December

1859-12-01
THURSDAY 
This morning the snow is 
18 inches deep – it has been blowing 
hard all night – but no quite so much 
frost – McLaughlan Turner of Col Moody comes up
in the evening about the freight which I refused to
pay.  In office all 
day issuing Trading licenses

1859-12-02
FRIDAY 
More snow – & very cold – 
finished my letter to R.D.C. but 
goodness knows when I shall have 
a chance of sending it – & what is worse 
when the mail may I arrive – I cannot 
help feeling very uneasy – Held court  
Issued trading licenses
Bad headache

1859-12-03
SATURDAY 
The snow this morning about 
two feet deep – & falling heavily – My head 
so bad today that I cannot do anything  
The Revd Robson came down about his 
store – but for some reason it was not 
brought up – Note from Saunders to say Sergt 
McCall would be down on Monday.

1859-12-04
SUNDAY 
Very ill all night – the hardest 
nights frost we have had – could not keep 
myself warm.  How I have been thinking of 
home.  They are most likely at Mountfield  
I wish I were with them – no Church  Pringle in 
Victoria – Robson did not have service – 
read – & spent a truly lonely day – 10 months 
today since I left home.

1859-12-05
MONDAY 
Bad head ache, awake & 
ill during the night Walked to Coquhalla 
with Charles – Sergt McCall R E  
Expected but did not arrive fr Yale
Thermometer 15- below Zero – 
Heavy fall of snow

1859-12-06
TUESDAY 
Dreadfully cold night – snow 2 feet 
deep – Settled with Frank – paid 
him salary for Septr Octr & Nov, & all 
other sums due $186-15-  also settled with
Chisholm for the same time & all other 
sums – 

1859-12-07
WEDNESDAY 
Cold raw morning slight thaw
Bought Wm Nicholls interest (one sixth) 
in the Cornish lead mine – for $60- 
also bought ½ lot B3 – Lot 4- from
Chisholm for $200 – Also bought fr. Chisholm 
Lot [left blank] in B- [left blank] for $120-
Sergt McCall arrived fr Yale

1859-12-08
THURSDAY 
Thawing rapidly – posted letter to 
Mamsey & R.D.C. & McDermott  Smith took mail 
Frank in a beastly state of drunkness
Sent my requisitions & weekly collectorate
accounts to Gosett – Walked to Coquhalla 
with Sergt McCall.  Wrote to Col Moody 
& Governor with reference to survey of 
Town Suburban & Rural lands – 
Lem & Charley Indians arrested on suspition 
of stealing $120 from Lenan 

1859-12-09
FRIDAY 
Held court – remanded the Indian 
arrested yesterday – Indian dance – 
Sergt McCall commenced the traverse 
of the Coquhalla & Fraser River
Issued warrant for the arrest of an Indian 
in Greys boat charged on suspition of being [illegible] 
in the robbery of Lenan – Thawing – not at all 
well & felt lonely – I wish the mail would come.

1859-12-10 *
SATURDAY 
Slight frost during night.
Held court – $63-70 – of Lenans money found 
& the Pistol – Charley – admitted having 
stolen the money – To be whipped – His hair cut 
& kept to hard labour for a month – Walked 
to Coquhalla – Indians kicking up a row 
their blanket feast – Stewart Finlaison & 
Pitmann came down in the evening

1859-12-11
SUNDAY 
Pringle not returned 
fr Victoria – Attended Robsons service but 
do not atall [admiss] it.  Read one of 
Arnolds sermons – How I have been thinking 
about home all the day.  Walked with Charles 
& Mrs to Coquhalla – freezing [plenty] – Phail 
came – but to my great annoyance not 
a letter for me – for some unaccountable 
reason the English mail did not arrive

1859-12-12
MONDAY 
Frost – Held court –
Walked with Charles to Maria Ville 
Island.  Saw Hows’s Claim – no chance 
of being able to work for some time every 
thing frozen.  Dined at Fort.  Bad accounts 
of the river being frozen below fr. Gerald 
How I have been wishing for the mail to arrive.

1859-12-13
TUESDAY 
Hard frost during the night very 
cold morning – Badcock arrives fr Yale 
with Indian Prisoner & [illegible] but no evidence 
to be got – Send by him to Saunders £25- 
to pay for my five acre lot – & £18-17- 
on Bushby acct  Dust $219-15-  David 
Ogilvy arrives fr Alexander
[overwritten text]
Mack of 
Albert Flat makes a 
modest request

1859-12-14
WEDNESDAY 
Up early read – 
How I have been thinking & have gone 
over every subject connected with the 
events of this day twelve months 
Read Chaws note about a hundred times
How every subject since has gone to 
show how correct she was.  May she always 
follow the same course – Commenced letter 
to dearest Mamsey – Charles & Ogilvy 
came over in the evening.

1859-12-15
TUESDAY 
Heavy rain during the 
night – & thawing – if it continues we may 
have the mail on a few days – My thoughts 
all day on the events of last year  
Walked with Sergt McCall to point out 
the head of mill race – & to see his traverse 
of the Coquhalla – Ogilvy made me a present
[overwritten text]
of a very fine 
otter skin

1859-12-16
FRIDAY 
Thawing with occasional heavy 
showers of rain – high wind.  How forcibly I have 
had before me every word that passed between the 
Capt & myself this day twelve months – how very kind he 
was & dearest Mamsey – Poor dear Chaw – how uneasy she 
was  What a deal of pain I caused her – Oh that all 
may be right – every day often I pray that it may.  
In the house all day, but could not do much 
Read & sat up – a very lonely day.