| Title: | John S Crawford, New York to Mrs Wm Sharman Crawford. |
|---|---|
| ID | 748 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Crawford, John S/54 |
| Year | 1835 |
| Sender | Crawford, John S. (Sherman) |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | hopes to start using his letters of |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Bangor, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Mrs William Sharman Crawford |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | D 856/D/42: Presented by Crawford & Lockhart, Linenhall Street, Belfast 2. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9311037 |
| Date | 09/11/1835 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C McK., 03:11:199 |
| Word Count | 1464 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mrs Wm [William?] Sharman Crawford Crawfordsburn, Bangor County Down Ireland From: John S [Sharman?] Crawford c/o Sherman and Gillelan, Pearl Street, New York U.S.A. November 9 1835 Nov 9th 1835 My Dr [Dear?] Mother The letter which I wrote from on board the Virginian would inform you of my having arrived within sight of American ground _ this of my having landed we had [most?] speedy voyage. Captain Harris has been sailing this 7 years as Captain of [one?] these ships and this is the best passage he ever made we [win?] by [far?] the sailors reckoning only 22 days as they do not the day of sailing or arrival but by [-----?] we were 23 days and 8 hours _ most fortunately the party pulled very well together which is by no means the case always therefore on the whole I consider myself most fortunate _ there are two or three of the passengers whom I wish to introduce to you as they will be [not?] [-------?] acquaintances for the time being _ first [Mr Laird Junior?] this gentleman is a [glaseven?] merchant I rather think that I will meet him either in [New ------?] or Mobile which will be very pleasant for me Mr [Tighe?] another passenger and Mr Riddell are both at the Hotel the former has been in America before and is completely [up?] to everything he has been of the greatest service to Riddell and in directing [as?] to what is worth seeing and what is not Mr [Tighe?] is from West Meath and knows every person in that neihbourhood [neighbourhood?] Riddell is connected with the first families in Scotland #PAGE 2 and England he had letters of introduction to Mr White who has been as civil to him as can possibly be we left our cards at his home on Wednesday he called us on Thursday took us both to grand Ball at the house of a most aristocratic lady introduced us to the greatest Belles [--- ---?] the greatest fortunes of the [house?] and invited us to dine with him on the following day he gave us a very handsome entertainment but you must be content with only a [----?] summary of my [proceedings?] as to say everything that I could take up too much room _ I called on Counsellor [Sampson?] he as my father anticapated received me most cordially but I am sorry to say that I am affraid [afraid?] he is on his last legs _ Doctor Mack-vin [Mackevin?] who called on me the instant he heard of my arrival [fears?] Water on the chest but as yet Mr Sampson does not know his danger he is going to write to my father to ask him to [transact?] some business with him and he likewise will send a memoir of his life which he published some years ago _ of course you will wish to know what are my first impressions with regard to New York and the people first [then?] no one I think on his landing cannot but be astonished at the extent of the shipping the [hurry?] and bustle of business going on Not an idler to be seen any[where?] the Buildings all new in every street houses building up and taking down the small ones to make room for larger and new acommodations [accommodations?] in short I am greatly pleased with New York it is so different from anything of the kind that I ever saw before to give you an idea of the thriving state of this city the census has just been completed and in the past 5 years the population has increased upwards of 50,000 the [minutes I have ---- before &?] [--------?] As to the people it is too soon to give an opinion on them but I shall venture one with respect to the Ladies But remember I [formed?] my observations on the experience of two Balls and may have reason to change it more accurate acquaintance Well then they seem #PAGE 3 to do everything for effect and to excite admiration their [promenade --------?] [----- ---?] they demand the most obsequious attention from the Gentlemen which they are fools enough to give and in fact the Ladies think that since they allow the Gentlemen to spend the whole day in [--------?] house by themselves that forsooth they must dance attendance on their Highnesses all evening _ I am greatly amused with the [candour?] of them one of them told me that they could not have Public Balls for all the [--------- attended?] and thrust themselves into their partis [parties?] they then asked us how we managed this in my country in short I [perceive?] that although [there?] are no tittles [titles?] nor will allow there is any difference of rank between the [Dissident?] and his [Jailor?] there is as much Aristocratic feeeling [feeling?] and nonsense as with us and it is the less excusable here for they are in passion if we tell them but with us we admit the charge and act openly on it _ I intended to have said everything in this [sheet?] But I find I must put you to the expense of double postage, and perhaps not have said everything that I might have done _ one of my fellow passengers Mr [Mills?] an American happened to mention the name of Bryson and on speaking to him I found it was my friend; Mr Mills the day after I landed met Bryson and told of my arrival so on Wednesday up came Mr Bryson to call upon me and to take me to the polling places, the Election for a Representative to Congress was to close that evening the vacancy occurred in consequence of the retirement of Mr White he took me down to the sixth Ward which is esentially [essentially?] Irish and I spent some minutes very pleasantly looking at them delivering the Ballots, and being examined with regard to their identity but the fun was attending the Meeting at the Hall at 8 o'clock the [scene?] was-- [wasnt?] a [new sight?] to me, but it was to Riddell whom I introduced [there?]; I need not say more than I said to Mr White that nothing could be more like the #PAGE 4 closing [scene?] of a contested Election in Ireland as far as noise, shouting [&c a?] [-----?] the answer he gave me was it would be very curious if there was not a strong similtude as one half of the Gentlemen there Irish born and one half of the remainder of Irish parents Mr Bryson has immense influence in New York at Elections, he is a downright democrat acknowledges that it was a total and complete separation he wanted at the time of the Rebellion and will always do so _ he is chairman of the nominating Committee he has made his fortune, filled up his [tanholes?] and has nothing to do but to appoint Representatives to Congress. Mr White says he would beat any other man if he chose to stand but he has too much sense to do so as he is not at all suited for a deliberate assembly _ But now it is time to say something of my movements, I will remain here certainly for a fortnight still then proceed to Philadelphia and Baltimore and be at Washington the first week in January _ for untill [until?] then, they do not [enter?] on any important business I shall be at no loss for the very best letters of introduction to Old Hickory as he is called [Van Buren?] who will be the next president Webster, Clay, in fact I have only to make a selection and I can have as I wish __ you will direct my letters for the [future?] to me to the care of Miss Sherman & Gillelan Pearl St New York they have kindly offered to do anything for me in the way of money concerns or anything else [--?] Miss Brown would also do it but got well acquainted with Mr Gillelan on my passsage [passage?], and as he corresponds with the Belfast Merchants direct, it will answer better _ these are my arrangements for the present _ I cannot except to hear often from home but if there should any important circumstance take place either in the political or domestic [state?] let me know __ perhaps you will not hear from me again from New York _ The packet sails early tomorrow and is now bed time so adieu my Dearest Mother J C S C [John C Sharman Crawford?] #PAGE 5 I expect that I will send you a small parcel containing a map of the Country & Sampsons Memoirs in about a fortnight the map is so marked out that you will be able to trace my progress very accurately |
