thought also probably it would be well for them they were over for Industry must Prosper
and I Know it would not be wanting with them
I had a Letter a Short time ago from my uncle Alx Richey dated as Philadelphia
he was not doing any thing then
Concerning my Self as I informed you in other Letters
I
Continue on at this place Store Keeping my employer Mr Park gave me an interest
in
the Store and took me into partnership and in the Course of a year after he went away to
an other town and tried an other Store and Left the Charge of this one on me nearly
ever Since I left you I have been boarding at a tavern and the Expence is anormous
I
have pd 3 Dollars a week for Boarding that is in your money 14/7 1/2 and washing in
proportion and making cloathing 01 I became heartly tired of always mixing with
Strangers and taking tavern fare which to tell the truth was pretty ruff Sometimes So as I
could not Stand it any longer I fell in Love with a Little Irish Girl and we got married on
the 13 day of Dec last a[fter]2 a Short courtship of two years. She is a daughter of a superscript(3) of
this place formerly from London Derry about 8 years ago. her name is Eliza about 20
years of age. You cant call her Young for I was at a wedding a few Evenings ago and the
Girl was only twelve years and 9 months old. if you had been near I would have ask yr
consent. Please write me Soon and tell me if you have given out all notion of coming
over for we would be both glad to see you I would like to have my Brother Andrew
over here tell me what Sort of a Boy he is and if you would be willing to let him come
if you do I can Easily make arrangements and Pay his Passage at Phil remember Eliza
and me to our Brothers and Sisters and accept for yr Selves our Sincere love Your
Obt
Son
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.
