FORBIN VictorLivre Rare Book
1825 Letter Describing the Collection of 230 Bushels of Potatoes and Clothing for Survivors of the Great Miramichi Fire
1825Best.-Nr. BK0033Bailey's Brook Nova Scotia 1825. Autograph letter signed "Geo. McLeod" to John Young Esq. Halifax. Stampless folded letter with manuscript "7 / Paid" rate "Post Paid" notation and a clear "POST OFFICE PICTOU / PAID" handstamp. Light filing folds; very good. A contemporary account of rural relief organized for survivors of the Great Miramichi Fire written only eighteen days after the disaster. George McLeod reports traveling personally through Bailey's Brook and the surrounding settlements to solicit provisions and clothing gathering approximately 230 bushels of potatoes together with "considerable articles of wearing apparel" for immediate shipment through Pictou: "I went yesterday in person through the small settlement of Bailey's Brook & its vicinity in quest of some aide for the sufferers & have the pleasure to say that the inhabitants individually contributed very liberally according to their ability. I this day received from them into my store about 230 bushels buntatoes sic & considerable articles of wearing apparel & much more could be obtained if time permitted." The letter is particularly revealing about the material circumstances of disaster relief in a cash-poor agricultural community. The residents had little money available and "nothing else at hand" as their grain had not yet been threshed and the lateness of the season required them to contribute whatever could be gathered and transported without delay-nonetheless they were "willing to give." McLeod notes that additional supplies had been collected at Merigomish and would be combined with those from Bailey's Brook sent to the committee at Pictou and forwarded onward to Miramichi. He also records keeping a list of the individual contributors and the articles supplied under each name. We find no other examples of documents or primary source materials relating to the disaster in commerce or in auction records. A focused primary document of one of the largest fires in early Canadian history with a detailed description of the mechanics of relief. . unknown
Auger Down Books · Vereinigte Staaten1.500,00 $≈ 1.340,12 €
