Apollo - Quebec Harbour
May 10th Thursday
My dearest dearest Parents,
I cannot tell you the pleasure I feel in being able to write to you
again, and as I know that you will be anxious to hear of my safe arrival
here. I rejoice that this letter will reach you so soon. I shall send it by
the Apollo. She will return to England in a day or two. It already seems
so long since we parted that I should like to return in the Ship. But I will
not annoy your feelings or my own by dwelling on this sad separation. We
have not yet landed & I can therefore tell you nothing of the interior of
Quebec, but its situation is most beautiful. This is the Sunday and we have
been on land three days. All my anticipations relative to the Town have
vanished, it is on inspection one of the most disagreeable Places I ever was
in. The Streets are narrow and the dirt and mud exceed any idea you can form
of them. There is no foot Path and Quebec possesses all the horrors of a
French Town without the redeeming qualities of amusement and lively
inhabitants. There are no rooms for Officers in the Barracks and the price
of lodgings is immense. At the Hotels 7s/6d a night for a Bed - and I am
asked 25 dollars a month (about six pounds of our money) for a Garret up
three pairs of stairs and the half of a sitting room. Percy and I have taken
it together. There is no furniture to be hired and the inhabitants impose
upon us in every possible way. The Government knowing to what inconveniences
we should be subjected provided a house with ten Rooms in it for
the Senior Officers and made an allowance of 25 Pounds a year to the Juniors
for lodging money. We shall however get none for double that sum. The filth
is terrible. There are no conveniences of a certain description and Bugs
Bugs absolutely drop from the Ceilings. We have not heard any thing of the
Rebellion. I believe it is crushed and that the two Battalions of Guards
will have come here for nothing. How I long to here from you. Your letters
will be my greatest delights. Our Regiment is quartered in the Jesuit
Barracks. The Coldstream are better off. I have sent dearest mamma a pair of
Canadian Slippers. I could find nothing else to assure her of my endless
love. I am glad that I came well provided with Clothes. It would have been
impossible to purchase them here. Assure yourselves of my most devoted
attachment. You & my darling Brothers occupy all my thoughts.
God bless you dearest Parents. Believe me ever your most loving
& attached Son
Robert Peel Dawson
(The above letter accompanied the Journal in Serial=8950003)
