$$H160 Part of the Andrew S Anderson Catalogue$$H
New-York
23rd July 1857
My Dear James
I have been here a fortnight today and I
may say that I have scarcely looked out for anything yet. It is
awfull hot here at present, you can have no conception of the
heat since I came. I have slept with my window and door open and
only a thin cotton quilt over me without Blanket or sheet and
the mattress turned up on top of the feather bed, yet when I
awaken in the morning my night-shirt is wet as if I was coming
out of a Bath. Wagons go through every street to supply the
Houses with Ice when we want a drink of water we put a piece of
ice in it which melts in a few minutes and makes it nice and
cool, the Butter when left on the table has a lump of Ice placed
on top of it else it would run off the plate in oil in a few
minutes. Ice is used here with every article of food. I stand
the heat first rate and have not been so stout nor in as good
health for the past five years as I am at the present time. I
am 7lbs heavier than when you last saw me.
Since the fourth of July there has been a great deal of Rioting
in the City. Mr Knoud told me that he saw twenty dead Bodies at
one time taken to the dead House on the evening of the fourth,
there were five men shot dead the Evening I landed here and for
a week after there were several people killed every day but
every thing is quiet as usual now. I came here just in the very
worst time to get employment, there will not be much doing here
for a month or six weeks but a fellow cannot be beat here as
there is plenty of work and good Wages besides it is considered
no disgrace it is honourable to make money here by any means
that is honest, from all that I see and learn it may be
sometimes hard to get into a respectable House, but once get a
fair start he is only a blockhead if he cannot raise himself,
the Americans although they think themselves the smartest people
on the face of the Earth are no match for an educated Irishman
in Business matters. Tommy Hughes has attained a position that
he could never have done at home. I spent yesterday evening at
his House, he lives over in Brooklyn has a beautiful House
furnished in Elegant style and with great taste. His wife is the
most Lady-like and accomplished woman I have met since I left
Ireland very sensible and well informed without any show or
nonsense about her. Tommy has been very friendly since I came.
He wrote yesterday evening to several ship-brokers of his
acquaintance to see if he could find out any vacancy to stick me
in. Aunt Sarah is living in Williamsburg she just looks as well
as ever I saw her, there is no change in her appearance only her
hair is got grey a little. She has a very nice House and lives
more comfortably than ever she did in the past. William reports
for the Herald Newspaper and has fifteen dollars a week besides
as he is not occupied half his time he often makes ten dollars a
week in addition by reporting for others. Finlay reports for the
Daily News and has ten dollars a week, he expects a rise in his
Salary now. Robert has been doing nothing for three months past
nor does he expect any thing for a month or two yet. Fanny is at
a Boarding-school a couple of hundred miles up the country. Jane
and John are at home at school. Aunt was very glad to see me and
wanted to have my things brought over at once to stay with her
untill I got some Employment, But I am staying in the meantime
with Andy McGuigan, he is just the same [as?] [he?] was in
Donegal no change whatever, his wife is a very sensible Woman
and a first-rate House-Keeper, keeps no servant and does every
thing herself. I go over sometimes to Aunts. I spent last Sunday
there. I met Potter the Coach Agent that we had in Donegal, he
is the most improved man I have seen quite a respectable decent
appearance he is Book Keeper in a first-rate Establishment in
Beckman [?] Street, he could not think who I was until I told
him, nor indeed out of about twenty Donegal People that I met
not one knew me only Hughes. Crawford son of [Mo---?], when I
went into Aunts she did not know that ever she saw me before, a
few days after I landed here I learned that Richard Graham was
in New-York before me and that Shop-man Graham was living in
Newburgh sixty miles up the River where he has got some
situation at the Brick-fields there. Andy McGuigan's Employer
had a Brewery up there and Andy was up last week for a few days
and he was told when Shop-man heard I was in New-York he thought
I came after him, so he has cleared out and has made tracks for
some-place else. I intend to cut the grocers if possible, I find
it is about the very worst trade here for young men. Andy has a
nice situation he goes to the office at 1/2 past Eight and comes
home between 4 and 5 o'clock in the Evening, he must have made a
good deal of money since he came here, the rest of the family
are living out west on a farm of 160 acres that they bought. I
believe Andy will very soon be in Business for himself. Good
Book-Keepers command good Salarys here and can get employed
almost always, one good thing here, no matter how low a man
commences if he has the ability with a little perserverance - Mr
Munn of Cranny [?] below Inver Bridge, when he came here 8 or so
[?] years ago was hard enough up for a while, his first
beginning was porter in a store where an old Servantman of his
fathers got him in, now he's doing a splendid Business in Broad
street, he was over at home and only arrived here shortly before
me. James Scott, Kitty O'Donnell's old flame I have seen several
times he seems to have a nice situation in a flour-store in
Broad street. I wish you would write and let me know how all
goes on at home, you can address in care of Andy McGuigan 121
Warren St, or at his Residence No 6 Staple street N-Y [New
York?]. I will not be writing for a month if someting
[something?] [-------?] up. I wrote to John Galbraith and had
an answer from him, he is to be in New-York in four or five days
buying goods. Remember me to all [----?] [friends?] and give
kindest regards to Mr and Mrs McLoone.
Yours affectionate Brother
John Anderson
Transcribed by Andrew S Anderson
