I am yours truly,
Thomas Dunn English.
From Gen. Francis A. Walker.
Boston, Nov. 25, 1896.
My Dear Sir:—Your letter of the 18th inst., enclosing a cutting relating to the proposed new historical society, arrived during my absence from the city. As regards the desirability of thorough investigation into the early history of the Irish element of our American population, there can be no question whatever. The confusion that has arisen regarding the several constituents of the Irish immigration—as witnessed, for example, in the general use of the word Scotch-Irish, applied indifferently to persons of pure English, pure Scotch, and pure Irish blood—shows abundantly the need of careful dispassionate research; and all should rejoice to see the work undertaken in the most effective way.
The question whether such an investigation should be begun and carried on through existing historical societies and agencies, or through the organization of a new society specifically for this object, is one regarding which my opinion would be of little value. My life has not been mainly devoted to historical investigation; and, even where I have worked by myself in this field, I have, I fear, been a very poor member of the several historical societies to which I belong.
I am, dear Sir, Faithfully yours,
Francis A. Walker.
From Rev. J. Gray Bolton, D. D.
1906 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1897.