Place: [Grand River]
From: A. Nelles
To: Townley
Details: 2pp
Notes: Reverend Abraham Nelles of the Mohawk Chapel for the Six Nations on Grand River writes to Reverend Adam Townley, thanking him for offering to give an account of the bishop's recent visit to the Mohawk. Rev. Nelles then relates some details of the visit and names some of the people who participated, including students of the Mohawk Institute school.
The letter is undated, but certain assumptions can be made.
- Reverend Abraham Nelles refers to Reverend Adam Elliot, who took the position of missionary in the Grand River area in 1838.
- Rev. Nelles then refers to the "young man Peter Martin who interpreted some of the speeches . . . & is now studying for ordination" which seems to be a reference to Oronhyatekha, the famous leader of the Independent Order of Foresters, who was baptized Peter Martin and attended the Mohawk Institute industrial school near the Grand River reserve from 1846–54.
- "The chief who first addressed the Bishop is a Mohawk by name Johnson." This may be a reference to Chief John “Smoke” Johnson, who was well known for his oratorial gifts in the English and Mohawk languages. Smoke Johnson's son, George Henry Martin Johnson, served as interpreter for Rev. Elliot and lived with the missionary's family during the 1840s. Given the close relationship George Johnson had with the missionaries, it seems unlikely that he was the chief Rev. Nelles referred to by surname only.
From these references, it appears this letter was written in the late 1840s.
Place: Sandwich [now Windsor, ON]
From: Edward H. Dewar
To: Townley
Details: 3pp
Notes: Rev. Dewar and Rev. Adam Townley were co-editors of the “Churchman’s Friend” magazine. In this letter, Rev. Dewar writes about editorial matters, including the bursting of an envelope bound for Toronto, the decision to not include several articles in the coming issue, and the first complaint letter.
Dewar, Edward H.Date: January 1863, Epiphany
Place: Paris, C.W. [Canada West]
From: Adam Townley
To: The Honble and Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Toronto
Details: 4 pp
Notes: The rough draft of a letter written by Reverend Townley to John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto. In the letter, Rev. Townley respectfully asks for a promotion.
Townley, AdamPlace: Unusually, the letter is undated and does not include the location of the writer, but the envelope is postmarked Regina
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. T.A. Patrick, Yorkton
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked April 6 and April 7
Details: 1 pp on North West Territories lined letterhead, watermarked, & an envelope
Notes: In a short letter to his wife, Marion, T.A. Patrick expresses his pleasure that his daughter Edith is taking her medicine without complaint. He writes "I enjoyed witnessing the opening of the Manitoba Legislation. Gillis and I had seats on the floor of the House."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina [N.W.T.]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. T.A. Patrick, Yorkton, N.W.T.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 4 pp; paper watermarked with crown, crest, and “Antique Parchment Note Paper;” & an envelope
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes to his wife that he is pleased that George [his brother] has sold eight cattle. Patrick thinks that they can afford to keep the rest of the cattle. He asks his wife to apply the money "on notes coming due at the bank." The Brome Grass seed, which Patrick mentioned in his last letter, was profitable for both Patrick and George. This money is to go towards payments on accounts around town.
He writes that he "got the registered letter. It's another homestead affair. I sent it back to Grenfell [to Mr. Fitzgerald from the business letter] for corrections. When it reaches you deal with it as with the others."
He then writes that he has enclosed the key to his drawer within his brother Dick's safe. He asks his wife to "get the certificate of title for block 18 Yorkton. I wish to get the survey or town plot registered. Don't forget this."
Patrick mentions going to Moose Jaw on Saturday to visit friends and that his son George's picture "has many admirers." He asks if the mill is going up and how the girls are getting on in school. He asks if they are forgetting their German.
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina [N.W.T.]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. T.A. Patrick, Yorkton, N.W.T.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 3 pp on paper watermarked with crown, crest, and “Antique Parchment Note Paper;” & an envelope
Notes: T.A. writes one of his frequent letters to his wife that he has work "to do today as chairman of the "Cooked Accounts" Committee reporting the refusal of Mr. Bennett to attend the Committee when requested to attend and give evidence" and Patrick writes of moving for an order to compel Mr. Bennett's attendance.
He then mentions letters from his mother and sister, Maud, and meeting with the new boiler inspector. He states that "the estimates were brought down yesterday Yorkton District fares fairly well - about $3500 altogether." He continues that "this will do quite a little to improve our roads and bridges." Additionally, he states that he has sent 14 letters to the district "advising people as to the grants for particular works."
Patrick finishes his letter writing "I think my letter to Mr. Magee [from the last letter] settled a good deal of his chatter. I wonder if Mrs. Magee will come to see you [Patrick's wife] again."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina [N.W.T.]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. T.A. Patrick, Yorkton, N.W.T.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 3 pp on paper watermarked with crown, crest, and “Antique Parchment Note Paper;” & an envelope
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes one of his frequent letters to his wife, Marion. He writes that the Budget Debate is on and that Bennett and Sifton spoke the day before. He writes that he thinks "it likely the apposition will move an amendment in which case [Patrick] may speak to both motion and amendment."
He indicates that Marion will have seen Patrick's edition of The Standard. He states that "at my suggestion the Queen's Printer who appeared before the Committee on Public Accounts was to write me who printed these accounts saying that he would be afforded an opportunity by the Committee to explain the cause of an error. Therein the Queen's Printer instead wrote him a letter requiring him to furnish an explanation. Well he got mad. He was also angry about the motion respecting the Select Committee."
Patrick finishes his letter stating that "he [Mr. Bennett] appeared before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday and I examined him."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina, [N.W.T.]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. T.A. Patrick, Yorkton, Assa.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 1pp on lined North West Territories letterhead, watermarked “Old Hampden;” and an envelope
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes a short letter to his wife, Marion. He writes that "Mr. Meredith arrive last night and leaves this afternoon. We had a hot dinner yesterday and more hot weather in the House is promised. Mr. Meredith came up to the House with me but seems to have gone again. He promised to go with me to Government House to call on the Governor."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina [N.W.T.]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Yorkton, Assa.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 1pp on lined North West Territories letterhead, and envelope
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes to his wife, Marion, that he had "a very effective speech" yesterday "on the amendment to the motion to go into supply." Bennett also made an effective speech. However, Patrick writes that "the result in the House of course was not effective whatever effect it may have in this country." He tells his wife that "the Standard publishes my Autonomy Speech in full this session, also I believe the Caribou."
Patrick finishes his letter "wondering how things are in Yorkton." He writes that "papa will soon be back."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Collingwood, Ont[ario]
From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]
To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont.
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 1pp on lined Grand Central Hotel, Collingwood Ont. letterhead. The envelope is printed with “Great Northern Exhibition, Collingwood, Ont. – September 22, 23, 24, 25, 1903.” in red ink.
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes one of his frequent letters to his wife while in Ontario. He writes that he "arrived at Collingwood last night to find that owing to a smash-up or a break-down or a break-up or a smash-down the boat I decided to sail on has been taken off the route and there is none until Tuesday so I leave at noon for Meaford then by stage to Owen Sound where I hope to catch a C.P.R. boat leaving there tonight at 5:30."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Fort William, Ont[ario]
From: T.A. Patrick
To: Wife, [Marion G. Patrick]
Details: 1pp typewritten on “J.J. Wells, Clerk of the Third Division Court. Notary Public. Real Estate and Insurance.” Letterhead. Paper is watermarked with a Victoria Cross-style icon and the words “Standard, Pure Linen.”
Notes: T.A. Patrick sends his wife a typewritten letter to inform her that he has arrived in Fort William and has been visiting John Wells and Ida Momtague Bloomfield. He writes that "Mrs. Bloomfield lives near and neither of them are far from the C. N. R. station where we entered Fort William. Perhaps you remember walking past an office which stood along and which had a sign "Men Wanted.""
Patrick, Thomas AlfredPlace: Regina [N.W.T.]
From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]
To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Lucan, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]
Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked
Details: 4 pp on Alexandra Hotel, Regina, N.W.T. letterhead. Envelope is printed with “Return to The Alexandra Hotel, F. Nash, Proprietor, Regina N.W.T.” in black ink.
Notes: T.A. Patrick writes a letter to his wife, Marion, while she is away in Ontario. He writes, "it is Sunday morning, again, and we have for the first time in, about, a month a completely overcast sky. Last night there was a slight flurry of snow but only a flurry. The weather is warm and the ground not yet frozen up. I do not recollect seeing the freeze-up delayed so late in the season before. I had instructions sent to Mr. Goodacre to dig the ditch to lower the level of the lake three feet, and I am wondering what progress has been made. Mr. Thomson surveyed and laid out the ditch. It is to be about a mile long and about nine feet deep for a short distance just where it comes out of the lake. I am anxious to get it well started this fell whether completed or not."
He informs his wife that he intends to go back to Yorkton to hold "a service of meetings all over the electoral district of Yorkton (not Mackenzie district) to explain the municipal ordinance, and generally the work of the session. This will mean a lot of travelling and will take two or three weeks." He mentions this now "because it may affect [Marion's] home coming," but if she desired "to prolong [her] visit it will be much less lonesome for [Patrick] if [he is] away through the country on political business than if [he was] at home." He states, "I have not visited my constituency since my election and have no yet seen the new town of Sheho."
Patricks thinks that he will go to Edmonton to visit his brother Emerson and to see Edmonton, Strathcona, and Wetaskiwin since his old pupil John Brown lives there. Patrick then updates his wife that his bronchitis is improving but that the "hotel life is wearying." However, he sees his brother, Jack, everyday. He writes about Jack, "if the benches of the Law Society meet at Brandon this month he may go there as acting Secretary of the Law Society with some prospect of being chosen permanent Secretary were Mackenzie resigned. The position is wroth $400 a year at least, and would exalt him very much in his profession but he is somewhat handicapped by the fact that Yorkton is somewhat remote and not directly connected by rail and mail routes with the rest of the Territories. However, next year will remedy this condition, and it may not ban him." Patrick continues that "Jack has ordered his library from the Canada Law Book Co. of Toronto. It will be more extensive than that of any other Yorkton lawyer. They give him all the time he wants to pay for it."
Patrick then changes the subject of his letter, explaining that "hotels all over the Territories are overcrowded, and many can not get beds. All signs point to an extraordinarily heavy immigration," with 6000 Mennonites going just north and west of Beau and Burch.
He then asks what is wrong with their friends Maude and Thompson, inquiring about the wedding, and discussing Mrs. Merriam's [Maude's mother's] reluctance to see her daughter marry. Patrick states that "nineteen years old is hardly old enough" but, then, jokes, "tell Leslie that if he had only decided to marry a Doukhobor or a Galician or Hungarian there would have been no delay."
Patrick, Thomas AlfredTyped header reads: “Extracts from reports of Officers of the N.W. Mounted Police for 1888 on the subject of the liquor laws. / 1888. / Commissioner L.W. Herchmer.” Officers include the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and Superintendents Cotton, McIllree, Neale, Deane, Steele, Perry, Griesbach, and Antrobus.
Commissioner Herchmer:
“There is a feeling, however, among the farmers, and naturally, that the sale of good beer should be allowed, and that it should be brewed in the country out of the home-grown barley, the present regulations allowing a wretched apology for beer to be brewed in the country out of grape sugar and other poisons, while the brewing from home-grown malt of an article of equal intoxicating power is strictly prohibited.”
“… I unhesitatingly affirm that under the permit system and the North-West Act, as then interpreted by our judges, there was less intoxication among the whites, according to population; and there can be no comparison between the quantity of liquor then supplied to Indians and the quantities they have obtained since that portion of the Province was, as certain people call it, emancipated.”
“In the days when the Act was first introduced there were no lawyers in the Territories and appeals were almost unheard of . . . Since the advent of lawyers everything has changed.”
“A saloon keeper of any experience keeps about enough liquor on his premises to fill his permits, and whenever ‘pulled’ by the Police he produces his permits, or those of his friends, and keeps his reserve stock of contraband liquor in hay stacks and manure heaps, closets and other hiding places of the same sort”
“The profits of the trade being enormous our men are all the time subject to the temptation of, to them, immense bribes, to pass a cargo, and who can wonder, under such conditions, that they sometimes fall.”
“I think it would be advisable to permit the establishment of breweries of sufficient capacity to support an Inland Revenue officer, as small concerns without much at stake are liable to be tempted to evade the law, particularly as regards Indians.”p.2
“In Calgary I may safely say we have captured more liquor consigned to two druggists than to any two saloon keepers in that town.”p.2
Assistant Commissioner:
“The liquor law is not working at all satisfactorily, and is no doubt being evaded, and would be, even if there were five times as many police as there are. The law is unpopular. This accounts for the great difficulty we experience in connection with it. It is almost impossible, under the existing state of the law, to get a conviction.” p.2
Superintendent Neale:
“Nearly all classes of the community in this district are antagonistic to the existing liquor laws, and there are very few indeed who will not assist in the smuggling of liquor.” p.4
Superintendent Steele
“The reason for passing the Act was to prevent the sale of intoxicants to Indians, and for that purpose answered very well, . . . . no serious trouble has been caused since from the drunkenness of the Indians; but when the same law is applied to the whites it is quite another thing.” p.5
“Under the system of smuggling, which prevails, the dealer brings in pure alcohol, and by the admixture of pernicious drugs and water makes it into an article resembling whiskey in color but most dangerous in its effects.” p.5
Two page typed memo written by an unnamed Comptroller. Dated in Ottawa, 31st January, 1890.
“Until recent years a permit was understood to cover liquor imported into the North-West for the use of the person named therein, but it has been ruled in Court that both the permit and the liquor may be held in the possession of a person other than he to whom the permit was issued.
Under the protection of this ruling, saloons are supplied freely with permits and liquor, and it is quite a common occurrence for the Police to find in the same house liquor covered by permits in the names of half a dozen or more different persons.
Liquor is smuggled into the country to replenish the kegs or jars protected by the permits, and it is impossible to prove that the liquor found in such kegs or jars is not that which was originally imported into the country under permits_ a permit may thus be used as a perpetual license unless a case of selling can be established.
If the permit system is to be continued, the undersigned suggests that the law should be amended in such manner as will forbid the transfer of permits and restrict the custody and use of liquor imported there-under to the residence and household of the person to whom the permit is issued.”
Typewritten, “1888: Whiskey informers & detectives: Newspaper articles re. Extract from the Medicien (sic) Hat ‘Times’ of Sept 10, 1887. THE INFORMER: Considerable consternation was imminent in the city Monday over the rumour that a whiskey informer was at large.”
Pencil notation, “1889 – no. 401: Liquor question N.W.T. General Memorandum.”
Dealer believes this is a Letter to the Editor written by Commissioner L.W. Herchmer.
Herchmer, L.W. (Lawrence William)A typewritten copy of an extract from the Regina Journal newspaper dated February 16, 1888. The extracted article deals with how the Mounted Police conducted a recent liquor search. Mr. F. Arnold, proprietor of Lansdowne Hotel, accuses four NWMP officers of entering his wife’s bedroom while she was still in bed during their search of his hotel. He does not give names of officers.
“The Northwest Prohibition Farce” newspaper clipping from the Calgary Tribune and dated July 18, 1888.
An editorial piece protesting the exemption granted the Canadian Pacific Railway from the permit-based liquor laws of the time.
“In another column will be found the announcement that permission has been granted to the Canadian Pacific Railway hotel in Banff to import and sell wine and beer as a beverage, and the Mounted Police authorities have received instructions not to interfere with them in the carrying on of that business. . . . The Government at Ottawa (by whom the Lieutenant-Governor of these Territories has unquestionably been authorized in this case) seem to be under the impression that the people of this country are a lot of serfs and nincompoops who have no conception of the rights of freemen . . . ”
The first newspaper clipping headline reads: “Maximum Fine in Reid Case / Pleaded Guilty of Illegal Liquor Selling and Was Fined $500 / Moose Baxter Case was Adjourned / Accused Claimed That He Was Not Proprietor of Turkish Baths”
Bert Reid, proprietor of the Cafeteria, pled guilty before Superintendent Deane of the Royal North West Mounted Police to selling liquor illegally with the understanding that the additional barrel of beer and wine discovered outside did belong to his brother, John, who had the liquor on hand for a planned housewarming party. This version of events was contested by Stanley Jones of the Moral Reform league.
A preliminary to the trial of Moose Baxter was held following the Reid case. Moose Baxter claimed that he was managing the Turkish bath house which the police raided, but that it was his brother Hector Baxter who actually owned the business. The rest of the article is not included.
The second newspaper clipping headline reads: “Sleuth Grimsdall Hadn’t Authority to make Arrests”
Detective Grimsdall arrested “Moose” Baxter in two assault cases, but both cases were dismissed by Col. Walker who said that in neither case did Grimsdall have the authority to arrest Baxter in the Barracks court.
Place: Newark, N.J. [New Jersey]
From: U. Goodman
To: unknown
Details: 4 pp
Notes: The unknown clergyman who received this letter ordered a bundle of 700 pamphlets of the second edition of a treatise arguing against "that evident power of the Devil, the public school system of America." The writer mentions a controversy involving the High School of Boston and another incident which he refers to as "the Denison case in the Mother Land."
Place: Trinity College Toronto
From: George Whitaker
To: unknown
Details: Trinity College Toronto blue letterhead, one sheet of paper
Notes: A letter written by George Whitaker in his role as provost at Trinity College. He responds to a student who will receive his Master of Arts degree on November 12. The student also inquired about working for the college, to which Whitaker expresses interest.
Whitaker, GeorgePlace: Upper Fort Garry
From: unknown
To: Rev. J. Smithurst
Details: 2pp with integral address
Notes: Copy of not guilty verdict returned by the Jury on the trial of Henry Beardie for the murder of William Washington Bird. While the jury admits that Beardie did point his bow and arrow at Bird, the fact that Beardie is only 12 years old leads the jury to acquit him of murder. The jury warns parents to abolish archery in the community to prevent future deaths.
Place: Red River Settlement, Hudson Bay, North America
From: Daniel Aillud, St. Mary Gray
To: Reverend John Smithurst
Details: 1pp with integral address
Notes: Daniel Aillud writes about going to Navigation School and preparing for an upcoming voyage.
Place: Whitby [North Yorkshire, England]
From: Mary Hugill
To: Rev’d John Smithurst
Delivery: Forwarded by the Church Missionary Society to Red River Settlement via Hudson's Bay Company supply ship and canoe brigade, and thence by courier to the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek
Details: 3 pp + integral address face
Notes: Letter from a cousin, with family news (illnesses, etc.). She asks if she can send him a gift of pickles, preserves or cakes, and to do so.
Place: Church Missionary Institution [Islington, London, England]
From: Enoch Reddall
To: The Rev’d J. Smithurst
Delivery: Forwarded by the Church Missionary Society to Red River Settlement via Hudson's Bay Company supply ship and canoe brigade, and then by courier to the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek
Details: 4 pp + separate address cover
Notes: Reddall discusses various missionary works including great success in New Zealand and a new missionary to the Teloogoo people in central India. Clergymen posted to Ceylon, Abyssinia, and Sierra Leone are also mentioned. Reddall notes that this letter is forwarded by Abraham Cowley on his way to Rupert’s Land.
In fact, Abraham Cowley and his wife Arabella crossed the Atlantic Ocean three times in nine months attempting to reach his missionary posting at Lake Manitoba. On 5 January 1841, less than a fortnight after their marriage, the young couple set out for Montreal on their way to the Red River Settlement in Rupert’s Land. This unusual route was taken in the belief that the Cowleys would be able to travel with Bishop George Jehoshaphat Mountain of Montreal who was planning a visitation of Rupert’s Land. The couple arrived in Montreal on 28 February, and Cowley was ordained a Deacon on 7 March. Bishop Mountain’s visit to the northwest was postponed, however, and the Cowleys, seeing no hope of reaching the Red River Settlement from Montreal, returned to England and took ship almost immediately for Hudson’s Bay. They arrived in Red River on 28 September 1841.
This letter was apparently delivered by Cowley to Smithurst upon his arrival in Red River.
Place: Lower Fort Garry
From: [Hudson’s Bay Company]
To: The Rev’d John Smithurst, Indian Settlement
Delivery: Local courier (probably HBC courier)
Details: 2 pp (additional accounting in hand of Smithurst) + integral address face
Notes: Invoice for purchases made at Lower Fort Garry, listing goods such as tea, sugar, soap, buttons, plates, saltpetre, kettles, knives, shot, etc. In red, items are assigned as purchased by Henry Budd, or “C.M.S.” (Church Missionary Society). The second page is an additional accounting of items purchased by Smithurst in September, showing amount paid and amount charged to C.M.S.
Hudson's Bay CompanyPlace: Sycamore Cottage [Derbyshire, England]
From: A. Alsop
To: The Rev'd John Smithurst, Church Missy House, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London [England]
Details: 4pp with integral address
Notes: Anne Alsop sends much news from England, with unrest over the corn laws having led to a crowd in Derby burning an effigy of Sir Robert Peel. Since the last letter, Catherine Wasse was pregnant but lost the baby boy. Anne Alsop has not seen Rev. Smithurst's brother George for some time, but she believes one of his daughters got married. Mr. Nightingale (the father of Florence Nightingale, the famous nurse) is in the area collecting rents. The economy is doing quite poorly, and the Tories want to change the poor laws. Alsop herself is a Wigg, but her nephews are Tories. While in London, she saw great crowds gather during the election. She also attended twice daily sermons to hear Dr. Crow at St. Stevens Walbrook, by whom she is greatly impressed. (It is possible she is referring to Dr. Croly who was a rector at St. Stephens Walbrook in London during this period. He was a famous orator and novelist.)
Alsop, AnnePlace: Grand Rapids [Red River Settlement]
From: William Cockran
To: Rev. J. Smithurst [Indian Settlement]
Delivery: Carried by courier
Details: 2pp + integral address face
Notes: Rev. Cockran writes to Rev. Smithurst to let him know that Rev. Abraham Cowley will be visiting him to discuss the details of opening a mission at Manitoba [Lake]. Rev. Cockran is anxious to establish a mission there, and mentions that Mr. Roberts is content to stay in Red River as a catechist.
Cockran, WilliamPlace: York Factory
From: "C.C." [Hudson's Bay Company agent]
To: Rev. James Evans
Details: 1pp
Notes: Postage charged to Wesleyan Missionaries including Rev. James Evans, Rob Rundle, Peter Jacobs, William Mason, Mr. Steinhauer, Thomas Hassal, and Josiah LHyrondelle.
Evans, JamesPlace: Red River Settlement
From: Mary Hodgson
To: Reverend John Smithurst
Details: 1pp
Notes: Mary Hodgson writes from Whitby to tell him of her recent marriage. The embossed letterhead was likely a wedding present.
The small-sized letter with a lack of seal indicates it was enclosed within a larger letter forwarded to the Church Missionary Society in London. The mail was carried by Hudson Bay Company's spring supply ship to York factory and from there the letter would travel by boat up the Nelson River, across Lake Winnipeg and then up the Red River to the Indian Settlement.
Hodgson, MaryPlace: London [England]
From: Bot. of T&C Lockhart
To: Revd J. Smithurst
Details: 1pp
Notes: An invoice for numerous plants and seeds ordered by Rev. Smithurst including Early York cabbage, Tripoli onion, Long white radish, Yellow Dutch turnip, James keeping onion, Brown Dutch lettuce, other varieties.
Place: London [England]
From: [Lord] Chichester
To: The Rev’d J. Smithurst
Delivery: Forwarded by the Church Missionary Society to Red River Settlement via Hudson’s Bay Company supply ship and canoe brigade, and thence by courier to the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek
Details: 3pp + integral address face
Notes: Lord Chichester writes a few hurried lines and mentions his preparation of a gift parcel that includes a few books, an educational book, and knives for Smithurst’s use in his missionary work. Lord Chichester further apologizes for the hurried packages and comments on the many things he would have liked to have included, had he the time.
Place: Red River Settlement
From: Mary Hodgson, Sycamore Cottage in Lea
To: Reverend John Smithurst
Details: 3pp
Notes: The writer Anne Alsop discusses family matters in great length and asks Smithurst to take an "Indian bride". Smithurst was a roommate to be involved with his cousin Florence Nightingale but the relationship was stopped by family members.
The letter would have been forwarded to the Church Missionary Society in London. The mail was carried up by Hudson's Bay Company Spring Supply Ship to York Factory and from there the letter would travel by boat up the Nelson River, through Lake Winnipeg and. up the Red River to Indian Settlement.
Alsop, AnnePlace: Grand Rapids [Red River Settlement]
From: Wm Cockran
To: Rev. J. Smithurst, I[ndian] Settlement
Delivery: Carried by courier, possibly on account of Church Missionary Society
Details: 3.5pp + integral address face
Notes: Reverend William Cockran writes that the thaw has made the Red River very dangerous, interrupting travel. Cockran contacted Mr. McAllum [Reverend John Macallum, headmaster of the Red River Academy] and informed him that Smithurst was unlikely to make the trip to Grand Rapids as scheduled. He also relates that importers from the United States are refusing to pay an import fee. Cockran recounts how Mr. McAllum confronted one importer, Henry Cook, whom Smithurst has also had business with, and insisted on paying the import on a purchase of bonnets or Mr. Cook could take his contraband elsewhere.
Cockran, William