| Title: | Mary Cumming, Petersburg, [Va?] to Margaret Craig, Lisburn. |
|---|---|
| ID | 780 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cumming, Mary/16 |
| Year | 1812 |
| Sender | Cumming (n. Craig), Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | middle class housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Craig, Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | sisters |
| Source | T 1475/2 pp.75-77: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9, Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006097 |
| Date | 24/06/1812 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 02:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 1065 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Petersburg, June 24th. 1812. My dearest Margaret, As this is the only opportunity I may have for some time of sending my letter to Europe, I am determined to write, though I fear I have not much good news to enliven this letter. Before you receive it you will have heard that War is declared between Great Britain and America, my dear Father's fears are now all realised, I could never bring myself to believe that they would go to war. Last Sunday the declaration of War arrived here, and the "happy news" was announced by a number of the inhabitants by the firing of cannon, such is the spirit of a good many people of this place. I cannot express how much I have felt since I heard the unwelcome tidings, and when the cannons were firing and the mob shouting and rejoicing so on Sunday, it made me almost melancholy. I now feel as if I was a prisoner in this country, I much fear the time for our return to my dear native land is now more uncertain than ever. If I could hear often from you I would be better reconciled, but that I cannot expect. God only knows when war will be ended, at present I think the prospect is very gloomy, but I will not dwell any longer on this unpleasant subject, for I cannot bear to think of it Now for some good news, in the first place then, my little darling Mary is grown the sweetest little pet you ever saw, she has not been once sick since she was born, she has got so fat and white that she is like a wax baby. Oh, my beloved Margaret! when I sit looking at her pretty little face I think what a pet she would be with you all at home, how you would love her if you saw what a sweet little darling she is. She is beginning to take notice and will attend to you when you talk to her. I do not know who she is like, some think her like William, I believe she will be pretty, she is very fair, and has very dark blue eyes and a sweet little mouth, but I believe I told you all this in my last letter. I know my darling Margaret will not be tired hearing of her little Mary. Tell me does my Father speak of his little grand-daughter, or express a wish to see her? I hope he does, I am sure he would love his little Mary, as he always did her mother. How delighted I shall feel when I go home to see him with his little pet, talking and explaining everthing to her. Oh, Margaret, dear! when will that blissful time come? but I live in hopes that my dreams of happiness will one day be realised. I hope I shall have a letter very soon from you, it is now nearly three months since the last letters were written, I think I would hear oftener if you sent your letters to Liverpool, #PAGE 2 William heard from James yesterday. I hope we shall be in Blandford before I write again, I am anxious to get to the country once more, I was there about a fortnight ago, and the place looks beautiful. I think the garden will be a source of great amusement to William, as I suppose there will not be much business to attend during the war. When I return to Ireland you will not hear me complain of the heat as I used to do, having experienced the heat of a Virginian summer, yours will appear quite pleasant. It is more oppressive than you can imagine. I can compare it to nothing but living in steam, the air is actually scorching sometimes, but this uncommon heat does not continue more than a week or so at a time. During the very warm weather the mercury is from 90 to 94 in the shade, I wish very much I had brought a thermometer like my Father's I believe it does not rise higher than 76 with you. William and I continue to enjoy excellent health, which I hope will continue throughout the Summer, we are obliged to make use of the ice to cool the water constantly, indeed I could not have conceived it would be so necessary as I find it is. There is an ice house at Blandford which I hope will be a great comfort to me. When you write now, my dearest Margaret, you must let your letters be very long, tell me everything, no matter how trifling, many is the time I read over your dear letters. I shall write every opportunity I can hear of. How is my dear Rachel? I hope she continues to like school, how she would dote on her little niece. I have not written to my dear James yet, but I will soon. I hope he is well. I intend not to have my little pet christened till we go to Blandford. My dear William makes an excellent nurse, he is so fond of his little daughter. I fear she will be spoiled between us, but I will try and bring her up as well as I possibly can, for I cannot bear spoiled children. I had a long letter from my dear Mrs. Cumming lately, which I will answer when I get to Blandford. Remember me most affectionately to them all, and to all my good friends in Ireland, particularly to my kind friends Miss McCully and my dear Margaret Byeres. I send you a curl of my darling Mary's hair, she has not got much yet. I received a letter about three weeks since that came by Mr. Sinclair, dated Nov. [November?] 6th. I hope you have got the letter William wrote to you before this time. I hope the pictures may go safe, God knows when you will see the originals, but I will hope for the best. Oh, my darling Sister, the day that takes me to you again will be the happiest of my life. Tell my Father I hope he will write to me soon. William joins me in the kindest love to you all. God bless you my beloved Margaret, and grant you every #PAGE 3 happiness, is the sincere prayer of Your ardently attached Mary Cumming. |
