| Title: | John Chambers, New York to Robert Simms, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 604 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Chambers, John/32 |
| Year | 1806 |
| Sender | Chambers, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Simms, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 1815/5: Copied by Permission of The Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809104 |
| Date | 09/05/1806 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 01:10:1993 |
| Word Count | 816 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Robt [Robert?] Simms Belfast New York 9th May 1806 Mr Dear Simms I have received your very kind & most acceptable letter of the 21st Nov. which was more than five months on its passage. I trust you will believe that it recalled the recollection of those many hours of rational & innocent pleasures which I spent in your city in Fort George, when we both found the wisdom and true philosophy of laughing at the efforts of our enemies to subjugate (at least) our minds, & experienced a tranquility which, probably, many of them wanted. Since my former Letter to you I have made a pretty wide tour amongst the principal Cities on this Continent, - Philada. [Philadelphia?], Baltimore, Washington, Alexana. [Alexandra?] &c. - have spent many pleasant hours with your warm friend Dr. White - with Henry Jackson, Robt. [Robert?] Moore &c &c, amongst all of whom you were frequently spoken of in terms of kindness & respect, and with many united wishes to see you amongst us. Upon this subject your reasons are not without their value; tho' they are not equally founded, or built upon correct report; but I do not think it right to press inducements which all men may see in the same points of view, or lead you to a procedure which might be followed by disappointment, or regret. - I have gratified a Curiosity of longstanding in seeing the great Character who presides over the [destinies?] of this happy Country - The principal head of Departments - Many of the leading Members of Congress - and attended many of the sittings of both houses - & on the whole have spent a very pleasant & instructive winter to the southward - from whence I was obliged to hurry back here on the news of my eldest son being Shipwrecked off the east end of Lough Island in a snow storm; but he fortunately escaped with life, after experiencing great dangers & hardships! - Our share of the cargo was chiefly lost: in this, however, as in many other of the the afflictions & evils of life, providence send consolation, - the life of my son has been kindly saved - & the property was principally insured. This accident has deranged us for some time, & some months must elapse before we shall be enabled to embark in business, from the want of Goods. During this interval I propose going with my Son to Philadela [Philadelphia?] to afford him a personal opportunity of judging which of the two principal towns appear best calculated for our views. We lodge & board in the house of our mutual worthy friend Cumming, who lives at No. 3 Upper Chambers Street where he follows his profession, as a Physician, Apothecary &c. - I see daily our common friends, Wm [William?] Bailie - Caldwell Parks, &c. with our old chums Emmet &c. W. Hiven : - Emmet is doing as well as his most sanguine friend could wish, & will, I trust, in due time, be at the head of the Bar here. Fortune has been uncommonly propitious to him in the death of Genl [General?] Hamilton, and the unpopularity of Burr, who were the great luminaries of the American Law #PAGE 2 & has given him [full play?] and employment - and in some other circumstances his very arrival was critical. I learn from France that Arthur O'Connor is married to a Daughter of the celebrated Condorcet. Of that country you know more than me at present. Of its unfortunate fate - of its Chief - of his all grasping & domineering spirit - of the State & the fate of Liberty in Europe - we cannot differ much in opinion. What will be the effect upon your Empire and of the interests united to it, by the death of Pitt & the accession of Fox, I have yet to learn, but every town must now teem with important events. Are Sampson, Lowry, &c. returned, & what is the domestic state of things? The News Papers here take no interest in the affairs of our little country & insert (rarely) anything respecting it - could you send a friend here a little packet occasionally of Belfast Papers, address it to the care of G & P Havens, 198 Front Street, N. [New?] York. I am happy to find that my old friend Tenant is at length become a [Petnicio?] - fame has given his wife, as much [credit?] for [goodness?] as beauty - may he long find in her the sources of every happenings! - remember me to him, and say, when he has nothing better to do, that there is one friend here, who will be truly glad in his writing a Letter to him - Present my best respects to your family & believe me, with best wishes for your happiness. Dr [dear?] Simms, Yours sincy [sincerely?] J [John?] Chambers |
