| Title: | John Chambers, New York to Robert Simms, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 611 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Chambers, John/80 |
| Year | 1818 |
| 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 1815/21: Copied by Permission of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809120 |
| Date | 06/06/1818 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 29:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 462 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Robert Simms Belfast New York 6th June 1818 John Chambers My Dear Sirs I am very happy to learn, that your Associations keep you so fully employed, that you have little time to devote to the remembrance of distant friends. I always hail a letter from you with more than ordinary satisfaction - & when an opportunity offers of sending you a few lines, I seldom sit down to discover, whether I am a creditor or a debtor. I told you in a former letter, that I had consented to go to Washington, at the Instance of an Association here, for the relief of our Emigrant Countrymen, in order to further the object of their memorial to Congress to obtain a large tract of Land in the Illinios [Illinois?] Territory on a prolonged period of the term of payment, for a settlement exclusively Irish. I have not at hand, at this moment, copies of the memorials presented to Congress by this association, & of Similar ones in Philada [Philadelphia?] & Baltimore, or I should forward them to you - I can only send you the copies of the last paper presented to that body immediately before the great discussion which took place in the House of Representatives on the subject - in which we lost the question but by a majority of 12! It cost me more than two months of time, at a very inconvenient period & a most inclement season for travelling! We shall, probably, return to the attack in the next season, in the hope of better success - but I pray you not to stimulate the sanguine temper of our Countrymen, except in instances, where there is some little property, & unquestioned evidence of Industry & [?] of mind - with these - great & certain things maybe here accomplished - & a happy independence shared - but, without them, - nothing but misery & disappointment. The Western & South-Western Country are growing & flourishing so rapidly - that at no very distant period they will sway the Distances of this great Empire - The Eastern States are either Stationary or [?] in population (I mean the New England States chiefly) - the flood of home as well #PAGE 2 as foreign emigration is all [?] in the opposite direction! These circumstances, you may suppose open an important field to the most extended & bold speculations! amongst our political & Statistical writers. Your worthy son Robert I saw in Philadelphia in March on my return from Washington - he is well & I trust is doing well - And Jon (who is making a fortune), I am glad to see is very attentive to Robert. With best respects to your family - & to our mutual old friends - I am Dr Simms Always Sincerely Yours J Chambers |
