| Title: | William Cumming, Petersburg, [Va?] to Margaret Craig, Lisburn. |
|---|---|
| ID | 800 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cumming, William/14 |
| Year | 1812 |
| Sender | Cumming, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Craig, Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | brother-in-law - sister-in-law |
| Source | T 1475/2 pp.70-71: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9, Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006094 |
| Date | 02/05/1812 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 02:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 593 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Petersburg 2 May 1812. My dear Margaret, Last evening at six o'clock we were blessed by the birth of a fine daughter. Mary was only a few hours ill, and both she and the darling infant are now quite well. I am not a good judge of what she will be like when grown-up, but Mary thinks she will be like her Grandfather. Should this be so, and she should be like him in principles also I shall be content. Mrs. Swail, formerly of Ballynahinch, attended her, she is a great favourite among the ladies here. Mary wishes you could all see her little darling, as she terms her. Tell your Father that War is the order of the day at Washington, I am clearly of opinion that the Executive and Congress wish to plunge the country into a war with Great Britain, but they cannot wage war unless the people are with them, and this is by no means the case in my opinion. The Eastern people begin already to sit uneasy under the Embargo, this is a self-destroying measure, which cannot be long enforced in this country. It is the opinion of many that intercourse with England will be thrown open at the end of 90 days, I most ardently hope this will be the case, but there is no possibility of judging what steps our Rulers will take. Indeed, I am convinced they don't know this week what measures they will pursue next. Our Spring races are just over, Mary went one day, she thinks the running is better here that at the Maze. I hope your Sister will be able to write you a long letter in a few days, indeed, she is now so well that it is her intention to add a postscript to this. Please drop a line to the Armagh people on receipt of this. I wrote my Brother there a long letter a few day since. Make my affectionate love to your Father, Rachel and James, and I am, my dear Margaret, Your ever affectionate brother, William Cumming. It would be impossible, my beloved Margaret, to describe the rapture I felt on the birth of my darling little daughter, my happiness would have been complete if I could have had you all with me. William and I both wished it to be a little girl, and now we are completely satisfied, My darling William seems to be quite delighted with his little daughter. I feel as well to-day as I could possibly expect, and the little baby seems to be quite strong. She is just now on Mrs. Colquhoun's knee, taking some food. I think she is something like my beloved Father, I trust she will be like him in every respect. I often think how delighted he would be with his little grand-daughter. Tell my dear Rachel that I have now the little Mary we used to talk so much about. How delighted my #PAGE 2 beloved Margaret would be with the little pet. I know what all my dear friends will feel when they receive this letter. I will write a long one as soon as I get well, at present I fear sitting up long. Tell my dear James of the little Niece he has got. Oh! that you were with me, but I will have that happiness one day. God bless you all, my dear, dear friends. Write very soon, my dearest Margaret. Remember me in the kindest manner to Miss McCully and my dear Meg, I know they will participate in my happiness. Miss Margaret Craig, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, IRELAND. |
