Marcus Smith, Blackwater B.C. to his wife “..yourself and children would be far better in Victoria then anywhere in Canada and the climate is far superior- and living is always getting cheaper and so will all conveniences when the work commences as there will be a large influx of people of all conditions..”
Blackwater 45 Miles NW of Quesnelle 23 Sep 1875 Marcus Smith letter
Lot 63 in our auction Saturday 19th June 2021
Realized $526
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Blackwater 45 miles N.W. of Quesnelle-Sept. 23rd,1875
My dear Wife
Your letter of the 11th August came here by Indian express yesterday- I am glad to find you are all tolerably well, but I am anxious about Eloise and almost think it would have been better for her to have six months or a year’s holiday- still it is hard to pick up a year lost- I am glad you do not think of sending Lettie away from home, and am not anxious about Tom getting started in a hurry- better look about a bit poor boy I should like to give him a year’s run with some of the parties here it would strengthen him and give him an idea of the business of this country that might be very useful to him in after life- but I suppose it is necessary to enter business young and from a letter I have had from Mr. Read of San Francisco it appears very difficult for a boy to get into a first class house- However I shall have more time to think and see about that after I get to Victoria (in about three weeks) you talk nonsense about my getting employment in Canada I could get no such position there as I have here besides the climate would kill me and there (on the Pacific Ry) it is all walking and canoeing and while but three lives have been lost by accident on this side of the mountains over twenty on the other- besides my walking and climbing is now over and nearly all the rest of the work will be on horseback- till the work commences there will be proper roads made through the mountains- yourself and children would be far better in Victoria then anywhere in Canada and the climate is far superior- and living is always getting cheaper and so will all conveniences when the work commences as there will be a large influx of people of all conditions- Besides life in Canada for children seems joyless, in Victoria the children are merry and rosy and full of animal spirits just as they are in England. However we don’t know yet whether the work is going on at all, but I hope all will be decided the coming winter I have a few day’s work here where line of the parties- Bell and Jennings are about joining this will take me round another route, so I shall yet have two miles on horseback before I get to the stage road, but the weather is most delightful and I am very well-
Love and kisses to all
Yours ever
M. Smith
