Isabella Allen, Augusta, to 'My dear Sisters', Belfast

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Document ID 9910056
Date 05-01-1839
Document Type Letters (Emigrants)
Archive Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Citation Isabella Allen, Augusta, to 'My dear Sisters', Belfast; PRONI D1558/1/2; CMSIED 9910056
21549
                           Sandhills 5th January 1839

My dear Sisters
            Christmas and New years day are both past
and with them I hope the half of the period of my
residence here.  I spent both days very quietly and had
plenty of leisure to think of home and be with you all.
I trust you were all assembled and as well and happy as
I wished you  I would have given a great deal to catch but
a momentary look at the drawingroom or parlour, but it
was vain to wish.  I am writing now by a fine wood fire
with the three gentlemen beside me busy with accounts,
W. Campbell is reading numbers and names aloud - but
that does not interrupt me.  Mrs Campbell and
Aphra are employed in the other room and now you have a
picture of our household or at least of their position
at the present moment.  I hope one day you will see the
whole sip (sic) for Mr C [Campbell?] speaks of visiting
Ireland the summer after next and if we are all in the
land of the living you will see some of the Hospitable
Georgians. Aphra often tells me all the descriptions I
will give to you of my life here and of the treatment I have
received and you may be sure she draws the reverse of
the reality  She is an extraordinary creature.  Almost
always in the highest spirits and telling stories of
all descriptions but affectionate and warm-hearted
and high Calvinist.  She joined the Presbyterian
church last Sunday and promises to be a staunch
supporter of it.  But enough of her she desires me
to give her love to you for she knows you she says
as well as possible from my description.  So accept
it from her.  I have been in daily expectation of
receiving letters from home but have been doomed to
disappointment day after day.  No mail has arrived
from the North since that which left on Christmas
day and which brought the intelligence that the
Packets of the 7th and 19th were in New York bay.
Of course they contain letters for us and I am all
anxiety to get hold of the epistles; but the severe
frosts we have had have (sic) frozen up the
rivers and prevented the travelling of steamboats
the great means of conveyance in all directions through
this country.  I hope the frost will take its departure
and not leave us here deprived of news; shut out from
what is to me the most interesting news in the world.
I suppose there are numbers wishing like myself for the
rivers to be again set free.  When I travelled up the
Hudson and St Lawrence and saw how dependent their
inhabitants were for communication with each other and
the rest of the world on the free currents of the giant
streams I could not help pitying their situation in
winter when perhaps for months they were debarred from
many gratifications.  The severe winter frosts are all
immense impediments in the way of water travelling and
the misfortune is that the making of roads to avoid the
inconvenience in winter will be a very slow operation
here where the necessity except at particular times
is not felt.  I only hope I may not be much longer made
to feel the deprivation but may see my letters unchilled
by the cold make their appearance shortly.  My life is
going on in the great routine I before described.
I am still knitting and am reading now a novel of James',
namely "One in a thousand" It is very well written and
is highly interesting  I thought my sympathy in fictitious
personages was greatly decreased but find the fascination
of the present tale, the anxiety for the welfare of the
heroes and heroines as great as they ever were in reading
any word.  I lift up the book and can with difficulty lay
it down.  I have been lately but little in town.  I drove
there to day and visited part I had not seen before.  It
is a thriving, pleasing town and seen on such a day as this
one as clear and bright as crystal looks really remarkably
well but nevertheless I know nothing could induce me to
live in it.  I see little of slavery certainly few if
any of its evils but I cannot without a feeling of the
greatest repugnance see in the streets and on the roads
negroes at work, some hewing wood, others driving waggons
[wagon?] & all engaged in menial occupations and reflect
that they are all the right of different masters to sell
them when they please The advertisements in the papers
of estates or plantations for sale the various buildings
numerated and amongst other articles numerated 200 or
150 negroes with their qualification described are
shocking and time instead of reconciling me to such
things would only make me hate them more.  I could
have no satisfaction or comfort living in a country
where such a state of things existed with little or
no prospects of their improvement.  I shall be glad
to set foot again in a land where whatever other
evils it may have is free from that of slavery and
where we are served voluntarily.  This reminds
me of the servants at home.  Have you changed any of
them.  I suppose I shall scarcely receive an answer
to this query till I reach Belfast.  Is Jenny still
in Wellington place and still intending to come to me
on our return.  I hope she is; and if still with you
you might tell her so.  I suppose before this find it's
way across the Atlantic [Peg?] will have accompanied
Anna to Glasgow and be busy improving herself in
painting.  What a number of things we will have to chat
over on our return When I think of getting back I feel
quite impatient and will willingly resign all sightseeing
in Virginia & for the sake of seeing in the Spring the
dear old spots.  I am likely to become but little
acquainted with the Augusta people and in truth I dont
much care for making acquaintances that will when I go
away be broken up for ever for I expect few will cross
to Ireland and with my will I am sure I will [torn]
cross to America, and I will with such an idea leave
this with regrets.  The woods are becoming like familiar
friends to me Mr Campbell drove me yesterday evening
through winding paths among them; sometimes we left the
cleared track and drove through the trees as they grew
in their natural state, and I could not help feeling
regret at the thought that I should soon have no more
woods to wander in.  But says [Peg?] what are stunted
oaks on bare sandhills to green fields and hawthorn
hedges.? the latter have the advantage certainly
but I have become familiarised with the former and
would have no objection to be able to carry a few
acres as a specimen home for your gratification.
There are other things we would like to take home
for you in the eating shape.  William would
take Indian corn in the shape of hominy and I in
those of corn cakes or gruel.  Buckwheat we would
both take but would leave the sweet potatoes to
the Georgians or whoever chose Rose my sable (sic)
attendant has come to inform me that the fires
upstairs is lighted and this being Saturday night
I must say goodbye When I sit upstairs at my fireside
I often think of our chats last winter at our bedroom
fire and wonder if you have as long ones this winter.
But again goodnight dear sisters  I trust a few months
will see us all again united Give my love to all to
Bella & Andrew. I never see a child without thinking
of them.  I need not go over the list of those that
love is sent to.  You know them and I need only add that
                     I ever remain
                        Your attached and devoted sister
                                        Isabella Allen

My Dear Friends, As usual Bella insists that I shall write
something, and I have asked the usual question What shall
I write? for I presume she has given you all the news
I am happy to say that she has got over her rheumatic
attack, and I hope that she will be able to preserve
herself against it for the remainder of the winter.
I cannot however, get her to take what I consider
sufficient care of herself.  We are beginning to look
forward to our return with some anxiety, but my
movements are for some time altogether uncertain.
I shall probably be able to say something more certain
on this subject in my next letter to my mother which
will quickly succeed this. In the mean time, I have
only to keep alive in the recollection of some of
you that we shall want a house in the summer, and
that we would like it in your neighbourhood, if a
convenient one at a fair rent could be obtained. -
We look anxiously also for letters from home, as it
is now three weeks since Miss Knowles's letter reached
us. The packets of november have had long passages,
and on account of the freezing of the Northern Rivers
and a change in the carriage of the mail, we are
without later dates from New York than Christmas
day although we should have them in course up till
the 31st of last month. - I shall be much disappointed
if the ship that sailed from Belfast for Charleston
arrives without bringing in letters.  Bella & I often
speak of it, but she thinks that you will not write by
her, - but I can't believe it; a short time will show
which is right. - I send my love to you all, you know
who are comprehended in that general term; say to my
mother that I will write to her by the next packet but
one at farthest, and believe me to be very affectionately
from               W.J. Campbell Allen.

Envelope address:-

  Andrew Marshall, Esq. M.D.
           Belfast,
                  Ireland.