Letter written by George Henry Seymour, 1860

Abstract

Letter written by George Henry Seymour, 1860. The letter is dated at Niagara, September 16, 1860. He writes that “…when we got here, the D. of Newcastle received a proposal from Mr. Blondin to wheel the Prince over the falls on his tightrope in a wheelbarrow and in case of letting him fall ‘to return the money’. I have very little doubt that he could do what he proposed as he went across just below the suspension bridge, played all sorts of tightrope feats in the centre then took a man on his back roped over with him and returned on stilts. It was a most wonderful performance. I strongly advised HRH not to wait and see him do anything that he had not done before and the feat of the stilts was a first attempt but he was so anxious to remain that he carried his point against our prudent remonstrances and it all came off right— but if any mischance had occurred he would have blamed himself for having given encouragement by his presence.”