Transcribed as follows, the poem by A Sinclaire reads:

 

My Dear Valentine

Thy image, lovely as the morn,

Appears in all I see

For nature in her  fairest forms but beauty speaks of thee

Oh welcome love, it this be love, aught else it cannot be

To think that all my joy or woe finds sympathy with thee.

 

I love thee dear with all my heart, none else can I love but thee

My heart you have and yours I want from thee.

I am your affectionate admirer

 

A spokesperson for Donegal County Archives said: “We are not sure who A Sinclaire was or to whom the letter was addressed.

 

“This affecting love poem was found during routine cataloguing work in Donegal County Archives last week. was found in the collection of the Steele Nicholson family of Falmore House, Gleneely, Inishowen, which was donated to the Archives some years ago by Down Museum.

 

“The Steele Nicholsons were a wealthy family who owned property and land in Donegal and Down in the 19^th century.”

 

Donegal County Archives thought this was the perfect week to share the poem.

 

For more information please contact: Niamh Brennan, Archivist, Archives Service, Donegal County Council, Three Rivers Centre, Lifford, County Donegal 
Telephone: 353 74 9172490; E-Mail: archivist@donegalcoco.ie 
Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/culture/archives/ ; www.facebook.com/DonegalCountyArchives