John Smyth, Moycraig, to Robert Smyth, Philadephia

		To: Robert Smyth Lombard Street
     & 12th [Street?] Philadelphia America
     To the Care of Mr William Smyth

From: Moycraig June th [the?] 30  1839

Dear Son I take up my pen to answer yours
of the 18 April which you sent with Mr
John McHay [MacKay?] which was received on the 25 May
And found us all in good health thanks bee [be?]
too [to?] the giver of All good for his mercies
too ward [toward?] us hopping [hoping?] that these few lines
will find you in the Same as the [they?] leave
us All in god [good?] health at present which
wee [we?] ought too [to?] bee [be?] thankfull [thankful?] for
you say that you never had better health which
is a great blessing and you should pray late
and early that it may continue for health is
the best wealth ever you could have you say
you think it strange that wee [we?] never write
too [to?] you but indeed wee [we?] think it as Strange that
you never write to us for wee [we?] sent 3 letters.
since the one that Mr John McHay [MacKay?] took to
you and receieved [recieved?] no Answer for non [none?] of them
wee [we?] sent one with Mary Hatty of [Orlle?] and
your brother Jas [James?] Smyth and Jas Scott sent
one and post paid it Widow Anderson
of Dervock one and wee [we?] also sent one with
A friend of John Browns of New Buildings shee [she?]
went of [off?] the day after wee [we?] got a letter
I no [know?] wee [we?] sent in total six letters and
received only three one from Simon Raised
and one from Jas [James?] Scott and one from
Mr John mcKay [MacKay?] hee [he?] is very poorly
since hee [he?] came home with pains in his
arms and limbs and is not better yet
Dear Robert we received your kind presents which
gave us great satisfaction too [to?] think that you had
not forgotten us And we return you our
sincere thanks for them, William also sends his
sincere thanks to his unkle [uncle?] William for his
kind present. You wished to know About
John McOnaghy and hee [he?] is in Mobile and
Dooing [doing?] well his brother William and
his Cousin McA sent too [to?] their fathers
each of them 20. pounds and John is coming
on very well him and his cousin that
went with him. your mother is well
pleased in the way that you end your
letters that is that you hope to see us
All once more if shee [she?] thought that shee [she?]
never would see aney [any?] more shee [she?] would
wis [wish?] as you said in your letter that shee [she?]
never had parted with you. bee [be?] not diletary [dilatory?] in
writing as wee [we?] are all well pleased in hearing
any from you wee [we?] can have none greater
except in your company. vitling [victualling?] is very high
At present Here is from 18 shillings to one
pound potatoes from 2 shillings till 2s and
4 D pence but we have the appearance of Every
good crop this season. there was a letter from
John McFadden and one from Andrew McEloise
shortly after wee [we?] got yours
your grand father sends his thanks too [to?] your
unkle [uncle?] for his kindness to him wee [we?] all join
in sending our love too [to?] you All in the
kindest manner I add no more at present but
   Remains your affectionate father Jas [James?] Smyth
D[Dear?] Robert I wish too [to?] let you know the
way that I am coming on I am at home at
present I left Smauel Kirkpatrick at Darvock [Dervock?]
May fair because that hee [he?] gave up working at
the tread [trade?] and I doo[do?] not know what I will
Doo [do?] yet I am advised too [to?] try America
for tread [Trade?] is nearly Done here especialy [especially?]
money too [to?] cary [carry?] on tread [trade?] I think
I will iff [if?] I can by strict endeavor
[--------------------?] take well
in the ensuing spring I shall try it A year
or two too [to?] see how I may get on in it for
you could not earn more than one shilling
A day work as you like and I think by
what I hear that A person that would take
care of what the [they?] would earn would make as
mutch [much?] in one day as the [they?] could doo
[do?] here in A week I have served three years now
and was I to go [?]
too [to?] Any man I would not get more than [?]
s[c?]hillings per week as journeyman. I heard [?]
John Mconaghy had one dollar and half per
Day where hee [he?] is and you know that hee [he?] was
not the first rate hand when hee [he?] was here

Dear Robert my mother wishes you too [to?] let
her know if flanen [flannel?] shirts would bee [be?] useful
too [to?] you that shee [she?] would send you some
I also wish you too [to?] send some small
present too [to?] your little sisters which
will not bee [be?] of mutch [much?] value for the
thought that Mr J Mckay [Mackay?] would
had some hee [he?] had very good but the [they?]
would rather had something too [to?] show
please send mee [me?] A ring to wear for your
sake iff [if?] you geet [get?] a safe hand too [to?]
send with & no more at present but remains your
affect [affectionate?]
                         brother John Smyth