Mrs. Simcoe's Diary by Mary Quayle Innis

Author:Mary Quayle Innis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459714960
Publisher: Dundurn

6

LIFE AT NIAGARA

May 13 to September 12, 1794

13th May I went to see Major Smith’s House he has built on this side of the River. It is a very good one. The Town here is enlarged & called Newark.

14th Mr. Pilkington goes tomorrow to see & give orders for fortifying the new Post at the Miami. He gave me some Sketches taken on Lake Erie.

15th Some Ladies dined here from the Garrison. After they went I drove out in the open Carriage towards the Landing. The apprehension of War with U. States engages my attention very disagreeably, at the same time I reflect that I should not have less Anxiety in any other part of the world. Had we remained in England probably the Governor would now be going on the European continent where Campaign follows Campaign without a prospect of peace & here, if a War takes place the result must be speedily decisive.

16th Drove this evening (after dining at the Receiver General’s) towards the 2 mile Creek, the road horribly bad.

17th So cold an E. wind that I had a fire, a large party at dinner. The new Merchant Vessel called the Gov. Simcoe1 arrived. She sails remarkably well.

Sunday 18th Very cold.

M. 19th The wind changed & the weather warm.

T. 20th I am always glad to have large Parties at Dinner for when I sit alone I do nothing but think of the threatened War in this Country. After the Ladies leave me Mr. Talbot drives me in the Gig towards the landing, the weather being usually too warm to walk, & the Gov. employs two or three hours on writing in an Evening. This Evening a Cow was laying in the Road & Mr. Talbot did not turn out of the way expecting she would, & before he was aware of it, one wheel went over her back, but as she lay quite still the Carriage did not overset.

21st A large Party at dinner.

22nd The Gov. & I dined alone. We fished near the Wharf.

24th We rode in the Evening & were prevented going to the Garrison in the Evening by a great fog.

Sunday 25th of May I persuaded the Gov. to ride this Evening. We had not rode a mile before there came so violent a shower that we were wet through in 3 minutes & the claps of thunder were so loud as to make the Horses start. After changing our cloaths we sat down to Tea & agreed with Mr. Talbot that the Rain had been the pleasantest mode of taking a shower bath, & the extreme violence with which it fell rendered us less liable to catch cold than we should have been under a gentle Shower.

W. 28th All the Ladies from the Garrison & Newark drank tea here previous to the Ball which is to be given on the 4th of June.

29th The Mississaga, the Caldwell, & the Gun Boats arrived bringing some of the Members of the House of Assembly from the Lower Townships, the speaker, etc.

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