Isabella Marshall, New York to Doctor Marshall, Belfast.

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Document ID 9805127
Date 24-09-1838
Document Type Letters (Emigrants)
Archive Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Citation Isabella Marshall, New York to Doctor Marshall, Belfast.; PRONI D/1558/1/2; CMSIED 9805127
21561
                      Great Western 24th 1838

  My dear Peri, Meri, & Sisterhood
                      We are now within a few
hours sail of New York, but owing to the late
hour - for -  its nearly Nine O'Clock we will be
obliged to lie at anchor at quarantine ground
till day break and as tommorow is the day
Packet leaves, and the bay is closed at eleven
I must make an effort to scribble a few lines
to night. You have calculated I suppose that
we reached our destination on Sunday but the
winds and waves mercilessly conifured to
delay. Since leaving Bristol we had contrary [___?]
with the exception of two days and yet here we are
only forty hours later. We have experienced all
sorts of weather. had one or two compilate gales
and squalls , with rolling seas and only two
days of real calmness. The boat is literally
crammed with passengers Labour, cuddy, free
cabin all as full as they can. be be of live
stock from old [hackers?] of 78 years of age to
children of a few months old. Our cabin is off
the saloon 7 feet I guess and nine high with
two small skylights and a shutter which owing to the
rough weather has been closed the greater part
of the passage; it is however comfortable on
being about than centre of the ship where the
motion is most felt. You ask about seasickness,
why I have suffered but all. as you may guess
pretty well recovered now indeed a good sailor the
first day. I slept on deck though not well
the second, I was worse and the third I took
fairly to my berth and remained there until
the following Sunday, fortuately William kept up
and constantly proved that his mother was right
when she called him a good nurse for no one
could have attended me more carefully, he got
everything for me, and what was better than all
you me his company. I had almost despaired of the
improving till we reached land but a day of
calmness came, I got on deck and [___?] that
gradually improved, a wave which came over [___?]
one bright blowing evening that I was getting half
seasick the deck helped my recovery amazingly. I
started up pretty quickly and enjoyed the large waves
during the rest of the evening. We have had some
glorious sunsets but it the nights surpassed them.
all the sun sank without a cloud and lifts on the
sky the most brillant that I ever witnessed, nothing
in Ould Ireland could match it the air was as [____?]
as possible, the young moon was up and to add to the
pleasure of the evening we had the excitements of
watching for a pilots boat, about which there were
[___ ____?] depending, watching sails pass and
looking for Sandypool lighthouse. At the entrance
of harbour, it was the pleasantest nights on board.
I wished any of you had been with us to witness and
partake in the enjoyments. but while lying sick, I was
heartly glad Neither Alida nor the Rosa bud were
fellow sufferers. All the passengers, particulary
the ladies suffered more or less I think I
took the [__?]. We have had but little society,
the crowd is too vast and the voyage short to
permit of the passengers becoming accquainted
Mrs Court I have seen but little, she made acquaintance
with only one lady that I could observe, whose
reputation on board is now of the most favourable,
and I have only exchanged salutations on condelsent
(sic) days.  We have been on speaking terms with a good
many intercourse with whom will stop on land of course.
There is not an Irish lady on board. I believe but
the stewardess a very attractive woman comes from Cork.
she and another have had all the duty of minding
an [___?] number of ladies & 9 children and
assisting in a variety of occupations quite too
much labour for only  two persons. Notwithstanding
the crowding, and the consequent wants of many comforts
I am quite in love with the boat, she is a noble
creature and it was quite delightful to see her in
spite of wind and waves going on her way. The
packet of the 19th of the [___?] is just getting
in before us. To show how steady she is [___?]
had yesterday afternoon a squall that carried away
a far and yet the passengers below were not
conscious of it. and there think of the sea we
had when we were rolled almost out of
our berths and plates, glasses, dishes, all
made glorious rumble as they rolled and smashed.
I felt for fear and did not once imagine I was
going to the [____?]. I must leave "that ceature"
space to write a few lines I hope before this two
letters are on there [their ?] way to us. which I
think we will get on our return from Niagara for
which we propose starting in a few days Good nights
I have dreamt of home every night and all its
dear inhabitants since I [____?] Give my love to
all friends, Porters Marshalls Broahy, [___?]
and                Believe me to be
                  your ever loving and attached
                           Isabella.

Tuesday morning. We have just landed on the
American shores and have found accommodation
at the Cableton house which procudes to be
comfortable. I am in great haste as William
is going to look after luggage and drop this
at the office. We will write more legably
by the Great Western which starts for Bristol
in ten days. Our sail this morning was delightful
we were up at sunrise and I am so tired I intend
taking a rest until William gets all things
arranged letters delivered &c. I hope you
may be able to read the first parts of this
scrawl but I fear it the rush we had to
[___?] not having any at hand I will say
over more adieu and with love to all
again remain
              your affectionate Isabella.