| Title: | Robert Peel Dawson, "Apollo", Quebec to his parents. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2097 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Peel Dawson, Robert/87 |
| Year | 1838 |
| Sender | Peel Dawson, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | army officer |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | onboard the Ship Apollo, Quebec, Canada |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | T 850/1: Obtained from Mrs Brackenbury, Moyola Park, Castledawson, Co. Londonderry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8950004 |
| Date | 10/05/1838 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 468 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Apollo - Quebec Harbour May 10th Thursday My dearest dearest Parents, I cannot tell you the pleasure I feel in being able to write to you again, and as I know that you will be anxious to hear of my safe arrival here. I rejoice that this letter will reach you so soon. I shall send it by the Apollo. She will return to England in a day or two. It already seems so long since we parted that I should like to return in the Ship. But I will not annoy your feelings or my own by dwelling on this sad separation. We have not yet landed & I can therefore tell you nothing of the interior of Quebec, but its situation is most beautiful. This is the Sunday and we have been on land three days. All my anticipations relative to the Town have vanished, it is on inspection one of the most disagreeable Places I ever was in. The Streets are narrow and the dirt and mud exceed any idea you can form of them. There is no foot Path and Quebec possesses all the horrors of a French Town without the redeeming qualities of amusement and lively inhabitants. There are no rooms for Officers in the Barracks and the price of lodgings is immense. At the Hotels 7s/6d a night for a Bed - and I am asked 25 dollars a month (about six pounds of our money) for a Garret up three pairs of stairs and the half of a sitting room. Percy and I have taken it together. There is no furniture to be hired and the inhabitants impose upon us in every possible way. The Government knowing to what inconveniences we should be subjected provided a house with ten Rooms in it for the Senior Officers and made an allowance of 25 Pounds a year to the Juniors for lodging money. We shall however get none for double that sum. The filth is terrible. There are no conveniences of a certain description and Bugs Bugs absolutely drop from the Ceilings. We have not heard any thing of the Rebellion. I believe it is crushed and that the two Battalions of Guards will have come here for nothing. How I long to here from you. Your letters will be my greatest delights. Our Regiment is quartered in the Jesuit Barracks. The Coldstream are better off. I have sent dearest mamma a pair of Canadian Slippers. I could find nothing else to assure her of my endless love. I am glad that I came well provided with Clothes. It would have been impossible to purchase them here. Assure yourselves of my most devoted attachment. You & my darling Brothers occupy all my thoughts. God bless you dearest Parents. Believe me ever your most loving & attached Son Robert Peel Dawson (The above letter accompanied the Journal in Serial=8950003) |
