| Title: | Lord Caledon, Quebec, to the Countess of Caledon, Ireland. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3619 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | lord caledon/149 |
| Year | 1840 |
| Sender | Lord Caledon (James Du Pre Alexander) |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | army officer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Quebec, Canada |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | Countess of Caledon |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | D 2433/B/8/22: Deposited by the Trustees of the Caledon Estates. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9501364 |
| Date | 28/08/1840 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 26:01:1995. |
| Word Count | 1452 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | St Louis Barracks, Quebec 28th August 1840 My dear Mother Many thanks for your letter which I received a few days ago on my return from Montreal. I have little to say of what is going on here as this is the dullest of all towns and the routine of Garrison duty is generally pretty much the same the thermometer stands at 99 in the shade but we have had some fine rain lately which has cooled us a little and a ship of war has come in which has enlivened us. We are to have the Quebec races too next week, which we are looking forward to. I also expect to go to the frontiers noce month to visit the outposts, and to pay the men employed there for the prevention of desertion which will be a change. I have got a room in St Louis Bar- racks in the town; which is pleasanter than the citadel as it saves the steep hill. The duty here is much less now that I have my promotion instead of going on Guard twice or three times a week, I have no Guard and merely to visit the Guards twice in 24 hours, and that only about once a week. There are very few of us here now. Windham and several others are gone to the Far West they have been gone about a month, they will have a good time of it as there has never been a year with so few mosquitoes I have been several times into the bush and have not been bitten - I have got a couple of young bears [?] from some of the Becancour Indians, I shall send them to Belfast soon. There is a report here that we are to come home next year but whether to has any foundation or not I do not know they also say that Mrs Thompson is to be Lord Waverley - Poor Lord Durham is dead I see. I was sorry to Hear Chas [Charles?] Locks has met with an accident however it does not seem to have been so bad as they at first supposed. I will get a number of hairs of different animals and send them over; if you will let me know how to send plants or prepare them for being sent over. I might get some in the woods here. In walked the Honble [Honourable?] and Rev'd Henry Bertie the other day he has been here a week and has gone down in a steamer to see the river Saquency where a great number of people are gone He goes to St Louis next week if he had been here sooner he might have gone with Windham. Who else but Lady Westmoreland arrived here the other day as mad as any number of March Hares that could ever be counted she is making a great fool of herself she has been at Prince Edwards Island and is going on to Niagara she is also gone down the Saquency she has a male and female toady with her and a sort of Italian greyhound without any hair on it. Maningham saw it and was very anxious to commence hostilities - I see Joseph Copley is in this country a great many people will be coming over, now that is such an easy journey the last packet came out in 15 days to Quebec we are going to get some promotion soon, Wilbraham is on the point of having us. I have not heard how Horton is - I am beginning to wish for the winter and the snow and ice I am in great hopes of getting some moose heads to send home. I have not been able to ascertain anything about those birds which were sent they were not shipped from Quebec so I suppose I shall keep them. We had a man flogged yesterday he was very good fun I am told, in the first place when he pulled off his coat he displayed a most ridiculous waistcoat he then walked up to the triangle and after examining them he expressed himself satisfied, but as soon as they commenced he very loudly denounced the drummer [?] for making a fool of him in not hitting him hard enough he then passed a few reflections on the colonel and some of the sergeants and after the flogging was done he begged to have some more, and said he would fight any man in the regt [Regiment?] above the Rank of a private for 5 dollars and then said he would shoot the sergeant the first time he went on sentry or the first opportunity he was flogged for this before twice, Altogether the whole Battn [Battalion?] was in a broad grin the whole time unluckily for me I was not at parade Mrs Codrington and her husband have gone home on 9 months leave she lives near Fittenhanger I shall expect to hear from you by the next packet I believe that one sailed on the 15 of this month Gormiston [?] was 7 weeks getting out here from London and one of our doctors was 8 One of our ensigns who married in this country named Kirk- land is to be invalided home Let me know if anything is to be done at Caledon I do not think it would be worth while to do anything towards painting the house till next spring and then to have it done in oil colors [colours?] which will last longer than the present way. The inside of the hall and the new rooms could be done at the same time but there will be time to think about it then it is reported here that we are to go home in spring if all is quiet this winter, and there is another report that we are to have a war with France A great number of ships of war are coming up for a court martial or [on?] a Lieutenant or Captain Drew who has misbehaved in the Lakes I don't know the particulars Gormiston enjoys himself very well here he could not get a room in barracks so he hired a den for himself on the Glaces which we call Gorbambury [?] he is my bear keeper I shall be glad to get them home as they are very handsome Blockman and Sesooskis are the Indian names, but the soldiers call them Derby and Joan I have got a sort of wigwam in the bush about 20 miles off where I go to fish occasionally I can hardly ever get away now and cannot in reason expect it having had so long a period of leave. The lighting here is beautiful far brighter than at the play and nearly every night and the auroras are also very beautiful. I hope that by this time we shall have got the hay in safe, and by the time that you get this letter that the oats will have been cut If the Queen should happen to die at the approaching ceremonial we shall be sure to go home immediately as I suppose there will be a breeze in England - I understand there will be a brevet if it is a son but that will not so us any good Would you give directions that the Morning Post be sent out to me they had better be sent by the Halifax Heaviers [?] I shall keep my letter open till the time comes in order to put in anything which may occur - I was soory [sorry?] to hear of so many deaths occurring in the neighbourhood. - I have not heard anything about where Canning is at present, there is a strong report here that we are to winter in the Mediterranean but I suppose it is mere talk If there are any ships from Belfast coming out I should like the coach - man to send me two suits of horse clothing 1 saddle, two bridles, and three rugs - I will write again On next Steamer The [.......?] leaves this on Sunday morning for Picton - Ladylocstown came back yesterday from the Saquency They made a failure of the expedition and all came back hot dirty and fly bitten - Poor Bertie complained bitterly herocut [?] off to Montreal last night and [....?] hence to Niagara and St Louis - I don't believe Mother [..?] means to move from this place I am to drink tea, of all things at the General's tonight to meet her. Your affect [affectionate?] Son Caledon The weather is much cooler so Live [?] in hope we have got over the hot part of it By Halifax for Steamer Paid The Countess of Caledon Caledon Ireland |
