Year, whereas he pays 200l In 1857 it was - to use
a vile Yankee phrase, the literal meaning of which no one can explain,
but the illustrative meaning of which is inflation - "High Felluting" -
or, as the Yankees write it, "Hi Falutin" - now everything is sobered,
and in many places depressed: only one house now being built in all
this town of 40,000 inhabitants."
"MONTREAL,
"6 Sep. 1861.
"I spent Monday in Toronto and came on here on Monday night, reaching
here on Tuesday afternoon. Since then I have been busy here. I have had
a more satisfactory interview with the Finance Minister, and we go to
Quebec together on Tuesday, after which I meet the Government,
officially, and shall know before the end of next week whether they
will help us, or not. I think they will do something. The management of
this railway is an organized mess - I will not say, a sink of iniquity.
I shall, however, know all about it before I have done with it.
"I feel tired, somehow - perhaps with travelling too hard - perhaps with
too much anxiety to get on quickly with this Grand Trunk business; but,
on the whole, I am very well, and have kept my spirits and nerve up to
the mark, generally. I have a great task in hand, and I should like to
come out of it creditably.
"There is a belief here that Jeff. Davis is dead, and, if so, it may
alter the complexion of affairs in the United States. The U.S.
Government have introduced passports - so one cannot leave their
agitated soil without that badge of tyranny. It will not affect me, as
I shall not stop long in their land - but get out of it as soon as I
can.
"There is a doctor and another man to be hanged here to-morrow, for
procuring abortion - the woman having died. The doctor is a Yankee, and
the Finance Minister tells me that this is a common practice in the
States, and carried on to an alarming extent, even amongst respectable
people, and, that this, and similar, frightful practices are the cause
of the degeneracy of much of the American race. He says the Canadian
Government have determined to stop it in Canada, in the outset, by
hanging this doctor and his employer, and so deterring the rest - and it
seemed to me to be right. I thought once of going to see the two
ruffians, expiate their crime - but I thought afterwards I would not.
What a wicked world a mere money-making world becomes! true, we all
require chastening by pain and misfortune and difficulty. The Americans
have been spoiled by too great and sudden prosperity and too much
license - not 'real liberty.' The very children, scorn obedience - in
fact, there is none of the general fine 'honor of parents' we, still,
find at home. As Mrs. Preston said, 'the Kentucky boys are fine
generous fellows; but as to obeying anyone - even father or
mother, after 15 - that is out of the question.'"
"HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA,
"Sep. 18, 1861.
"I left Quebec last Thursday, and went by railway to Riviere de Loup.
There I had a fall, and hurt my ribs. Next day I drove over the, new,
Temiscouata road to the Lake, and thence took a birch bark canoe and
two men and paddled down the Lake, and down the river Madawasca to
Little Falls, where I arrived in a drenching storm of rain at one
o'clock in the morning - having had 'perils by water.' Our canoe leaked,
and we damaged its bottom in going through a rapid, and had to haul up
for repairs and to bale out, for fear of sinking.
"Next day I drove to Grand Falls in a spring waggon, and then by
Tobique to Woodstock, where I arrived on Sunday morning - having driven
through the night.
"On Sunday drove to Canterbury, and then railed to St. Andrews, where I
stayed with the able manager of the Railway.
"Monday railed and drove to Frederickton, where I had an interview with
the Government of New Brunswick - then steamed down the St. John river to
St. John; yesterday went by railway, St. John to Shediac, and then
completed my journey, by hard travelling, driving through the night
from Shediac (over the Cobequid Mountains) to Truro, where I joined the
railway at 5 a.m., and came on to this place, reaching it at 12 - three
hours late - owing to our engine getting off the track. Here I have seen
the Government, and also the Governor-General, and to-morrow I go by
St. John's and Portland to Montreal, where I shall arrive on Saturday
at 8 p.m., and go on to Toronto on Monday.
"I have only time to write a bare list of my doings, but will write
fully by next mail. I hope to find heaps of letters at Montreal, and
good news of your health and comfort."
"MONTREAL,
"Sunday, Sept. 22, 1861.
"I have made the tour described in my note from Halifax, and I got back
here yesterday at 2 p.m., having travelled about 1,780 miles since
leaving Quebec, and nearly 2,000 since I left here last Thursday week.
I have spent the best part of one day and night in a canoe - two late
nights on the road in the spring waggon and stage - one night, and part
of another, in steamers - and the remaining five nights in bed. I am all
right to-day - except my ribs - having had a good sleep. I could not
consult any one with any good while travelling, but as soon as I got
here I sent for Dr. Campbell, and he prescribed for me, and I am now
wearing, a belladonna and irritant plaster, and a flannel bandage.
