"F. D.", Philadelphia, to his uncle, Daniel M., [Magherafelt], County Derry, 9 July 1836
Description
The author teaches school in "the country" (presumably in Sandy Hill, Maryland), but has come into Philadelphia to visit his sister. He remarks on the horribly summer weather in Philadelphia, where Irish immigrants are plagued with flies and mosquitoes. This is a superb and eloquent letter, providing advice to his uncle as to whether the latter's teenage son, Henry, should emigrate. Beyond simply urging the necessity for cousin Henry to learn a trade, either before he emigrates or in an American apprenticeship, the author balances their natural love of Irish home and kin with their necessity to emigrate, because of the "tyranny and misfortune" (eviction?) which his own family has encountered and which made him and his siblings "children of circumstance," who had no option but to emigrate. The author hopes to bring his parents and younger siblings to America, but he hopes that his uncle Daniel's better economic situation will not oblige his children to leave home.
Date
09/07/1836
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/6/8
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
6pp
Topic
Maghera Letters
Geographic
Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Magherafelt,Derry (county),Ireland
Temporal
Nineteenth century,Eighteen thirties
Genre
Transcript,Reproduction
Note
Title, description and transcript text by Professor Kerby Miller.