Thornhill, Aug. 7, 1842.
My dear Armstrong,
IT struck me that the last thing you said to me in parting was, that you
would inform me of your movements, and for such information I have
hitherto been waiting; but as I possibly may have misunderstood you, and
you are expecting to hear from me, I had better write at once.
Circumstances, I find, will not admit of my going to New York just at
present, nor do I apprehend that I shall find it necessary for the
accomplishment of my literary purpose to go beyond Buffalo, or Rochester
at the farthest, though this I cannot quite settle till I see you.
I shall hope, if all be well, to sleep in Toronto on Monday next, and
proceed the next morning for Niagara or Queenston; or, in fact, whatever
place I shall find, on inquiry on board the steamer _Transit_, shall be
the nearest point to your son’s abode; and from that point shall make my
way to him as I can. I am no nice traveller on such occasions, and
therefore very readily get accommodated.
There are two or three matters I am wishing to talk over with you, and
which strike me as of no small importance in reference to our Canadian
ecclesiastical matters. I suppose you have not been able to arrive at
any decision in our favour; and, while we are beating our rough and
perilous way, you will be felicitating yourself, when in some tranquil
cozy retreat, that you have escaped the threatening danger of our more
unquiet seas. But whether such outward tranquillity is awaiting my
endeared friend or not, I trust he will ever experience much of that
peace which his peace-imparting Saviour can alone bestow; and may the
peace and rest which awaits him in heaven be realized by him in all its
delightful fulness. And oh, may his unworthy friend be privileged to
meet him there! Our kindest regards to yourself and our endeared young
friend,
Yours ever, my dear Armstrong,
Most affectionately and sincerely,
GEORGE MORTIMER.
* * * * *
The last letter addressed to his fondly attached sister, Mrs. Holland,
was written in a broken manner, and was probably among the last, except
on mere matters of business, which he ever wrote. I have myself seen but
one other written after the date which this bears, and which will be
noticed presently.