| London, April 29, 1863 |
| |
| My dearest Father,
{Moncure Robinson, internationally known RR
engineer and an early President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac RR; lived in the Philadelphia during the War} |
| |
| I so much dislike to let a
mail pass without writing to you, that I will now give you a few hasty
lines, although it will be upon different topics for I am not able to
bend my mind at this moment to a continuation of the subjects broken off
in my last letter to you. |
| I am very busy: I am in the
City all day, and in the evening I am constantly engaged. I have just
left a dinner party at Mr. Haukey's where I met Mr Laird & Mr. J Baring,
& of course with three members of parliament present American Affairs
proved to be the topic most discussed. Here there appears to be a
generally expressed idea that war with the United States is an event not
outside of the range of probability. Should affairs assume a serious
aspect I trust you will not rely upon "the integrity of England" when it
is to be brought with antagonism with such a government as that of the
United States. |
| I can scarcely tell you what I
am doing. Endorsed by the Government & by all the rail road companies of
Virginia but two, I have a position of respectability that would be
granted to me any where, and with it I have thrown my breast upon
the waters: It may return to me, & it may not. I am then fortunate in
having you to rely upon & I earnestly thank you for what you have sent
to me & especially for your letters. My expenses here are heavy, and
especially so at this time as I have been forced to procure an outfit in
every respect. |
| I have already made inquiries
with regard to steam carriages, & have an appointment to examine one. |
| When I have thoroughly made up
my mind with regard to them I will give you the result of my
investigations: Until then we will not bother with the subject as we
have so much else to write about. |
| Today much to my surprise
Uncle Edwin called upon me: He is last from New York and professes to be
here to purchase RRd iron for Y?? |
| I promised to call upon him
tomorrow, but I very much fear that his presence here may embarrass me. |
| It is possible that I may get
through with most of my first shipments in two weeks, & I hope then to
be able to go to Paris and there to await advices from Richmond. I have
friends in Paris but I have no doubt that both yours and Edmund's
letters to me will prove of great service to me. Please say to Edmund
that I have forwarded his letter to Mr Myers by a means that will I
think cause it to reach him. |
| The views we have just
received from Charleston leads me to hope for much; of course the news
is too recent for the effect of it upon the North to be known, but I
think it will have its effect. |
| Have you never thought of
renting or selling your property in Philada and of moving all of your
family say to some quiet place in the south of France. It does appear to
me that such would be a wise course especially if the U. States are
about to embroil themselves farther. Whilst I am groping in the dark, it
would not surprise me if the Govt should order me to continue for some
time in Europe. In that case I should certainly hope to see both Mother
& Yourself here. Agnes will I presume marry very soon & then should I be
here I cannot help feeling that without a home as I am that I will have
some claim to a few months of the society of Mother & Yourself.
Otherwise I will make every effort to meet you in Halifax where I will
only go as simple Mr T. of London. Mother expressed uneasiness for Uncle
John in her letter; say to her that although he is a terrible manager,
he wants for nothing that is necessary to make his home comfortable, &
that I sent to him 1/2 a bag of coffee & other articles as a present
which I am satisfied reached him. Poor Henry has every excuse for not
having written to you; he has seen the most terrible service, & in the
camp he has had no material or opportunity of doing so. |
| I urged an appointment for him
as 2d Lieut of Engineers, before I left Richmond & I hope ere this he is
out of the ranks. |
| Say to Mother that I hope she
will see Mrs. Poor & say to her that her son who is one of my most
valued friends, I left on the Staff of Maj Gen Sam Jones as his Chief
Engineer in Westn Virginia, & that so far from wanting anything he is
well equipped, & in any service would be considered to be really
elegantly costumed; he is universally esteemed, & all who know him
regard him in the highest terms. Willy Myers is 2d Adj Gen to Gen Jones
with the rank of Major. Imagine if you can Willy as Major Myers. |
| With much love to you all |
| Affec Yours |
| J M R {John M.
Robinson, Captain & AQM; former Superintendent Seaboard & Roanoke RR} |