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Thomas Reilly, Albany, New York, to John M. Kelly, No. 2 Lower Mayor Street, or Dublin & Glasgow's Co Stores, North Wall, Dublin, 24 April 1848
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Collection Thomas Reilly Letters
Title Thomas Reilly, Albany, New York, to John M. Kelly, No. 2 Lower Mayor Street, or Dublin & Glasgow's Co Stores, North Wall, Dublin, 24 April 1848
Description Thomas Kelly is effusive in describing his pain at being separated from John and his wife, potentially forever. Kelly informs him that he has joined the Irish Volunteers who are "preparing in America to invade Ireland" via France, and he hopes he may return to Ireland with "the green flag flying above me". He colourfully relates his voyage to America from Dublin, via Liverpool, including a storm some days into their sailing. He mentions "an unfortunate vessel from New Orleans bound for Liverpool was sturck by lightening", in the Gulf of Florida. He advises against emigration unless the would-be emigrant has family or friends here "to snatch them from all the evils of society". He fell in with "the worst company nature could produce" and relates in an aside that Irish women "are great slaves in this country". While roaming in a wood, he encountered "a generous black" who shared his home and hospitality with him. While intending to "wander along the pleasant vallies of the Mississippi" he will go to Canada with the Irish Volunteers should they go and "raise the Standard of revolution". [He signs off as Thomas O Reilly but elsewhere he omits the "O"].
Date 24/04/1848
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Resource Type Text
Archival Record Id p155/42/5
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 10pp
Topic Thomas Reilly Letters
Geographic Albany (city),Albany (county),New York (state),United States,Dublin (city),Dublin (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen forties
Genre Transcript,Reproduction
Note Transcript text by Dr. Bruce D. Boling (collaborator of Professor Kerby Miller). Title and description by University of Galway.
Creator / Author Name Thomas Reilly