| Title: | William Cumming, Petersburg, [Va?] to [Rev. Andrew Craig, Lisburn?]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 801 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cumming, William/17 |
| Year | 1812 |
| Sender | Cumming, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev. Andrew Craig |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-in-law - father-in-law |
| Source | T 1475 pp.78-79: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9, Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006098 |
| Date | 03/08/1812 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 02:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 463 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Petersburg. 3rd. August 1812. Dear Sir, An event that you have so long feared has at length taken place. War was declared by Congress on the 18th June, against Great Britain, although contrary to the wishes and expectations of a great majority of the people of Property in this country. I believe it was a last effort of the party in power brought about with a hope of keeping themselves in, but of all others it is in my opinion calculated best to hurl them from their seats. Indeed we cannot reasonably calculate on an establishment of a perfect understanding till our present rulers are turned out and the genuine friends of the country, the Washington party, are brought into power. It is much to be hoped that so desirable an event may not be far distant. Indeed, I cannot believe that the good sense of the people of this country will permit the party in power to govern them much longer, nor do I think there is any danger of an alliance with France, although I firmly believe Mr. Madison would like such a measure, but he will not in my opinion attempt so bold a step. The mercantile part of the community, the New England States particularly, will be dreadfully injured by the War, they aremuch the greatest shipowners, four-fifths of which is now abroad, and nearly all of them have and will fall into the hands of Great Britain: already many have been captured, last New York Gazette contains a list of seventeen valuable ships that have been taken off our coast and sent to Halifax. This is a fine harvest for officers of the ships on this station. One of our national vessals [vessels?] has already been taken, and great fears are entertained for Commodore Kaye of this squadron, they sailed about forty days ago in pursuit of a Jamaica fleet, and since then John Bull has mustered a superior force on the coast, expecting to intercept him and his booty. Notwithstanding the hostility of our Government to Great Britain, yet I cannot bring myself to believe that the war will be of long duration, it is so much the interest of both nations to be at peace and in habits of friendship that I hope and believe the present contest will soon be at an end. I was happy to learn by your sundry letters to Mary that you had quite recovered and that the family enjoyed good health. I most sincerely hope this will long continue, and that in the course of a few years we shall all meet again in our native country. Please make my kind love to Margaret, Rachel, and James, who am, dear Sir, Yours Affectionately, William Cumming. #PAGE 2 Miss Craig. Lisburn Co. Antrim, IRELAND. Received and forwarded by your obedient servant William Brown. |
