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John O’Sullivan Letter:[1845]
Source:
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint John Archives
Date of creation:
Photocopy c.1990
Biographical sketch/Administrative history:
John O’Sullivan was an Irish business owner. His brother Denis, who had immigrated
to Saint John, New Brunswick, was a teacher at York Point, residing on Mill
Street.
Scope and content:
This letter, written from Cork, Ireland,
provides interesting insight and commentary on the state of affairs in Ireland
in the mid nineteenth century, in particular shedding light on his political
opinions. John O’Sullivan writes to his brother Denis, enquiring after him and
updating him on events in his life and the lives of friends and family. He gives
an account of his trip to Cork to visit Daniel O’Sullivan, Esqr. of Bridgemount,
and his wife. He also tells him about problems with his business and the poverty
in Ireland. He expresses his dislike for union, describing Ireland as “...a
mere [Kitchin] garden.” He sends news of friends and enquires after some acquaintances.
John refers to the newspapers he sent to Denis and asks Denis to send him some
newspapers in return, “to give us an
idea of the tyrany [sic] of your colonial legislature.”
Finally John gives an account of meeting an [Evanson], an Irish emigrant living
in New Brunswick, who was in Ireland promoting immigration to the colony. He
knew an acquaintance of John’s in New Brunswick.
Letter
from John O’Sullivan, Cork, to Denis O’Sullivan, York Point Mill Street, Saint
John, New Brunswick, 23 February 1845.