| Title: | Mary Cumming, Liverpool to Margaret Craig, Lisburn. |
|---|---|
| ID | 799 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cumming, Mary/120 |
| Year | 1811 |
| Sender | Cumming (n. Craig), Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | middle class housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Craig, Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | sisters |
| Source | T 1475/2 pp23-26: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9 Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9404187 |
| Date | 22/09/1811 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:04:1994. |
| Word Count | 1204 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Liverpool. September 22nd. 1811. My dearest Margaret, When I wrote last to you I thought we would have been half over the Atlantic by this time, but we have been detained here this week past in hopes the "Mentor" would sail to-day, but on account of having some bark on board she was seized and has not been released yet. Yesterday Mr Cumming took our passage in the "Lydia" a very fine ship, equally so as the "Mentor," except that the accommodations are not quite so elegant. I suppose she will sail in about two hours, the wind is very fair to-day. I am very well pleased we were not on the ocean yesterday as it was a rough unpleasant day, I was vexed for fear you would think we were at sea. This is a charming morning, and I hope the wind may continue fair. I would have written to you, my dear Margaret, on our return from London, but I waited from day to day, in hopes of having it in my power to tell you when we would sail. I cannot tell you how delighted I was when I received your last letter and heard that all my dear friends were well. That you all may be happy and well shall be my constant prayer when I am far far from you and Ireland. I was very much pleased with our London jaunt, the weather all the time we were there was as warm as the middle of July in Ireland, indeed it was unpleasantly so as I walked a good deal. We were at Covent Garden one night, I was quite delighted with the house, and the scenery is most enchanting. The play was "Romeo and Juliet"; Mr C. Kemble did the part of Romeo, he is a very good actor. Mr and Mrs Brown were as attentive to me as possible during my stay with them. I never felt so completely fatigued as I did travelling from London, the heat and dust were dreadful. I think I would rather cross the Atlantic than go from this to London again, but I shall change my mind before long, I suppose. It is a long, long journey, but I do not feel any alarm. It is very pleasant for me that Mrs Brown is going, she is a sweet-tempered gentle creature as ever I met with, I like them both extremely. Mr Brown and Mr Cumming are gone to see what time the ship will sail. We drank tea the other night at a Mr Wolesley's, an American gentleman that has come to England lately. His wife is the most elegant woman in her manner and appearance I think I ever saw. Mr Wolesley lives like a nobleman. They are acquaintances of Mr Brown's. We were asked to spend Friday evening at Mr Braddell's, an Irish gentleman, but the evening was so wet and unpleasant we were obliged to send an apology. Mrs Brown is a daughter of Major Wallace of Ireland, they dined with us before I went to London. I called on Mrs Mellin the other day, she is very well. I would have waited on her before we left Liverpool, but we were so busy, I sent the letter, however. Mr Higginson and family are all out of town, so I shall not see any of them. Mrs Mellin asked me to spend Friday with her, but it was not in my power as I had some things to attend to. Mr Cumming bought me a flageolet the other day, but I am at a great loss for some Irish music. Perhaps you could send me a few of your favourite tunes in a letter, such as "The Heather Bush", "The Meeting of the Waters" and a few others. Oh, my dearest Margaret, how often I think of you and all my dear friends, but I am very happy. Mr Cumming is so kind and attentive to me that if I was in Ireland I would not have a wish ungratified. He desires me to give his kindest love to you all; indeed I believe he loves you all nearly as well as I do. Tell my dear James he has no reason to be offended at me for not mentioning him in my letters. I think of him very often, and often picture to myself what a fine dashing young man he will be when I have the happiness of seeing him again. Write soon, my darling Sister, after you receive this, that I may have the letter soon after my arrival in Petersburg. We will stay a few days at Baltimore, at Mr Brown's, father to this Mr Brown. Mr Cumming is anxious to get home as soon as possible. I am delighted to hear my dear Father is getting well so fast. Mr Cumming wishes you to let the Armagh people know of the change in our plan. I never saw a more flattering letter indeed from my brother-in-law (I believe) indeed I flatter myself I am a favourite of his now. I do not like the town of Liverpool, it is a confused place as ever I saw. I hope I shall not be sick at sea, I am very well now, but I dread the sea-sickness. I pity Mrs Brown, as she has the prospect of an addition to her family sometime soon, she is not in good health at all. Oh, my dear friends, how I anticipate the happy day that will bring me back to you all. I hope my dear Mary Cumming is with you now, give my affectionate love to her. I hope my dear Miss McCully and Margaret are very well. Tell Margaret I will praise her excellent letters as long as I live. I was surprised to hear of the marriage that is to take place soon, Mr Cumming laughed very much when I told him. Remember me to all my Lisburn friends. I hope my Father will write sometimes to me. I believe Mr Cumming thought me half mad when I got your last letter, I was afraid you would not write again thinking we had sailed. What is my sweet Rachel about? Tell her to add a P.S. [Postscript?] to your next letter. James must write sometimes also. Our trunks went off yesterday, I hope we may go to-day for fear of the bad weather coming on. There are two ladies going in the "Lydia". There is a fine cow on board, which will make it very pleasant. I suppose you are getting ready to go to meeting just now, and I think you will pray for me. I will leave this open till Mr Cumming returns. They are just returned, the ship will not sail till eleven o'clock to-morrow. Do not forget to write soon. God bless you, my darling Margaret, and all of my dear friends. That you may enjoy every happiness this world can bestow will be the earnest prayer of Your Affectionate Sister, Mary Cumming. This is like a second parting with you, but you will hear from me soon. I can hardly bring myself to close this letter. Once more, farwell, my darling Margaret! Miss Craig. Strawberry Hill, Lisburn. IRELAND. |
