Friend Shaw:

Although four thousand miles now lay between us and months have passed away since we last saw each other, yet if you have been absent from my sight, you have not from thought. Many, very many, times you occur to my mind and whenever anything now appears in wood, its usual and common with us to say what would Mr. Shaw think of this. Its an occurrence that happens daily. This will you be kept in rememberance by both me and my family until time shall be no more, but my dear fellow, you will be saying this is no news, but remember I calculate Richardson has given you an account of our voyage and my situation which I am glad to say so far has been a good, a very good change, yet not the place I mean finally to settle in that being 900 miles further to the West in the state called Illinois, but we will sojourn here for perhaps 12 that pockets may be better lined with dollars.

On my first gaining sight of America, Long Island first appeared in view. The whole shore for miles studded with cedar trees which then had just got in leaf the light green shade of which reflecting on the waters from our ship had a most imposing effect when we anchored and went ashore. All seemed very strange contrasted with English scenery but which tended to give a higher zest to the minds eye.

Staten Island at the Mouth of the River, seven miles below New York, was my first landing place where I had a glass of Brandy to the health of my old friends in England and confusion to my enemies. On entering New York and traveling through along street called Washington, close to the river, I was surprised at the quantities of Mahogany logs, planks and boards in the street laying in confused careless masses (in a similar situation, they would soon have been missing in England). I was much pleased by the numerous saw mills with saws of every description from the breaker up of logs to the small turning saw of ˝" broad and _______. They were cutting sweeps of all sorts from __________bark. They were cutting to the _______bevil just requisite for the chair now you____________________minds and could I have sent you a bundle, it would have been gratifying.

The first shop I entered in New York was a Coffin Maker where some dozens of many sized coffins were placed on end, all cedar and mahogany, highly varnished with brass hinges on the lid at the broadest part, to admit it being opened at the head without removing the whole lid. The beautiful dappled and boa eyed maple chairs in abundance, all varnished mahogany, drawers highly varnished and invariably glass handles to them and all sorts of furniture but let that suffice, I could fill a sheet with explanations.

Our passage up here 160 miles was beautiful. On each side the river here is such stacks of lumber as they call the timber and saw mills for cutting into boards for flooring and machines from the same power to plane and grove where they reckon of doing six per minute. I have seen a shaving would almost make you a suit of clothes, so much for Yankee Ingenuity – but what would gratify you most would be the bass wood, fine boards without a knot, light and tough, will not split with nails and is used for many purposes, all what they call white wood, although of a greenish striped color, large boards no knot fine silky planning, used in doors for paneling instead of deal and also for Coach panels ( I wish you had a Cargo at Retford, then you would be proud.

Tell George Hanes, I saw Uncle Sam at New York, also Charles Brumby.

 

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Troy 1837

Dear Sir:

About twelve months have elapsed since I left you at Sheffield, the time calls to my remembrance your last request that I would write you which I certainly should have done sooner had not I known you would receive communications from William and that my letter must contain some information appertaining to your line which it was impossible for me to give on a transient observation of a month or two. Our passage from Liverpool to New York you no doubt have heard all about either through my letter to Richardson or by those you have received from Brooklyn.

After staying at York above a week we took steam boat to this place, 160 miles up the River Hudson and arrived here on the fifteenth of June and resided here ever since, taken and furnished a very good house and are all employed at the same factory, Wm. and Robt. Working by the week, Edw. And self by the piece where we have hitherto done very well indeed.

With respect to gardening, it here appears all in its infancy. Few, very few individuals, however wealthy, have one of any sort attached to their Dwellings, the want of taste seems to arise from the difficulty of getting experience men to follow the occupation. Those that do cultivate the ground for rearing of vegetables seems careless of raising anything but those of the commonest sort or which wants no after attention. In most instances their Gardens are ploughed and planted.

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But my dear fellow, don’t picture to yourself that money is to be realized here without hard work, people must be both industrious and steady (?) to get along but I know you are not afraid of digging. I wish you

you had been with me a few days back seeing them sowing Indian corn, you would have blown them up for their slovenly manners, yet everything attending both farming and gardening is done in the same way. It would be advisable any gardener coming from England to bring both seeds and slips of bushes. Those that bears winters best as some are severe – yet generally _________.

 

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___________________from the great influx of people, few can indulge themselves with fire) consisting of a house with cellar under three bed chambers and good garrett which would well hold two beds, good yard and wood shed with plenty of water at the door from newly erected water works in the vicinity, rent and water charge 81_______per annum, no taxes of any description for a tenant to pay. It’s a wood frame house painted white with green venetian blinds to the outside of all the windows of which there is eleven (no window tax). The steps in front is on the outside with rails and seat on each side. Where the door in the shade of the locust trees that stand on the streets by the curbstone where it is very pleasant in an autumn evening to sit and smoke your pipe which I have done many times ruminating on my late unfortunate situation at Retford, gratified at getting clean of the villainous chicanery used to ruin me and contemplating on my future prospects in the new world; thus far I have everything to be thankful for, for we have begun housekeeping and furnished house pretty decently (sofa and cane back chairs to wit) out of debt and saved about twenty pounds sterling, oftimes wishing some of my new friends at Retford was here with the same prospect of doing something as well for their family.

Give our kindest respects to your worthy wife and sister, to Eliza and all your children. Many times they are talked about, more especially when their little faces come in view, also to Mr. And Mrs. Cuttell, Mr. And Mrs. Cooke, Eardrons Jane, Batty and wife and Hopkinson and wife and I’ll not forget his offer when they thought we had not a bed to lay upon. Lamsell and wife______. Tell Richardson I am looking___________.

 

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Cascades and falls the most conspicuous of which is called Little falls in Oneida County about 150 miles from here and the fills of Cohoes about four miles from here which I have been to see the grandeur of which cannot even give you an idea, being far past any language in my vocabulary; on an adjacent hill to this town, there is a very commanding view of the falls, to the West at forty miles distant stand towering the Catskill Mountains seeming all covered with forests and which never yet felt the tread of man. This town is called East Troy on the opposite side of the river. West Troy is the arsenal for the whole state of New York and said to be the largest in the whole state. They employ many workmen manufacturing arms, harness and carriages. It’s a very beautiful place but the discipline seems strange to Englishmen. The soldiers seem to work same as other men, ledge where they choose and dress as the choose except on very particular days, when they want soldiers they advertise in the newspapers, so many men of good moral character which will be allowed with _________for their services which is specified. The Citizens forms themselves into companys of perhaps fifty in a regiment on parade days. Some are in full dress of the corps. Some with their own clothes and perhaps a gun, without a gun lock, others with a large walking stick and some with an umbrella for their for their arms, such a motley set must be seen to be truly charactures by an old English soldier.

My first motive for coming to this town was that I might be on the direct route by canal to the far west, but from the wife and Anna being fatigued with traveling, and a Norfolk Farmer and his family which had come with us in the same ship and with whom we had become very intimate, having settled here a few days previous to our arrival, I determined to sojourn here until we learned more of the customs and manners of the people (which I assure you at first appear very strange) and from the inducements ______.

 

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Broad river running to the North West but not available to navigation, it being full of rapids and falls one of which is called the Cohoe’s falls. About 4 miles up I have been to see and although not much thought on here is most Majestic – it is still useful by the enterprise of man – they have diverted some of the waters into another channel and on the back side have formed saw mills, foundries and other purposes wanted water power after which the water falls again into the river, the falls are about 70 feet and perhaps 500 broad.

On our journey from New York, the passage is very interesting, the hill and dale, the woods, rocks and cultivated lands with beautiful villages and towns and Fishermen shantys squandered here and there, with the Catskill Mountains and other places, the scene of Cooper Novel of the Spy (by the by we have your volume which had got packed up in our hurry) makes it very interesting.

William and Robert has gone to work at one Eaton and Gilbert where they employ 75 hands and so full of work that its surprising. Every place they have is filled, otherwise Edward and me would also have been there. In a fortnight I expect us going either there or to Albany where we will stay until spring and then proceed to the west. The spirit of enterprise is surprising and with such prospects of success, few, very few have reason to complain, yet the wide field is Westward in the Ohio and Michigan states. Four years ago, Detroit, at the head of Lake Erie, contained 3,000 inhabitants. It now counts above 12,000 where they say everything goes ahead and where the land is particularly rich, climate more suitable to English, the summer and winter milder than here although I have not as yet found any inconvenience from the heat. Some days last week the glass was at 94 yet I have felt the heat more oppressive in England. The fine showers___________, they would be most gratifying both to your mind and conducive to your health –ah, Mr. Holmes had I your means, not many days should bind me in Retford. A domicile for your children for ages to come of as fine ___________there is many good buildings and many very moderate but what gives it such a pleasing effect is the fanciful way the outside of the house is decorated, the broad foot paths and the shading trees that stands about every 10yds by the curb stone. After getting lodging I went to the Coachmakers but very little is done in New York, all repositorys from different factorys in other states. I was surprised to see the hundreds of new carriages standing in care place all of one description for South America.

I visited Brooklyn, a most Beautiful city on Long Island where all seemed spirit and enterprise. Then I took steamboat and went up the Passaic River about 30 miles to Newark in New Jersey. This I think a more beautiful place still and where coachmaking is carried on to an immense extent, one man

named Edinburg employing 250 men, all for the Southern Market. I returned by the railway to the Hudson and crossed to New York – we had been now a week in York at an immense expense for I assure you they make strangers pay dear. When we took steamboat for Troy, 160 miles North of New York on the River Hudson but the direct route to the West. Here we have been since the 15^th of June; on the 27^th, we took a house at 61/2 dollars per month, a nice appearing very good and pleasant situation, and a particular pleasant open town on the East side of the River surrounded by hills and a good deal of wood land. It is seven miles above Albany, the oldest city in the State where the Senate sits, one of the members of which resides in this town by name – Kimble – a jointer here. This county sends 2. A gentleman told me when he came to reside here 27 years ago there was but three houses and his father refused to purchase the whole place for 500 pounds. At present, it contains about 17,000 and rapidly increasing. The building in progress is astonishing and good situations for trademen. Immensely dear (here a place with John Hudson’s speculative idea to make a rapid fortune in laying out building lots, I think not ___________20 new streets are now laid out and will be as rapidly____

 

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its now twelve months since I left Retford with feelings, I assure you, very different from what I have at present. Then my mind was filled with anxiety, perplexed and absorbed with thoughts, regrets at leaving my native land, and the dread of a sea voyage, and fearful surmises of what might be my future condition, with a family all looking to me for advice, from want of experience themselves resting solely upon my decision for their future home which perhaps by one false step might be made more uncomfortable than even their late one at Retford; thus situated with a light, a very light purse, and a heavy foreboding mind, I entered America. Such pleasing prospects as I wont to read in England in the works of Evans, Birksbush, Flint and the several extracts in the Edinburgh Journal on the resources and capabilities of the United States, I must confess seemed to my first observations impossible to ever be realized by me but now changeable our very nature, as I proceeded, I felt a greater confidence and in a unison of ideas gradually giving way to my first impression and adopting them, which soon became more congenial than at first possible to think it would do – at present I have no fear for the future, being confident any part of the States with a family like mine we can do well) and I find as we properly become acquainted with men and things that we will all like it more so.

Our winter commenced on the 16 Dec. with sharp frost which in a few days was succeeded by a heavy fall of snow nearly two feet deep, the river all frozen over and marinetime communication stopped completely. Cart, wagons and carriages all laid aside and sleighs introduced of every shape and grade from the most exquisite and expensive to the humble others cutter, some having one, two and occasionally four horses which go suddenly along at an immense pace, the only notice of their approach is by a parcel of small bells fixed on a leather strap buckled around the horses and as they go along tinkling different sounds which is both pleasing and harmonious. This is the season for pleasure parties when each individual with their coats and cloques trimmed with fur, fur gloves and mocassin shoes with fur caps to their brain and brainless heads, and wrapped up in their fanciful formed bison or Buffalo robes – they feel as independent a any London lord mayor on the Ninth of November.

The frost continued almost without a thaw until the middle of February when it gradually became milder the 20^th of March when the ice in the river broke from its mooring. In two days it all disappeared and steamboats again commenced. Some days it was very cold, one particularly in January, it was 22 below zero, therefore, you may suppose good fires was in request which are all most invariably of wood – burnt in stoves, placed in the center of the room with sheet iron piping which conveys the heat from one room to another, they are made of various shapes and suited to the situation, some for cooking others very elegantly fitted up to expressly to throw out heat – firewood very dear about 7 dollars a cord or what you would buy in Retfords for 9 shillings. A common sized stove will cost about 11/2SS a week to supply it but although it is so intensely cold, its really beautiful weather, clear, light elastic air and bright sun – even the moon and stars I think, gives a more refulgent light than they generally do in England. At such times I have thought of your boy pointing out the different planets, but how is my fat and fair Boy George, if he keeps but his health I foretell him as bright star in your family.

________________newspaper enclosing a paper on moral reform and have now, I think, 50 papers if you should like them. They can easily be transmitted. They won’t be amusing to your sons. I received your letter 5 Nov. on the 27^th Dec. a Doncaster paper on 3^rd July, the Scotsman paper with the Doncaster post mark 22 March and the Stamford on the lst of this month which I perceive are all from you. The first paper had a card enclosed with Mr. Hull written on it, the second being from Doncaster. Were you jealous of Mrs. B. in the third I notice your request and now complying with hoping whatever errors is in it arises from the want of a college education. You perhaps have read in your papers the Acts of Congress passed this Session and the large surplus of Revenue in hand, 45 million of dollars which is to be divided amongst the different states, 3 million is the share of New York State which is again to be divided according to the population of each county, this Renssalaer County is endeavoring to have it appropriated to the endowment of schools which I think they will obtain. They are generally very zealous in forwarding mental improvements. Many good schools are now here and well attended with professors of all sorts. None of your close Oxford systems. A Mrs. Willard has a female seminary here counting above 200 scholars, the largest establishment I have ever seen.

Indeed the formation of Temperance Society Schools and Religious Instruction seems to be the leading idea of all classes. There is three Presbyterian, two Wesleyan, two Episcopalian, one Universalist and one Catholic Church besides other small places of worship, one I understand where the Negroes attend. Some of them are built of wood, other of brick and stone. The interiors are fitted up in most elegant stile – all the aisles are carpeted and cushions to the seats and to kneel on, nay they are even furnished with spittoons which seems quite requisite – boys are not older than your son Gervas – is to be seen smoking here.

The clergy are all paid by voluntary contributions and some of them has very good salaries. Indeed the collections in the churches are done by ticket, the men only subscribing, writing on the slip what they intend giving. 10,20 or more dollars is a very usual donation. Indeed each sect view with the other to forward subscriptions for the public good but from the vast extent of territory, the demand for missions and other circumstances connected therewith much is yet to be done more especially in the new formed settlements. In the Texas territory which since they have gained their independence from the Mexican yoke is fast filling up with emigrants, I understand there is not a single place of public worship, although it is three times as large as England and perhaps the finest country on the globe. You must bear in mind this forms no part of the United States but is an independent nation of itself although they have made overtures to congress to be admitted into the union. When I arrived at New York, it was in a very unsettled state and many large tracts of land filled with wild horses was offered at a cent per acre, since their independence has be acknowledged, I suppose it has risen a hundred per cent.

Where I think of settling is in the state of Illinois, what they term the far west, in Sagamon county on the River Sagamon between the River Illinois and the Missouri about 39 degrees north and 91 west. It now counts about 16,000 settlers and where I hope to find the climate sufficiently temperate for standard peach trees – iron stone abound there – and a sufficiency of timber as well as prairie. Steamboat navigation is also in great abundance and communication with the Missouri, Ohio the Wabash and other navigable rivers with the Missouri as the outlet to New Orleans and communication by railroad to Lake Michigan. My route from here is to Buffalo, 366 miles, steamboat via Lake Erie to Detroit, 220 miles down Illinois River to the head of navigation.

 

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A great deal of cedar, the Black plum so common in England, bears very heavy crops and many people in the city has them in front of their houses and sidewalks. In the streets trees are planted for shade which has a very pleasing appearance and cooling shade in summer. Manure for land in never thought of, consequently you may judge of their efficiency in Horticulture. Its my firm opinion, an industrious clever gardener might do very well indeed, more especially in the different sorts of vegetables, they could be sold at almost any price (cauliflower is hardly known) nor have I seen a York or Early cabbage of any sort nor yet savory or any other curly green. Celery sells very dear, say_____per head. Have never seen any black currants and gooseberries/ The price of labour is about one dollar per day or perhaps 12 to fifteen dollars per month and keep that is in meat, drinks, washing and lodgings but this is _____more labourers, few if any that has the least knowledge of producing being in such situations. There is plenty of land suitable for gardening to be had and if a man has not capital, it is possible to go on shares with the landlord both in gardens and farms, the exact conditions of which depends on circumstances, but for instance yourselves, you and John, he might be employed by day at some earning sufficient to keep you all until the produce was ready for market and in a season ______________sufficient to your going

 

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time calls to my remembrance your last request. Certainly should have done sooner had not I known, from William, that my letter must contain to you lines which it was impossible for him to know of for one or two months. Our passage you no doubt have heard all about either through or by those received from Brooklyn. We tool steamboat to this place 160 miles up river on the 15^th of June where we have resided ever since. Very good house and are all employed at one factory. Edward and self by the place where have hither______________. With respect to gardening_________infancy, few, very few, individuals however have gardens of any description attached to their dwellings, which arises from the difficulty of getting experienced help in that occupation. Those that do cultivate garden produce seems careless of raising any but the commonest sort. In most instances their gardens are planted with cabbage, the large white sort which they let stand until they have a hard full head, then pull by the roots and brings them to market, roots and all for which they obtain from 3 to 6cents each (a cent an English halfpenny; amongst the cabbage at intervals of three or four yards, they plant pumpkins which they cut and sell, the rest is to feed their pigs and mix with the heads of Indian corn and so feed swine (a most slovenly extravagant mode). Also parsnips, carrots, turnips and squashes, last of which mixed up the same as boiled stew is very fine. Also very good potatoes here (Irish potatoes) also sweet potatoes, a form more resembling a carrot than anything else, the finest summer fruit such as apricots, peaches, and fine apples come from Long Island where I understand the last mentioned grow almost ________sold here for little more than ____________ _______