AboutTown

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An Irish Political Exile’s View of America: TIM O’DRISCOLL IN ARCADIA ON THE HUDSON – AND THE LAVISH DISPLAY AT THE HOME OF JACK HANLON
From the Irish Magazine (Dublin), 1817.
Letter to Mr. (“Watty”) Cox, From New York

Dear Watt,

I take the opportunity of the sailing of the C—- to let you know how affairs are going on in this delightful country, and more delightful state of society. I have continued, since my last letter, in the grocery business, on the Bowery road (Manhattan), excepting about four months, which I spent with a few of my neighbors on the (Great) Lakes, where we were employed as part of the American Army, beating the Glengarry’s army from our frontier, which we apprehended might be sullied by the Scotch bonnet. —- the Caledonians hid from our imposing bayonets, and such (of them) as effected a timely escape are now l—- themselves near Montreal, until they are able to resume offensive opportunities, with a reinforcement of more hired heroes from Europe. I could name thousands of our brave countrymen, who you must have known at Hacketstown, old Kilcullen, New Ross and at Vinegar-hill, where intrepidity in our republican ranks has called fourth the most animated approbation of all our officers …Your Cousin* *Tim Dowling has been raised to the rank of Captain, and has been rewarded with four hundred acres of land, for his singular bravery in a conflict with the English flotilla on Lake Ontario; he commanded a schooner, the /Pike/ carrying a Long Tom, and after a warm contest of two hours, with a superior force, he succeeded in capturing sixteen vessels, each of them equal in point of men and equipment to the schooner be commanded. Jack Hanlon is second in command in the Republican Greens, he has lost an arm, but his courage remains as un-diminished, and as little out of repair as it was the day we destroyed the Royals at Kilconnell (a battle in Wexford, Ireland, during the rebellion of 1798) …

He is rich, and resides occasionally on his beautiful farm at Esopus. His home is constantly filled, and always, open to his countrymen, where they are hospitably entertained; and are heard retracing the scenes of their youth, their heroism, deploring the sufferings of those they left in Ireland, and regretting the late deplorable events in Europe that have given the monopoly of Ireland to the Orange bayonet, to the holy murderer, to packed juries and canting benches. You would be surprised to see how Jack’s house is occupied, the plenty and good humour in which it abounds the picture which our national songs give of the hall of an ancient chieftain, fell short of the reality which presents itself in Jack Hanlon’s American cottage …

The tables literally groan under the weight of roasted suckies, of smoaking beef, of minced pyes, of baked squirrels, and other varieties which are familiar to every table in America. The apple and peach orchards furnish brandy and cider, the barley fields give whiskey. Spain and France pour the juices of the grape to the genius of Ireland and the triumphs of liberty. The coffee of the Antilles and Azores with the teas of Canton, furnish their respective assistance at breakfast; and when summer reddens the atmosphere, and distributes a glowing vegetation, the happy republican wraps his limbs in the *—-* of China; as his wife dines in the silks of Bengal and Italy …You know, my dear Watt, that this description of American happiness is not exaggerated; nor is it the peculiar felicity which chance or circumstance might confer on one indicated; you know it is attainable by everyone …