From William Wright   June 11th 1842.

Cincinati June 11th 1842. My oldest and most valued friend

I have lately received your address¹ from my sister Rebecca and after a lapse of 18 months or more again take up my pen to address you and now that I have done it I hardly know how to commence there are so many thoughts of Bygone days crowding on my memory that I am at a loss to know what to write. I need hardly add that you Jack are always connected with those happy recollections. Oh for the days of our boyhood, why did they pass so quickly or why did we not value them more at the moment scarce had we time to sip their sweets when they vanished and left no trace but memory. Even that is a sweet solace (as in the words of that beautiful opera Sonnambula² which often recur to me and make me think of old times)

Still so gently o’er my senses stealing

Memory still brings back the feeling

Spite of all my cares revealing

I love them dearly, dearly do I love them still³

Many a changing and exciting scene have I passed through since last I saw you and often did I think of you and wish you were beside me. When watching our gallant ship cutting its way through the mighty deep or gliding through the noble Hudson⁴ or standing by Niagara’s mighty waters I often thought how much more they would have interested me had you been also a spectator. It seems to me that you are the only person of my early years whose sympathy and feelings flow in the same channel as my own and none who will understand them as well, feebly as I have attempted to portray them in words. Although there are some of my old companions with whom I spent more time and had more intercourse yet your absence is the only one I feel for and whose presence if ever I behold it will be most welcome. I hope it will not be long until I do see you though I should never wish to see you in America, at least until your Father and Mother would be released from all their troubles⁵ (& may that day be far distant is the sincere prayer of your friend). If ever you do come to this land bring with you no hopes of speedily realizing a fortune or that it is much easier acquired than at home, if you do you will be disappointed. For I must acknowledge it has been my case. Not that I was very sanguine or had very high notions of this country before I arrived in it, or that it is hard to satisfy me. I have no doubt if I had settled about Carlow it might have been better for me. Trade is much worse here at present than I have ever seen it in the old country, we have hardly anything in the shape of cash, any business that is done is by trading one article of <word illeg.> for another I do not at all regret coming out for I have seen and learned a good deal since I did come whether I profit by it or no. Again if you do think of coming out here you will have to lay aside all love and veneration for all old England’s laws and constitution. If you do not you will often be an unwilling listener to words that grate upon your ears. I admit that Americans have accomplished a mighty work and that there is a good deal in their character to admire. But they entirely deface it by their self conceit vain boasting and determined hostility to England the very author of our greatness – for it is English gold and English hands that has constructed their vast railroads and canals through their unlimited forests and make them teem with life and plenty.⁶ And for the payment of which the honour of their several States is pledged but which I believe never will be redeemed.⁷ For it is a bad sign of it when the Governors of their States starts and is elected on the repudiation ticket or in other words pledged to resist the payment of their State debts both principal and interest. And then they openly and continually express themselves that they would be glad of engaging in a war with England. If it was only to show how well they could thrash her. For as they remark they thrashed her when in their infancy and now that they are arriving at the years of maturity they would be much better able to do it; forgetting that at the time they did engage with her last⁸ England had almost the whole world against her and not one ally. It is amusing to see some of the remarks of the press on the subject and how easily they think it would be for an American army to pitch their tents in the Regents Park and their officers make Head Quarters of the Tower.⁹ They must truly imagine that the spirits of our Pictons and Nelsons¹⁰ and our cock of the walk Wellington¹¹ are all vanished from British hearts. I calculate they would be a wee bit mistaken, For in the prophetic words of the immortal Shakespear¹²

England never did, nor never shall,

Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror

But when it first did help to wound itself

Come the three corners of the world in arms

And we shall shock them Naught shall make us rue

If England to itself do prove but true¹³

You see I give Shakespere credit for being a prophet as well as poet at least in these few lines. Now Jack I must lay by my martial spirit and confine myself to a little domestic affair. I would not have alluded to the above subject but that I am often compelled to be a listener to the most scurrilous remarks on my native land (For I never think of drawing a line of distinction between England and Ireland), so I am obliged to let off a little steam occasionally and as I know you will have a little forbearance with me I have puffed off all the extra that has been accumulating for some months. In short if you wish to know the real American character read Mrs Trollop’s Domestic Manners of the Americans,¹⁴ it is the nearest the mark of any publication I have seen on the subject. I have again struck off my intended track but I will strive and keep on it as well as I can. I wish you were a little closer to me and I would have a small job for you to do for me, I mean to be a sponsor for my little son he is a very fine little fellow. Now Sarah¹⁵ desired me to mention that it was not her which prevented me from writing to you but that she often desired me to do it I am sorry to be obliged to confess that such was the case. Not that I wanted inclination to do it, but that I put it off from day to day expecting to have something extraordinary to mention until I found I let it go too far, and then I began to expect a line from you and that you would think my letter had miscarried, (I am determined to be candid with you). But now that I see no chance of first receiving a letter from you, I have broke the ice and if the rent again closes it must be your fault this time for I am sorry to say it has been my fault more than once. I hope you forgive me for it. And although the wide Atlantic rolls between us we will again converse about the mossy banks of our own dear Barrow¹⁶ upon whose smooth surface we have spent many a cheerful hour. And through its small tributaries we have often chased the spangled trout and swiftly gliding pike making the old Moat¹⁷ resound again with our loud husas when we would seize our victim and bear it in triumph to the shore I do believe if I was standing this moment upon the bank of Maudlin stream¹⁸ and you along side of me I would at once roll up my sleves tuck up my trowsers and in right away and enjoy the chase of a small trout as much as ever I did. And if you did not follow me, I would brand you with such a name as always brings the blush into the face of a true hearted Irishman. If you are in company with any of my old associates please to present them my kindest regards hoping that all of them enjoy health and happiness. And that it may be your lot your Father’s, Mother’s, sister’s and relations is the constant wish and prayer of your humble servant. You will please remember me to them all. If you receive this please to let my father know that you have heard from me and that we are all in good health here. Along with this letter I send you some newspapers. I hope it will not be long until I receive a letter from you and you must give me the whole full and true account of all your affairs especially with the ladies you know I made a confidant of you and turn about it only fair play so do not forget it. I was very near forgetting to mention a subject which will surprise you a little I have only been out 4 days fishing and shooting since I came here. Not that I could not make time, but the few days I was out I got heartily sick of it. You are aware I suppose that there is no hinderance to your shooting where you choose so that its not from want of room, but the game is so very scarce you might hunt a whole day without meeting anything worth shooting. Quail are the only birds at all plenty Out in the Back Woods¹⁹ there are turkey but there is so much cover for them that it is hard to get at them there is very little water fowl to be met with. But up near the Sucker²⁰ in the North part of this State they are very plentiful. On my road here from N. York²¹ I stopped a few days with the Rainsfords.²² They live on the banks of the Niagara river about 2 miles from Lake Erie out of which the Niagara flows, and about 20 miles from the falls. You can hear the noise distinctly at their door when the wind blows in the direction from the falls. On the river I have seen some thousands of water fowls of different sorts but it is very hard to get within gun shot of them. George told me that some seasons of the year the river does be completely covered over with them. On the whole shooting is as good in the old Ireland if one had a little more liberty. I believe it is the very hinderance that makes it sweet And as for fishing it is much more pleasant, the fish are not so plenty and the season of the year for fishing the sun is so hot that you cannot possibly stand out. Now Jack I must bid you good bye, it is want of room which compels me now to do it. So farewell my old friend and believe me I remain

Yours always | William Wright.

You will direct your letters to Richard Haughton Main Street Cincinati for W. Wright and I will be sure to get them. I am doing business for the above named individual and receive a weekly stipend of 10 Dollars which is pretty fair considering the present state of trade.²³ Woolen and cotton fabrics are worth double as much as at home but provisions are very cheap so that a person having more salary here the outlay is so much more than at home you arrive at the same conclusion that there is a great deal to spare I expect to get business for myself as soon as trade takes a turn for the better once more

Farewell | W. Wright

Send me a newspaper. I shall commence and send you some weekly. Remember me particularly to Joseph Payne and W. Murray the gardener. If you know anything of my old Beau A.S.²⁴ let me have it.

Yours | W.W.

RI MS JT/1/5/1800–3

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