| Title: | O'Brien, George to O'Brien, Joseph Sinton, 1843 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6154 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/158 |
| Year | 1843 |
| Sender | O'Brien, George |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | linen worker |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Destination | NYC, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien, Joseph Sinton |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 687 |
| Genre | wants to emigrate, prospects, wishes him well on his recovery, asks about Indians and Niagara falls |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dublin 7th month 25th 1843 My dear Cousin I was agreeably surprised at receiving a few lines from thee written at New York, enclosing thy father's letter to me, and hope it is but the commencement of a correspondence to be kept up between us, unless it be mat we will be brought closer together. Thou says thou would be glad to welcome me to the land of Liberty; often do I wish myself there and look forward to being in it at some future time; but there are many things that appeal as obstacles in the way; die first and greatest is the want of means, the which if I could command, I think I would soon be on the bosom of the wide Atlantic; the others are the importunities of my father & brothers & sisters to remain at home. They would fain persuade me chat I can do better in this country than I could in America: but since I first heard of America I have a wish to go there, and I do not think I will ever be content until I go out and see for myself if I cannot do better. At all events I think I will go and spent 2 or 3 years there and if I find at the end of that time that there is no probability of my being better if there than here, I [trust?] that it will not be entirely out of my power to return. I have not seen Aunt Susanna since I received thy letter bur delivered thy message to her by letter. Lisburn is within about 80 English miles of this, and although with us considered a pretty good distance would in your large country be considered but a trifle. I had a long letter from Aunt a few days since in which she mentioned having seen James Bell who had lately arrived from New York. I was sorry to hear that thou were obliged to go home on account of the delicate state of thy health but I expect by the time thou receives this thee wilt be perfectly restored. I intended enclosing Uncle's letter to thee to New York but when I heard that thou had returned home I concluded on addressing it direct to him as I [did] before. There are some few particulars that I would be glad to learn with respect to your settlement that I thought would be more suitable to ask thee of, than troubling uncle about such trifles. I had an idea until I read uncle's letter that yours was rather an old settlement and that there would be scarcely any trace of original forest for many miles, bur I suppose you are not far from the woods. Is there any settlement of Indians near you: they are a people I have always felt an interest in, and a wish to become acquainted with some of their habits. Are they becoming at all civilized by their communication with the white population or do they live entirely to themselves. How far are you from the great falls of Niagara, hast thou ever been to see them: I have a great wish to see them. I am very fond of my [thing] grand or beautiful in nature, and have at different rimes walked many miles to see the beauties of the county Wieldow of which thou hast doubtless heard. There was one day last summer that I walked upwards of 50 English miles in the Wicklow Mountains and stood in the shop the next day without feeling the least inconvenienced from it. I commenced the letter to Uncle nearly a week ago but could not get it finished until last night; but it is time enough, as the mail packet does not sail from Liverpool until the 4th next month. I forgot to say to address his letter as before, for although I have not since changed my place of abode, I do not know how soon I may. Hoping soon to have a long letter from thee I am thy affectionate Cousin Geo O'Brien |
