PREFACE

The following is a transcript of a hand written diary written by Gordon Michie EWING during the course of his journey, with his wife and young family, from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Quebec, America, aboard the sailing ship "JANE BOYD" in the year 1855.

TO MY PARENTS

I wish also that all my friends and acquaintances get a perusal of it, hoping that they read, and get through with it as soon as they can, that it may be handed over to the next one, taking care at the same time not to dirty or tear it.

Michie Ewing

We have been very comfortable on board. We seldom hear a word about Old Scotland, and the Friends in it, few here would care for it at all. You all know how well I loved my Native Spot, and now I don't care a bit for it. But I love the Friends in it for all that. And I believe that if once you were away from it, you would not care where you went.

We have on board,

Dear Friends, according to promise I have wrote a few lines every day since we came on board the Jane Boyd (Sabbaths excepted). When I look over again I find that I have committed many errors in my writing, some words left, others wrote twice, etc. However I hope you will excuse me until such time as you try the experiment yourselves. I have written generally with my Desk upon my knee. A word now and then, when the Ship steadys, and sometimes I have written with my feet against something to keep me fast, or lying on the floor. I have not used the sea phrases, but have tried to explain everything in a way that you may understand it, but it is impossible to convey the idea, of the way of a ship at sea to those who have never seen it. We have had a somewhat long and rather rough voyage, but we are all as clean at the skin and healthy as the day that we came on board, and few here would care for sailing as long as you like.

The Captain and Mate are kind, civil, cheerful, oblidging, cautious, able Seamen and the men have been all very friendly. We have not met with any of the difficulties that were spoken about before we left, and I believe that Old Age, and weakness, are as fit for the sea as any, unless it be extreme cases, and I think there should nobody stay at Home for fear to cross the ocean. But consider first whether it be their duty to come and if they have the means let nothing prevent them. Let them get warm clothes and that will not be easily dirtied or torn, strong shoes as the feet is apt to get cold, and I would advise old people to keep in bed as much as possible when the weather is rough as they would be apt to get knocked about. Some try to hold themselves in bed when the ship is rolling but it is useless, and soon becomes painful. One woman was thrown out of bed half across the ship on the 15th May, but then she was sitting up. Take a large Chest, set it down on a level floor, then raise it at one side till it lose the balance and fall over, and you will have some idea how we tumble about sometimes and yet without any danger.