Digital Archive
John Reilly, Baltimore, Maryland, to his father, Edward Reilly, Ballinagh, County Cavan, February 1841
Luaigh an doiciméad seo Amharcóir IIIF
Bailiúchán Reilly Letters
Title John Reilly, Baltimore, Maryland, to his father, Edward Reilly, Ballinagh, County Cavan, February 1841
Description Excellent long letter by a well-educated Catholic, who appears to be a clerk or storekeeper. Excellent on Fr. Mathew's temperance crusade and its effects both in Ireland and among the Irish in America; Reilly himself has joined the Maryland Catholic Temperance Society and taken its pledge (which allows wine in moderation). Also very good on the effects of the 1837-44 economic depression; and on American politics. Reilly is a staunch Democrat and pens derogatory and often humorous comments about president-elect William Harrison (a Whig), and claims that his election victory over Van Buren was the result of fraud . He declines to encourage Tom (his brother?) to emigrate because of economic and political uncertainty. Reilly also mentions Daniel O'Connell, enthusiastically, and the Irish Repeal movement in America. Reilly expresses deep homesickness, in a romantic, sentimental bourgeois style, and wants to return home.
Date 01/02/1841
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Cineál Acmhainne Text
Archival Record Id p155/25/3, p155/114/1
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 5pp
Topic Reilly Letters
Geographic Baltimore,Maryland,United States,Bellananagh,Cavan (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen forties
Genre Transcript,Reproduction
Note Title and description by Professor Kerby Miller. Professor Kerby Miller notes that: Arnold Schrier collected all five of these John Reilly letters. However, the Reillys who corresponded in 1841 [are] not related to the John and Edward Reilly who corresponded in 1895-1901; also they came from different donors.
Creator / Author Name John Reilly