Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.106.813 |
Title |
Letter from Andrew Leonard Emerson to his family |
Object Name |
Letter |
Dates of Creation |
November 9, 1856 |
Scope & Content |
Handwritten letter November 9, 1856 from Andrew Leonard Emerson in Callao Bay, Peru to his parents Charles O. Emerson and Harriet (Phillips) Emerson and his sister Abigail Clarissa (Emerson) McIntire in two parts in York. He writes about how he has arrived in Callao Bay (Peru) after a 110 day passage. They were detained for a month at Cape Horn due to heavy gales that prevented the ship from sailing. He estimates that there are about 100 ships in the harbor including English, French, & Peruvian vessels. He complains about the high prices and plans to buy a pair of shoes. The French warships have bands that play in the evening which "sound beautiful on the water". He wants his parents to write about the wreck of the "Neva", complaining that they never tell him enough details. Second part of the letter is addressed to his sister Abbie and he tells her about Louise Perkins who's a passenger on another ship "Witch of the Waves" who has turned the heads as well as the heart of all the young men. He mentions various mutual acquaintances including George Thompson who "has a hard name down east... but I never saw him the worse for liquor". He finishes saying he is headed to "the Islands" and expects to be home in May or June. Transcription: My Dear Parents, Altho' the mail will not leave here for a week or ten days yet, I thought I would commence a letter to you. We arrived here last Wednesday after a long passage of 110 days. We had a time run down to Cape Horn and thought to make a quick passage but were detained there a month by heavy head gales. For about 17 days we did not gain an inch knowing a gale of wind all the time with hail and snow it was a great relief to us all when we once got fairly pointed to the north west. The Capt. went ashore the day we got in and at night came off with letters for the ship among them was one bearing the Old York post mark for me. I was very glad to hear from you, I had begun to think you had forgotten that there was a "little fellow" about my size in resistance[?]. I have not been ashore yet and do not know when I shall go for a description[?] of the town. I will refer you to Frank. We lay about a mile from the shore, there are, I should judge, nearly a hundred sails here among which there is 2 English Frigates and 3 French vessels of war, also one or two Peruvian ships. It was a splendid harbor or bay capable of holding 100 ships very comfortably. It never rains here although I don't see how it can help it looks so thick and cloudy sometimes. The weather here is very hot during the day the day and at night a cool breeze springs up that makes it delightful. We have fruit of all kinds and that is the only thing that can be bought cheap. They charge $3.50 per doz for washing clothes and everything else in proportion. I shall get me a pair of common shoes before we go away for which they will charge me 5.00 it's outrageous but it can't be helped. The "man of war" bands play here every night it sounds heavenly on the water. We shall commence discharging tomorrow it will take 3 weeks before we get ready to go down to the Islands & we shall probably be there 2 or 3 months so you will have time to write two more letters. I suppose you will have to direct to Pisco[?] as most all the ships clear from there now. I will ask the Capt. and let you know. I was very much surprised to hear of the wreck of the Neva. You did not give me the particulars of it. Please do so in your next letter. It's always just so anything I know all about you are shure[sic] to write about and if anything happens that there is no way to hear of you always say "as I suppose you have seen the particulars of it is no use for us to repeat them. So provoking. If Frank is still at home please please give my love to him and say I saw his friends in Liverpool and they treated me very kindly. I heard about the row he had with the 2nd mate going out. I will reassure the remainder of this sheet for writing Abbie. Give my love to Ed and tell him to write. From you affec. son, Leonard. Dear Sister, I was very glad to hear from you when we got in. It is very pleasant I can assure to get a good long letter from home after being isolated from the world almost four months. There is a young lady whose name is Louise Perkins on board the ship "Witch of the Waves" who has turned the heads as well as hearts of all the young men here. She is a sister of Capt. Todd's wife & belongs to Boston. She is very handsome and accomplished but she don't hardly come up to Ellen[?] for all that. They sailed last night for the Islands we shall see them there I suppose. I believe I wrote you from Liverpool that our Mate was a brother of Lizzie Rice. he is not much account I like him pretty well. I left Geo. Thompson [George Thompson] in Liverpool, I should like to hear what became of him. He showed me that picture of Emma. Geo. [George] is a first rate hearted fellow if he has got a hard name down east. I used to see him in Liverpool every day and I never saw him when I thought he was the worse for liquor. Give my respect to him if he is at home. I shall not probably be at home before May or June. It is uncertain how long we shall be loading they may keep us there months and perhaps not more than two. It is impossible to tell until we get there. Tell Fan to give best respects to Ellen & Marie and to write me all about them. I never wrote so long a letter before in all my life and I don't think I could do it again. I shall suspect a long letter from all the family when I get back from the Islands. Love to all especially to Aunt Margaret. Direct my letters Care of Crosby & Co. Callao Ship [?] From your Affec. son Leonard. |
Collection |
Emerson Family Collection |
People |
Emerson Family Emerson, Andrew Leonard, Capt., 1837-1909 Emerson, Charles Octavius, 1799-1863 Emerson, Francis "Frank" Phillips, Capt., 1831-1887 Emerson, Harriet Jane (née Philips), 1808-1890 McIntire, Abigail Clarissa (née Emerson), 1833-1911 |
Search Terms |
19th century Callao Bay, Peru Cape Horn Witch of the Waves (ship) York |
Subjects |
Family letters Maritime history Ports Sailors Shipping Ships Shipwrecks Siblings Travel Warships Weather |