| Grosvenor Hotel, London, April 23, 1863 |
| |
| My dearest Father,
{Moncure Robinson, internationally known RR
engineer and an early President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac RR; lived in the North during the War} |
| |
| I arrived here yesterday and I
hasten to reply to the letters from Mother and yourself that I found
awaiting me at Messrs. Thomson Hankey & Company's. I left Havana on the
15th of March in the Spanish Mail Steamer "Canarias" for Cadiz. The
passage was a terrible one of 26 days at sea owing to a continued
succession of head winds and storms; The Canarias reached Madeira on
April 4th with many of her spars and sails carried away and was
forced to coal and refit at that point before proceeding on her voyage.
As none on board spoke English and but few French I was forced in self
defense to pick up a little Spanish and on my arrival in Spain I found
myself able to murder the language sufficiently to get along. I remained
in Cadiz but a day, then by rail and diligence I reached Madrid,
fortunately being able to see thoroughly the old Moorish town of
Cordova, but missing Seville which I passed without stopping. I remain
in Madrid two days to obtain clothes and had thus the opportunity of
seeing Verdi's new opera "El Forzo del Destinado," the Queen's stables,
the superb museum of painting considered to be the finest in Europe and
that most cruel and disgusting of all sights "a bull fight." Thence by
rail and diligence I went to Bayonne and visited Biawitz. From Bayonne I
went directly to Paris and quartered myself at that hotel to which the
Continental is almost insignificant "the Grand Hotel." I
should have called upon Mr. Chevalier but I was in Paris but 28 hours. I
did not expect to find letters with him and I was forced to call on Mr.
DeLeon and Mrs. Calhoon. At Mrs. DeLeon's I met our old friend Mr.
Spruce. I dined with Mrs. DeLeon and drove with her in the "Bois." I
expect to revisit Paris in two or three weeks when I shall make it a
point first to call on Mr. Chevalier. Since I have been here I have had
scarcely a moment of leisure and in writing this I have seized an
evening that would otherwise have been spent in business. Yesterday
evening I dined with Mr. Mason. Last summer I had volunteered to Gen.
Loring an expedition which he promised to let me attempt and which if
successful I had assurance from the Secretary of War would have insured
me a Brigadier's Commission. I scarcely feel a spirit of forgiveness to
him for not having given me the opportunity I desired, although in the
Kanawha Valley eh placed me in the line and hatched up a most difficult
and independent command for me on his right wing. Afterwards in Richmond
Gen. L. recommended me in the most extraordinary terms of approbation
for a Lt. Colonelcy of Cavalry. Mr. Randolph kindly said that he would
gladly do anything for me but that such an appointment could not be made
from the Engineers and was only open to Cavalry officers by 1st election
and then seniority. Thus I began to realize that I was in a corps where
I could only expect promotion by some extraordinary condition of things.
Maj. Gen. Sam Jones took command of the Department in December, Loring
being ordered to Mississippi and soon after I was ordered to Tennessee.
This order was rescinded on Gen. Jones insisting that I should remain
upon his staff and with the aid and hearty concurrence of my new
commander I was anxious awaiting Spring to attempt my so long thought of
expedition. Thus I was not anxious to leave West Virginia and if it had
not been that I believed that your interests would be greatly subserved
by being able to write to you freely if not able to see you. I should
have endeavored to have escaped from a duty which will not be
satisfactory to me in its results unless affairs progress better than I
anticipate. Some time previous to my receiving my present orders, Mr.
Daniel {P. V. Daniel, Jr, President, Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR} had asked if I would resign my
commission to go to Europe in behalf of certain railroad companies. This
I declined to do. On reporting to Mr. Seddon agreeably to the orders
received from him in West Virginia, I was told that the War Department
selected me to go to England to purchase and ship a large invoice for
the Engineer Bureau, that upon the representation of several Presidents
of leading roads (Mr. Daniel was the most active in this) who reposed
confidence in me the Department had determined to authorize me to act
for the several companies; That it had also determined to afford them
peculiar facilities for the transportation and procurement of their
supplies and that as this subject was beginning to assume a grave
importance that I should investigate the matter and constantly advise
the Department of my views and finally although acting as agent for the
companies, that as an army officer I must guard the interests of the
Government. These instructions were given to me partly in autograph by
Mr. Seddon and partly verbally. I was likewise authorized to make my own
terms with the roads and in consequence my pay would only continue as
heretofore. Railroad conventions followed; my terms were agreed to viz
10 per cent on purchases -- $4,000 guaranteed and not to exceed $8,000,
and an addition of 5 per cent for negotiating securities, all to be paid
in sterling. The difficulty of procuring exchange led several companies
to back off and finally only the South side furnished exchange, the
balance sending Confederate and State securities. Mr. Walke
{Richard Walke, a Director of the Seaboard &
Roanoke RR} had so plainly stated that I must not think of
procuring funds for the Seaboard led me to suppose that he could furnish
them readily from proceeds of the Bay Line and from what he said I felt
so assured of funds that resolutions were passed authorizing a loan from
the Seaboard to the Fredericksburg of funds sufficient for its wants. To
be at least however on as good a footing as other companies, each of
those named supplied me with Confederate scrip. Satisfied however that I
was leaning on very weak supports, I should have given up the commission
of the railroads if it had not been that I did not wish to throw
obstacles in the way of my visit to Europe by which I could correspond
freely with you if I did not see you and which I am satisfied will be
well worth my expenses here, and the earnest solicitation of Mr. Seddon
to examine and report to him upon the subject. But moreover there is a
very good prospect that I may make all my commissions and if the
Department approves of and can carry out the propositions I shall at
once make to them of my being retained in Europe at a handsome profit to
myself. Otherwise I will probably return by the Havana in July or August
unless I should find the route via Halifax available in which case I
must trust to the Department allowing me my mileage and pay in Sterling
funds. As I have an order for passage on any Government ship, it is
possible I might sail directly from England to a Confederate port. When
I left Richmond I supplied myself with $400 in gold; the State of
Virginia gave me $500 to be expended for them. At Nassau I shipped to
Mr. Myers, and as a present to Uncle John, many articles as tea, coffee,
dresses for the girls, etc.; my expenses too were much heavier than I
anticipated and destitute of clothing as I was, I reached England with
only about $100 of the $900. Mr. Myers wishes many additional articles
to be purchased out of money of his in your hands. From reasons that I
will hereafter state all advances for Mr. Myers must be simply furnished
to me and I will consider that I loan the amount to Mr. Myers. I
received your letters and mother's at Messrs. Thomson Hankey's, and also
your letters of introduction and the order on Bearings for L-600. Mr.
Haxall had given me a draft on Barings for L-110 which he said you had
deposited there to his credit many months ago and he advised the Barings
thereof by letter; this draft he desired to be used in purchases for his
family. I have made your friends Messrs. John K. Gilliat and Company,
No. 4 Crosby Square, my bankers and I already have with them a very
large Government account. You had best direct your letters in an
enclosure to them. I earnestly trust that the draft you have already
sent me and should I be detained and need an additional one, will not
inconvenience you. I know of nothing of your affairs and requested it of
you in perfect ignorance of them. Of this you will not I hope hesitate
to inform me. You will of course place it to my debit and I will ?????
letter in your own hand writing. |
| Although I had hoped you would
have found it convenient to have visited Europe at this time, yet your
arm of course puts that out of the question. It is very possible that
this and following letters may effect what I wish but I had earnestly
hoped to have been you again before returning to the army and if it is
possible without infringing upon my duties as an officer I will try to
meet you in Halifax, although I think this by no means sure. Now to an
explanation of your affairs -- |
| Recollect the position of your
property on September 1st, 1861 - the date of the passage of the first
act of Sequestration of the Confederate States. A portion of your stocks
and bonds were in my name a absolute owner by transfer from you in
August; A portion had long been in my name as trustee; The rest remained
in your name; Of the condition of your real-estate I was at that time
ignorant, although I have since learned of it and managed it. Property
in Edmund's and Beverly's name is in any event lost unless hereafter
restored by treaty, unless it can be shown to have belonged to you
absolutely anterior to September 1st, 1861 - Thus the whole was for a
time swept from my control by the retroactive operation of the
Sequestration Act. By hard work others and myself succeeded in having
the act amended at the next meeting of Congress in to aspects important
to my interest, or rather yours The amendments caused the act to date
only from its passage, viz; from September 1st, 1861 and gave to the
next of kin in the ascending or descending line the property of the
alien, the heir thus made paying the costs and assuming all debts
chargeable to the property. I had already got your creditors through Mr.
James Alfred Jones to attach your property. On the amendments being
passed I deemed you secure and your only loss, the delay necessary for
the adjudication of my claim upon your property in case you were
considered alien. I nevertheless deemed it prudent that the attachments
should continue until I could be able actually to take possession of
your whole property. The wisdom of this course is already being shown.
Messrs. Myers and Morson were my attorneys. Mr. Myers insisting upon
acting without remuneration. On the passage of the amendment I was able
to use the income derived from property transferred to me by you in
August, 1861, but the rest had to remain in Status quo - until legally
adjudicated to me; as yet it has been impossible to get the case before
Judge Halyburton of the District Court and consequently no income has
been received on such property. Not anticipating this great delay and
certainly not the difficulties that have since arisen and which I shall
explain to you, I proposed to all your creditors, except to Messrs.
Myers and Wirt Robinson with whom a just settlement would at any time be
easy, that your debts to them should be canceled by their assuming
enough of your property to cover them at its valuation at the time the
debts were created. This proposition proved agreeable to them at that
time. The long delay that has since occurred in effecting such a
settlement and the unfortunate prospects of a yet longer one, will no
doubt both on your account and theirs lead me to effect important
alterations in the above stated agreement but of what kind I cannot now
foresee. I alone must know however and you will readily see the
necessity of it of the exact disposition you have made of funds of
theirs by which these debts were created. Of this hereafter. Congress
subsequently passed an act known as the "Cotton Law" by which it was
guaranteed remuneration out of the Sequestration fund to persons who
destroyed their cotton or tobacco to prevent it falling into the hands
of the enemy -- Mark this well! Subsequently to all this, on application
of the Methodist Church South, Congress voted to them the property in
the Confederate States of the Methodist Church North. In Cabinet meeting
at which Mr. G. R. was present, it was decided that this last act was
unconstitutional, as the Cotton Law had given a vested right in all
sequestrated property and that a vested right could not be destroyed.
The President consequently vetoed the bill -- His mind having thus been
turned to the subject, the Attorney General conceived the idea that the
first act of sequestration had given a vested right and that
consequently all subsequent amendments. That one in which I am so deeply
interested and the Cotton Law and all others are unconstitutional and he
has instructed all District Attorneys to test the question to the
fartherest limit. Thus in whatever way Judge Haliburton may decide, it
is most probable that the case will be carried on for adjudication in
the Supreme Court. All therefore that can be done is to endeavor to
hasten Judge Halyburton's decision and to place the case among the
first-on dockets in the Supreme Court of which the members had not been
appointed when I left Richmond. Under existing circumstance I deemed it
best to ask Mr. Geo. Randolph's cooperation with Messrs. Myers and
Morson. After mature thought my counsel write in the belief that the
opinion of the Attorney General is without strength. Mr. Jones also
agrees with them and already Judge Magrau of South Carolina has decided
a similar case favorably to my claim; His argument I was unable to see
before leaving Richmond. If Uncle Conway has the acts of Congress on
this subject, his opinion would of course prove of much value. Thus you
will perceive I have only been able to use the income derived from
property in my name; this I once proposed to invest in land but not
knowing what part of it I might need and there being other difficulties
to me in doing so, I left it in the hands of Mr. Myers and the
Fredericksburg Company as my bankers. As I have already written to you I
have provided in case of my death by making Mr. Myers and their Willy my
absolute heirs and I have supplied Mr. Myers with the fullest power of
Attorney to manage the property in case I should be taken prisoner or
otherwise prevented from managing it. Your real estate is as you left it
but like your stocks not available to me. I have merely notified Mr.
Brook's heirs that I shall hold them accountable for all rents, etc. and
I have given Mr. Taylor the management of all the real estate. In the
disposition that I have made of such of your funds as I could control I
must await the return of peace to present you with the account. I have
not been able to keep a ledger and it is therefore very probable that I
may not account for its expenditure within a few hundred dollars. My pay
has generally sufficed for my support except for my horses. I have drawn
upon it therefore for these, for money supplied Henry, Willy and Cary
(not largely though) for law expenses, and for Mr. W. H. Haxall in
behalf of Fanny and Alice. -- I endeavored to do all that you would wish
at my Grandmother's funeral and during her life she wanted for nothing
to which she had been accustomed. I had determined to defer the erection
of a monument until such time as one could be obtained more suitable and
more reasonably than at present. You will of course advise me if you
have other wishes in this respect. |
| The District Attorney claims
that the Bay Company being engaged with the United States is alien and
therefore their wharf property and the Selden (now of course her value,
for her destruction, we hold a Government receipt) is forfeited. My own
counsel will defend this case and claim these for the Seaboard Company
as indemnity for their stock in the Bay Company (If necessary the Bay
Company or individual Seaboard stockholders North might act similarly). |
| Strange to say all Baltimore
stockholders in the Bay are claimed by the District Attorney to be
aliens and their Seaboard property forfeited. Holding as I did powers of
Attorney from Messrs. Vickers, Kelso and others, I felt that I should
not allow their property to go by default and I employed for them
Messrs. Myers and Morson agreeing with them that if they fail in
preserving |
| Strange to say all Baltimore
stockholders in the Bay are claimed by the District Attorney to be
aliens and their Seaboard property forfeited. Holding as I did powers of
Attorney from Messrs. Vickers, Kelso and others, I felt that I should
not allow their property to go by default and I employed for them
Messrs. Myers and Morson agreeing with them that if they fail in
preserving the property, they are to receive nothing, but that if the
succeed they are to receive 5 per cent on the value of the property
preserved through their means. Of course I could only say that what I
thought Messrs. Vickers, Kelso and others whom I represented would do
but now that I can correspond with the United States, Messrs. Myers and
Morson will expect me to obtain ratification of my case. I therefore
trust that you will lay the subject before those Baltimore stockholders
whom I represent and send me their approval or disapproval of my course. |
| If Mr. Wilson had been ejected
from his President's position long ago I would have been saved much
annoyance and the road from anticipated damage. A petty politician and
manoeuverer, he may work the greatest mischief if he obtains any control
in the road or indeed if Mr. Myers and our friends lose theirs. Last
winter he endeavored to get a bill passed authorizing Portsmouth to buy
sequestered Seaboard stock. Cousin Wirt stopped his operations in this.
Little annoyances can be submitted to but I fear great evils unless the
power exists to check them. Of course the Sequestration law is a great
thing for Mr. W.'s interests or rather views. When I left Virginia Mr.
W. was busy with the North Carolina legislature. Ghio
{Treasurer, Seaboard & Roanoke RR} says
that he now thinks that North Carolina should be interested in the road:
Our last meeting was adjourned until September as there was not enough
of stock represented. From what I have written you will readily perceive
how necessary it is that I should control the road. I will therefore
request that you will take means to procure and send me to London (in
duplicates for safety) Powers of Attorney from Mr. Walke to represent
all that he usually represents, als any others that can be obtained in
Norfolk. Messrs. Vickers, Kelso and others had best renew theirs for
many powers have been lost and a question might be raised about them,
and there are moreover many stockholders in Baltimore whose powers I
have never held which might be obtained. It would be best too if you
procured for me Mr. Thors' of Kentucky. I will write more by next mail. |
| Yours affectionately, |
| J M Robinson
{Captain & AQM; former Superintendent Seaboard & Roanoke RR} |
|