(Written by parents, Alex and Annie Reid, in Belfast to daughter, Annie.
Annie had recently moved to America and her husband was a Civil War soldier)
BELFAST. 23rd May, 1865Dear Annie:
Your letter of 8th instant duly came to hand. We are very sorry to hear that Fred was obliged to go away, and we sincerely hope that he may have returned home before you receive this letter, as they have now given over fighting it is very likely that they may send the soldiers home again. We are very much pleased to hear that baby is getting on so well. We never received any letter from you except one which came from Glasgow from Brother Vincent so they must have miscarried but now that we know your address we shall write often now. We send you by this post some newspapers to amuse you, and shall be glad to receive any of your papers to hear how the country is getting on. We have not the least doubt that you are very lonely and indeed we are lonely enough ourselves. Sarah has just left us a few days ago and gone to London and we are left quite alone. Henry is still in Glasgow but we expect that he is going to removed to London this summer. The weather is very hot here for now.
We left New York on 8th October last and had a frightfully bad passage. We expected that we were all going to be lost. We were fifteen days on the water and arrived home more dead than alive. Henry went back to Mr. Nagills the second day after he returned, and is still there and doing very well - Father is quite well and is not yet tired of talking of America, he tells us every day that he will go back again but we think he has got quite enough of it.
We would like if you think of coming home Fred could get plenty of work here and could do just as well here as any place else, but perhaps you prefer remaining in the States and indeed perhaps it is the best place as wages are not so good here for labouring people as in America. What kind of winter have you had and is the summer very hot? Mother will enclose you a note in this letter and make haste in answering it and we shall write again as soon as we hear from you if you have received this. Father is deeply immersed in business again and Henry also is very busy so mother is alone in the house all day. We have a very fine house now. It is just above the Lying-in-House on the Antrim Road. We have a large kitchen, scullery and yard below and a drawing room and two bedrooms up stairs. There is both gas and water in the house and we have it splendidly furnished and are very comfortable in it and it is in a very healthy part of the town. Mother has had very good health since we came to it. Write and let us know how you like your new house and if you like it as well as the place which you have left.
With kind regards believe us to remain
Your affectionate parents
Alex and Annie Reid
Your affectionate brother,
Henry A. Reid
(Written by Annie's brother, Henry Reid, to friend, Mike Mahone.
Henry was a flax dealer)
Belfast 4 July, 1866
My dear Mike:
I am very much surprised at not hearing from you in reply to my letter asking you to come down. I duly received your letter and would have replied to it only I have not been paying much attention to the market since Christmas. Prices are flat and flax does not seem to be moving as freely as it did some time ago. I am sure however that this is only a temporary lull and that prices must go up again - considering the present very high rates in your market I should advise you to keep quiet but at the same time keep wide awake and you will get on very well for as soon as I see any symptoms of a reanimation I shall not be slow in letting you know.
Will you be good enough to reply to this letter and let me know when you are really going to be down for I have a matter to talk over with you which may be of vast importance to you, so I should advise your making an early start for Belfast. I shall anxiously await your reply. I have to say some thing to you about next season's prospects. Mrs. Reid also is anxious about you and is expecting you every day. When you come we shall have a jolly spree and we shan't go to bed till morning. Now be good enough to let me know at once exactly when I may expect you.
With kind regards to M. Mahone
Believe me to remain,
Your very sincere friend,
Henry Reid
Now do not disappoint us as we are anxiously expecting you.
(Written by Henry Reid about his wife's business (Annie was a publican -a pub owner.)
Belfast 13th August, 1866
Sir:
I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday and have shown the statement of account to Mrs. Reid who states that her account cannot possibly be so heavy. I shall therefore thank you to furnish me with a note of the items viz. the invoice.
Your attention to this will oblige
Henry Reid
(Written by Henry Reid to his uncle Alphonus in London
Henry's sister was returning after receiving her education in France.
Henry refers to July 12, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. It appears that marching season in Belfast was as big a problem then, as today.)
Belfast 10 July, 1866
Dear Uncle,
I have just heard that my sister is about to return from France. She will probably start today. The object of the present is to ask of you the favour of advancing to her whatever sum she may require for her journey to Belfast and as soon as I know the amount which you so kindly advance I shall at once reimburse you. You will also please send her from London to Belfast via Fleetwood as this is the safest and I think the best way. We have the general election here on the 12th July. I anticipate a riot. We have a liberal candidate in the person of Lord John Keay, son of the Marquis of Tweesdale, brother-in-law of Sir Robert Peel and I think he will be successful.
I think it is very injudicious to fix the election on such a day but the Mayor who fixed it is a thorough rascal. I shall let you know again how the election passed off. Pardon me for writing in a descant on the politics of the immaculate Borough of Belfast and pray excuse the trouble imposed on you by the first part of my letter. I am already to reciprocate and shall feel very glad if you at any time give me an opportunity of showing my gratitude for your kindness to us.
My dear uncle,
Yours most sincerely,
Henry A. Reid