The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-11-17
SUFFERING AND TRIUMPH OF A
MEXICAN.

-
a rare American genius, in Hunts Merchants
Magazine for November addressed TO the late
Hon. Dixon Fl. Lewis the U. S. Senator who
died few days since in New York. The wiz
ter is native OF Virginia, aud he went to Eng
land in January, 1917, to look tor the apprecia-
ton which he had not found in Washington:
STAMFORD, ENGLAND, Aug. ID, 1S4S.
My Dear Sir: IL should have written sooner,
but that had nothing pleasant to say. reached
London on the LIST OF January, lSl7, without
money or friends which was the thing desired
when left America, and just the thing, assure
you, will never desire again. | commenced
operations at once, the suppostion that in this
overgrown city, would at least enlist one man.
But Englishmen are not Americans. An Eug
lishman will advance any amount on an absolute
certainty, but not one penny where there is the
slightest risk, if he got the whole world by it. !
spent the first FIVE months looking for this man
with unparalleled perseverance and industry,
living for less than three pence per day | am
convinced that few persons in London know so
much OF that incomprehensbly large city as my
self. But alas my wardrobe was gone to sup
ply me with wretchedly baked corn bread, on
which | lived entirely. | slept on straw, for
which paid halt penny per night. became
ragged and filthy, and could no longer go among
men of business. Up to this time my spirits new
er sank, nor did they then; but my sufierings
were great. My limbs distorted with rheuma-
tism, induced by cold and exposure my face
and head sweed to almost unnatural size
with cold and toothache,, and those who slept in
the same horrid den as myself were wretched
street beggars, the very cleanest of them literal
ly alive with all manner OF creeping things
But was no beggar. i never begged, nor ever
asked favor OF any man since | came to Eng
land. Ask George Bancroft, whom called upon
two or three times, if ever asked the slightest
favor, or even presumed upon the letter which
you gave me 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 although
| Prince Albert came never got even a reply 10
my note. II Bancroft had come, and been the
man to have only recognized me in my rags as
was, it would have saved me much subsequent
suffering | will not believe that Bancroft ever
saw my note, for his department to me was ever
! kind.
The succeeding three months after the FIRST
FIVE, will not detail, up to the time | common
| ced to build the bridge. | will not harrow I'D
my feelings to write, nor pain your kind heart to
| read the incidents OF those ninety days. NV
| head turned grey, and must have died bnt tor
! the Jews, who did give me one shilling down for
| my acknowl Judgement for Gl0 on demand. These
! wicked robberies have amounted to several hun.
| dred pounds, every penny Of which | have had
| TO pay subsequently,; for, since my success at
otrahord, not man i'll England who can read,
but knows my address 1t cost me EIO to obtain
the shilling with which | paid my admission into
the Royal Geological Gardens, where | succeed.
ed, alter much modification, in getting the ghost
| OF model made OF the bridge. The model al
though bad one, astonshed every BODY. Every
| engineer in London was called in todeclde ,ybetb.
er 1t was practicable to throw 1t across the lake
Four or hive OF them, at the final decision. decIar
ed mat the model before them was passing
| strange, but that it could not be carried 70
much greater length than the ltngth OF the
model. This was the point of lie or death with
me- was standing amidst men OF the supposed
greatest talent as civil engineers that the world
Couiu produce, and the point decided against me-
Ahls que ume alone were my whole energies
| ever aroused. | never talked beto-eI ".
niagara ana faint for want of food-my spirits
SUNK III sorrow In view OF my mourniul prospects
oo,les | nau hone-yet standing over this
| model, did battle with those men. Everv word
uttered came IRON my nmost soul, and was bio
Win 'ruth-eIery argument carried conyiction
| ne erect on those men was like mapic-indaed
! they must have been devils not TO have heIiavad
uhuer the circumstances / succeeded Nv
! agreement with the proprietor was, that shoul3
SuPe'lhteho me construction oil the bridge with
OUT any pay whatever, but during the time Of tho
puiiuihg might sleep in the Gardens, and if the
| e6N SA0uiu sUCC6eu, IL should be called tGRan.
ingtons BRIDGE e'i'
! lodged in an old lions cage. not strono
enough Tor lion, but by putting some straw oS
tne moor, held me very well, and indeed was a
greater luxury than | had Tor manv months
ne carpenters that worked on the bridge some.
, uhes gave me part Of their dinner On This
,i,.1o ahu was comparatively happy. 1t was
iiu'le novel, however, to see man in RAGS drec.
ung sen'iemanly looking head carpenters The
ofdge trlumphed, and the cost was "a and v.as
'he greatest hit ever made in London tn
money made by it is astonishingly great thou
san samuS ana tens OF thousands crossing IT, paving
1On' besides being the great attraction to The
patuens. Not publication In London but VIVA,
nas written largely upon it. Although | have
80 received penny, nor never will for build.
rug me bridge, have no fault to find with M
YET me proprietor, Tor he has done all fnllv
.hal ne promised to do--that was. TO call !" era
,ng.ons bridge" The largest wood cut per.
.naps ever made In the world, is made of tho
,pruse' Every letter Of my name is nearly a.
large as myself. The bridge to this dav h re
prominent curiosity Of the Gardens Yo1 can,,
ppen paper but you may find "Reminy,on,s
p''use' Soon after it was built | have frenuen,~
seen hundreds OF men looking at the large
picture OF the bridge at the corners Of the straa,a
anu envying Remington, when have stood nm.
SHOWN In the crowd, literally starving. How.