Frederick Paulin to his son, April 23, 1886

Acock’s Green, Good Friday Apr 23 – [1886]

My dear Fred,

We have no news yet from your side as to the Emigrants movements since the cablegram from New York + Ernest saying “All well.”  This was very welcome intelligence and we speculate now daily as to the contents of the next letter which we think will be either from Ernest giving us an account of the voyage or one from George or yourself as to your meeting and may be as to the prospected arrangements as to allotment in the way of lodging + boarding whether together in 1 household or apart in sections.  Strauss + Leydel of 80 Chartlotte St promised me to send you their illustrated sheet of Hammocks (portable) as to whether they will be of any use to you in the way of business amongst

2

The touring camping part is in your district.  Let me know if there is anything likely to be of pecuniary service to you on this side so that it can be made available for you.  We are projecting some gardening next week, Jack has his holidays to help me with, and I intend having Mansfield to plough our patch for potatoes only this year.  The season is a very late one with us and very cold draughty winds sneak between the rifts of sunshine and make the weather influences very trying to one’s system.  I am not quite right somehow but perhaps when the summer really arrives I may improve.  Business continues bad on this side though the immediate front is brightened by the expected result.

3

From the Colonial Exhibition to open with the May month. Our gracious Queen will come out to a first or to make the opening day London is jubilant with expectation and as the Queen has lately more frequently been seen there, the grumbling about her constant seclusion is less frequent. One or two on dailies have recently contained leaders on the great future of your country.  The Canadian Pacific uses at 67, but with the increased intended dock facilities at Halifax and the contemplated new lines of pacific steamers +c +c The development of your port of the world will assuredly become an accomplished fact in spite of the doings a Cape Court, and

4

You no doubt being on the spot see this more distinctly than we are able to here.  So that our all round conclusion is one of much promise + hope for you all and that if may prove so is on united fervent wish.  I have a quotation of L8 Saloon her head on the “Eggplant” National Line which is very low she has lately had £4 000 spent on her Saloon portion + I suspect the rail rate from Atlantic to Pacific will be welcome no quotation yet very tempting to moderate.  I am still pegging away but the results are not with the labours pro rata – we all united in affection and hope for the prospects + health of our northwest contingent.

From your affectionate father.