MacKay_Letter_030
Item
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Title
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MacKay_Letter_030
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Description
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Letter to James McKay from an unknown friend living in Florida. He describes how he is enjoying the weather and tropical fruits. This letter expresses his thoughts about the Indigenous People living there in terms we do not use today. This letter was written near the end of the Second Seminole Wars in Florida and was a period of conflict and violence between settlers and Indigenous People who were being pushed off their land. December 4, 1838.
Transcription:
[Page 1]
Magnolia Dec 4, 1838 -
Dear James,
I know of no one I would be more desiring of opening a correspondence with than yourself in this distant land - [hole in paper] hope you entertain the same feeling towards me, for I can assure you nothing affords me greater pleasure, than to keep up a friendly correspondence with the House and class of McKays - I will therefore transfer a thought to you, upon the surface of this sheet, which I hope you will lose no time in taken cognisance to, and answer it immediately on the receipt of it -
Mrs and myself arrived here about a fortnight since, quite exhausted after a long and tedious journey over land and water from N. York.
[page 2]
I have found this country fully equal to the representation given of it by William in his former letters - I must say that no better climate exists within my scope of knowledge in the world
I am now writing this in Wm rural habitation with the windows up and all the doors extended wide open, coat off sleeve rolled up above my elbows - inhaling the soft and [?] breezes from off the beautiful and magnificent river St John - the waters of which is in a state of [?] - from the [?] and tumbling of the sea shark, [porpoise] and alligator.
This place is so situated that you can enjoy one of the finest prospects in the world - somewhat in comparison to that, [Genesee?] but commands a finer view of the surrounding country - I regret exceedingly that you could not be here this winter to join
[page 3]
me in using up some of Wm tropical fruits, and other like ingredients with which the country abounds - I have consumed such immense quantities of sugar cane since I arrived. I have become a perfect man of flesh - (weight 190) almost a (factsimile) of old (Fall Staff) Wm just remonstrated against my using any more of this cane - as he is apprehensive. I will not leave enough for to supply his family with sugar which they are now [paper torn]
I am glad he has bottled, [paper torn] should I continue to use more of it - I would accumulate flesh to that degree, in a short time. I would be unable to see out of my eyes - and be compelled to return to the north, where the climate is more congenial to fleshy subjects,
I am good [?] now, for fatty James R.C - or big wheeler of York - don’t I grow fast and fat also
[page 3 again - rotate]
I have not yet been out into Alachua to examine lands we purchased there - inconsequential of the damned Indians who are still murdering every family they can find in that [?],
The Indians came down within ten miles of us last night and murdered a whole family burnt the buildings together with several horses therein,
We are now expecting a visit from them soon - should they come we have prepared to give them a damned warm reception - with the aid of two or three Soren Shooters - ready loaded and primed for the use thereof - I would say more in this, but am called of on business - course consequently must close - for the present - don’t fail to answer this hasty [?] as soon as received - tell me all that is going on in Caledonia - Wm is improving fast since he arrived - if you fail to answer this, I will out your cut your acquaintance (by god)
[addressed to]
James McKay
Caledonia
Livingston County
N. York
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Identifier
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MacKay_Letter_030.1-3.jpg
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Creator
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Kristen Walker
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Subject
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Letter
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Publisher
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Izzy Moyer; Kristen Walker; Jill Johnson; and Renee Guerin
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Date
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1838.12.04
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Date Created
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2023.10.30
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Type
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Correspondance
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Letter
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Format
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.jpg
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Medium
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Paper
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Rights Holder
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Genesee Country Village & Museum
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Rights
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Genesee Country Village & Museum creates opportunities for material, object, and place availability from their collections and location accessible to the public for personal and educational research purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Within the stipulations of the museum and related rights legislation that applies to your use, it is your responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce images in print or electronic form; and, it is strictly prohibited for commercial use without prior communication and agreement with the institution first.
