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Title: Jane White, Goderich to Eleanor Wallace, Newtownards.
ID3304
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileWhite, Jane/21
Year1856
SenderWhite, Jane
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender ReligionProtestant (Presbyterian?)
OriginGoderich, Ontario, Canada
DestinationNewtownards, Co. Down, N.Ireland
RecipientWallace, Eleanor
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipfriends
SourceD 1195/3/11: Presented by J. W. Russell & Co., Solicitors, 4 High Street, Newtownards, Co. Down.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9112088
Date22/09/1856
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 29:11:1993
Word Count964
Genre
Note
TranscriptTo: Eleanor Wallace
[Newtownards?]
[County Down?]
[Ireland?]

From: Jane White
Goderich
[Ontario?]
[Canada?]
September 22 1856

Goderich September 22 1856

My ever dear Eleanor
I received your kind letter,
I would have answered it sooner, but I thought I would
wait a little as I know your loss was fresh in
your memory, at such a time a long worldly letter would
only be an intrusion, only time, dear Eleanor heals our
griefs, the greatest comforts in this passing world,
often are only the forerunners of truths still greater
but there is nothing but trouble promised to us, I
have not the same light heart I used to have, I
do not know how it is, I just feel like an old woman,
there is only happiness in childhood. My mother
was very poorly during the hot weather I was quite
alarmed, she has quite recovered, it is amazing how well
she looks, but I am afraid the winter will make her
suffer from rheumatism. The railway is progressing
rapidly there will soon be one line of railway through
the whole of Canada, British-America is said to be
more improved in the last seven years that it ever
was before, especially Upper Canada, I expect seven
more years will make Goderich a fine city, some of
the inhabitants will be very rich, my father is just as
keen for the world as ever, we are all fond of gathering
but do not know who will enjoy it in this changing
world. I was reading a part of the remarks of a
French gentleman M [Monsieur?] de Beloize who has been
visiting Canada a short time since and made a tour in the
two provinces, he likes Lower Canada very much likely
because it copies the manners and professes the
religion of the land of their forefathers France, he
says in steady habits and quiet unassuming manners
they are antipodes to the United States, but he thinks
differently of Upper Canada, he says there is exactly a
restless changing spirit as in the States, indeed I
must say Goderich is as much changed lately as
could well be imagined, it is becoming an abominally

#PAGE 2
Yankeefied place, being so near the States, and such
a remote place in Canada, all the correspondence of
any importance is with the States, the more we approach the
manners of the old country, either British or
continental, it is the more conciliating mild, and
gentle, whereas the other is the reverse, I used to hear
the Yankees were nice people, but I don't think so
now, this proud, mean aristocracy of money is very revolting
especially when they do not care how or in what low way
it is obtained so as the steam is kept up, down about
Hamilton, Toronto and further down, the manners of the
people are quieter and more polished. It is amusing to
walk up near the Lake and see the Indian huts and
wigwams down in the flats below, I suppose they will soon
be moving them all away on the approach of winter
the air is getting occasionally frosty already, I do not like
the thought of winter. Rents of houses in business places
here are rising greatly, one hundred pounds a year is
considered not too much, I dont see how money is to be
made to meet all this, my father says if it was not
that he is totally independent of business, he would not
stand such work, he would just walk off to Ireland
again, but he reaps the benefit of all this being the
owner of property. I often wonder to see persons coming
out to Canada so many times, I know one young man
who has come out from England this summer for the
third time, all he has to do is a little in the
lawyers offices or some other trifling matters, there seems
a fascination in it, but I somehow think everyone is
compelled to follow their destiny, I saw Elizabeth McMordie
once this summer, I suppose you remember seeing her in
N.T. Ards [Newtownards?] she is a great stout, immense woman,
I would not have known her, she did not know me, but I dont
wonder as we never were much acquainted, she stays
with her parents in the country, she seems to have given up
dressmaking altogether. Do you ever touch the piano now?
there was a tuner up from London this summer who
pronounced my old piano the most substantial one he
had seen, it seems the pianos they make in this country
are flimsy in comparison, you know how old mine is _
do you ever see Mrs Hill, please remember us affectionately
to her, and to Mr & Mrs Waugh, tell Mrs Waugh I
am acquainted here with a lady I am very fond of she
resembles her so much in manner, I hope she is better
you mentioned she was sick, I am sorry this letter is so
uninteresting, but I do hope, dear Eleanor you will take
the will for the deed, and believe me there is no one
who thinks more about you or feels more anxious
for your welfare than I do, my letters to you never can be

#PAGE 3
so interesting to you, as yours to me, because this
being a strange place to you, the news of it or the
people in it could not interest you much to hear of.
My mother sends her kindest regards to you, and your
father and cousins in which I join her, and believe me
to remain ever your dear friend
Jane

I will anxiously expect a letter from you
do you ever see Anne Dickson now, I hope she is
quite well, will you ask her if she knows anthing
of our old [great Nanny Paisley?], I often thought of
asking through curiosity, and still forgot until just
now.