Description Letter by William Dawson

Jan 22/(18)47

McGill University

Archives

1377

15-B-16

 

M. A.G. Mercer

11 Airminton Place

Newington

Edinburgh

 

 

Friday

Dear Margret,

 

“A few days” are, in time circumstances, a very long time, and I already feel it to be love since I heard anything of you. Another week has nearly arrived, and so far as I honor, everything is just as it was, and what is _ I know of _ that is _ circumstances I can do to make it better. You must therefore excuse me for again writing to you; especially as there are many things which it is sight than I would tell you, and which may he as well written as together, perhaps better, _ when written you can come _ them at your leisure.

The first is an idea which never occurred to me, but which I have learned _ since I came here. That there might be between you and me some feeling of mutual obligation; that is, that though there was no actual engagement, we might feel in some way pledged to each other, and this be _ to act in a manner different from our present inclination. Anything of this kind would _ be only mutual _, how ever good the motive may be, I mention it merely for the purpose of saying to you, as I have already said to your father, that I can plead no claim upon you, no encouragement received from you in all our correspondence. There has been nothing on which I can naturally found such a _, and if there had, I should have no wish to_ upon it. Whatever your decision will _ to me, it must be a free one, the dictate of your heart as well as of your judgment. In my own heart I know too well for my present comfort, that my _ _ happiness earned be in remembering all my freedom, and permanently engaging myself to you.

Our climate seems to be a great _ to _ here, and certainly worth no good season. I can give you a sufficient idea of it in a few words. The spring _ than _, _ very clean and sunny, but with occasional cold and raw weather. The early springing considered the worst time for _, chiefly because the melting of the _ then causes the air to be more loaded with moisture than usual. The summer is _ than that of Scotland, and for about a month somewhat warmer, its _ and beauty cannot be exaggerated. The autumn is generally very fine and agreeable. The beginning of winter is after very like that of our country, but so soon as the frost has first set in, it is very agreeable and healthy. There is occasionally, for a week at a time, weather disagreeably _ to those who are obliged to the wind exposed, and there are a few wet than days, but the greater part is _ that I believe here is more dinning and _ about among our ladies in winter than in summer. In clear weather, ladies drive about in sleighs with perfect _, where the air is at least 20 degrees colder than you ever have it here. You may be _ that our climate is much more agreeable, and quite as healthy as this, and I may _ that I never found anyone who had _ of both, to have a different opinion.

With respect to Pictou itself, though a small place it is not to be judged of by small places here. It has a large proportion of good and comfortable houses. It has it has also a large proportion of very respectable and intelligent society, and many Christian people, though I enjoy that there, as in most other places, they are the smaller number. There are _, _ of religions _ of _ friends, some of them as were managed as any here, though of course in a smaller scale. In the _ of the people there is little that is different from what is seen here: except that all are more on a level, as we have no _ or great rank or wealth, and few who are in want; and intelligence and a desire for knowledge are _ _ different than even here.

Another important matter is my present means and profits. It would of course be a very important, not to say _, thing to ask you to go where you would be exposed to want, without a least warning you before hand. In this respect I have no reason to fear. Our _ which, though may be in my fathers name, may be in mine whenever I wish, it has been more than sufficient to maintain us in a position as respectable as that of any in our country, and as comfortable as that of any in the middle ranks here. We have also a considerable amount of property in land and houses, _ that which we _ occupy and our trade has been _, and I hope to do something towards rendering it more productive while here now. On this subject I shall however obtain male full and _ test, many from home, if I find it likely to be of my service.

My parents and I, as you know, _ our house, which however is large and well furnished, and till lately was occupied by another family besides our own. We have two other large houses which are rented, and a little cottage on the farm which my father is _ to furnish and occupy as he would like to spend all or nearly all his time on his farm.

Our establishment counts of four women servants and a man servant, two horses, two cows, a riding sleigh and plough, the cattle _ cart _, for my purposes of driving about with my mother after her _ _ _, and for carrying father to and from his farm.

With respect to myself, I am aware what my _ for _ presents, not _ expected with my _, may give persons here unfavorable _ respecting my _ to_ when at home. I believe _ that I have the perfect _ time in the way, _not giving men to in other amusements; deed I am all and willing to give them things if _ I have indeed _, when I return next spring, to do all in my power to relieve my father altogether of the _ of _.

A more unfortunate point than any of these, is the circumstance of on being connected with different religions discriminatory, at least I know is weighs much with you neither. This is a matter forever for which we alone are responsible, and with what no other person has a sight to _. On that very account, however, it is me which should be rightly understood. I may charge for my help, that to me it is no different, since I am finally guaranteed that the real _ is between the church peoples and the world and not between one _ and the other. This far letter to have a common faith then a common creed, and disregard of the truth _ as much mischief in the world so any one thing I honor.

In writing of these things, I do not oppose them to be unimportant elements in your decisions; but I know that, if we would be thought by others to act wisely, such things must not be neglected. There is a kind of male wisdom which looks at little _ appearing on the surface and sees nothing of reasons of impurity greater weight, in reference to the happenings of thou conduct; and it is by this kind of wisdom that we must expect at least in a great measure to be judged.

I may mention how I am spending my time here. I had hoped to have spent much of it which you but once at present I cannot do that, and it would neither be any _ pleasant to you nor service to myself to wake it, I am one _, to turn it to as good account as _. In the morning, at half past 8, I go over to Elder St to get a _ in _ _ _, gathered the _ days, and work in the laboratory at analysis of _ tell 1 or 2. The _ I have for all _ of myself _ bump, and the every _ for study. When I receive my letters from home by the February packet, _ have for a time at least to occupy more of the day in delivery _ today here and in _. The information I am obtaining in the meantime, I know I can turn to good account at home.

On _, I have generously attended some of the _ _, and home made arrangements, for journey in communion with Mr. _ church. I _ _ sometimes to attend the meetings of your church, but cannot appear there in present circumstances.

I have made few new apprentices. The principal are _ _, Rev Mr. Johnston, Mr. Johnston the _ and _. I have seen some of the old men, _ _ Mr. A Ryan, whose wife was to be, as _ you men turned to me, a very small person.

 I have always felt, in relation to you, that I was hoping for more then I deserved or had a right to expect, and I never felt this more than when I asked you to meet me, that we might have some conversation on the present state of affairs. I am now however _ more desires to see you, because if you can still regard my proposal with _ I know that by writing home by the February mail, I c an obtain much that will _ me better to meet the objections of your relations, in _ as these are to be removed by facts. If then you can _ out any way, home or place (my whole time is at your disposal) where I could see you, or if you can tell me anything a _ will _ me to write home with greater certainty, I will be most grateful.

 

William