1840 Islington, England to Red River Settlement.

1840 Islington, England to Red River Settlement. SFL dateline “Church Missy Institution Islington / May 27th 1840.” to Reverend J Smithurst Red River Settlement, N. W. America. carried by Hudson’s Bay Co. ship (perhaps the Prince Rupert) to Norway House on the west coast of Hudson’s Bay and overland by canoe and ox cart to Red River Settlement.

The 6 page cross written letter is long and clearly written. It discusses much of the missionary society work, location and movements of other missionaries etc. One spectacular comment was, “We have to acknowledge the receipt of the articles you were kind and considerate enough to send for the Museum. I can assure you they cut a very respectable figure in it, especiall the Esquimaux Lady’s Dress, which is a quite novel affair, but may we ask how yo could prerive of her of so graceful and elegant a habit?” [clothing ed] He had presumably traded needles for the dress as he further comments “parting with your stock of needles in the shape of being obliged to  wear stockings unmended and your toes trying to get a peep of day”.