| Title: | John Chambers, New York to Robert Simms, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 607 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Chambers, John/46 |
| Year | 1815 |
| 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 1815/16: Copied by Permission of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809115 |
| Date | 11/03/1815 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 21:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 640 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Robt. [Robert?] Simms Belfast New York 11th March 1815 John Chambers My dear Sir My letter written last night, ever hastened, on the presumption that the time would fail this morning. Her delay enables me to say a few words more, & as she goes to your Port, I do not hesitate from considerations of loading you with Postage. Our Communications with Europe have been so irregular for some years, that we know very little of what they have been doing, except on the great fighting Theatres I saw a flying paragraph, which seemed to allude to an Act for taking an enumeration, or Statistic of Ireland. Whether such an Act has been passed, or such a thing has been effected, I am no farther informed - but I should be very thankful for information on the subject. I am told, that your Belfast Magazine is a very respectable publication. I should like to have the last 12 Nos. [Numbers?] for which my Son in Dublin will pay on demand - They might be put in the trust of some respectable Passenger coming to this City, on whose Attention you cou'd [could?] rely. - I say this the more emphatically, because too many receive such little trusts with small regard to punctuality, Unless a safe conveyance offers, perhaps it wou'd [would?] be better to withhold them To file my papers, I will add a few observations with prospect of Trade with your Islands. We have now lying in England a large sum - which has been gradually accumulating during the last three or four years, in the daily hope of tranquil times, & reopened trade. This sum is supposed by some to amount to three Millions Sterling - some say two - but no conjecture makes it less than one. This will be chiefly expended in the purchase of Br. [British?] goods with which our Markets are very bare - but this sum whatever be its amount added to the immense shipments made by speculaton [speculation?], & by the Br. [British?] Merchants - will so choak [choke?] the country that immense losses will be the consequence & must fall heavily upon some of the parties, this may have a momentary affect upon our domestic Manufactures, but if the present very heavy Duties are continued on Importations, & then Manufactures stand the just shock, the supplies from Gr. Br. [Great Britain?] in 1817, &c. will be most essentially reduced, & after that period, the value of those Importations will fall one half or two thirds! - The irrational & domineering Policy of Gr. Br. [Great Britain?] towards this Country for the last 8 or 10 years, has driven it into Manufactures, in despite #PAGE 2 of the prejudices of our people & of their habits. The predominant party here wil keep up a growing wish to be independant [independent?] of Europe, but especially of Gr. Br. [Great Britain?] - those domestic Manufs. [Manufactures?] will be fastened by every means, but especially by high protecting Duties, & rigorous Custom House Measures - so that you may expect to see in less than two years Superfine Br. [British?] Clouths [Cloths?], the wide range of low priced Cottons, most articles of Glass - all sorts of Castings - all sorts of Paper - Hats, &c &c. Shut out from all competition in these Markets. - In fact, according to my limitted [limited?] view of the subject, Gr. Br. [Great Britain?] has, herself, planted & fastened, a spirit of rivalship in Manufs. [Manufactures?] here - which she will soon feel, & occasion important changes in the trade of the world. France we cannot hurt, nor is it wished by the party in power - we cannot rival her wines, her Brandies, her Oils, her silks, &c &c so her trade will remain undiminished. I must have tired you with these speculations so my Dear friend, Adieu. |
