25 results in The Diary of a Maritimer, 1816–1901
Chapter 16
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Chapter 9
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Summary
Liverpool 3 April 1851
Messrs. G. & J. Salter
The Bend, Monkton, New Brunswick
Dear Sirs:
I have your favor of the —. I hope the J. C. [Jemsetgee Cursetgee] will be nearly ready for launching when you receive this, and that you have made a first rate job of her. On due consideration, I think you ought to let the cargo be consigned to me. I will do as well for you with it as any other party. I have been making all due enquiries and I have no doubt I can sell it as well as any other House. You may depend upon me for 2/3 of the cost at ninety days accompanied with bill of lading. So let me know what the cargo will consist of exactly — and make me an offer of it at fixed prices — with what rate of interest I am to pay and if on receipt of your letter your terms are reasonable I will take it to my own acct. and send you a bank credit to draw upon. One as usual at 30 days for the cost of same. The reply of mine will be with you long before the J.C. sails I suppose. I shall be pushed for time for here when she arrives and unless I can land the cargo as quick as I like we shall have trouble at the dock with the T.T. [Thomas Thompson]. Let me have your reply anent a new ship — same mode of payment but not over 780 tons old & as much less new as you can make her — long flat floors — good carrying and full sailing. No word yet of the T.T. — she was 94 days out when last mail left. Next mail may bring something of her. She will fall in pretty well as things have happened.
Yours respectfully
Ed Bates
[Note: The Thomas Thompson was burnt at sea on a voyage from Bombay to Liverpool. The certificate was cancelled in 1852.]
Halifax Steamer
Messrs. G. & J. Salter
Halifax W.F. Withycombe
The Bend, Monckton
New Brunswick
Liverpool 17 October 1851
List of Illustrations
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Chapter 1
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Summary
Should any of my children, or other persons, think it worth their time to read these journals, they must keep several facts in mind. First that the early part of them were written when I was young and in very many things inexperienced - consequently, were I writing the notes now, many pages would be replaced with something that age has better digested. Second, that the whole has been written on the “spur of the moment, “ without scarce a thought of the line to follow, or that they would be read by any one than myself. Not more than one page of the whole was written from copy. Lastly, that the dottings have been made under all sorts of circumstances, preparedness and temper - hence the want of interest to general readers by the bad composition, bad writing and mainly personal character of the journals. Had I had the “gift” of description and the disposition to write, I have seen enough in my day to have made these quite interesting.
Being seized with caccoethes scribendi [itch to write], I do so not for my own gratification as for my children, who, possibly when I have “crossed the flood,” may take some interest and pleasure in perusing these rough notes of my life - all written, as I now write, without any preparation excepting perhaps two or three pages out of over one hundred. If they do not interest them, I am sure that in one respect they will not be like their father, for I would take any amount of pains could I thereby procure a short history of my parents and their families. Such information as I am possessed of, with a sketch of my early life, follows.
My father's name was Robert Salter, son of his father I doubt not. The family were natives of Bandon, County Cork. My father was born in Nova Scotia. One of a numerous family, he was a farmer and country store keeper and arrived at the dignity of Coroner.
My mother - that dear good woman — was born at Yarm (a small inland town I believe) in Yorkshire, 17 March 1773, and came out when she was two months old with her parents.
Chapter 14
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Summary
20th April
One more change — the parties have accepted my service. Salary modified to $1,200 with house rent and fuel free, and I go to town to-morrow.
1st May
I am yet in Waverley and this contrary to expectation. My next entry will probably be at the Victoria Coal Mines, C.B. I have turned my business of the old crusher over to Sidney and Charles L. Sullivan. I must not omit to record God's goodness in an especial manner during the past month. Surely, I ought always to trust, and that implicitly.
9th May
Not yet away — the route not being connected between Pictou and the Gut. Employed packing unused articles preparatory to a final move in, I hope, two months from date.
7th June
The years roll around (which is pipers news) and here I am at Lowpoint, Victoria Mines, south side of the entrance to Sydney Harbour, and 54 years old today. I left home A.M. 16th May for Halifax. Steamed thence in the Commerce at 6 P.M. Arrived at Hawksbury at about 2 P.M. next day. Left there in the evening and after over 2 hours cold drive, arrived at West Bay about 11 P.M. Next morning looked round and saw that this could be made a most delightful spot.
At 6 A.M. left in the Neptune, John Howard Beatty, Commander, for Sydney and intermediate ports. (It was cold all the passage down and has been more or less so ever since.) Called at Grand Narrows, and Baddeck (where every man has set his own house on his own hook, heading or facing every point of the compass.) Came out north side of Boulardrie Island with heavy head wind. Entrance to Sydney Harbour (or “Spanish Bay” of old) is pleasant to the eye, particularly on the right hand side or old mine side. Called for an hour at the Bar or North Sydney, and thence steamed up to Sydney, south or old or proper — which is delightfully located for quite a pleasant good-sized business town.
Attended to some business and next morning, 19th, left for these works. Stopping with W. Lawson, the Manager, who with Mrs. L. kindly lodge and board me, there being no other home to be had.
Chapter 7
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[Following up on his plans, discussed above, to go into partnership with his brother, Salter writes in his diary]:
The writer leaves for St. John via Newport [taking some time off at home]. Arrives, commences business on 4th September, 1841 with brother George. His friends — Honorable J.S.B, and W.J.S. fail in business among some dozens of others about this time. Sells the Brig Emily, freight, and chronometer at sea - in good time.
NOTICE OF PARTNERSHIP - George & Joseph Salter - Sept. 16, 1841 [from the Nova Scotian, 16 September 1841]
George Salter having this day taken into co-partnership his brother Joseph Salter of Halifax, N.S. the commission of general business (erenow) conducted by the former, will in future be conducted by them under the firm of G. & J. Salter and from their knowledge of local and foreign business they feel confident they can give satisfaction to those who may patronize them.
[Joseph Salter neglected his journal for several months “in consequence of sickness, failures, fires, and consequent hard times.” He continues -]
Burnt out 15th. November, our store having been situate[d] on the South Wharf. Since then times have been tough enough. We have weathered so far and if we can only “fetch where we look” shall remove to a new store on the old stand on or about 10th of present month of March 1842 — where the writer intends to get aboard his land tacks and his yards well braced for a long board — having got in irons and been boxed off to very little purpose at sea through better than five long and trying years and now —
“Speed, speed my fleet vessel (quill)
Oh! Ask me not whither - my home is the world. “
The fact is, I am taking a Miramichi spell — i.e. “knocked off work, and commenced pileing deal.“
1841 has been a year by itself! And many will long remember it. However, we may as well laugh as cry. I have many times wished since I came here, that I was again in Sierra Leone, even with its accompaniment, fever and ague. So it may be judged whether I have had a bed of roses.
Contents
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Chapter 10
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Summary
[From the diary:]
On 6th February, 1856, Clifford was born. Until very recently this fine fellow was called by his mother her “treasure.” He now says he is “Bah's Boy” meaning me. He is very backward in learning to talk — over 2 1/2 years old. He had a severe burn by falling on a hot air register, when about 1 year old. Afterwards we came near losing him by fever and inflammation of the chest. He is not named for anyone. One Sunday, Maggie and I, with our faced to the organ (on which she performs at the Wesleyan Chapel) — at prayer time the tune “Clifford” in the Boston Academy was before us. I pointed my pencil to it, M. nodded her head, and ever after he went by (and was baptized by, of course) that name. He can sing “My Mary Ann,” “Lift up a Standard” etc. very well, barring the words.
In 1856 the Lady Clarendon (the largest one of the fleet) and the Melbourne were built. Re-elected Mayor again without opposition. August 16 — Left Halifax for Liverpool in the Arabia Capt. Stone.
25th — 7 A.M. off Holyhead. After an ineffectual effort to change our account or to sell the Lady Clarendon. I closed a contract for the hull of a ship of 900 tons - to class 8 years - with James Ewing, Esq.
Quite an interesting incident transpired just after closing the contract for this ship. Mr. Ewing invited me to dine with him, and on my arrival at his house he, after receiving, left me alone in the drawing room a few moments. After he left, my eyes wandered around the walls for the pictures as they always do, when they were arrested by the spars of a ship (the room abounded in marine paintings, chiefly of his own ships) exactly similar to those I gave bills of (the placing of the masts, rake - length etc. were peculiar, and my own) and I immediately walked over to see the name, and to my surprise saw that it was the Recruit with the “Girl of the Regiment“ figure-head, that I had put on her with so much pride of my taste, a few years before.
Foreword
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Summary
Driving around the coast of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island today, it is difficult to imagine that the region was home to a major shipbuilding industry. Little evidence remains of the hundreds of shipbuilding sites: many of the rivers and inlets where these vessels were built have silted up and are little more than muddy creeks, while other sites have been completely covered by modern development. Yet during the great shipbuilding era, from the late eighteenth to well into the twentieth century, nearly 30,000 wooden sailing vessels were constructed in the Maritime provinces.
For the early settlers, shipping was essential to their survival and critical to colonial development. Not only was shipping their only contact with the outside world but it also was their sole method of communication with communities elsewhere in the region. Even after the coming of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century, small coastal schooners continued to be built and used for many years.
The region's vast forests enabled shipbuilding to become a major industry. Within months of their arrival the settlers built small sloops and schooners for fishing, local trade and communication with neighbouring communities. Larger schooners, brigs and brigantines were constructed for trade with New England, the West Indies, Great Britain and Europe. After the American War of Independence, trade with the West Indies expanded rapidly since the Americans were barred from all trade with Britain and her colonies. By the late 1780s and early 1790s an increasing number of ships and barques were being built, both for local ownership and under contract for British owners, who sent more and more agents to the colonies. While most of these vessels were small, several ships of over 500 tons were constructed. By the end of the eighteenth century a creditable fleet of vessels of all rigs and sizes were registered in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and actively engaged in fishing as well as trades. Shipbuilding and shipping traditions, which would continue for another 150 years, had been established.
During the Napoleonic Wars Britain was cut off from its timber supplies in the Baltic and at the same time encountered severe war losses to its merchant fleet.
Chapter 5
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Eighth Voyage in Brig Emily, Henry J. Cooper, Master. From Halifax to Sierra Leone. Returned on Brigantine Margaret, R. Jones, Master, November 20, 1839-May 24, 1840.
Took in cargo joint account with W.J.S. for Sierra Leone. Sailed on 20th. November and had continual gales of wind for 20 or 25 days during one of which we shipped a sea (or rather it pooped her, not having sufficient sail set) that did some damage — breaking up the roundhouse quarterboards, some bulwark, a water cask, tool chest, etc. The tool chest was a great loss to me, as I was just commenced wiling away the tedious hours, carpentering. As “necessity is the mother of invention” so here the adage is verified. I made a jack plane and a leading plane, with which I repaired the roundhouse into a more substantial and sightly structure(!) than it was before with several other jobs too tedious to mention. And now “tho’ I say it that shouldn't say it” — I take considerable credit to myself for the invention of tools and the work done with them. Carpenter and fiddler! Strange if I cannot make a living.
Last Thursday being Christmas, we had the usual quantity of plum duff, salt junk, and a bottle of wine. So here I am again quill driving and in the old Emily — farther east than she ever was before and consequently she has not behaved very well, being out of her usual latitude. She has kept us at sea now 38 days and will probably a week longer — on allowance of water and as a matter of course too late for the Christmas market of Sierra Leone.
1840
It is stark calm now and the 4th day of the New Year, 1840. 44 days out - but I may as well, and will “take it cooly” as well as the weather will permit.
Since writing the above and on the same day, we were brought to by a gun from H.M. Brig Saracen, and after remaining two or three hours for her to come up, were boarded by the Commander — who, after the usual compliments, news etc. supplied us with 35 gallons water and was inclin'd to purchase several of our little notions - but dwindled down at length to a barrel potatoes.
Chapter 2
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First Voyage — in the Brigantine Victory, Martin Ernst Master - from Halifax to Berbice and Demerara, British Guiana, and back to Halifax, July 4, 1836 to October 2, 1836. [Salter essentially is sailing as a supercargo.]
1836
4th July
Weighed anchor at 20 to 3 o'clock, wind S.W. At 3 o'clock wind hauled to the westward affording us a fair option of running out. Cleared the land this night after taking a parting glass of Keith. 1 suppose I felt as others do who leave their home for the first time - it cannot be described well I believe.
7th [July] XXX
I need scarcely say what these crosses are for. I was not able to write or make anything else - being sea sick — which sweet feeling was not a little added to by my accommodations. I had a state room, it is true, all to myself except a few trifling things, which for fear I should forget - having a shocking memory — I shall proceed to name as near as possible. (The state room was 5 ft. 7 in. long by 2 ft. 8 in. broad and made athwart ships, consequently every tack I have to turn tails, or end for end, to keep my head up.) First, two hams and dry beef dangled at my head — then followed a box of codfish, sweated, 1 ditto smoked salmon, Rum keg, molasses ditto, mate's chest and my own, side ladder and ropes - reef points and gaskets and old canvas and rope, Cremona [Salter's violin], gun, hat box, clothes bag, cloak etc., etc., graced the apartment. A barrel containing ale, in bottles, half barrel flour, a cheese, a keg crackers, oil jars etc., etc.
The bulkhead not being over tight, I had the benefit of all that emanates from bilge water, which to a novice in sea voyaging is…everything that's bad. Besides this, the bunk leaked at the companion and when it happened that my head was that way, the only plan was to double up and let it pass.
8th July
A Brigantine took the resolution to pass us — which she did — bound to Antigua.
Chapter 15
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1874
Moved into the “Big” house at Mines in January 1874 where I am now writing and feeling very grateful to God for all His goodness unto me — past, and especially the present moment.
Dr. Jeptha Ross attended Bessie regularly and thus became acquainted with Maggie, and temporarily I lost another pet for they were married on 2nd March 1874, and removed to Kingston River [N.B.] about July.
15th November
Last year about 11,000 tons were shipped while 30,000 could have been sold. This year at least 30,000 could have been delivered if it could have been sold, and owing to the depression, not much over last year's shipments will be made. Nevertheless, I believe the Company are pretty well satisfied with the management of the “old clerk. “ Sidney went away a year ago to sea in the Mabel of St. John, got the smallpox in Cardiff and was glad to get home again in April last and he is now clerk and paymaster, while Cliff assists me at South Bar. I purpose for Cliff to give up the store this winter for good and be able to give more assistance to me next season, and Vibert to go over to the Bar to learn to be a Telegraph Operator. The Mines are looking blue and if no provision is made to work this winter there will be much distress.
Christmas
We were greatly surprized and rejoiced this morning over a letter from Maggie and the Dr. conveying the joyful news that we old folks were made grandparents of a glorious little girl. It has made a happy Christmas for us out of some otherwise uncomfortable drawbacks, not the least of which is the feeling that there are so many around us who are at the moment pinched for the comforts of life. So many that it is useless to endeavour to begin to alleviate their wants, and altho’ I have strongly urged the Company to prepare largely this winter for next season, I fear they will not supply sufficient means but for a small output — and that therein they will miss it.
Introduction
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- By Nancy R. Ross, Bedford, NS
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Homo sum humará nihil a me alienum puto. (I am a man, nothing that relates to man do I deem alien to me.)
January 1st, 1837. Here we are - rolling, pitching, sails slapping, rudder creaking - in a stark calm in which most lovely of all lovely positions have we been during the last four or five days. There, roll again; but her rolling shall not prevent me from effecting a resolution I made some days since, of keeping a memo from the first of 1837.
With these words Joseph Salter began a diary which he was to keep intermittently until February 1899. His diary starts on a voyage home from Falmouth, Jamaica, bound for New York in the Brig George Henry. He was six months short of his twenty-first birthday and - on his second voyage - already one-third owner of the ship, a seasoned sailor, an entrepreneur.
The writing continues for years, on pages often left with wide margins. It stops, goes on again at intervals - sometimes in diary form, sometimes a digression on his earlier days. He returns to fill those wide margins with his recollections, anecdotes, remembered details. In trying to put together the life of Joseph Salter as recorded in the journals, I have taken the liberty of arranging these entries in a sequence that puts events in chronological perspective, including his memo of the earliest voyage of 1836, which he had kept in pencil at the time. I have retained words that were in use at the time though they are now considered archaic.
As great grandchildren of Joseph Salter, my husband and I inherited his diaries and scrapbooks. Later, in closing out a family estate in North Sydney I found a collection of old letters and papers about Salter's life in Moncton. This glimpse into the past seemed worth putting together in book form.
But during the Moncton years, Salter did not keep up his journal, so I have drawn on other sources for that period. The most important of these sources was the collection of shipping letters which were donated to the Moncton Museum by Joseph Salter of Sydney Mines, who inherited them from his grandfather of the same name.
Appendix 1 - Vessels Owned by G. & J. Salter, 1852-1857
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Appendix 3 - Genealogy
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Chapter 8
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[In a letter written to Leonard Allison, a cousin, in 1897, Joseph wrote]:
Before 1846, a shipyard at Moncton fell into our hands at high cost, for a debt, and I removed in that year to Moncton. Altho’ not the pioneer in shipbuilding there, I suppose we were such of extensive work in that line. In that yard [the shipyard property was purchased by George Salter, October 24, 1846. Indenture following page.] I built probably 20,000 tons besides contracting with M.S. Harris and others for quite a number of ships and vessels. Duncan Robertson [whose son later became Mayor of St. John] was my foreman builder.
In April 1847, my dear Maggie gave birth to a still-born child of about 7 months — caused by a severe fall on the ice in King Street a short time previous. He was a fine boy — large with a noble forehead, but my regrets at his loss were but slight considering that his mother was graciously spared to me, altho’ with somewhat impaired health. In about June, we took a house in St. James Street, near Reed's Point, where on 31st. October 1848, Sidney was born.
[Writing later in the diary]
Sidney was a stout child. Later he was mad after a violin and horses. Racing his feet while sitting on the steps calling one “Nat” and the other “Major“ after one pair of horses I then had. Later still he was ever running away among the men's houses asking about him for cold pudding or other nice thing, making and finding himself perfectly at home, being civil, and the Boss's boy.
[During the Moncton years, Joseph found very little time to write in his diary. Most of what is known about these very busy years can only be found in his correspondence — personal letters to Maggie, and the shipping letters back and forth to his agents in Liverpool. By February 1847 Joseph was in Moncton and the ship Hants was underway. This was to be the first ship built by the firm of George & Joseph Salter at the yard in Moncton.
Chapter 3
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Fourth Voyage — In the Brigantine Emily — Henry Cooper, Master — from Halifax to Barbadoes, Columbia, Jamaica and return, August 4th, 1837- October 4th, 1838.
20th August
Since leaving Halifax on 4th instant bound to Barbadoes, after sixteen days of light wind and calms we are in about Lat. 30.30, Long. 57 only, which is very dull news.
22nd August
Let this day and the two following be ever remembered by me. During a hurricane in which (commencing Thursday 22nd. evening) we lost our foretopmast, main topmast, jib boom, head rails, starboard bulwarks and stanchions and split covering board deck load, round house, spare spars, water casks, etc. etc.
Wednesday, 4 o'clock P.M. we lost our topmast, and the yard and topgallantmast etc. hung to her until evening, when they managed to cut it clear, the vessel making a great deal of water and with difficulty kept free. How differently was this evening three years spent — some of my friends will recollect. Wednesday morning we were all called to the pumps, not knowing the extent of our danger until the deck load was thrown off. This was the most tremendous gale and worst sea I ever witnessed or ever wish to, again. This is what all must expect who go to sea. Our clothes, books, etc. etc. are nearly all spoiled. Everything in the cabin having been wet. Due to the good quality of our little vessel and the far greater goodness of Almighty God do we owe our lives. How ungrateful is man when the danger is past! Let me not forget.
I must acknowledge that for a time I was very much alarmed. As I looked aloft and saw our spars dashing to and fro with the roll of the vessel, and the tempest raging in all its horrors, I thought how vain the attempts of man to picture or sketch anything near life of such a scene. However, I have a better idea of a sinking, or dismasted ship, than I had before. The gale lasted from 6 o'clock P.M. of Tuesday until 12 o'clock P.M. of Thursday.
25th August
Spoke the ship John Scott — Brown, master, 12 days from Demerary bound to Grenock — supplied us with F.T.M.S. sail and a spar. Paid £4 for them. At the commencement of the gale we were in Lat. 26.45, Long. 56.30.
Chapter 4
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Fifth Voyage — In the Brigantine Coquette — Joseph Wilkie, Master, from Halifax to Sierra Leone, across to Demerary [now Georgetown] on to Grenada, return to Halifax, November 15, 1838-April 24, 1839.
Sailed on 15th. November, 1838 and after a quick passage (she being, thank fortune, a fast sailor) we are now off our port in thirty days out. My brother George married on 17th October to Miss Jessie Amelia Hennigar.
16th December
Lat. 8.17 N, Long. 13.43 W. Stark calm — whales at a distance - dolphins jumping an immense height — old logs and pounce [fine powdery debris] drifting about. This passage has nearly come to a close imperceptibly, so quietly, regularly and pleasantly has every duty of master and mariners been performed, which forms a great contrast with some voyages I have made. I am (partly) in consequence thereof as happy as my forlorn circumstances will admit.
Winds and currents — between Cape Verdes and the coast we found the winds during the nights more from the North than during the day. Did not get the NE trades till within or SE of the Verds. Currents running different courses, seldom exceeding 1 mile per hour. Chronometer out 90 miles.
Arrived at Sierra Leone on 17th December. Went on shore — entered — hired a shop from Jacob Thomas Esq. (alias “by Jing” or “Slakemdishe“) and commenced selling our cargo. Had a great run for a few days before Christmas, not having leisure to eat. But the stir is now over and I have time to think a little.
This place has rather a picturesque appearance on approaching from sea. The Barracks are situated on an eminence in the rear of the town, and the roads of red sand or clay leading up the hill contrast strongly with the green fields and bushes. There are some pretty houses, neatly furnished outside and painted, and on the whole it forms a lively scene.
There are a number of vessels, say 20, and out of those, 13 are captured slavers, some sold, some are to be cut in four pieces and some are not yet tried. 1 Brig, 3 Brigantines, and 1 Schooner have been taken since we arrived, about 7 days since.
Chapter 6
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- 05 May 2018
- Print publication:
- 01 December 1996, pp 78-90
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Summary
Ninth Voyage in Brig Emily, Henry J. Cooper, Master. Halifax to New York - June-July 4th, 1840; New York to Sierra Leone - July 7th- August 28th, 1840; Sierra Leone May 9th, 1841 - Halifax via New York - July 10th, 1841.
Purchased part of a cargo at Halifax and sailed June 1840 for New York to complete cargo. Arrived on the evening of 4th July. Heard guns firing during the day, and saw sky rockets at night. Got to the City about 10 o'clock Sunday, 5th. Went to 120 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, my brother not at home. Returned to New York. Could find no one I wanted. Went to Brooklyn, saw my brother and remained all night. Went to several places of amusement, but they are all very dull now — no stars in the City. You hear of nothing but Harrison, Hard Cider, Log Cabins, Loco Foco's and British Whigs; and see nothing but Miss Lee's legs at Vauxhall Gardens, the Irish and Dutch Giants in Broadway, and little nigger Diamond.
Sailed from New York on 7th July and have had fair winds and weather. We carried our boom on one side for 14 days and ran 36 degrees Easting and 3 Southing - pretty well for the Emily, or any other vessel I think.
The Americans are very well, but that great and good man Washington was mistaken when he thought man could rule himself. He was a good man — could keep his passions under control, and unfortunately judged others by himself. A Republican government for a set of Quakers would be perhaps the best in the world - because they strive against the flesh, while men in general strive for the flesh. It appears he had some doubts too on the subject for how earnestly he urges them in his parting address — to avoid party spirit — and how little attention is paid to his advice. Yes, I admire the Americans for their conduct in the revolution (they would not be worthy of the blood which ran in their veins if they had acted otherwise) — but they committed one great error in choosing their form of Government.
Chapter 11
- Edited by Nancy Redmayne Ross
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- Book:
- The Diary of a Maritimer, 1816–1901
- Published by:
- Liverpool University Press
- Published online:
- 05 May 2018
- Print publication:
- 01 December 1996, pp 155-162
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Summary
1858
Our very dear, very interesting sister Sibelle Rebecca Shaw, has been a good deal with us, and we feel more alive to all concerning her than any of her sisters or brothers. I used to tease little Sibelle about “Littlefield testimony” (Dr. Parkman murder case)82 and grown up Sibelle about the moon being larger in Gaspe etc. than out here, and about one John Vibert — a Capt. of the St. Ann's — whom she has recently married (August ‘58) and gone up the Mediterranean with in the Brig. May all the happiness allotted to mortals attend our “Snoody” sister for ever and aye.
1st September
This day is being celebrated the opening of the communication by the Atlantic telegraph cable to the public. How rapidly time flies. It appears only a few days, I might almost say hours, since was celebrated on the 5th August the successful termination of that mighty connection between the Old and New World. To-day the rejoicing I believe has been very general on both sides of the Atlantic. In this town however little was done — one or two houses ornamented, and in the evening the same illuminated and the Band of the town thrice in numbers with a few wretched torch lights by boys, going through the town. The Band, many thanks to them, gave me three cheers for auld lang syne opposite my door. No matter how great the event in these days of wonder, the importance of the fact dwells not long on the minds of the people, hence the first celebration here on the impulse of the moment, exceeded by far in enthusiasm that of this day. It is an old affair now. The Atlantic being spanned by a bridge now-a-days would only be a nine days’ wonder.
8th September
M. and I accompanied James and Phoebe as far as Shediac on their way home from a one night's visit to us. (Sidney went over in a waggon of James’ and put in a great day.) We all went in the cars. Excursion day — fare 1/3. Phebe had never “rode upon a rail” before. James is a high-souled good fellow.
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