Mr. Joseph Wixson,
Cn. 22, Pickering,
Home District,
Upper Canada.
Brougham Post Office

Newgate Prison, London, June 20th, 1839

Honored Father,
It is 2 years this day since Queen Victoria first ascended the throne of Great Britain, above half of which time I have been imprisoned because her representative in Canada refused to Her subjects there the rights of freeborn British subjects. I have now been in England something more than six months using every endeavour to gain that justice here which was denied me in my own country. I have no doubt but that every step taken with me previous to coming here will, eventually, prove to be perfectly unconstitutional and illegal from beginning to end. But how long it may yet take to bring it fairly to the best, time alone can shew. The Government have had my case before them for nearly 4 weeks and are yet considering (I suppose, how to screen Arthur and hang on upon me and my fellow prisoners) ostensibly, which cases are worthy of the Royal clemency. I really do not expect anything from the mercy of the Government. But from submitting the whole to a parliamentary investigation, I have hopes of succeeding, and always have had. The foundation for such an ordeal is now laid. On the evening of the 13th Inst. Lord Brougham Presented a petition from myself & fellow prisoners in the House of Lords; accompanying the presentation, with a very lucid though somewhat sarcastic, exposition of our illegal treatment. On the evening of the 18th Mr. Leader presented its Counterpart to the House of Commons, reserving his remarks for Tuesday the 25th Inst._ The Government declined answering Lord Brougham simply saying that our cases were under the consideration of Government and that they did not wish anything more said about it at that time; and so the matter rests.
I have been quite unwell for several days and have been taking medicine, but I am getting something better than I was._ I will give you more of the particulars as I know them daily. So good evening.

June 21st. Well good morning Father. My health is yet but very indifferent. I shall endeavour to bear up against sickness and sorrow and confinement as well as I can. I do not think there is much danger of being sent further; but I do think it quite probable that I may be remanded back to Canada either to give bail, or to stand trial for High Treason. If the later should turn out to be the case, I shall die on the scaffold cheerfully rather than submit to transportation and the degradation of dragging out miserable existence in foreign slavery. Yes, Father, after all that I have suffered, it would be more than cowardice to shrink from any death that could be devised._ By the by, why don't you write? what are you afraid of? You never write me a single word [?] than if you were in another world. I do think this is too bad. [Pls answer ?] Good Evening.

June 22nd, 1839. Well good morning. I hope you are all well; I am rather better this morning, though considerably out of Gear yet _ have a slow inward fever_ not confined to bed _ taking medicine.
I want you not to fail answering this, and telling me all about the whole of you, not forgetting to tell me all about my own family. Write without disguise as it will come to me unopened. I very much fear there is something wrong at home, and I have reason for it. Do write me all about it without any disguise, for such an uncertain state of mind is worse than any reality whatever. Therefore let there be no covering, or concealment of any thing. I am very unwilling that any wrong impressions should rest against me; and I should be quite as unwilling to indulge in any thing of the kind against any other person.
I have the six sovereigns which I got from W. Michell, except 15 pence. I am in hopes of having enough, if I should be liberated here, to take me over to New York in a common trader if nothing more, from which place I shall be able to make my way home some how. I am not without hopes of this yet; and I shall live on prison allowance (though not very good for a person in bad health) rather than exhaust my little means.
O Father, you have no idea of the feelings of your unfortunate son, imprisoned in a foreign land, and all this without having committed any real crime whatever. It is really a hard case. But God is good and will do all things well; and cause it all to work for my best good. It is, [?] however, very trying in the mean time. I do not forget to call upon God in my troubles, nor do I lack proof that God hears prayers and graciously answers. Good Evening.

Tuesday June 25th. Good morning. Well here I am yet, and have heard nothing more about our petition now under consideration of Government. My health is improving slowly. I am not taking medicine. I have a good Dr. I believe as good as any in London. The Grand Jury made us a visit yesterday. They appeared to be a very feeling company of Gentlemen. The people here with whom I have come in contact appear to be a very feeling, sympathizing people. It is not friends that I lack here, but it is my liberty, and above all, my family, my Dear children! Good night.

June 26th. Good morning. Nothing more which can be depended upon has yet come to my knowledge. I understand by Rev. Dr. Thomson last evening that Mr. Leader had not pressed his motion on our petition to the house of Commons; but withdrawn it. I do not know certains whether he had withdrawn the motion for good. If so, I think he must have learned something more respecting the intentions of Government towards us; and I am inclined to think favorably of it. But at the same time, I shall not be surprised at anything that happens after all my sufferings. My health rather better. Good Day.

June 28th. Good morning. I have since learned that Mr. Leader had only withdrew his motion for that day, I believe he postponed it for a fortnight. In the mean time, he remarked to the members of the Government that he hoped they would not keep us much longer in suspense respecting their intentions. And so the matter rests. No news from any of my acquaintance in Canada since the middle of March. If you knew how much I desire to see you and to hear from you, surely some of you would be kind enough to write one month. I did expect something by the return of the Steamer Great Western, but am disappointed. Mr. Parker has got letters from Rochester & New York. From New York up to the 13th Inst. Very quick indeed. Well, I suppose, no body cares any thing about me, and perhaps I really am not worth caring for. Be it so.
My health is rather improving. I shall soon grow tired of writing to any of you, for I think it must give you all a good deal of trouble to read them. Good evening.

June 29th. Good morning. Better in health, but still perplexed with all the uncertainty that has surrounded my way from the first. I hate to this languid suspense. It is tormenting & cruel. Good Evening. 

July 1st. Good morning. Well, here I am yet. The weather has been extremely chilly for three or four days, in so much that we have all been shivering with the cold. We have had no fire in our room since early in May: I never remember seeing such cold and chilly weather in July before in my life. I really think it a little strange that I can hear nothing from any of you. I have mostly written two or three letters per week ever since I was in Newgate and get none except a package from Robert containing a letter from Uncle Joshua, one from Elder Marsh & also, I got one from Annis. This is all. Well, I suppose my letters are not worth answering, and shall soon think they are not worth writing. I have quite made up my mind not to write any more until I hear from you. Good night.

July 2nd. Good evening. Lord John Russell sent for Mr. Roebuck yesterday, and asked him what we (Prisoners) would engage to do or what security we could give not to go to Upper Canada or the United States! to which Mr. Roebuck replied, "My Lord you cannot expect them to give any other than their own personal recognizance. And as to their not going to Canada I think they would not direct it; but as to forbidding them to go to the United States I think that is quite unreasonable." Well, said Lord John, will you communicate with them upon the subject and let me know the results to which Mr. Roebuck replies in the affirmative. And accordingly, Mr. Roebuck called last evening and requested us to state our wishes upon the subject in writing. Which we did in the following note, viz.:

Sir. 
We the undersigned State prisoners in Newgate, beg leave to state in reply to the matter submitted to us, that in case of our being set at liberty, we will enter into recognizances, of any kind that may be deemed necessary, not to return to the province of Upper Canada, having at present no inclination to do so.
We hope, however, that there will be no objections to our making an arrangement with the colonial government hereafter, allowing our return to that province.

We have heard nothing from this as yet. But we got a hint from another quarter that the Government had nearly concluded to liberate us, on binding us not to go to Canada nor to the State of New York. J. R. Armstrong of Toronto called to see Mr. Parker to day, by whom he learned that Dr. Strachan came over with him with a view of being made a Bishop. And, also, that James Small is here. I hope he will be in to see me soon. My health improves slowly. We are all in pretty good spirits as you may well suppose. So Good night to you.

July 3rd. Good morning. It is announced as follows in the [Derms?] official organ, "The Morning Chronicle: It having been found impracticable to bring the Canadians [???] England, in conformity with the suggestion in the judgement of the Court of Exchange, the Government has notified to them that, upon entering into personal [senel rities?] not to return to Canada, they will be released."
We have not yet received any such information from the government [?] but I think it more than probable that we shall actually be liberated by the end of the next week. If so I shall return to America in a few days after [?]. I do not expect to return to Canada any more, and indeed I cannot say that I may live to do so; for my treatment has been such that I am completely [wounded?]. However, if I get back to America, I trust I shall be able to procure a comfortable livelihood for myself & family in some situation.
On looking over what I have written I find there are great marks of weakness, perhaps of ill nature. Well, you will be kind enough to overlook any harshness of this sort. My health is considerable better. I wrote to Eunise Spencer by the Liverpool Steamer last month. Nothing would be more acceptable than any liberty. I do not know whether my wife wants to hear anything from me or not, I hope you will send this to her as soon as you have opportunity after reading it yourself. May God keep & preserve you all. Your Dutiful Son,
Randal Wixson

N.B. James Brown & Ira Anderson are in good health}
and wish to be remembered to their friends.}

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