December

1860-12-01
SATURDAY
Left in the Yale for Westminster
taking with me [left blank] oz $- [left blank]
beautiful day – reached Langley at 2½ –
threw a note on shore to Newton – heavy fog
on the river near the Capital – almost
snagged the boat before getting to the warfs
Met Grant Luard Begbie – depos[i]ted my
pile in Custom House the Treasury being closed
took up my quarters with Luard at the Camp
What jolly set they are – Sat up late chatting
with Luard & Grant.

1860-12-03
MONDAY
Heavy fog all day, called on the Bishop
Mrs Moody – Long talk with Dewdney
about lot, & decided on taking tenders for
building 4 houses. Spoke to Begbie about
power of attorney, called on Gosset, & settled
my accounts at the Treasury, & deposited
my pile of dust. Remained in town till
late, & walked to Camp with Sheepshanks
where I dined & [s]pent a jolly evening

1860-12-04
TUESDAY
Foggy morning the day long wa wa
with the Colonel who I think was rather
crabby – Attended meeting in the Cols
house to organize a church society.
Walked to town with Bushby, & called
at the Treasury – walked with Brew
Met Sheepshanks & returned to
the Camp – Large dinner party at
the Mess – The Bishop & Clergy – &c &c
sat up till 1- O.C. with Grant & Luard

1860-12-05
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Slight frost & fog in
the morning which cleared off beautiful
fine about 10- Called on the Bishop Col &
Mrs Moody. Afterwards long walk with
Luard – Called on Mrs Grant.
Dined with Gosset, the Bishop
Cridge &c at the Colonial – Service
at 7- Sermon by the Revd Dundas – Meeting
at the Court House with reference to the affairs of
the Church, afterwards adjourned to the Treasury
Gosset came out strong – did not get home till 2 AM.
[overwritten text]
The Otter arrived
but no English
Mail

1860-12-06
THURSDAY
Fog again – packed my traps &
paid a round of visits – Recd fr. Luard
£25- to be forwarded to Ball. Had a
long chat with the Bishop about his
land. Finlaison gave me 5 prs of wild
ducks, bought a side of mutton & 10 lbs of
butter from Newton. The Moody called for me
at the Camp reached Langly at 5- where we
stopped till 2- AM. Paid Mr Newton a
visit & arranged with him to run down in
a fortnight to arrange look over Kaitzie farm.

1860-12-07
FRIDAY
Slept on board the Moody reached H. River
at 1- AM discharged some freight passed
the Hope – laying to in a fog, & were
afterwards passed by her. Arrived at
Hope at 3½- . Held Court & disposed
of 11- cases – Visited Mrs Charles & Pringle
Grame & Hastings of the Topez
took up their quarters with
me. Gompertz spent the evening.

1860-12-08
SATURDAY
Hard frost – Up at 7- Held Court at
10- In office received trading licenses,
dissatisfaction at the double license being
demanded in cases of partnership.
Grame went out for a ride with
Gompertz. The Glennies went out to
their new house walked with them, “a
gloomy look out.” Gompertz spent the
evening

1860-12-09
SUNDAY
Very hard frost – Water frozen in
my bath. Service at 11- Pringle as usual
fussy about the China man – 13- attended.
Walked with Mrs Charles, afterwards
to Glennies where I found Edney, & Buie
enstalled. – China man arrested by Const
Cregie charged with stealing fr. Fry’s shop.
Service at 7- – 11- attended – Collection
$3.50. – Gompertz spent the evening
turned in at 9½ –

1860-12-10
MONDAY
Hard dry frost – Str Yale returned fr
Yale & went on to N Westminster. Helming
lodged information of a canoe &c having
been stolen fr. Deitz by Indians – sent Cregie
with search warrant In office all day.
Grame & Hastings went out for a ride.
Coe informed me that his partner White
[illegible], taking all his money. Mashell
shot a northern diver – dined at 7- Gompertz
spent the evening.

1860-12-11
TUESDAY
Very hard frost Thermometer down to
[left blank] Held Court, sentenced
Ada (Chinaman) to one months lard labour
for stealing a hat fr G. Fry – Skating
commenced – kent mine to Cregie, did not
go myself – short walk with Gompertz
In office most of the day writing. Dinner
party at the Fort. Mrs & Mr Pringle, Gompertz
Grame. Hastings & myself. Home at 11-
Read & turned in to blankets.

1860-12-12
WEDNESDAY
Everything frozen Thermome [left blank]
Gompertz in a great state of fuss about
purchasing saw mill, & writing to Young
Remained in office till 2 P.M. Called
on Smith. Grame & Hastings skating
Walked with Gompertz to Dallas lake
Dined at 5- started at 7- to attend
Pringle’s lecture, met him on the way
& heard that the key had been lost, & no
admittance could be obtained. Smith & P.
spent the evening & remained till 12.

1860-12-13
THURSDAY
Frost & look very like a fall of snow
did not breakfast till 11- Grame
& Hastings went out skating went out skating. Held
Court & remained in office till 3- P.M.
Glennie called with Buie – Smith gave
me a specimen of gold Quartz – Talk
with him as to the amalgamation of the
Silver lead companies. Walked to Quaquealla
Attended Pringles first Lecture (on the
advantages of cultivation intellectual powers
decidedly stupid – slight fall of snow.

1860-12-14
FRIDAY
Heavy rain during the night which continued
nearly all day. How much I have been thinking of home
during the night & of the recurrences of this day
two years. Would to God that they may turn out
as we wish them & that soon The Mail expected,
how I wish she would arrive today, read over a number
of my old letters & Chaws – Went out for a
short walk with Gompertz, he complains
of my absence, to which I had to plead guilty
Spent a most wretched lonely day.

1860-12-15
SATURDAY
The Yale arrived at 7½ with mail. Recd
No 18 fr. Mamsey & 4 papers
. Dewdney
& Lee arrived, the former brought up
his mules to commence the waggon
road – Dewdney informed me that he
had bought Lot B in Westminster
for (Capt Knox) for $2500-) Drew
bills for that amt on Capt K. payable to
Henderson & Burnaby. Wrote Capt K. advising
him that I had done so, also to the Capt
enclosed to Mamsey
in No 19 also to the Col.

1860-12-16
SUNDAY
The Maria arrived having
had considerable difficulty in getting
up the water being so low – Service at
11- only 6- present. Wrote to
Burnaby enclosing him originals
of Bills for £500- drawn on Capt Knox.
Busy in office – Capt having called, could
not go to Church – Collection $1.25 –
attendance 12 – Dewdney dined, Lee
Anderson & Gompertz spent the evening

1860-12-17
MONDAY
Sent off a bundle of officials by
the Maria – Grame & Hastings left
The Hope arrived at the same time
Called on the Inhabitants with reference
to the keeping of the trail open by Robinson
To which they were approved at present
but wish for it early in the spring.
Wrote to Gosset Begbie & Brew
Portman arrived fr Similkameen on route for
[illegible] with a memorial asking to appoint him J. P. & C.

1860-12-18
TUESDAY
Heavy rain during the night –
Gompertz applied for the appointment of
J. P. at Similkameen – The Hope returned from
Yale & went down. Held Court Sanders
fined $50- for selling whisky to Indians
Committed for 1. Month with hard labour.
Pringle called with his usual grievance
about the Bishop not trying his house.
Wrote letters to Orr, Allison & Higman, Cox & Haynes
Recd fr Sanders my title for Yale Lot.
Sat up till late.

1860-12-19
WEDNESDAY
Hard first. Row in Jail during the
night caused by Constable Summerville who
was drunk, & insisted on treating the prisoners
to pie – had to get up to enquire what was
the matter. In the morning dismissed him
having first paid all wages due &c
Viz £22//17//9-) Mashell went out to set
traps – the express left for the Similkameen.
Dined with Dewdney & Gompertz
home at 11- P.M.

1860-12-20
THURSDAY
Up at 6- snow about 2 inches deep
Walked with Charles & Mashell to see
the Traps & 2nd lake (helo) breakfasted
at 10- Walked with Sergt McCall
over the Bishops land to see how
it would be best to drain, & also to take the
levels. Dined at the Fort, Dewdney
did not come. Pringle & wife came in
the evening. Home at 11- Read &
turned in

1860-12-22
SATURDAY
Hard frost. Up at 5- left in Str for Yale at
six cought the Hope & took her passengers
& freight arrived at Yale at 9- Long chat
with Sanders about Tim which he promised
to provide – arrived at Hope at 1. P.M.
Found that the Maria had been up & gone
down again. Recd Sun dial from Parsons
Wrote to Luard , & Crease – went with Charles
& Gompertz to the latters house where we had
Mulled Claret. Got £100- fr Dewdney
per Gompertz.
[overwritten text]
Locked up in
Safe for Gompertz
£91//8//0

1860-12-23
SUNDAY
Fine frosty morning – Service at 11- 13
attended – Called on Charles – Browning
Methodist parson, held service in the Court
house at 2- P.M. about 30- were present
Sanders arrived from Yale, & brought
me £150-, he & Gompertz dined –
Evening Service at 7- O.C. 8- attended
Collection $2.25 – Retired with Sanders
& Charles to Gompertz house. Mulled Claret
&c home at 11- P.M. Sat up chatting to Sanders

1860-12-24
MONDAY
Slight frost. In office nearly all day
Pringle running about in a state of great
commotion. Sanders left for Yale at 11-
Drove in sleigh with Gompertz to visit
the Glennies, which was rather an adventure
Met Mr & Miss – coming into Hope – went on
& paid Mrs a short visit – Gompertz dined
after which we all adjourned to Pringles.
Pringle came in & bothered me till all
hours –

1860-12-25
TUESDAY
Hard frost during the night, how much
I have been thinking of home & feel anything
but cosey at the prospects of my getting
back. Service at 11- only 6- present among
them Mr Browning. Holy Communion only
3 remained Collection $2.25 – Str Yale
arrived – & to my great delight – brought No 19-
fr. dearest Mamsey
(a most acceptable Xmas
box) – dined at the Fort – a deal of drunkenness
Sat up till very late writing letters &c
[overwritten text]
Present from
Dr Bradshaw

1860-12-26
WEDNESDAY
Hard frost – up at 7- prepared my accts &
sent down the balance of cash in hand per
Bernard of the Yale £309-17- gave Gosset
an order on Luard for £90
Pringle fussy as usual. Held Court &
disposed of about 20- drunks – Walked with
Charles Gompertz & Landvoigt to the 2nd lake
Dined alone, cannot help thinking of home
& wishing I was there, spent a most lonely
evening – Cregie went off to skate at 8- P.M.

1860-12-27
THURSDAY
Everything frozen – very cold morning
Held Court at 11- 14- cases – Called
on Mrs Charles & Pringle – afterwards on
the Revd Browning who appears to
be rich in gossip & scandal, remained
at home & read. Gompertz called in
his usual confidential way, gave him
a bit of my mind about his making
confidants of so many. He & Browning
dined

1860-12-28
FRIDAY
Very hard frost a whole pack
went out to skate on the small lake
Browning Pringle & Gompertz called
very ill all day & during the nights
Walked with Charles & wife tried to
get to Glennies, but failed in consequence
of the water being too high – Buie called
with reference to Title to his lot
Gompertz & Charles spent the
evening.

1860-12-29
SATURDAY
Frost. Up at 7- Buie & Finlayson
called with reference to their lot.
Glennie is a great state for commotion
at Thompson, & others preempting the land
adjoining his – but consoled himself with
a few bumpers of Grog – Held Court –
Chinaman A Jane – fined $50- for selling
whisky to Indians – dined with Gompertz who
amused me not a little – about Glennie telling
him of the reported engagement of Miss Jane, & Edney
[overwritten text]
Browning took his
Store away again
his first Lecture in
Edneys Store, which
is said to be trash

1860-12-30
SUNDAY
Heavy fall of snow during the night
Up at 7- Service at 11- 6- attended
Heavy rain during the whole
day the streets in a perfect sea.
Wrote letters & remained in house
Gompertz had a slight difference of
opinion with the Pringles about books.
G. dined, Service at 7- – only 4
attended. Collection $1.75- – H. Grey &
Jas Ellison arrested – for fighting in Suttons
admitted to Bail

1860-12-31
MONDAY
Rained all night & morning. Held
Court at 10- Remained in writing
Posted No 20- in the short note fr the Capt
How very anxiously I shall wait an answer

The steamers Maria & Hope arrived –
Glennie called – Dined alone, & spent
a most lonely evening – went to the
|Fort at 9½ where I found Anderson. Horrible
wet night – sat up till very late reading


Back to Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 Diary

Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 diary has been transcribed by volunteers and staff of the Vancouver Island Local History Society and is for informational purposes only. Researchers interested in this diary are advised to consult the original document housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, found in MS-2894, the O’Reilly family fonds.

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