off the Southern States, for there the[y] have anually yellow fever, Black vomit and every
other diseases complicated that the human family are Subject to
America is growing a very strong powerful nation the people are pompous and proud
and boasts desperately of the freedom and Independence and republicanism of this
Country and the[y] all Seem to feel a deep interest for the welfare of Ireland but at
present it is only in the American power to relieve it as the Priest & Levite in Scripture
reliev the poor man on the road
but I hope in good time the Good Pharasee will come
and make the inhabitants of it a free people it is my opinion England will never make
war against America again it would be bad policy for them for America could conquer
any Single Nation on earth--for the Americans are proudly Jealous of there Liberty and in
case there liberty are invaded the[y] would fight like Blood hounds on Land or Sea
there Motto is death or Liberty the history of the last war proves these assertions to be
true for we may as well fight till we die as to be murdered or bur[i]ed alive in our own
houses the Irish in American are particularly well recvd and looked upon as Patriotic
republicans, and if you were to tell an American you had flyd your Country or you would
have been hung for treason against the Government. they would think ten times more of
you and it would be the highest trumpet could be sounded in your Praise the Scotch are
not much liked here the[y] are cald Kings men not republicans and are pranded with the
epithet of Whigs & Tories -- but to Quit foreign affairs -- in Janes last Letter to me Tom
and her seem Strong bent on Coming to this Country I have not heard from them
Since I wrote I gave them all the information I could to the Questions the[y] ask and I
James Richey, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to his parents, Ireland, 2 March 1826
Description
James Richey complains to his parents that aside from a single letter from his sister, he has had no correspondence with home. He relates that he is in good health despite the prevalence of disease such as Billious Fever and Tipes Fevers, while Smallpox rages in the south, particularly in New Orleans, 1600 miles to the south, but connected by steam boats in six days. He relates that "America is growing a very powerful nation the people are pompous and proud and boasts desperately of the freedom and Independence and republicanism" and notes that they have a "deep interest for the welfare of Ireland". Richey hopes America will one day make its inhabitants a" free people" being the only country who could. He opines that England will not go to war again with America who "could conquer any Single Nation on earth". He states that the Irish in America are well received and seen as "Patriotic Republicans" but that the "Scotch are not much liked here" being branded as "Kings men [...] Whigs & Tories". Richey gives news of his own work "Store Keeping" and marrying a "Little Irish Girl" aged 20-years-old from Londonderry, after a short courtship of two years. He concludes hoping for his brother Andrew to come over.
