Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-08-19
Letter from Sir j. NJ. Wilson to Gen Vim
fcld Scott.

ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA, Oct. 9, ISL.
My DEAR GENERAL SCorT Upwards of
twenty-scven years have now passed away since
| was opposed TO you at Chippe,ra, and was at-
terwards your prisoner and JcNor-sufCrC'
near Dulialo-Yet during that time have ne
Yer ceased to feel grateful recollection Of
your kindness to me, and high admiration OF
those chivalrous feelings which animated you
in battle. And il is the recollection of those
stirring and y-gone times, and the elevated o.
pnion entertained ofyou by Sir Phincas Rial
and myself, which now induces me to write
to you.
VIII you then, dear General Scott, pardon
my writing to you; and inform me whether or
not, in your opinion, the Legislature Of the a.
boye States are w0nting in those high feelings
of honor and honesty for which gave them crc-
dit or whether their present embarrassment
has arisen out Of unexpected difficulties, and
that they had not sufficient time to meet their
engagements! Ifyou be kind enough to give
me your opinion on this subject know it will
be an honest one and shall therefore nppre-
ciate it,
| often hear of you from your coun'rymcn
who visit England and hear of your health
and of your advancement in the estimation of
the Union with great satisfaction.
The favorable impression | had received on
passing through different States of the Union
in 1914, both in respect Of their moral tone, OF
their industry and resources, and of the Saron
Jiood, which seemed every where spurring
them into actire and honoraJie existence, indu-
ced me in a crcdulouS and evil hour to invest
nearly all the money possessed, viz: e, 800,
in New Orleans Canal and Banking shares
and Mississippi and Indiana State Stocks and
now, alas none Of these three concerns pay
their dividend | have wife and six children,
and two OF your musket balls are still lodged
in my body; and under this pressure from
without, Gas well as toithjH,) you will not be
surprised if sometimes feel little nervous a.
bout the interests of my family.
The gloom and diStruSt which the failure of
the United States Bank (and the States to
which | have referred have produced in Eng
land is VERY GREAT Yet still | wish, that
the same friendly feelings were entertained
by the citizens of the United States for Eng,
ishmen, which Engshmen, am happy 10 say
every where entertain for them. But the bor-
dererS on both sides, | fear, are a restless set
and nothing save the wisdom and best cXer
tons Of such calm and dispassionate men a,
YOURSELF and those who are competent to sub
due and control the vices O: the turbulent, " u!
be able to preserve to those two great countre!
the blessing Of peace,
We read with great regret in this countr,
the accounts Of the doingS on both sides Il
your Northern frontier There Is not an Eng
lishman OF character and cannon sense VIII
would not Geprecate a war with America; bu
you must look after your people on the bordc
as well as we, | think you will find US at a
times disposed 10 act fairly by you bat job
Bull is a touchy fellow when you rouse hin
though willing to take more from his couSi
in America than from any body else, yet ther
are limits to his forbearance. Could you bI
multiply yourself into a dozen Presidents
as many States, | am sure all the i'll feelin
would soon subside. AS for my single self, ii
marked kindness extended both to General r
all and me by your countrymcn has conve
ted us more or less into Americans, and ind
ced confidence in their public securities, h
nor, and good faith which am nOp atraM W
prove the ruin Of iny dear General yours mo
faithful. j. MoRIIIyos WILsos.