Fort Ellice, N.W.T. 26 July 1880 4-page Marcus Smith letter to his wife
Lot 21 in our auction Saturday 18th September 2021
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Fort Ellice N.W. Territories
Dominion of Canada
July 26th,1880
My dear wife
I have received your letter of the 9th inst. with enclosures comprising letter from Tom & Henry. George Street clppings from Newspaper &.c-
I am very glad to find that everything is going on so well, but take Tom’s advice and rest as much as possible plenty of time to go to Halifax at the end of the season when the weather is cooler as the journey is a long and wearisome one- I don’t know where Alick McNab is stationed now- find out and try to see his wife Mrs. McNab
you should hire a french girl to help you with the house work and make the girls talk as much as possible with the people so that they may pick up the vernacular tongue.-
Call on Dr. Robataille at Quebec when you are returning home- he you know is Lieutenant Governor-
The weather is hotter here than ever I have found it before- and I have had some hard work and expect to have a month more of it mostly in woods where the mosquitos are dreadful-
Lumsden has just visited me his camp is being moved to about 30 miles direct north of this all is getting on well and I have given him instructions for his work for the rest of the season and may not see him till the close
I start tomorrow for secretan’s camp near Duck mountain about 70 miles north of this. I shall stay a fortnight with him to help him through some difficult work, and return here in about a month when I expect more letters from you-
Schreiber writes insulting letters to me like a jack in office as he is but they are absurd that he has put his foot in it. And it would ruin him if I were to expose him. I decline to answer them and only report what is absolutely necessary – If an English company take up the line all this tom foolery will end. I must try to get connected with it somehow- and an opportunity just offers at the right moment as I have received a letter from the sec- Institution of C.E. who says the Council the council want my advice as to the admission of some engineers whom I knew- and I shall take the opportunity of writing a private letter to the sec. asking him to put the company in communication with me-
Love and Kisses to all the children and yourself
Yours ever
M. Smith
