| Title: | Jane White, Goderich to Eleanor Wallace, Newtownards. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3304 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | White, Jane/21 |
| Year | 1856 |
| Sender | White, Jane |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian?) |
| Origin | Goderich, Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Newtownards, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Wallace, Eleanor |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D 1195/3/11: Presented by J. W. Russell & Co., Solicitors, 4 High Street, Newtownards, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9112088 |
| Date | 22/09/1856 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 29:11:1993 |
| Word Count | 964 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: 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. |
