| Title: | Alexander Robb, British Columbia, To [Susanna?], Dundonald |
|---|---|
| ID | 2292 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Robb, Alexander/5 |
| Year | 1871 |
| Sender | Robb, Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Nicola Lake, British Columbia, Canada |
| Destination | Dundonald, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Susanna? |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | T.1454/5/13: Copied by Permission of Dr J C Robb Esq, M.B.E., M.D., M.C.H., 21Cambourne Park, Belfast. #TYPE EMG Alexander Robb, Nicola Lake, [Lytton, British Columbia?] To His Sister [Susanna?], Dundonald, Belfast, Co. Down, Ireland. 23 May 1871. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8911110 |
| Date | 23/05/1871 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 30:11:1989 GC created 04:07:1990 JMR input 06:07:1 |
| Word Count | 998 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Nicola Lake May 23rd 1871 My dear Sister Your very welcome letter came to hand about three weeks ago and as I am going to Start for Lytton (our post office) to day I will take the opportunity of answering it. Just fancy, It will take me three days to go down and as many more to come back, and yet this is the only way unless by a chance that we have of communicating with the outside world. We did expect to have a direct mail of our own before this time and the Legislative Assembly actually granted us [?] for carrying a mail but it appears that the Governor vetoed the vote as he had no money to spare for that purpose. You may possibly have heard that by a vote of the Parliaments of Canada and this country we now belong to the Dominion of Canada or will be as soon as the home Government gives its assent to the bill, which we expect will be about the month of June of [or?] July. Great benefits are expected by some people from the change and although I am not so sanguine as some are still I have no manner of doubt but that it will do some good. Among other benefits we expect to derive from Confederation is that of having the full management of our own local affairs of which we are in a great measure deprived under the present form of Govern- ment. You see that our present assembly, or Parliament is composed of only one third of what we call popular members: that is those who are appointed by the people, while the remaining two thirds are what is called of[f?]icial members and are appointed by the Governor and are totally irresponsible to the people at large. It is very easy to see to what abuses such a system is likely to give rise of course where people have the voting of their own saleries [salaries?] it is only likely that they will have good ones and the officials certainly do rate their services at a very high figure considering what they have to do, while it is scarcely possible for any measure however necessary it may be for the good of the country to pass through the Assembly if it interferes in any way with the interests of these Gentlemen. Under Confederation we expect these abuses will be done away with. All the members of the Legislature will be elected by the People and it will be own [our?] own faults if we do not get laws to suit ourselves. Another benefit which we are to derive from joining ourselves to Canada is that in the terms of Confederation the Government of Canada binds itself to commence a railroad from Canada to the Pacific Coast within two years and finish it inside of ten. Most people think that the road will be completed in a little over half that time and I understand that a party of surveyors have arrived already from Canada to look out for the best route for the proposed line. It is just possible that they may bring the road through this valley and at any rate it cannot miss us by more than fifty miles and we think nothing of that distance in this country Go where it will it will be of immense benefit to everyone as the very money which will be spent in its construction will be a big item among such a small population as this colony has got. While the stimulus it will give to industry of all kinds will be of incalculable value to us. I am very sensible my dear Sister that this must appear to be a very strange kind of letter to write to you but I really have not got anything to say that I think would interest you. I am and have been in good health and with ordinary good luck I think that in two or three years more I will be - not indeed rich or anything like it - but at least out of debt and indepen[den?]t and you may be sure that the first use I will make of the first money I can get a hold of will be to take me where I can eat my Xmas [Christmas?] dinner with you. Poor Andrew appears to have had a narrow escape of it I cannot tell you how thank full [thankful?] I am that he has got better. it would have been such a blow on Father and all of you had anything serious happened to him. How is John The last letter I had from him he appeared to be very poorely [poorly?] but I think that some of you would have let me know had he not been any better - In your next letter be sure and let me know how he is many thinks for Franks Carte [de visite?] What a big fellow he has got to be. It makes me think myself quite old to look at him. I hope that he is doing well and giving satisfaction in his present situation My object in going to Lytton now is to take down some butter and get things from the store. It is a very unpleasant trip at this season, as the snow is melting on the mountains and the Creeks and rivers are very high. Fortunately there is now a bridge across the worst and largest river Last year I had to ride my horse and make him swim across it and I do not dare about taking such risks oftener than is necessary. as it is both a wide and rapid river larger I should think than the Shannon (that is at this season at other times it is quit easy to cross almost any where. Give my love to Father and all at home. [?] to all my friends and believe me dear sister Your loving brother Alexander Robb |
