| Title: | Elizabeth Foster, Canada, to George Kirkpatrick, Dublin. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1093 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Foster, Elizabeth/110 |
| Year | 1820 |
| Sender | Foster (n. Kirkpatrick), Elizabeth |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | upper middle-class housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | York, Upper Canada, Canada |
| Destination | Dublin, Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev. George Kirkpatrick |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D 1424/11: Purchased From John A. Gamble, 44 Taunton Avenue, Belfast 15. #TYPE EMG Elizabeth Foster, York, Upper Canada, to George Kirkpatrick Esq., 57 Eccles Street, Dublin, her brother. 2 October 1820. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9003040 |
| Date | 02/10/1820 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 22:03:1990 JM created 05:10:1990 JF input 09:10:19 |
| Word Count | 908 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | My dearest George York Upper Canada You will perhaps think that I Octr [October?] 2d 1820 have taken a long time to answer your letter & to thank you for kind present of Ivanhoe which we received last July in the box from Coolmine - I will not however waste time in apologies, but endeavour to find a more interesting subject for my epistle. Both Colley & I like Ivanhoe very much - I think it is much superior to the Monastery, although the latter is an entertaining work, yet the wonderful stories of the white spirits of Avenel which are carried on to the end of the book without being properly accounted for, completely damp the interest you would otherwise feel in the story - A few days since Mamma's letter of June 28th arrived its general contents gave us sincere pleasure, but in lament to hear that poor dear Rose still suffered from the effects of her accident - Young Rutherford whom Mamma recommends to Colley's notice, visited us about a month since & I am happy to be able to say that we paid him what little attention lay in our power during his short stay here; by prevailing in him to take a bed in our quarters instead of remaining by himself at a Tavern - The day Mr Rutherford left us, his room was occupied by another gentleman, a Kingston acquaintance to whom we had offered a bed should he visit York This was a Captn [Captain?] Williams of the navy (on half pay) he came out last autumn with his brother & family who have settled in the Bay of Quinte, & as he talks of returning to England this month he came up to visit the Falls & called here on his return to Kingston he spent nearly a fortnight with us & to say the truth we were not very sorry when he took his departure, as, although a very gentle manly pleasant young nan (somewhat of a dandy, & lately from France) he was not fond of early hours & was fond of a glass of wine, during his stay we never got to bed till after midnight & he never made his apearance [appearance?] in the morning much before eleven which did not suit our regular mode of living - many an hour did Captn [Captain?] Williams spend trying to make out Catharine's Chinese puzzle, which he at last pronounced to be all wrong as he never failed to find out the most difficult puzzle before - Pray tell Catharine to send me out the explanation, if she can, as I do not possess the patience or ingenuity requisite to solve the enigma We have had already some cold weather with sharp frosts at night but it looks quite like summer again today - We are now obliged to exchange our evening drive in the Green Waggon [Wagon?] for a chearful [cheerful?] fire, & continue to amuse ourselves tolerably well from dinner until Ten O clock with Muses, Books, & Backgammon, a game of which Colr [Colonel?] Coffin who often shares our repast is extremely fond; it has the wonderful effect of keeping him awake, which neither music or conversation can sometimes do - Our Garrison here is but small; at present it is composed of one company of the 60th with one lieutenant one Ensign & an M:D: who is a very clever, sensible [little?] man - Young hopeful is a great favourite with the two latter gentlemen in particular & pays them many a [?] to visit Col [Colonel?] coffin his also quarters in the Garrison - A Deputy Asst [Assistant?] [?] necessary Gent [Gentleman?] his wife (rather pleasant people) live a short way from the Garrison so that we can form a sociable little dinner party amongst ourselves We have not seen much of the good folks in the noble city of little York, most of them have visited us, but the season for their formal dinners (which I dread) is not come on yet - We dine sometimes at the Government House Lady Sarah is pleasant & affable in her manners & is much liked here - A young p[?]g[?] [ive?] has just come out to join the 68th Regt [Regiment?] in which [he?] has been appointed an Ensign - he is the Genls [Generals?] only son by a former marriage & seems to be a fine young man about 16 - We were glad to hear that you & dear Alexander had such a pleasant tour to London - I hope to hear next spring of your having become a very grave & reverend divine, settled or likely to be so in a snug Rectory If you have no immediate prospect of preferment however what would you think of 200 pounds a year in Canada? Several young clergy men have been sent out within these two or three years by the Missionary society & are settled in different parts of the province - Tell the four dear schoolboys with our love that we rejoice to hear that they are going on so well & that Francis is so near entering college - What does he intend to be? - I must now bid you adieu my dear brother first begging you to present our sincerest love to our beloved Mamma [?] & Mamma & the rest of the Coolmine group Believe me your most affectionately attached sister Eliz.th [Elizabeth?] Foster |
