Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to his brother James Smyth Jr., Carncullough,
Dervock, County Antrim, 18 January 1840
to M' James Smith Junior
Philad January 18h 1840
Dear Brother I take up my pen to answer a supposition of Yours that I received on
Christmas as i was going out with my musket to shoot at a target this letter was signed
James Smith but was I presume the workmanship of my old master Mos McFadden
however I was very glad to hear from you as I think I have not a better-hearted Brother
than you are and it is with the greatest esteem that one brother could have for anothers
health and [happiness]2 in this would and hopes of a better change when separated from
this earth that I advise you against Coming to this country [at] this preasant season as
times is very bad here on account of the Banks of Pennsclvenia suspending Specie
Payment for the notes imediately after the annual Election of 1839. our neighbouring
states did not suspend and therefore there is a discount on our money of 10 per cent and
that renders business in the City very dull at present
I give this as my oppinion let us
suppose that there is on[e] hundred young men Europeans equally verced in education
and talented in understanding Embarks for this country at one time you will find fiftey
of this number becoming worse than in Ireland
ten more plunging headlong into
Distraction ten more you will find just on a levvel with when the[y] arrived in this
country and ten more you will find making a better of their former situation I am
thank God one of them that has bettered my condition of life
James Scott is also one
of the latter mentioned number I have yet ten to discuss on these I find becoming
Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to his brother James Smyth Jr., Carncullough, Dervock, County Antrim, 18 January 1840
Description
Robert Smyth thanks his brother James Jnr. for his letter but warns him against coming out "to this country" and the bad state of the economy in a local banking crisis. He believes that men can lead happier lives in Ireland "although oppression covers all our native country". He intends to return himself and assist in obtaining a better farm for the family and set their brother John in a trade.
Date
18/01/1840
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/1/3/2
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
2pp
Topic
Smith/ Smyth Letters
Geographic
Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Carncullagh Lower (townland),Antrim (county),Ireland
Temporal
Nineteenth century,Eighteen forties
Genre
Letter,Transcription
Note
Title and transcript provided by Professor Kerby Miller. This transcript includes handwritten corrections to transcript from PRONI, made with reference to original letters. Letter description provided by University of Galway. The names Smith and Smyth are used interchangeably in this series so both are quoted.
