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James Richey, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to his parents, Ireland, 2 March 1826
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Collection Richey Letters
Title 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.
Date 02/03/1826
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Resource Type Text
Archival Record Id p155/2/1/1, p155/2/1/2
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 8pp
Topic Richey Letters
Geographic Hopkinsville,Christian (county),Kentucky,United States,Lisburn,Antrim (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen twenties
Genre Transcript,Reproduction
Note Title and transcript by Professor Kerby Miller. Letter description by University of Galway.
Creator / Author Name James Richey