Letter to Mrs. John [Elizabeth] Blagborne from her father and sister, September 12, 1835

Abstract

A letter addressed to Mrs. John [Elizabeth] Blagborne, St. Catharines, District of Niagara, Upper Canada, North America, by way of New York. The letter is postmarked New York and Queenston. It is dated 10 New Bridge St., Tradestown, Glasgow, September 12, 1835. The first 2 ½ pages of the letter are written by Elizabeth’s father and the last 2 pages by her sister. Some parts of the letter contain cross-writing. Her father writes that they are in Glasgow and that William is with them to get his medical education completed. He discusses their travels and the friends they have seen, as well as how much they enjoyed the sail to Glasgow, noting that Glasgow is one of the finest cities they have ever seen. He also mentions their housing situation and that the house is in need of repairs and furniture, but they hope to get to that in time. He finishes “I remain, my dear Elizabeth, your aff. Father”.

The rest of the letter is written by Elizabeth’s sister. She writes mostly about the people they have encountered. She notes that the men are very clean but the women are quite the reverse and are exceedingly dirty. She adds that the lower class all go barefooted and they have seen them more than once with beautiful silk dresses and splendid veils without shoes or stockings. Children also go to school with a clean frock and bare feet. Notwithstanding these strange things she thinks they will be very happy and likes Glasgow very much.