Caroline to Peter - Sept. 2, 1867

BC Archives MS02894 Box 10 File 3
[No. 5]

Victoria
Sept 2, 1867

My own beloved husband
When you see the date of this you will at once consider me delinquent of the deepest dye, but I must at once protest for I have a great counter charges to make you have treated me my very shabbily. This time only a little scrap from Sooyoos & I have had such a long & anxious time to wait & now that at last there is news from you, you only send me a note not a letter but dearie even for that I thank you with many loving thanks. I had worked myself into such a state of worry that I think I should have been ill if the boat on Saturday had not brought letters from you. As it was she did not come in until very late & no one went down for the letters & the next morning when Smithy brought them up just after breakfast. Mr. Mannsell after opening his told me there was nothing for me, & it was such a shock that it quite upset me. I went upstairs & had a good cry in the middle of which your note No. 3 was brought to me having been enclosed to H.E., but I could not go to Church, I was also very tired with the excursions of the day before. Indeed ever since the Governor returned we have had no quiet. Every day something to do is that in my state I feel quite ______ up & wherever [sic] I can escape to my room I am obliged to be down & rest. My mind is also very anxious for affairs in Cariboo are no better & I am beginning to be pursued by the dreadful idea that you will be sent there on your return & if so what use is my life to me. I know you will say this is courting trouble half way but I can't help it I have hoped that this dreadful business would be over before you came back but at present seems little doubt hope of such a thing. And now the bad news of John accident is another trouble. It is indeed trying that anything so unfortunate should happen & I can't help feeling very anxious about the after effects of such a wound as it appears to me that from the very fact of there being so little blood it must be the muscles that has been cut & that will of course take longer to heal. Then a flesh wound. I received last evening few lines from Joe enclosing yours to him & brought down by Mrs. Clare who is going to Portland to join her husband at last. He also sent a note from dear John dated 12th Aug which says he is getting on tho [sic] he speaks of the wound as not having closed. It is still uncertain whether Joe will go to Cariboo but you will be sure to hear on your way down if he has done so. I have not been able to go anywhere hardly for as I tell you the Gov. & Mrs. Seymour always ask me to go with them. On Monday I spent a day in town trying to get Frank's likeness taken, after spending hours there it proved a failure and I have hardly the courage to attempt another as the weather is so fearful hot. The Monday before I was all day waiting for the mail. I did actually at last send an order to Dulaghuis for some drapes I sent her a bill for £ 20 & I also sent one to Emily for £35. You will wonder where I got the money but I found on going to the Bank that there was a large amount, your audit I think $1500, so I ventured to draw for these sums. I also paid up Mary to the 25th Aug $85 & Nelson & Murray's bill $58 & that is the extent of my expenditures as yet but I have been obliged to get a good many things & I suppose I had better pay for them when I leave I have not yet been to the H.B.Co., but will before I leave on Tuesday week. I drove Mrs. S down to call on Mrs. Hastings, the Govr. & Mr. M went on horse back [sic]. They were at home & we made a state visit. On Wednesday we had a great expedition to Gold Stream. Joe went with us & drove the waggonette with Mrs. Pearse & Mrs. Crease & Mrs. S & me went. Mr. L & the Needham girls & their brothers rode. The road was very rough & the jolting was fearful. I have so much pain for some days afterwards. I was quite frightened & had inclined to send for Dr. Helmcken, but I am thankful to-day [sic] it passed off. On Thursday week we had a grand dinner party & it took me all day to arrange my dress I believe I looked very well. Charlotte arranged my hair Sir James & Mrs. D, the Elliotts, Mr. & Mrs. Gureschi, the new American people Capt. Liddell & Williams & Mr. McKay from the "Zealous". I sang I always sing my dearie when I am asked & I don't know what you allude to but it is trying to me for I say much when I am like this & makes me feel ill the next morning and I am always glad when Miss T comes in to sing, tho she has not been lately & I fancy she is jealous of my singing. Mrs.Seymour sings very well I think, her voice is so sweet & cultivated and the more I know her the more I like her in every way. She is very superior in mind & feeling to most people. One day last week we went to Cadboro Bay & had lunch I drove her out, H.E. & Mr. M. rode. I can't describe the heat. On Thursday we had another great dinner party. The Woods, Nelly, the Wards, Mama & officers I sang a great deal & was usually well. Mr. S was seated between Mrs. Woods & me & he did not fail to remind me of that former saint when Smity officiated.
On Friday there was a great party on board the "Zealous". We went down in state. Dancing went on till 6 p.m. when dinner was served & dancing resumed afterwards. The day was very hot I did not dance at all tho. I was asked by many. All the ladies with very few exceptions were well dressed. I wore white spotted muslin over pink silk. Mrs. S wore muslin over blue silk. She did not dance. The new people from San Juan were there, the Delacombis & Beadons. The gentleman in the first couple & the lady in the last were very handsome & dressed very well. We came back at 9. & On Saturday we started on our expedition to San Juan in the "Leviathan". We drove to Cadboro Bay & embarked there. It would have been pleasant but the Governor would race with the steam launch of the "Zealous" which was taking the party back & it frightened me very much.

Tuesday morning

Mr. M told me no steamer will go until after the "Active" was in & now he has just sent to say to-day in half an hour so I must send this as it is for it is better than to disappoint you. I have scribbled a few lines to dear John. May our Merciful Father bring you back safe to me & him with you. I am anxious about that wound if he is not careful. I shall endeavour to be at Yale to meet you unless I learn positively from H.E. that he will order you down. They talk of going up to Westminster altogether next week. With dearest love & many sweet kisses from our darling little man who is beautiful & good. I am your loving devoted wife.
                                      Carry

Mary had been quite good as yet given me no trouble which it's a cause of much thankfulness.

                                  P. O'Reilly Esquire