Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-14
EMIGRATION TO THE UNITED


To the Editor of the Portsmouth England
Times and Naval Gazette:
DEAR SIR-Doubtless many of your
inhabitants contemplate emigration this
summer. Being myself an old resident
of LandpoTt, and having been in the
United States now nearly seventeen years,
may be enabled to offer some important
suggestions, calculated to advance the III
terests of those whose determination it is
to make the new world the home of their
adoption. About fourteen months ago
| visited Portsmouth, after an absence of
sixteen years, and with some few excep-
tions, found things in some localities
about the same as when left. SOuthsea
and LandpOrt have become very prominent
in a business point of view, while the for
mer place has become not only one of
the most important business thorough
fares, but the most charming spot for
residence l think l ever saw. There
you find town and country combined,
where the man of business or the tourist
can enjoy all the pleasures imaginable.
SOuihsea Common, with the Esplansde
and the beautiful sea view, together with
the adjacent hotels, must he seen to be ap-
precisted, and although mauy long years
had flown since my departure, in May,
1854, l could not have believed that such
vast change had taken place for the bet
ter in the places above mentioned. But,
alas for Portsmouth and Portsea, both
seem to have been cleft out in the cold. ~
This l regretted, because both places were
my fayOrite resorts, especially Queen
street and Hanover street, POrlsea. If
my memory serves me, i saw
in some of the tin shops in P0rtsea some
of the same old tin pans and copper
kettles that were displayed for sale six
teen years ago, while some of the un-
fortunate tradesmen hsd the same un-
happy counteDances; with the exception
that age had dealt leniently with most of
them, TO all intents and purposes they
were the "Old, same sixpence, thus DEM
onstratiDg the fact that Landport and
Southsea have for many years been do
ing nearly all the business, while the
trade of Portsmouth and POrtsea has
been, comparatively speaking, insignii-
cant. This is sufficient evidence that
nearly all the young and enterprising men
have left the above named places in dis
gust ard gone to do business where bust
ness is done.
But to my subject. All your unem-
plOyed mechanics and farmers can obtain
employment in America at much better
wages than they have been receiving in
England. BoOk-keepers, lawyers, clerks,
ETC., had better remain where they are.
Many hundreds of these are to be found
in nearly every city in the Union, unable
to obtain employment, for the simple rea-
son that they have never been accustomed
to hard work in their own country, so
that when in the United States they find
themselves utterly incompetent to put
their shoulders to the wheel when the oc-
casion requires. say very little about
Nashville in this letter for the following
reasons: Many of yourreaders might labor
under the impression that the writer
was actuated by selfish motives in
inducing the working classes to emigrate.
1t is matter of small importance to me
where my fellOW-t -townsmen may see fit to
locate. can only say, for their especial
benefit, that the United States is very
large country inieed, while there remains
famous opportunity for every emigrant
to make his own selection. Your cor
respondent would also suggest that as the
Northern States are becoming too thlckly
populated, it would be to their advantage
either to go to the far West or the South
ern States. Tennessee possesses many
advantages over other States, on account
of its genial climate. The soil is very
rich indeed, while many thousand acres
of land are to be obtained at a very low
price IN this beautiful State-the garden
spot of the South.
One of the many reasons that induces
me to write to Portsmouth on the subject
of emigration is that during the last
twelve months l have been in receipt of
about fifty letters from different parts of
England, Ireland and Scotland, asking
my advice as to the best spot in America
to locate in. find it utterly impossible
to reply to these individually, and know
ing your valuable paper for many years
to have had very large circulation, l
take this method of furnishing your read
ers with the above information.
Yours very respectlly,
THOMAS w. WHITE.
maxwell HOUSE, Nashville, Tenn,
March 26, 1871.