John Nevin formerly lived in the townland of Kilmoyle, four miles north ofBallymoney, on the road to Portrush. At the time of the 1798 rebellion he was acaptain in the United Irishmen. He went into hiding following the collapse of therebellion, was supposedly smuggled through Coleraine in a barrel and fled toAmerica where he died in 1806. Some of his friends were tied to cartwheels andflogged and a few were hanged. Many of their properties were burned down. Hisbrother James, the recipient of this letter, had returned from America and nocharge could be made against him seeing he was abroad at the time.KnoxvilleTennessee State10 April 1804Dear FriendHappy in an opportunity of writing and now embrace this. Your last favour I recdin less than two weeks from this date. I have also seen a Mr Stewart from theGarden a few days ago on his way to Natchez, who left Ireland in November last andinforms me that troublesome times are not likely to be over yet. Oh! that I couldhave you all in this country with the value of your property. Here I enjoy equalrights and privileges with the Governor and I am an equal companion of our first-rank, whilst you must pour out your purse to Landlords and whipers-in and your hatin your hand at the same time.You have desired to know my business in the Indian Nation and also in CharlestownSouth Carolina. I went down the Tennessee river with a boat laden with flour and anumber of other articles which I sold to the Indians and bought steers off them,and after stall-feeding the oxen, drove them to Charlestown, and just now amawaiting the arrival of a boat I have bought to go down the river in and expect togo in three days. No doubt you think it is a dreadful business trading with theIndians but you are entirely misinformed respecting it. You expect that we, who gothere, must have Indian wives. True, the white men who live in the Nation havemostly red women but that is their pleasure. I have my license from the Agent ofwar for one year and I can come and go as I please without either woman or man, orwith what company I see cause to take along.I had intended being home last spring but it was out of my power. But God willingI shall see you all this one coming. I am sorry to hear of so many of mycountrymen being confined and some executed but the permissive will of God must bedone. You are under the rod of affliction in a high degree and Oh! that it may besanctified and improved. You must await with patience your deliverance (if notcome before you receive this) it is fast hastening.You complain of a declension of religion in me which I may, with shame,acknowledge in part, but such religion as we have here none of you have ever seen.I was yesterday at a Sacrament (and exercise as they call it) but not so bad assome other meetings I have been at. We have them here for days as if dead beingstruck down; Others break into the greatest raptures of prayer, the Minister beingobliged to quit preaching; and at their meetings you can see them dancing,running, jumping, jerking and twitching like a person in a violent convulsive fit.With praying, singing, and shouting glory glory as loud as they can bawl, andwringing and clapping their hands and such conduct as is rarely seen in religiousworship, and I wish it may be by the direction of Heaven. In my present attempt itis as far beyond my tongue and pen to describe as you may think I am beyondanything you have ever seen, and although it hath alarmed me yet I cannot approveof it as God is a God of order and not of confusion.