William McKenny, Philadelphia, to his brother and sister, Mr. & Mrs. James McCay, Downpatrick, Co. Down, July 4, 1847. N.I.P.R.O., T.2838/2. "Dear Brother and Sister I take this faviourable opertunity of letting you no that I am well thank god for it hoping that theis few lines will find you in the same in Regard to my passage I had a very fine one 26 days withe 81 passengers all free from all sickness only a few of them sea sick I was a bout 24 ours sea sick we had no storms with the exceptions of one day and night and that opened my eyes I stoped 3 days in newyork I saw a great deal of experience there I fell in with pat M/ there he is well I Came on to philadelphia I fell in with more aquantience there Edward McKenny my best friend I also seen list of several names there all in good helth I stopt L ? / weeks with Edward Mckenny in his Cosin John Mckenny unto he got me a place In Regard to my wages I Canot tel wat I will have yet Ingaged for a month at 9 dollar that is 37S 6D British money and found to the man that I am with I like him well he has 979 acres of land about the one half of that is laboured he is Just Comencing a larg spining and weaving factory in the Course of 4 weeks (50) McKenny is now several miles from Philadelphia in Maryland, doing farm labor, harvesting, etc. This is a very good letter, but the copy is poor and it is too difficult and time-consuming to try to make a complete transcription. "I have often hard tell of the wild woods of America and shurly there is Parts of it wild looking I have never seen half a mile Round me yet with the woods and as far as I can larn there are not five houses with in five miles of us I have of ten hard this to be the best Countrey for girls I find it to be truth girls has a better Chance here then boys I mus own that this is a good Country but the best Riches here is good helth I never nowed wat a warm Day was to I Came to this Country I think the shirt two much to keep on if I Posible Could take it of and this is alowed to be cool wheather as yet in Regard of Prayers we will have a opertunity Every 2 week with in five mile of us ther is a good many people her that Canot fall in to there mind there is some Doing well a Man that has his helth here and will work will save some money Dear Brother and Sisters I hope you will exuse me for not writing before this time