Digital Archive
G[eorge] Unthank, Jr., New York City, to John?, Limerick city, County Limerick, 16 February 1826
Luaigh an doiciméad seo Amharcóir IIIF
Bailiúchán Unthank Letters
Title G[eorge] Unthank, Jr., New York City, to John?, Limerick city, County Limerick, 16 February 1826
Description Excellent letter by another member of the Unthank family of Limerick Quakers. Describes his travels in late 1825 from Limerick to Dublin, then to Liverpool, where he embarked for America; however, storms wrecked his first ship and forced it to stop in Derry, so he transferred to another, new and better ship, which had a pleasant voyage, via the Azores, and reached New York on 4 January 1826. Unthank's description of New York is exceptionally long and detailed, and he makes frequent, informed comparisons between New York City and Dublin, London, and Limerick. Unthank is amazed at New York's favorable situation and its enormous volume of shipping. Except for Broadway, however, the city's layout, its residential streets and better houses, are inferior to Dublin's, to London's, and even to Limerick; for example, New York has no public squares. He describes in details the New York system of auction sales for imported goods. Rents were extortionately high, and landlords were ruthless and greedy, which makes businesses unstable and uncertain; every May 1 is "moving day," when half the city's inhabitants change premises. Unthank criticizes the sharp, dishonest business practices that prevail in the city, but notes that wages and opportunities for skilled craftsmen are excellent. Many interesting observations on the Irish in New York. Estimated to number 15,000: mostly unskilled laborers, canal-diggers, dock-workers, porters, bricklayers' assistants, and street pedlars. At first, the "low Irish" are mean and servile, but American "freedom" soon makes them shed their deference and become "insolent." Heavy drinking is common, and some Irish make "fortunes" as grog-sellers. The local climate is unhealthy, and causes high mortality. Unthank himself appears to be one of those merchant-emigrants who brought Irish shirts, stockings, etc., to sell in New York--in part to pay his debts at home. Has no doubt that he will soon gain an "independence."
Date 16/02/1826
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Cineál Acmhainne Text
Archival Record Id p155/23/5
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 10pp
Topic Unthank Letters
Geographic New York City,New York (state),United States,Limerick (city),Limerick (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen twenties
Genre Transcript,Reproduction
Note Title, description and transcript text by Professor Kerby Miller.
Creator / Author Name George Unthank