Pau [?] 29 March 1870
My dear Willy
you will hardly be surprised
to receive a line from me dated as above. I
left Nice and very warm weather in the 21st
instant and arrived here, sleeping three
nights en route, on the 24th at 10 pm and
got warm quarters at the Hotel. 25th was
beautiful and sunny - 26th heavy fall
of snow in the morning fine evening
27th once quite wet a little bit snow
28th about same - today snow till 1pm and cold -
and I stand it all famously coughing less
than I have been doing for last seven weeks -
I understand the weather at Nice had become
bad again - You & We fine weather seekers keep
the sun of it at all places having not much
else to do. On 10th Inst at Nice I received
your letter of 4/5th besides two or three
newspapers - I was very sorry indeed to find that
that [sic] Jane had been poorly but I hope and
trust that long ere this she is quite well again.
It is wonderful how easily susceptible people take
cold and can't account for it.I have in vain
over [...?] again tried to fix how I got my present
cold but cannot do so. The whole of February
was wet and uncomfortable not only at Nice
but at all other places but first three weeks
in March were splendid.-
The Hoyt party including Fanny Redmond
reached Nice on the 12th in good health and
started for Rome on the 16th and expected
to be back in Paris early in May and to
return to America about 1st September -
Fanny told me that they intended to spend
the last two weeks in London one of which
she would give to Ballymena if she could
get any one to take her to Ballymena and
take her to Dweretown [?] to join the steamer
there. The rest of the party did not intend to
visit Ireland. The "rest" consists of Mrs Lydia [?]
Hoyt + Gertude, Mr + Mrs Morgan Nurse +
Baby Luther [?] six months. What a people these
Americans are for larking[?] about, besides all
the above Mrs Hoyts two boys intend to pass[?] in
Europe their vacation of six weeks!!!
I feel rather "at home" here knowing some of the
residents besides meeting acquaintances formed
elsewhere - somewhere. As soon as the weather
gets sunny and warmer which it do even
tomorrow I intend to go to Biarritz and stay
there till it be time to turn homewards
If I thrive under present weather I think I may
risk Dublin towards and next months at all
waits London or Clifton. What a miserable
return £7-2.2 for your six months labor [labour?] and
anxiety - but of course there is no profit unless intent
has been deducted - there will be no comfort in doing
business in America 'till they come back to cash
payments and with Gold at 11 3/4 only I don't
know when coin payments will be resumed and
maintained - Debtors are determined to do as
they please for in spite of the decision by the
highest Court at Washington. Railroad companies
and others will only pay coupons and principal
to Greenbacks and creditors are taking paper
sooner than engage in a long and expensive lawsuit
Debtors know this and act accordingly - dishonestly!.
Values have kept up wonderfully. I see a [that?]
Railroad Bonds are 2.4% higher than in July back
when Gold was at 137- The large Crop and the
the [sic] very high price for it has helped enormously
the country - The value of the crop is actually
much more than if it had been double the quantity.
People on their side seem to think that the 520 are
high enough for the present. Few more however can
come over. The policy of Grant seems to be to keep
up the bad feeling about the Alabama claims, I don't
know why unless some home party end is to be gained by
it. Besides the buckling of the Press in England and
area of the Government ever since End War encourages
America to be insolent and exacting. I don't believe
the Americans care a straw about settling the
question in fact would rather keep it open.
No doubt a Land Bill will pass - yet I fear that news
will satisfy Paddy - Mr Bright promised him free
Land and he interprets it literally - I have Read the
Irish Church constitution I hope it isa good one but
I am no Judge - The commutation and sustentation[?]
will be a serious and heavy business and I can only
hope that all will suceed. Write me to Biarritz
Give my warmest love to Jane Poste Restante
and all your little ones and France
remember me most kindly to uncle Robert + aunt and
to your mother + family and to my friends at Galgorm
+ Kintullagh - always very faithfully yours
Rowland Redmond
