Rose at five having rested very well, though I suspected the bed-clothes
not being dry. Went on shore at Three Rivers and into the market;
Indians selling coloured baskets; a good supply of eggs and vegetables,
also square lumps of sugar made from the maple. Bought a few red
currants, notwithstanding the cholera; a number of canoes with different
kinds of fish; the eels thicker than ours; just in time for the steamer,
will not cut it so fine again. This morning almost chilly; yesterday at
4, 95 degrees and at six, 81. The shores on each side are lined with
neat cottages. Good coffee and bread. Soon after nine the eccentric
collar of one of the engines broke, so that we shall be some hours late;
the other engine is also out of order, so that we may not arrive before
8 or 9. Luckily both were set to rights, and the tide is in our favour
so that we now hope to get in at 3. Arrived at Quebec at two and hurried
to the Post Office. Startled at sister's letter having a black wafer,
but was greatly delighted to find all well both in it and in C. D.'s.
The weather intensely hot. On enquiring for T. Marsden at the P.O. found
his son lived next door to the Albion Hotel, and kept a small druggist's
shop; I was shown upstairs; William and young wife with her mother, who
had come from New York on a visit with another daughter were there.
William looking better but very thin, which they said had been the case
during the last three weeks in consequence of so much sickness; the
cholera very bad, 29 deaths yesterday. Thomas lives about 1-1/2 miles
off. Dined at the Hotel (Albion), walked with William to the hospital
and then to his sister's; the little girl sang for us.