Mr Robert Taylor
(Shanrod)
Dromore
County Down
Ireland
[Page 1]
United States of North America
Washington City, D.C. Nov 14th 1833
Dear Brother,
Without having anything important
to communicate I sit down merely to say
that all is well, and have been so since
the date of my last letter, which was in June.
My wife and two youngest daughters have returned
to this city and we have taken boarding, for which
I pay ten dollars per week. We find this more
economical than keeping house where everything
is so extravigantly [extravagantly?] dear. My
oldest daughter is still in Carlisle with her
grandparents and at school. I myself am still
in the same situation - not without the expectation,
however, of yet obtaining a better one.
Our city was remarkably healthy the
past season. We had no cases of cholera nor indeed
has there been much of it this year on this side of
the Alleghany mountains; but in the Western country
and particularly in the city of New Orleans it raged
with frightful malignancy. In the latter place both
it and the yellow fever prevailed at the same time and
swept off in immense number of the inhabitants.
[Page 2]
In the city of Mexico in August last the deaths
were as high as 1400 a day from Cholera alone.
It is estimated that 20,000 souls perished in that
city with the pestilence in the past summer.
I have not heard from Jane or the children
since I wrote you last. I expected to have
seen them before this time but was prevented
by some uncontrollable causes. I am looking
anxiously to hear from James Brown, I presume
he is still with you and I hope his health
is improving. I envy him the pleasure of
visiting his native home-a pleasure Im
afraid forever lost to me.
James Johnston of Baltimore was in this
city a few weeks ago. He informed me that all
our acquaintances in his city were well and
since his return he sent me a present of a few
bottles of Irish whisky distilled in Belfast.
Since writing the foregoing I have met with
a gentleman (a Mr ONeill) just on the eve
of starting for Dublin and to send this by
him must cut it shorter than I intended.
Remember me affectionately to my
Mother and Sisters- God bless you all
Yr [Your?] affectionate
Brother John Taylor
Mr Robert Taylor
