Kentucky and by cattle and take them to New Orleans as I have a friend out ther[e] that
wishes me to enter into that business, write Imediately or I will never write to you
again as I want a letter befor[e] I start if I do but I must hear from there befor[e] I
start
I am not certain that I will embark in that business as My unkle advises me
against thinking of the matter and I want to go home for the flower of Carncullough and
then my Joys will be compleete
but I must make a fortune to match with W.R. before I
can hing up my hat there and that I can do or else I will never return to Ireland
however I cannot love without being loved and if I am slighted I wish you to let me know
the bearer of this letter is Mr John McKean of Stranocum. with him I send one severn to
My Dear Mother & one to my affectionate father, and five4 shillings that has lain in my
trunk since I left Ireland to my two youngest sisters as small token of remembrance for I
prefer frends before money. My unkle Wm sends one silver thimble to each of My sisters
and one pair of ear-rings to Jenney & on[e] to nancy, please read on
the largest pair for Jenney
[unsigned]
1
Ms. unclear, although stork appears correct
2
Ms. unclear
3
Ms. illegible or torn.
4
five: may also be six, Ms. unclear
Robert Smyth, Philadelphia, to his family, Moycraig, County Antrim, 25 March 1844
Description
Smyth apologises for not writing earlier and assures them he will not forget them and does not intend to marry in this country but instead hopes to wed "a sweet flower that has grown on the Carculloug[h] hills". He promises his brother James to continue to keep his purse open for him and will bring him out once more [to America] if his wife agrees, in consideration of enmity from her family for "acting a manly part in the case of your marr[i]age". Smyth then relates his weeks-long journey from Philadelphia to to the "western country" on behalf of his uncle business, over the "alleygency mountains" with his partner Mr Martin — who had once been in smuggling partnership with Smyth's uncle Jonathan. After settling his uncle's business, Smyth purchased 100 cattle in the "western reserve" and drove them home on horseback, averaging thirty miles a day and passing "45 other droves", even as he stated that "road droving" was very dangerous "though respectable". Smyth notes there are no fairs, like in Ireland and instead cattle are sold by riding "amongst the farmers and purchase them and appoint a place to muster your drove". After recounting a "little occurance" with a wild hog, Smyth concludes that he must "make his fortune to match with W.R. [the flower of Carncullough] before I can hang my hat up here" or he will never return to Ireland.
Date
25/03/1844
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/1/3/2
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
7pp
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.
