| Title: | R. Campbell, U.S.A. to W. J. C. Allen, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 488 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Campbell, Robert/16(3) |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Campbell, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Augusta, Georgia, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Campbell Allen, William J. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends, business |
| Source | D 1558/1/1/301: Papers of William John Campbell Allen, Deposited by F. D. Campbell Allen. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9802468 |
| Date | 15/06/1865 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:02:98. |
| Word Count | 1503 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Wm. Jno. [William John?] C. Allen Esq., Ulster Bank Belfast Augusta 15th Jun 1865 My Dear Sir My last of the 10th ult with copies of those of January 11th & Mar 13th must I think have reached you, from the way I forwarded it being by a friend to N. York [New York?]. - Since then it has become more and more evident that the Bonds & notes of the Confederate States are and will continue to be worthless; the war having ended without conditions. Its termination was unexpectedly sudden, and has brought many to penury, who holding Confederate Securities thought themselves wealthy. I sent you also in the letter of the 10th May a condensed Statement of the Bank of Augusta for your examination. I now accompany this with a more particular statement of its Assets, to the better enable you to judge of its situation and the value of its Stock: which in my opinion is very bad, though not worse than the others. From the United States laying an annual tax of 10% upon the Capital of such Banks, I think they will be obliged to wind up, and will find difficulty in paying those Notes now out. There never was perhaps such an utter breakdown of the credit of a Government; and I might add, a People; for the Government had absorbed almost all the personal property of the Country - I enclose with this a paper with the numbers, weights, marks, cost & charges up to the 8th inst. of the eighty two 82 Bales Upland Cotton, purchased as already advised on account of yourself, your uncle James Campbell and your cousin William Campbell jointly - The weight 39,404 pounds, cost $6,302.05 - Charges $4.085.55 - As these Cottons were purchased they were always charged to the separate accounts of each of those parties, in the proportion of the Dividends secured for and credited to them - and when the charges were paid, they were also likewise Debited to the parties in like proportion. There may seem some little discrepancy in the amounts, but it is only summing - compared with the items already furnished you viz. by putting among the charges 13$ Commission & 11.25 Insurance - which were included and entered in the bill of parcels - So to make in this statement the number of pounds & the price agree with the amount carried out 1023.99 - instead of 1048.24 - I would give you the items of Mr. Brysons Storage Bill but it occupies a page of foolscap, and is not over the regular charges, which advanced with, but not in proportion to, the depreciation of the currency. We are notified that the U.S. Government are going to take one fourth of the Cotton in the hands of individuals in kind, as a Tax, after it has been delivered in Savannah. Thinking there might be some treaty or commercial arrangement with G. Br [Great Britain?] which would exempt such Cotton as yours, from this Specific Tax, I took the liberty of mentioning the case briefly in a letter by express to Sir F. Bruce H.M.[His Majesty's?] Minister at Washington City on the 6th inst - but have no acknowledgement - at that date our Post Office was closed, and was not opened till this week. Under the necessity of leaving this place in a short time and not expecting to return until November or December, and feeling the infirmities of age accumulating, I have concluded it best both for you, and myself, to turn over your and your cousins affairs and the management of this Cotton to other hands - and looking over my acquaintance here have chosen James Brown of the firm of Bones, Brown & Co. - and Mr. Harper C. Bryson and have substituted them jointly and separately as the powers of attorney for you and William Campbell in the Bank of Augusta and in the Georgia Rail Road & Banking Company, - Finding no general power from you or your cousin to me, I have given them an instrument to authorize them as your and his Agents to manage the 82 Bales of Cotton, until you can be heard from - I have also given each of them such a statement of numbers, weights &c &c as I now furnish you, and have handed to Mr Brown the Certificate of Mr. A Fullerton. I have not mentioned to them of my having written to Sir F. Bruce and it will depend on circumstances whether I do so. I have now to request that you will send proper powers and instructions to those Gentlemen, if you approve of them, or substitute others as soon as possible - for you will easily see that their present authority is not as satisfactory as if it was from yourselves. I request also that you will submit this letter to your cousin Wm. Campbell that he and the representatives of his Father's Estate may co-operate with you - Before I leave here I will endeavour to send each of you a statement of your accounts - I have had purchased for you in Laurens county, and lying there since early in 1864 a parcel of upland Cotton intended for paying off any indebtedness to you, for your advances in Belfast on my account, which on the 30th of September last amounted to One Hundred & Sixty Eight pounds two shillings & eight pence œ168 2/8 I am doubtful now whether I will sell it in this country or not - Your Merchants I think will be disappointed in the quantity they will receive from hence - There will be none of consequence made this year - not more than to preserve seed - and it is not yet known, whether the article can be made as heretofore, with the change which has so suddenly taken place in our labour system. My present impression is that the same quantity cannot be produced for many years, if ever - The natural extension of the comforts of the free labourers, not allowing the time, if there were no other obstructions. I am happy to say that, under Military Rule, this great change has progressed peacefully: How it would be, or will be, when the State resumes her position and rights as a member of the U.S. - is uncertain; but we hope for the best: we have the example of Haiti as a warning, not to attempt to restore Slavery - Since I last wrote to you our City has been overrun by Negroes coming in from the Plantations to realise their freedom - They behave very orderly but suffer in many cases from want of food, there being no adequate employment and provisions scarce. A detachment of U.S. Negro Troops infantry, arrived here today, and marched up to the Arsenal. Notwithstanding the great disorganisation on many of the plantations, the seasons have been so favourable, that the corn crop looks well, and as there has been scarcely any Cotton planted - the Stock of Horses, Mules, Hogs, and all kind of cattle to be fed upon it, greatly reduced - and the wastefulness of Armies having ceased - we may expect food, of which corn here is the chief article, will be very abundant and cheap in the fall. Flour is now 10$ p [per?] Brrl [Barrel?] Bacon 10c [cents?] p [per?] lb. Corn 1¬ c [to?] 1«$ p [per?] Bushel. Augusta 18 Jun 1865. I have detained this letter that I might be able to furnish your account and those of William Campbell & James Campbell, which I now do herewith - I have considered that this would be the most satisfactory to all parties - with my previous letters I hope they will be understood and think they will be found correct - of which you will please advise me after examination. I have taken the liberty of closing your account and charging you and crediting James Campbell with $225.58 and also closed that of Wm. Campbell by charging him and crediting James Campbell with $75.25 which increases your and his interest in the 82 Bales of Cotton by the amount of those sums. After crediting these sums the account of James Campbell still shows a balance due me of Six Hundred & ninety four dollars & ninety two cents $694.92 - This arises from the Powers of Atty [Attorney?] which I hold from him for the collection of Dividends, becoming inoperative on the knowledge of his death. I would have substituted our good friend Jno. Bones, who has already a power from Mr. Wm. Campbell, but I am sorry to say the feebleness of his health, entirely forbade it. I have no letters from the M'Whinneys or M'Veas, but I hope soon to hear from the former as the way for letters is now open - Mrs Campbell, who is in fair health, enjoins me to send much love from her to Mrs Allen - I pray for the health and happiness of your family and am Ever Yours Truly R. Campbell. |
