158 THEOBALD WOLFE TONE AMERICA 159 and them too, beyond my expectations; we had neither tears nor From Arthur Tone in Dublin to Thomas Russell in Belfast lamentations, but, on the contrary, the most ardent hope and the most steady resolution. At length, at four the next morning, I take this opportunity of writing to you letting you know I embraced them both for the last time, and we parted with a according to your own desire how my father feels as to doing steadiness which astonished me. On the 16th December I arrived anything for me and he says he is quite at a loss what to do until in New York, and took my passage on board the ship Jersey, he consults you and I think you had better write up to him Capt. George Barons. I remained in New York for ten days, conserning what my brother says and then you may consult during which time I wrote continually to my family, and a day together what is best to be done. I like any Business better than or two before my departure I received a letter from my wife the sea for at preasant the times are so bad that there is a informing me that she was with child,¹ a circumstance which certanty of either goeing on board an Frigate or else a french she had concealed so far, I am sure, lest it might have had some prison neither of which I much admire. If harry has not brought influence on my determination. On the 1st January 1796 I up my letters send them up by the first opportunity remember sailed from Sandy Hook with nine fellow passengers, all French, to me all friends bound for Havre de Grace. Our voyage lasted exactly one month, Send up the handkerchief with the letters A. TONE during the most part of which we had heavy blowing weather; five times we had such gales of wind as obliged us to lie under Do not neglect writeing as it is of importance. a close-reefed mizen stay-sail; however, our ship was stout. Tues. January 1796 We had plenty of provisions, wine, brandy, and, especially, what From Mrs. Tone in Dublin to Thomas Russell in Belfast I thought more of, remembering my last voyage, excellent water, so that I had no reason to complain of my passage. We did not MR. RUSSELL, meet a single vessel of force, either French or English; we passed I received yours and am much obliged to you for your profes- three or four Americans, bound mostly, like ourselves, to France. sions with regard to Arthur. I have consulted him in order to On the 27th we were in soundings at 85 fathoms; on the 28th know what he would like and find he is decidedly averse to the we made the Lizard and, at length, on the 1st of February, we sea, so much so that he says sooner than follow it he would bind landed in safety at Havre de Grace, having met with not the himself for seven years to a sweep, but seems very anxious to go smallest accident during our voyage. My adventures from this to some mechanical business. We coud not get him to any date are fully detailed in the Diary which I have kept regularly trade in Dublin, which I think certainly the most eligable since my arrival in France. place, for a less fee than thirty guineas. Now I want to know if his brother mentioned advancing any money for that purpose. We are very loth to call upon The., who has a family of his APPENDIX own, but our sircumstances are such that we cannot help it. We are very willing to do what we are able, althoug Arthur PETER AND MARGARET TONE was taken from us against our consent, which is we will give Ten Guineas towards his fee, provided the other twenty can be The originals of the following letters are among the procured, and we will cloath and take care of him during his Russell Manuscripts in the possession of Trinity College, apprenticeship. I beg you may turn this in your thoughts and Dublin. They belong to the year 1796 and are concerned let me have your answer as soon as possible, as the boy is loosing with young Arthur Tone, then aged thirteen or fourteen, his time at present lounging about Dublin which is a thing we do not like. I beg you may exert yourself on this occasion and be who had followed or accompanied his brother Theobald to as explicit as possible in your answer for I am greatly distressed America in the preceding year and had returned with mess- in mind. The Master sends you his most affectionate regards. ages from him to his associates in Ireland. The boy's par- I am Sir your sincere ents had now to provide him with a means of livelihood, Friend and they were assisted in this by Theobald's dearest friend, MARGARET TONE Thomas Russell, then a librarian in Belfast. The Tone Feb. 1796 parents were not privy to the secret of Theobald's departure If it can be brought to bear, we have some notion of binding from America to France: him to a courier1 as his father thinks he could help him in that Nothing more is heard of this expected child. 1 Currier.