Collection search - Journal of a traveller [textual record]. by David Blair Little
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Journal of a traveller [textual record]. by David Blair Little
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Record information Journal of a traveller [textual record]. by David Blair Little
Date:1830-1840.Reference:R9867-0-3-E, MG24-H14, Volume number: 1Type of material:Textual materialFound in:Archives / Collections and FondsItem ID number:103949Date(s):1830-1840.Place of creation:No place, unknown, or undeterminedExtent:240 pages of textual records.Language of material:EnglishScope and content:Item is an essay describing a voyage to Canada aboard the brig CARRICKS, 1830 and a trip through Upper and Lower Canada. The unknown author refers to the volume as a journal but it is written in the form of a continuous essay. A single entry in a different hand, dated 7 May 1840 records the beginning of a voyage from Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick.
The text traces the author's journey from Londonderry to Quebec City between 15 May and 29 June of an unnamed year. The first part of the voyage is recorded in standard journal format with dated entries. Further additions trace the author's travels up the St. Lawrence River from Quebec to Three Rivers, Montreal, Kingston, York and Niagara Falls and his return trip to Montreal with a side trip to Smith Falls, Perth and Bytown. Few of the later entries are dated; the author does indicate that the Canadian leg of his journey ends in late Autumn and that the subsequent Winter was spent in New York City. This first journey account ends rather abruptly at Philadelphia in the following Spring. A single second entry dated 7 May 1840 records the beginning of a journey from Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick. There are variations in the handwriting throughout the journal but it has been determined that all entries were written by the same person.
The author devotes much attention to natives. There are substantial entries focusing on Indian life and customs in Upper and Lower Canada. There are also shorter entries examining various aspects of French Canadian society in the early nineteenth century. There is less of a focus on life in Upper Canada. There are many references to European writers and philosophers and he is influenced by nineteenth century romantic attachments. Second-hand anecdotes are numerous.
The journal lacks names and dates and there are discrepancies in dates when they occur. This work may be a retrospective account of impressions of travels to Canada.Provenance:Biography/Administrative history:Little, David Blair,dd.1843 : The author was one David Blair Little, born in Ireland (date as yet unknown) and died a merchant at Saint Johns NB on 17 June 1843.Additional information:General note:Received in 1947.Source of title:There is no indication on the cover or spine of the volume of the work having been given a title. A label on the cover "Journal of a Traveller" and the typewritten title page "Journal of a Traveller to and through Canada in 1838, 1839-1840" was inserted upon acquisition in 1947. The date in the title was amended in handwritten pencil to read 1830. Penciled annotations on the title page give the source of the author's identification as "D.B.L.".Statement of responsibility note:The author identifies himself by his surname (Little) on p. 120 of the diary, and by his initials D.B.L. on p. 206 and on occasion as L.Citation/reference note:Selections were published in the Public Archives Report of 1947, p. xxix-xxxv.Subject heading:Source:PrivateFormer archival reference no.:MG24-H14 -
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