Letter from Johnston Keys Nova Scotia to William Keys in Coolness near Irvinestown, County Fermanagh
[Address on letter] From Johnston Keys Pt 34th Rest afoot No 105 To William Keys Coolenefs near Irvinestown County Fermanagh Ireland Lieut Col. [?] 34th Regiment [Page 1] Halifax Novbr [November?] 18th 1831 Dear Brother Received your letter from the Bearer Mrs Kelly which gives me the greatest pleasure to hear of your health and welfare as well as that of your progress is in learning. I hope this letter will find you my father and mother, sisters and brothers all in good health as it leaves me at present thanks be to god for all his mercies to me Dear father there are many people at home that think if the [they?] could get to America that the [they?] would want for nothing the [they?] suppose the [they?] could live comfortable or perhaps like gentlemen but depend on it the [they?] are far mistaken Dear father I have had an opportunity of travalling [travelling?] some hundreds of miles through this province as I was sent by the Governor as a soule [soul?] of discretion in search of [?] I travelled the whole of the province of novascotia [Nova Scotia?] I also lay in the island of Cape Breton for 12 months so I consider that I have more knowledge and know much more about America than people who have been it for a number of years I can compare the parts [parts?] of America that that I have been through to nothing [nothing?] but a wilderness full of trees and stones and wild beasts in my travels I was once [?] from the bears and the only way we had to save ourselves from the beasts was by climbing in to the top of a tree the inhabitants are living thinly [?] through country dear father on the 2nd July a few hours before we embarked for Halifax my cousin Richard Keys and another [Page 2] of the part deserted and I have never heard anything since Dear Brother you mention about your uncle Royal and Edward Fletcher coming to America last spring but I have had any account from them I saw an account in the papers here about avessel [a vessel?] being lost coming from Ireland in the spring of the year there was 300 passengers on Bord [board?] out of all there was only 30 saved one of the survivers [survivors?] names was Mary Keys, Dear Brother you say my father complains of me not writing country But believe me I have several times before I left Ireland but never received a letter from any of you before this which Mrs Kelly delivered to me Dear father please to write to me as soon as you learn this [letter?] and let me know all particulars u have nothing more particular to mention provisions sales as follows beef and mutton are from 3 1/2 to 4 D per lb Bread 3D per lb potatoes 1 shilling per bushel or 3D per stone tobacco 10D per lb [Rum?] 1s -:8d per gallon dear father there is scarcely a day passes but there are some accidents happening from drink some going mad some people smother there [?] [Page torn] as the drink I drank very freely my self after I came to the country but seeing so many accidents happen from drink I have quit it all together if I am spared for 4 years more I can have my discharge and 6 months pay if I like to leave the service Sergeant [Fletcher?] and families all well Give my love to all my Brothers and Sisters and to all enquireing [enquiring?] friends. [Page 3] Nomore [No more?] at present Remains your Affectionate Son Johnston Keys Till Death Directions To Johnston Keys [?] [?] Nova Scotia ElsewhereClose