New Westminster B.C. 29 Jul 1881 Marcus Smith letter to his wife
Lot 87 in our auction Saturday 20th November 2021
#canadianrailwaysurvey #bchistory #bcsurveyor #marcussmith #newwestminsterhistory
New Westminster B.C.
July 29th, 1881
My dear Nannie
I have just come down the Fraser from Camp and as it is mail day “by steamer” which is quicker than by Stage to San Francisco I send you a few lines we had three very hot days a week ago which, as in England, brought heavy rains and cooled us down a little. We have had very heavy showers to day and my feet are wet so I must be brief and start for my headquarters in the Old Govt. House a mile and a quarter above this on the River bank. It is a very pretty place surrounded by maple trees and from the bow window is the best bedroom, commands a fine view up the river with mountains in the distance. There is a beautiful lawn but no garden and the house is in a very dilapidated condition not having been inhabited since the first year I came out here except one wing which Mr. Robson (our late surveyor)
The rooms of this wing 3 on the ground floor and 3 above I have had cleaned and the old paper washed off a good deal of the plaster is fallen off but since I have had the rooms well aired they are now habitable- one of the rooms below- the library- we use for store room one for dining room and the drawing room is shut up- The best bed room I use for office as it has drawers and cupboards for papers
Mr. Barradaille and myself each occupy one of the other bed rooms Our furniture consists of a camp bed, one chair, washstand and towel, horse for each room- we sleep on blankets- no sheets- and have an Indian cook. I find it much easier than formerly, as I can get twice a week to any point of my work by steamboat- so that I am half my time at home, at least under cover of a house- I see in the newspapers that it has been very hot in the States and I am anxious about Tom for like most overgrown boys, he is boastful and will be running about without proper protection for his head- he should have a helmet or brim cap with a flap to cover the back of his neck like the soldiers used at the Cape- I find I was rather hard on Eloise about her using small letters instead of Capitals for I find the name of a country when used as an adjective is often commenced with a small letter as French language but I always use Capitals- I am very much pleased with Arthur’s success it will give him heart to go on but more so that he is taking an active part in the games- How do you all stand the heat- I fear it will be hard on the children especially little humbug. Love and Kisses to all
Yours ever,
M. Smith
