Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to James Smyth, Moycraig, County Antrim, 7 April
1840
Philad April 7th 1840
Dear Parents
I take up my pen on receipt of yours of the 1st January which I received on the 24th of
March and was glad to hear of you all being in good health your letter found me
enjoying the same blessing and these few lines leave me in the same hoping to find you
all enjoying the same blessing which is pleasanter than any other earthly comfort I was
very Glad to see such an improvement in my fathers handwriting and to find it SO legable
as we do not make a publick example of our letters in this country like you do in Ireland I
might find it difficult to read as I recognised it to be the workmanship of my old
instructant M. Mcfadden I found no difficulty in understanding the hole history,
althoug[h] no person saw it but myself however I am well satisfied to have a letter
from one that I esteem SO high but think that my brother W m Smyth migt find time to
write to me when the rest is spending their time at some frolicksome occupation
although he disapeared from my presence when I was taking my leave of you wll I have
not forgotten him nor his industrious habits I think it strang[e] that you never mention
what my brother John is doing I am also alarmed that you did not mention of the loss
that Brother Jonathin met with
it is a heart-rendering sircumstance to have our best
beloved friends both skin and boady fastened to a currier to dress as he pleases
I
am
all
but in morning for his woful condition
when you write mention every particular
respecting the family for bear in mind I have not forgotten any of you I received my
Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to James Smyth, Moycraig, County Antrim, 7 April 1840
Description
Robert Smyth writes that he is [sarcastically?] glad his father's handwriting has improved — recognising that the last letter he received was written by his "old instructant M. McFadden" — as letters are not read in public "in this country", unlike Ireland. He complains that his family are not keeping him informed of intra-family affairs. Smyth is also alarmed of the perception in Ireland of riches to be made in "this country", considering there is no labouring work for "native borns", not to mind "greenhorns". He hopes to return to his grandfather whom he last saw in 1837 and notes rumours growing of impending hostilities over the "boundary issue", along the American frontier with Canada. Smyth concludes with news of family, friends and relations and includes a short poem he wrote for his mother, hoping to return to Ireland in 1841.
Date
07/04/1840
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/1/3/2
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
6pp
Topic
Smith/ Smyth Letters
Geographic
Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Moycraig Hamilton (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.
