| Title: | Fanny Broughton, Ontario, to W. J. C. Allen, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 313 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Broughton, Fanny/1 |
| Year | 1877 |
| Sender | Broughton, Fanny |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife (in a wealthy household) |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Campbell Allen, William J. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D 1558/1/1/725 : Papers of William John Campbell Allen Deposited by F. D. Campbell Allen. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9803084 |
| Date | 07/01/1877 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 26:02:98. |
| Word Count | 996 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Inquerll?] House Hamilton Ontario 7th January 1877 My Dear Mr Allen Thank you so much for remembering us at Christmas. I was quite proud that it should be so after we had been away so many years. Altogether we had a very pleasant Xmas & New Year, on New Year's Day the gentlemen all go and call on the ladies if you receive at all you keep open house and anyone calls, it is a grand old custom for if there is any little thing gone wrong it can easily be made up. We had 52 callers and not the least amusing was one from Mr Broughton paid in due [---?] to bringing of his hat & stick into the Drawing room, some of the gentlemen stayed to dinner and we had 3 or 4 girls which with our fire [five?] made a pleasant party, it is May's birthday on the second [--?] after 12 they all formed a big bunch here and sang Auld Lang Syne & for he's a jolly good fellow then she had to make a little speech - Mr Broughton has been in New York this week we expect him home this aftern [afternoon?] what with the Grand Trunk strike and the snow he was very anxious before he left. I think his labours are beginning to bear fruit and sometime we shall see some dividends, the low rates were most unfortunate but we didn't do badly as the Grand Trunk broke the bargain the Great Western could run excursion trains, they were very heavy and make a lot of money. The winter has been lovely, they have not one like it for years, the sleighing has been good for three weeks and we greatly enjoy it, we have splendid health and no [---?] of spirits The children were sent home from Toronto with measles and had them badly but now are quite well and look better than ever. We had quite a number of folks from the old country during the summer, I dare say G. R. Smith will have told you how he enjoyed Canada and the States, why can't you come out with him next year ? We would make you very welcome - Lord & Lady Dufferin are coming to Toronto for a fortnight, they hold a reception on Wednesday and on Thursday there is to be a ball at Greensands Hall, we are going there are only 700 invitations as such, at the ball there last month 1,500 invitations were sent out & 1,000 people were there, I enjoyed it very much. Last night we went to Toronto to see Millson in The Lady of Lyons, she is a great favourite here and in the States, after the performance she was called 4 times and made a very nice little speech. We got home about two o'clock - Hamilton has been very gay and we are asked everywhere it is something to belong to a general manager here but I must say we generally get along very well, there is only one place I like better than Hamilton & that is Belfast. Mary went home in June & Mr [Childers?] brought her back in Oct ; she was the only one who didn't settle here, she was quite glad to come back and says she would not go back to live (sic) for anything. I am glad to tell you she is getting quite strong and well since we came out I thought Mr Cotton and [Ted?] would have come to the pantomime it was wonderfully fine I was there three times and was more delighted each time. We were in New York and saw the 4th July procession, it took an hour and 20 minutes to pass our Hotel - it was the finest I ever saw - The heat was tremendous this summer but we stood it well. I asked Mr Broughton the other day if he didn't think people took more pleasure out of their lives than we did at home, he said yes quite three times as much if not more & yet they are great workers too. I hope to go to Ottawa this year for the opening of Parliament if home business does not interfere. We had quite a good time when Mr [Childers?] his daughter and the new Great Western director were here, Mr B & Mr C. on business all day and we enjoying ourselves then every day we had home folks at dinner and on the Saturday we had a dance party in 5 days we had 105 guests and not a thing done out of the house or any help except a charwoman and two children in measles, my cook could not cook a plain joint when I got her - one thing I must say you can have any quantity of grand things any day, not as in Wales Beef only once a week Mr Fell was perfectly delighted he said anywhere he could not have found more intelligent men and so pleasant & easy that is the great charm here people never want thawing - Fancy old Vanderbilt leaving 17 Millions sterling. I wonder if his death will make much difference in Railway matters but girls are in great request for dancing, they come picked [torn] the Boston and Saratoga nothing else is danced except about three sets of quadrilles I am often reminded of our Belfast days and the hearty greetings there, after all fur things are more pleasing & flattering than seeing faces light up in your approach - I had a long talk with Mr Sam Smith and heard all about my old friends. Mrs Broughton's mother died last month she was 85 - I must conclude and go to meet my husband - perhaps he will have a message on his arrival - Remember me please to Mr [Prates?] - Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and with Sincerest Regards believe me yours sincerely Fanny Broughton |
