| Title: | D.S. Cooper, Mississippi River, to Henry Tyler. |
|---|---|
| ID | 692 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cooper, D.S/21 |
| Year | 1853 |
| Sender | Cooper, D. S. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | fisherman, wants to buy some land to settle on |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | City of the Falls, Mississippi River, USA |
| Destination | Ireland? |
| Recipient | Tyler, Henry |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | unknown |
| Source | D/3220/4/50: Deposited by the Late Lady Tyler on Behalf of theOther Trustees of the Will of Sir Henry MacDonald Tyler. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9808509 |
| Date | 01/08/1853 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 19:08:98. |
| Word Count | 1221 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | City of the Falls, [Mississippi?] River 1st Augt. 1853 My dear Tyler You will not find on the most recent maps the city from which I date my letter, but you will by diligent search, tracing around the Bay of Chaleus, the River. For the last six weeks I have occupied my old position on the brow of a steep bank, overlooking a magnificent salmon pool on the [Mississippi?]. Fot the first four weeks I had undeniable sport and took upwards of a hundred fish, of which forty were above the ordinary size; there are now lying like logs at the bottom of the water, right before my face, some dozen twenty pound salmon and a few new double their weight, but during the last fortnight they have resisted all the temptation we have thrown in their way and have treated us with stoical indifference. Should a freshet arrive, of which we wait with becoming patience, I expect to enlarge my score with a dozen or two more carefully selected from the larger fry, in the mean time, I must rest satisfied with such of the smaller fry, grilse, as will suffice to keep our pot boiling. The grilse in this country rarely exceed four pounds, but they come in great numbers and almost tire one in taking them out of their native elements. I have some idea of purchasing the land on each side of the River for some short distance, sufficiently extended to secure the best fishing upon it. A thousand acres may be acquired here for less than in the neighbourhood of Newtownlimavady. Th government price is three shillings currency. In the event of my intentions being carried into execution, I have it in design to build a small but comfortable cottage, and clear a few acres so as to render a residence of five or six months upon it endurable. The bears which are numerous in the neighbourhood will, Im afraid, play pranks with my pigs, and the eagles may gobble up my poultry, but what matters so long as it affords me amusement and does not trench greatly on my resources. The Yankees I find more and more intolerable, they are not an amiable race and they do not improve upon aquaintance. As a people they are deficient in principle and the majority consider a cheat as something smart and commendable. With us, the proverb is "there is a black sheep in every flock"; the case with the Yankess is revered, we only occasionally meet a white clear conscience in their dens, or cities of iniquity. Russia appears to have provoked a general war; so bastard and degenerate children will take the opportunity of striking a blow. Right, international law, policy and resource, will not arrest their ambitious projects for one moment; Cuba first, the fisheries and perhaps the Canadas will scarcely satisfy their desire for conquest or acquisition. It would be hard to anticipate the future of the United States; poverty is the mainstay of a Republic, they are becoming wealthy, and pride of family is on the increase; again, a Republic is most manageable in small communities and the population of the States is increasing with such wonderful quickness that it becomes more and more difficult to control. The will of the rabble is hard to guide when many opposing interests are to be directed to the attainment of one common object; the ignorant and irresponsible do not always select the best agents to act on their behalf, and many of their ablest fellow citizens will not lend themselves to follow their changeful mood. "In the midst of life we are in death"; in the midst of their highest commerical and social prosperity, they may be near their national dissolution. I left New York before the Crystal palace was opened; externally it appeared a poor affair after our own big glass house; amd all Americans feel so much ashamed of their attempt to follow in our footsteps that they deny in [tole?] its national character. By the first of Sept I hope to be in Boston, and depending upon what I find in certain business matters on my arrival there, I shall return to England or continue for another year loafing about the Northern States and Canada. I must confess that I am becoming heartily tired of locomotion, and long for some quiet nook to lay me down and rest myself from the fatigues of a life of wandering. Constant habit induces a second nature, and to none ought this roaming life be less irksome; but I am so young as I was some twenty years gone by, nor do I find so many novelties to cheer me on the way. Last year I passed many months in families, and observing the quiet joys of home did not impose my relish for old haunts and heartless associates. Without any idea of becoming a Benedict, which has growm into an impossibility, I must confess that an old bachelor is, for the most part, an old bore; and as he increases in years in selfishness and all uncharitableness. Many a time have I regretted lost opportunities, and still many a time an idea of loneliness will free itself upon my mind. Here in the bush, twenty miles from the nearest habitation, I feel less lonely than in the midst of a crowded London salon; but here, again, I find a chief pleasure in chatting to an old friend and dreaming over the past. How few of us would pursue the same course of life could a second chance be granted: the stream rolls on and on and we shall be soon lost in the great sea of eternity. Philosphy is a resource for the disappointed; ambition is the main spring of life, it urges to exertion and promises reward. My companions are two Americans with whose views and habits I have little sympathy; like most of their tribe they have served an apprenticeship behind the country, and on realizing a few dollars in business have become gentlmen by adoption and grace. We get on well, because I make it my business to make matters easy; my purpose however is not accomplished without mainfold sacrifices. I have been a kind of sporting wet nurse to half a dozen of these gents, and their crude notions and positive assertions have afforded me an abundance of amusement. There are two phrases seldom on an Americans life. "if you please" and "thank you"; and they will copy and borrow without acknowledgement. I wish you could come out for a season's fishing, you are often brought to my memory when employed in tying flies. You remember your present of hackles; they are most useful. The night is coming on, the mosquitoes are unusually troublesome, and I am quite tired of my squatting position alongside a log before I have half spun the yarn I should wish to spin for old acquaintance sake. I hope I am not quite forgotten around your homely fireside, and hope also some day hereafter to renew and improve my games of play with your young pets. To them and to Mrs Tyler, Jun - & Sen -, and other friends I desire to be kindly remembered Can you tip me a Yours sincerely stave to the care of James J. Amory Esq. D.S. Cooper Boston |
