Travel journal, 1855-1860

Abstract

Travel journal, 1855-1860. The first 8 pages of the journal contain entries from the HMS Pembroke in the Gulf of Finland in 1855. The remaining entries are “the dates & c of sailing and arrival of HMS Hero during HRH the Prince of Wales’ visit to Canada in 1860.” Entries are dated from July 9 to November 6, 1860. The journey begins from Plymouth Sound, with subsequent entries at Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville, Toronto, Niagara, Halifax, and Portland. Highlights of the tour include encounters with Governors Sir Alexander Bannerman (Newfoundland) and George Dundas (Prince Edward Island), the Governor General [Sir Edmund Walker Head], Sir George Simpson (Governor-in-Chief of the Hudson’s Bay Company), Charles Blondin,(tightrope walker), and First Nations tribes.

The visit to Niagara occurred from September 14 to 18. Seymour writes on September 14 that “…we found carriages and drove to Niagara where the Prince lodged at a pretty house adjoining the Hotel and his suite in the cottages belonging to the Clifton House Hotel. After dinner the Falls were lighted up with great success by Mr. Blackwell (the Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway) who placed large quantities of blue lights & afterwards red lights from Table Rock to the edge of the lower water and along the path that leads down to the Ferry from the Clifton House. Its effect was very good.”

The September 15 entry describes going under Niagara Falls and the feats of tightrope walker Blondin, who crossed over Niagara Falls on a high wire. He writes that “The Prince went under the falls, I waited above having committed that folly on a previous occasion. Rode to Mr. Street’s to see the rapids above the falls & the islands formed by the rapids…then rode to a place a little below the Suspension Bridge where Mr. Blondin (a Frenchman) performed his wonderful feat of crossing over the river…first alone, then with a man on his back and then on stilts (about 2 ½ feet long). This was his first attempt at crossing on stilts. He is a well built rather small man but shows great strength. His balancing pole was 45 feet long and weighed 45 lbs., no inconsiderable weight of itself…from there we went to the foot of the falls in a small steamer ‘The Maid of the Mist’. This does not pay at all.” The September 17 entry describes a tour around Goat Island and Lundy’s Lane. He writes that we “drove over the bridge round to Goat Island, met HRH there & went to the different sites for viewing the Falls…afterwards took a long ride with almost all the party about Lundy’s Lane…”