Letter from John McBride

Date 16th June 1819
John McBride, Quebec, Canada, to his father James McBride
Derriaghy
c/o William Phillips, Innkeeper, Lisburn.

'I take this opportunity of fulfilling my promise of writing to you as soon as I would land. On the 6th of May when I parted with you in Belfast I thought I would have got out to see you again, but that evening we were towed own the channel by the Rob Roy; on Saturday the 8th of May about 1 o'clock we set sail with a fair wind; on Tuesday the wind began to blow hard and contrary and continued to blow till Wednesday the 19th when it got very pleasant.

I was sick two or three days during the rough weather. James Hunter was about the same time sick; it was not near so unpleasant as I thought it would have been, although I would not allow anyone who can afford to go direct to the United States to come this way, on account of so many being taken in these ships; indeed I could not complain of any thing so much as getting our victuals made ready, as the fire we had was not near sufficient for so many. During all the passage the weather was very cold, and when we made the banks of Newfoundland on the 2d. June it was uncommonly cold with a very thick fog.

On Tuesday the l5th of June we anchored between Moose Island and Quebec; this place has a fine appearance being all covered with wood to the water edge; The land here is not good; it is sold at 5 to 10 dollars partially cleared; the houses here are all of wood painted and have a handsome appearance; where I am writing is in a room at least 40 feet by 30; the landlord is very civil in telling me anything I ask him; carpenters at 2 dollars per day labour one dollar to one and a half; two dollars or one and a half for shoeing a horse round, the iron the smith's; The day we anchored there were 25 of us agreed with a man to carry us to New York; we pay 4 dollars apiece; she is laden with "plaster of Paris"; it is like our limestone.

James Hunter is going to travel by land to Boston; you may let his people know he is in very good health. Hugh Brown the young man who was with me out at your house is going with me to New York. I would be glad to know if you have seen any of his people as have reason to think he is a very decent young man; James Hunter is here with me and desires me to inform you that he will not write at present until he goes farther into the country and then he will write and send his people a satisfactory account; from the account we have heard he is going to travel through a fine country; he is to write to me as soon as he falls into work; we have concluded that going as we intend, will be to our mutual advantage.

'Dear father you need not be in any uneasiness about me as I am  sure from the accounts I have heard I will succeed as work is very plenty; I suppose I will settle about Philadelphia as I hear the weaving trade is doing well there'.

This place is about 15 miles from St. Andrews and is a better place for getting a passage to the United States than St. Andrews'.