| Title: | J. Chambers, New York, to Robert Simms, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 606 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Chambers, John/40 |
| Year | 1807 |
| Sender | Chambers, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | store owner |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Simms, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 1815/10: Copied by Permission of Presbyterian Hist. Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. #TYPE EMG J.Chambers, New York, to Robt. Simms, [General Merchant], Belfast, 27th Dec 1807. |
| Archive | Public Record Office N.Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809109 |
| Date | 27/12/1807 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 16:09:1988 LT created 19:12:1988 PG input 05:01:19 |
| Word Count | 674 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To Robt Simms Esq Belfast P The Susan New York 27th Decm 1807 John Chambers My Dear Simms I received your kind letter of 22d August with the accustomed satisfaction. I embrace the present opportunity of saying a few words to you, & sending herewith a copy of friend Sampson's Memoirs, which will speak for itself - I have added a copy for our [Presidt?] President association, (just received in which he declares New Election to the Presidential chair. No one more capable than yourself of taking the beauty of composition in this little piece: - the same clearness, terseness & felicity of expression, & the same justness of principal, which have always distinguished this great man - as a writer & as a politician The resolution wh [which?] Wm Jefferson has thus announced, will now put all our public agitations in Motion for the next twelve Months - & give rise to that storm of personal [?] in our Ns papers [newspapers?] which will continue to rage during that period, to the disgrace of our Press & the scandal of our Authors. This is the more to be lamented, because it destroys & counteracts the customed effects of a free Press, & in time, may perhaps, render its services unavailing These observations naturally lead me to your suggestion for undertaking public Paper - No, my friend. I could struggle with such a business [business?] one month, as long as the public feeling can remain unhurt with the daily interchange of the terms "scoundrel, rascal, &c &c [etc etc] " - Time however, will work a reform in a task so disgusting & vicious, but as I am little qualified for a reformer, I must leave the task in more competent hands You Irish & English Gentry are the only possessors of a speck of land in Europe, which the colossal Arms of the great tyrant do not embrace in their mighty hug - - I tremble even for you - A peace, I think, will overwhelm Your island in one confiding night - for he'll never again declare war - he'll give no days of grace to be prepaid with payment - the last of the Carthaginian race is not extinct, & his hatred of your island is inextinguishable, whilst they boast of containing the last spark of Liberty in the old world. Believe me, that tho [though?] much as he has done to excite our astonishment - much more remains, - & perhaps even greater manifestations of the superiority of his genius, & the enormity of his ambition will appear in a little time The unwise, impolite & brutal conduct of too many of the Br. Naval Officers on these stations, has done more mischief to the British Interest, than can be well conceived in Europe, & may tend to throw us into the arms of France in despight [despite?] of many of the best Men in the country - If you have seen Captn [Captain?] Loves letter, &c &c [ect ect?] they will give you some idea of the impertinence [punillity?] & tyranny practised by these little despot in the name of a great Nation, where interests they know nothing of . Tho' [though?] they are daily putting them in imminent hazard - If they were paid by Bonaparte they could not act with more propriety The S.American expeditions you know have ended in immense loss of Blood, treasure & merchandise - & what is much worse of military reputation!- Never was so disgracful a business! & never was a fine gallant Army so sacrificed by ignorance or cowardice or - - defeated by the vilest crew of ragamuffins, commanded by Men who never before conducted a regiment into Action. In possession of that Country England might bid defiance to the world - & her W.I. Islands would be forever in N. America - If the authors of this calamity are not punished it will astonish every well informed Man on this continent. God bless you my friend - remember me to your own family heartily, & to some old friends - Yours always J Chambers |
