regard for her. Though as I said not there in person my heart will be amongst you, though invisible. Yet it share you happiness. I sent letters by the last French packet also, but the news has reached here that she is lost with all the mail and cargo on board. I don’t remember whether in those letters or some previous one, I told James there were to his credit here (out of the Rincón for wool & sheep sold), to the amount of about two hundred pounds 200£. So he can send out his account, as there will afterwards a respectable balance in his favour. There do yet remain in the Rincón, the principal he first purchased 600 sheep, so he can see the advantage between investing capital here in preference to home. Ballyconnor is far behind. John Murphy |
