D.3127/1-4. Thomas Clark Letters, 1818-20.
/1. Thomas Clark, New Orleans, to his mother, Mrs. Mary Clark, and sister, Newtown
Limavady, Co. Londonderry, 27 Dec. 1818.
New Orleans 27 th Dec 1818
Dear Mother & Sisters
These few lines I hope will find you as well
and better than when we parted - we weighed Anchor 3 miles from
Belfast opposite the white House on satterday the of Oct' and on
Sunday at 9 OClock past noon we took our departure from Torry Island
for New Orleans on Board the Brig parker and Sons, Captain Henry
Hodgson master who lives in Belfast you may see the passengers
names
subscribed to the praise of his kind treatment on the passage in the
Belfast paper on Saturday the 12 th of Dec at 1 OClock past noon
we come to Anchor at the mount of the River Mississippi which was
exactly 8 weeks and on Monday the 27 th of Dec r at 12 OClock at noon we arrived
at the Levee of that Grand and Honourable City of New Orleans
which will shortly be one of the greatest places of Trade not only in
the United States but in all the World - I got business the very day
I enquired for it and am Happy case Return my sincere thanks to M
King for encouraging me to leave that poor and wretched Country
I find every thing to be as he told me if not better, the Gentleman who
I am with at present finds me tools - every thing is dear here but wa-
ges is high accordingly If the tools is not disposed of M2 King will
put them carefully in the Chest for you send them to Captain
Henry Hodgson to Belfast and he will bring them and the Shirts
for me this letter goes by the Brig Abigal for Liverpool - when
the parker and Sons goes will write again - let Mr Higerly know
I saw his son and gave him the Letter - let Mary Obrien
widow of the late James Obrien know that Michael M Closky her
Cousin-(Germen?) Sailed out (Stuart?) in the Brig along with me
he desires her to let James Hare - c Feely and wm Murry know
that he is well and the first time any of them is going to Belfast
that they may let his Father Mother Wife and Children know
(p. 2)
that he is in good health and that he intends Stopping in
New Orleans as he thinks was he to return he might never
be able to get to this Country again he likewise request his
Brother John and John Shails to make every exertion in their
d
power to come here as it is his opinion the(y) wou have it in
their power to advance their Fortune - give my Compliments
