Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to his brother, William Smyth, Moycraig, County Antrim, 22 August 1842 Philadephia Agust 22nd 1842 Dear Brother Besides the inclination that I have to write to you concerning everything that happens to me here I find it a duty incumbent upon me my heart tells me not to let slip the favourable opertunity of sending you those few lines in answer to yours of the 25th June I received a few days ago it seems from your letter that my father and mother is not satisfied because I did not exp[r]es my regard for them in some fainting 1 language or hipocritical pretentions just there is none of that flows from a pure heart and although mine is not pure it has as tender feelings as any of you I will venture to say that my Father never begat, nor my mother gave suck to the child that thinks more of them than he who addresses these few lines to you nor has ever done or would do more for their happiness therefore I think that there was no use of such insinuations if my father would leave it in my power to answer a letter to him I would compliment him in the best manner in my power although I never struck my toe against the blarney stoney My mother gave me her commands when she parted me and I have never lost that respect which is due her tender feelings from a dutiful son you remember that she wished to se[e] me at the place from which we set sail but I would not allow it I suppose affection did not want its part, and there was something that she communicated to me there that I shall ever remember I hope that I have not been brought up with SO kind a family to be ignorant of that respect which is due to a parents and I could see my poor old