| Title: | John Chambers, New York to Robert Simms, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 601 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Chambers, John/1 |
| Year | 1805 |
| 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 1815/12A: Copied by Permission of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809111 |
| Date | 24/11/1805 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 26:11:1993 |
| Word Count | 783 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | New York, 24th May 1811 Dear Simms Your very kind favour of the 6th Ult & its enclosure, were very acceptable. - It is pleasant to live in the remembrance of one's friends, especially when separated by so wide a distance, & when fortune seems to have divided them forever. The Emigrants from every part of Ireland, are pouring in here, in unexampled number - but I am disappointed in not seeing the return of our old friend Henry Jackson, who left this three years ago, with a determination to return in a few months. I had promised myself many happy days in the [?] of a man whom similarity of thinking had rendered interesting - but it is not easy to make great efforts of Mind or Body when we [pass?] a certain period of life and he and I are now waxing grey. I enclose you an account of a naval engagement, which has made a great deal of noise here, & perhaps may produce a similar effect in your quarter, the production of [serious?] consequences. - The account wh. [which?] I send you is authentic, whatever other you may see, - another action is expected of more serious character, which Com d [Commander?] Rogers it is expected, may soon be engaged in, arising, from the following circumstances. The [Guerrien?] Br. frigate, appeared off this port a few days ago, stopt [stopped?] a [coasting?] [Nepel?], & took out of her by force a young Lad (a native of one of the neighbouring towns) under pretext of a British subject! This naturally excited great & general indignation, & could not be palliated by the warmest friends of England in this Country - This feeling it is said has reached the seat of Government, & Com [Commander?] Rogers was ordered to take out the President Frigate, - go and search of the [Guerrien?] - demand the American Lad, & act further, as circumstances may require. Doubts are entertained by some, of the latter part of the instructions, - whilst others think he is merely directed to "demand" the Lad, without having recourse to coercion. The Br. Government never seem to estimate the mischief done to her interest on the continent by the folly & tyranny of her naval officers - who are daily estranging more & more of her friends from her here. Our late President Jefferson, is very desirous of getting a Grass from Ireland, which it highly spoken of by the Belfast society, as possessing some valuable & peculiar properties - I shall quote a letter of his on the subject, wh [which?] #PAGE 2 will speak for itself - "The first paper of the 1st [?] published by the Belfast Society, in which Mr Richardson gives an account of the Grass which he calls [Fiorin?], or Agnostis Stolonifera, which from his character of it woud [would?] be inestimable here ([Monticello Nirga?]) to cover what we call our galled Lands. These are Lands which have been barbarously managed till they have had all of their vegetable Mould washed off, after which we have no permanent grass which can be made to take on them. From the length of time which the Fiorin is said to retain it's vegetative power after being severed from the earth, I am persuaded that if done up in Moss under proper [envelopes?], it woud [would?] come here with life still in it perhaps a little of it might be sent to me in a packet not more than the size of a small [volume?]" you would render in this a great service to our agriculturalists for none can be greater than the communication of useful plants of one Country to another" Thus writes our late worthy President to a friend of mine, who imposes on me the talk of gratifying Mr Jefferson; & my folicitation [felicitation?] now goes to you in the hope you can oblige me, at the proper season - by sending me the small quantity required It will doubtless gratify you to learn that one of the Inhabitants of the Belfast Prison Ship, the then Reverend D.B. Warden has been promoted by Mr Madison to the Office of Consul General of the U.S. to France. He had been secretary to our late Embassy there, & for some time Charge Des Affairs. - his appointment now to the Counsulship has been singularly flattering having recieved [received?] the Unanimous approval of the senate - a circumstance of which we have few examples. I must have done - except, my dear Simms best wishes, & believe me yours always J [John?] Chambers To what a deplorable state your paper currency is reduced! - how it The decline of Mr [Huskisson?] received. |
