| Title: | [Robert Craig?], Fairfield, N.Y. to James McBride Jr, Dunmurry. |
|---|---|
| ID | 729 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Craig, Robert/29 |
| Year | 1822 |
| Sender | Craig, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | flax, linen, wheat trader |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Fairfield, New York, USA |
| Destination | Dunmurry, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McBride, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 2613/7: Copied by Permission of Mrs Emily McLister, Mosside Cottage, Dunmurry, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007101 |
| Date | 04/05/1822 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 06:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 1556 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mr James McBride Junr [Junior?] Care of Alexr [Alexander?] Hunter Esq [Esquire?] Dunmurry near Lisburn Ireland via N [New?] York May 4th 1822 From: Fairfield May 4th 1822 Dear James I once more address you from the reigons [regions?] of the [?] It is now nearly a year since I last wrote to you writing to one so far off is a teadious [tedious?] amusement aside as the Yanky [Yankee?] says long between trains. However I consider the art of writing one of the most pleasing inventions and greatest blessings that we enjoy Here I can sit and unfold to my Friends be they ever so distant the secret feeling of my heart either pleasing or melancholy just as the[y?] occur. (believe me I am little troubled with melancholy let things go as the[y?] will) The letter you sent me in December I recd [received?] in Feby [February?] and wrote to Andw [Andrew?] shortly after for sometime past I was uneasy about your health but am extremely glad to hear that you are quite recovered. Since I came here I have not been indisposed for five minutes at one time this I think is one of the finest climates in the world and as healthy as any in the united States the winters are cold but steady and very dry the summers are warm but not so disagreeably so as I suposed [supposed?] from the account of others and you will think from my accounts that it scarcely pos[s?]ible to exist when I tell you that even in the house with no clothes on except shirt trowsers [trousers?] hat and shoes the sweat runs so that its difficult keeping the paper clean while I write yet I like the heat better than the cold as its just warm enough to ripen the fruit and bring the garden stuffs to perfection. I get letters regularly from your Brother John as soon as I receive one I answer it he does the same so that there always one passing between us I mentioned to Andw [Andrew?] that he had bought a house and lot of ground in wattertown [Watertown?] so that I think from this that he muss [must?] be doing pretty well he told me in one of his Letters that his friends has [have?] taken offence at some Lines in his Letters home and that he intended not writing home so often as he used to do I advised him to continue writing as usual this was several months ago and I think hes now reconciled again. When he's candid and honest in his sentiments you ought not to cast any reflections over him for expressing himself freely though you may happen to differ in your opinions on some subjects to hinder one from writing or saying what the[y?] believe is true is putting the gag law in force but here there's no such laws Columbians are free and have the privilidge [privilege?] of saying and acting whatever the conscience tells them is #PAGE 2 right without becoming ameanable [amenable?] to any earthly power, remember from this to make allowance for warm expressions that sometimes strain truth a little too much. You are free to make what remarks you think proper on my Letters without the fear of incuring [incurring?] my displeasure or stoping [stopping?] me from writing when I feel inclined and find time pen ink and Paper. I mentioned to John everything you bid me and advised him strongly to continue writing Mrs O Kenedy is dead she died very suddenly went to bead [bed?] in the evening as well as usual and was found dead in the morning let [?] Thompson know that Mrs Kimbles family are all well I was in their house a few day[s?] ago and I think they are doing very well at least every thing around them indicates as much. We are taking in wheat to get made into flour for Orleans we had thought of going down this fall but have give[n?] out the idea what is 37 and 40 cents [per?] bushel of 60 lbs [pounds?] Flour is six Dols [Dollars?] [per?] Barrel in the [?] ports I am quite satisfied with my situation and with this Country I believe there are few came into this Country that have been so fortunate as I have We have got a Masonic Lodge formed in Lisbon which is composed of some of the most respected gentlemen in the County the State Attorney and two other Lawyers [?] joined it the master is a Doctor who reside[s?] in Lisbon I attend regularly and have been elected treasurer for this year. You have been advising me to get married and get settled now I think it would be well enough for you to take the advise [advice?] Yourself for two or three weeks past it has been rumoured here every day that I was [?] to a lady in this place about fo[u?]rteen years of age although I never mentioned any such thing but the talk put me to such a notion of her that if my partner (who ranks amongst the old batchelors [bachelors?]) had not lectured me on it the other day and told me I ought to demand 8 or ten thousand dollars with her I dont know but I might have ventured on matrimony. However I dou[b?]t it will be sometime yet before I get settled (as you call it). Times are getting a little better [?] as some brisker and money coming more into Circulation but still labouring hands get very little cash for their work in the western Country. There are two packet ships sail every month from N [New?] York for Liverpool one the tenth one the 25 of the month so that its no difference what time I post a letter from this it will not be detained long. There is a large Cotton Factory about to be erected in Pittsburgh at present there are a good many looms weaving Muslim of a corse [coarse?] quality the yarn is from No 10 to 15 something like what you call Calico in Ireland this corse [coarse?] Muslim is used for making shirts we sell large quantitys [quantities?] of it we have begun to buy Flax & Tow yarn and have eight and sometimes ten weaving for us but it is mostly women that weave here for [?] 700 linen we pay ten cents [per?] yds [yards?] for weaving they take the pay all out of the Store in #PAGE 3 goods The Linen is mostly sent to Philadelphia & Baltimore it sells for 35 and 37 cents there we pay 18 & 20 cent [per?] Dozen for yarn that will make a 700 Tow yarn is the same price I have no dou[b?]t but in a few years this Country will be a little better for mechanicks [mechanics?] of every description than it is at present. There is going to be made a turnpike road from the ohio River to Lake Erie likewise a Canal to con[n?]ect the Ohio with the Lake there is great contention among the people where these are to be made as its thought the[y?] will be of great advantage to the Country by opening a market for the Farmers to the Citty [City?] of N [New?] York by the Northern Canal from Lake Erie to N [New?] York which will be completed this Sumer [Summer?] May 12th I have waited for a week for a Letter from home before I closed this but have been disap[p?]ointed I expect one that was to be wrote in January by John in a few days. I am quite at a loss for something to write about. I believe its the first time I could get all I have to say in one Letter but here I have no one to read or listen to the letters I get from home although I [am?] at no loss for Company yet I feel quite solitary perusing your Letters and would be glad of the company of an intimate friend to whom I could [?] and one that would take an interest in my affairs you will likely recommend a wife as the fitest [fittest?] companion but I have reasons best known to myself for living single the principal reason is that I see few if any that live either contented or happy together and family broils are so counter to my disposition that if fortune was to throw in my way a [?]agant I would fly off from her in a tangent without one moments reflection With respect to my situation I am not so well as I could wish neither would it be possible to be so but I am better fixed that I ever expected to be and better than I deserved I am got tolerably well acquainted with the manner of trading in this Country and perfectly acquaint[ed?] with the prices of all kinds of Articles. I lead an easy life amongst a pretty sociable and agreeable society anf if I may judge from outward appearances am well enough thought of by them. I indulge myself in the sacred flame of well placed love more than I ever did but I never atempt [attempt?] the ilicit [illicit?] rove tho [though?] nothing should divulge it (Burns advice to his young friend). I shall now bid you adieu with the sincerest feelings of heartfelt Friendship and wishes for your welfare I remain [Robert Craig?] |
