Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.106.829 |
Title |
Letter from Andrew Leonard Emerson to his mother |
Object Name |
Letter |
Dates of Creation |
May 5, 1869 |
Scope & Content |
Handwritten letter dated May 5th 1869 from Andrew Leonard Emerson on the Gaspee in the Guañape Islands, Peru to his mother Harriet (Phillips) Emerson in York. The letter has various parts missing that have been torn away or eaten. He opens the letter apologizing to his mother for not writing her more and promises to due so in the future. He also writes about how the Island used to be full of life but as more ships have come in a village has popped up and all the animals have left. He laments that some of the friendships he hoped to pursue and or maintain have fallen through but is happy that they will be leaving port in the next few weeks. He asks if Frank recieved his letter about Frank's portion of income from a sale and that Frank should write Frank Thayer about it. Transcription: My darling mother, Your well known & welcome hand writing was recv'd by me last night & altho I was glad to learn you were well, yet it painted me to think I had grieved my darling mother by not writing often. Fannie has always written regularly & I thoughtlessly omitted doing so myself thinking there was no necessity for it as she kept you well posted in regard to me. It shall not occur again if you will excuse it this time. We have now been here 107 days and are only about one half loaded but are recv'g it [quite] fast now & will be finished in less than [two?] weeks I think. We are going to Cork direct [from] here instead of having to boat up to Callao [Bay?] most ships do to clear. A favour extended [?] on account of courtesy shown to a commission [?] were here on a ton of inspection some time [since]. We have been on demurrage [a charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship in respect of failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed] eleven days at £10 per day which is better than nothing. [It] has been a long wearisome time, still the time has passed off pleasantly [some] how or another. When we first arrived there were [about] eight or ten ships here & the seals & sea lions had undisputed sway ons hore. Now there are about 70 ships, a village has sprung up on the islands, the seals and all other amphibious canary's have abandoned their old places of resort & tomorrow probably 1000 tons of guano will be shipped. [There is] to me a mournful interest in looking back to the time when we first arrived. Many of the friendships that I then commenced to form afterwards ripened, have since been broken up. Perhaps forever!! One only is left & he will go in a few days, the "America" Capt. Small. Arriving here at the time we [did when] the island was entirely uninhabited and [only] a few ships here, we "old residents" who have seen all [the] change, feel[?] naturally a driving forward. [Frank?] your letters must have miscarried as I [have] not yet heard of your recv'g the proceeds of the sale of [beef?]. I remitted it to Frank Thayer four months ago. There also is a dividend on the onward freight from Boston. Please write him about it. Now my darling mother with love to all I remain Your affec. son, Leonard. |
Collection |
Emerson Family Collection |
People |
Emerson Family Emerson, Andrew Leonard, Capt., 1837-1909 Emerson, Harriet Jane (née Philips), 1808-1890 |
Search Terms |
19th century Gaspee (ship) Guañape Islands, Peru York |
Subjects |
Family letters Friendship Maritime history Ports Sailors Shipping Ships Travel |