| Title: | William Drennan, Edinburgh to Mrs Matty McTier, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 878 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Drennan, William/67 |
| Year | 1777 |
| Sender | Drennan, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | medical student |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McTier, Matty |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 765/1/17: Obtained From Mrs. Duffin, Summerhill, Mount Pleasant, Belfast. #TYPE LET The Drennan Letters, 1776 - 1819: Extract of Letter From William Drennan, [Edinburgh?], 13 December, 1777 to Mrs. M. McTier, North Street, Belfast. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9002030 |
| Date | 13/12/1777 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | 22:02:1990 JM created 19:08:1991 SQ input 19:08:19 |
| Word Count | 504 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dearest Matty, I received an answer yesterday to my Note to Gregory, and am informed in the Haughty Professorial stile [style?], that my request is granted. I shall therefore endeavor [endeavour?] to graduate next September, and if I am rejected, the consequence will be an earlier vist to the other world (I mean America) than I designed - certain it is, that some who I firmly believe knew Physic much better than I do, have been rejected - one in particular Last year after having been examin'd [examined?] with applause was denied his Degree because he had dedicated his Thesis to his uncle Mr. Zubly, a member of the Continental Congress; the Principal threw his Roll at him and the poor Fellow's Laurels were blasted the same instant he had gathered them. I congratulate the people of Belfast and indeed all Mankind on the Late Victory over Burgoyne and I charge you to give me a particular Description of the manner in which the News was received by Both Parties with you. What a noble subject for a Historical picture would the House of Commons have presented on that Day when the ill-owen'd [omened?] Germaine was obliged to publish News so dreadfully pleasing as this must have been to the Minority, while Barre in the Front like the Warrior Angel poured down his wrath in that noble invective, every word of which must I think have shook Horror on the Ministerial Crew. I am persuaded that the Event of the War will turn on this great event, and it is probable that Future Historians will date the fall of the British Empire from the 16th of October -77. No object can be thought of, more melancholy, than a Great Empire that has thus outlived itself, and is now degenerating into a state of political Dotage, prophetical of its final Dissolution. Was it for this shamefull Day that Sidney suffered, and that Hampden bled? Were all the glories, triumphs, conquests, spoils this Nation has acquired in the Defence of Liberty, thus meanly to be blasted in a traitrous [traitorous?] attempt to destroy it. I remember a singular remark made by an author which I think very applicable both to the old age of Nations and of individuals. "If the Sun, says he, were not to rise again, it would look greater to fall from the sky at Noon, than to gain a course of four or five Hours only to languish and decline in" . Marlborough and Swift lived to an old age and became Idiots. Great Britian in her Dotage forgets her children and perhaps in some future Day which may Heaven long avert, the Herculean Genius of America will be dressed up in the guise of a slave and servilely crouch at the Nod of some Capricious Girl. I long for futher particulars of this action. It is curious, that the Man whom they called one Arnold should be the person who in all probability will determine the Fate of the British Empire.... |
