The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-09
From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Nov 3.

Suiierings, perseverance, and final success of rare
American geniIs, in Hunts Merchants Magazine Tor
November, addressed to the late Hon Dixon H. Lewis,
United States SENATOR who died few days since In New
York The writer is a native of Virginia. and he went
England in January lsi7 to look for the appreciation
which he had not found in Washington
STAFFORD, England Aug IS, 1913.
My DEAR SIR: should have written sooner, but that
had nothing pleasant to say. reached London on the
ST of January, 1877, without money friends, which
was Just the thing desired when I left America, and
Just the thing, assure you, will never desire again
commenced operations at once, on the superstition tha
this overgrown city, ! would al least enlist one man.
But Englishmen are not Americans An Engshman
will advance any amount on absolute certainty, but
not penny where there is the slightest risk, II he got
he whole world by it, spent the first live months look
ing for this man. with unparalleled perseverance, and in
dustry, living for less than three pence per day. am
convinced that few persons IN London know so
much of that rcomprehenslbe large city as myself But
alas my wardrobe was gone to supply me with
wretchedly baked corn bread, on which lived entirely
slept on straw for which paid half penny per night
I became ragged and filthy, and could no Longer go
among men of business Up to this time my spirits never
sunk nor did they then but my suterlngs were great
My limbs distorted with rheumatism, induced by cold
and Xposure-my face and head swelled 10 most I'M
natural size with cold and toothache, and those who
slept in the horrid den myself were wretched
street beggars the very cleanes OF them literally alive
with all manner of creeping things. But was NO beg
gar. never begged, asked favor of any man
since came to England. Ask George Bancroft, who
called upon three times if ever asked the slight
est faY0r or even upon gave
TO him. did write him note asking HIM to come and
witness the triumph OF opening the bridge at the Gardens
and delivered the note at his own house myself and al
though Prince Albert came, got reply to
my note If Bancroft had come and been the man to
have only recognised in my rags as was, 1T would
have saved me much subsequent suffering. WIN nor
believe that Bancroft my note Tor his deport-
ment ever kind
The succeeding three months after the first five. will
detail up the time commenced TO build the bridge
will harrow up my feelings to write, nor pam your
kind heart to read the incidents OF those ninety days
NV head turned gray and | must have died but for the
Jews, who did give me one shilling down for my ac-
berries have amounted to several hundred pounds every
penny OF which have had to pay subsequently; Tor
since my at Stafford not man in England who
can read but knows my address 1t cost me ElO to OBJ
tain the shillngs with which paid my abundance into
the Royal Geological Gardens, where succeeded, after
much notification, in getting the ghost of model made
ed everybody Every engineer Ct celebrity IN London
called in TO decide whether it was practicable TO
throw it the lake Four or five OF them, at the
final decision declared that the model before them was
passing strange; but that it could not be carried to
much greater length than the length OF the model This
the point of life or death to me. was standing
amidst of the supposed greatest talents civil engl
that the world could produce and the point decided
against me. This time alone my whole ener-
gIes aroused never talked before. was hasgard
and faint for want Of foodmy spirits sunk IN sorrow IN
view of my mournfu prospeets-cothes | had nome
yet standing this model, did battle with those
men. Every word / uttered came from my nmost SOUL
ton The effect those men was like maglc--lndeed
they must have been devils not to have believed under
the circumstances succeeded My agreement with the
proprietor was that should supernend the construction
of the bridge without any pay whatever, but during the
time of the building might sleep in the gardens and if
the bridge should succeed, 1t should be called "Remlng
toms Bridge"
lodged in old hons cage, not strong enough for
lion but by putting straw on the floor, held me very
well, and, indeed, was greater luxury than had Tor
many months The carpenters that worked on the bridge
sometimes gave part of their dinner On this lived
and was comparatively happy, 1t was little novel;
however, to see man in rags directing genemany look
ing head carpenters The bridge trlumphed and the cost
Is, and the greatest hit ever made in London
The money made by it is astonshngly great-thou-
sands and tens OF thousands crossing it, paying toll be-
sides being the great attraction to the gardens. Not
publication in London but what has written largely upon
it, Although have never received penny, nor never
WILL for building the BRIDGE have fault to find with
Mr. Tyler, the proprietor for he has done fully all that
he promised to dO-that was, to call ii "Remlngtons
Bridge" The largest wood Lieut., Perhaps made in
the world, is made of the bridge Every letter OF my
name is nearly large. as myself. The bridge to this
day the prominent curiosity OF the gardens. You can't
open paper but you may find "Remngton's Bridge "
Soon after it built have frequently seen hundreds
of looking at the large picture of the bridge at the
corners of the streets and envying Remington when
have stood unknown in the crowd. literally starving,
However, the great success of the bridge gave some
credit with tailor. | got suit OF clothes and some
shirts-a clean shirt Any shirt great but clean
shirt 20 God, what luxury Thousands of cards were
left for at the gardens and men came to see the bridge
from all parts of the kingdom But with all my due-bis
the hands of the hellbon Jews, of course | had to
elope, and came down to Stafford.
first built the mill, which is the most popular patent
taken in England The coffee. pot, and many other
small patents. take exceedingly we'll The drainage of
Tixal Meadows is the greatest triumph have yet had
in England. The carriage-bridge for Earl Talbot is a
most majestic and wonderfully beautiful thing. Dukes,
marquises ears, lords &C., and their ladies' coming
to see il from all parts. | have more orders for
bridges from the arstocracy than can execute in ten
years, if would do them. Indeed, have been so much
among the arstocracy of ate that, what with high living
being so sudden transition from starving, have been
compelled TO go through course of medicine, and am
just now convalescent. OF course, anything once built
precludes the possibility of taking patent in Eng
land but its merit and value beyond all calculation
permanent beautiful and steady bridge may be thrown
across river half mile wide out of the reach of floods
and without anything touching the water most ncon
siderable expense The American patent is we'll secured
at home know. | shall continue to build few more
bridges OF larger and larger span and of them rail-
road BRIDGE in order that may perfect myself in them
as to commence fair when reach America have great
many more accounts of my exploits since came to Stat
ford, but must defer sending them until next time beg
you will write me; for now since correspondence is
opened, shall be able to tell you something about Eng
land | know it we'll | have dined with earls, and
from that down-down-down to where the knives,
forks and plates chained the table for fear they
should be stolen.
am, my dear sir, your obedient servant,
J. r. REMINGTON.
Ohio city.