Letter by Malick Allen to his sister Elizabeth Allen, October 8, 1838

Abstract

A letter written by Meelack [Malick] Allen, Packet Boat, Ohio, to his sister Elizabeth Allen, Brunswick, Maine, October 8, 1838. The letter is four pages. Most of the pages contain cross-writing. Malick was a young prospective emigrant and minister who describes his travels across New York State to Ohio. The letter begins with Allen writing that he has left Rochester and is on his way to Lockport by canal, and from there will take the railroad to Niagara Falls. He notes that Western New York is a beautiful country but he does not like the people as much, as “everyone is for himself and indifferent to others”. When in New York City he visited Mr. Hall who was indifferent to his destination and favourably mentioned Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. But he is undecided because there is a great deal of sickness in Michigan and Illinois. If he hears the climate has become more healthy, he plans to stop in Ohio in a few weeks. Allen also stopped in Rochester and was surprised at the amount of business and activity there. There was much to be seen here, including Sam Potetes [Patch’s] Falls. Sam Patch was a daredevil who rose to fame after leaping from the crest of Niagara Falls into the Niagara River below. He later performed a similar feat at High Falls in Rochester. His first attempt was successful, but he died during his second attempt in 1829. Allen briefly describes High Falls but notes that “I have not time or patience now to give you any sort of a description of the whole, but I will say that the view of the whole is fully equal to what I have expected to see ere at Niagara”. He then visited Mount Hope and left there for the Falls, where he planned to spend the day. He then planned to head to Buffalo to attend the Synod. An addition to the letter describes his visit to Niagara Falls, which coincided with the recent Rebellion in Upper Canada, occupation of Navy Island by the rebels, and burning of the Caroline. Allen writes that “Well I have been to Niagara & spent 4 hours in looking at the greatest cataract in the world. I still picture it is something more than I thought for you have heard so much said, about them I shall keep silent—only let me say come & see. The White Mountains & Niagara are about on a par. I crossed Canada & was disposed to laugh at Queen Victoria’s forces. British Soldiers assuming all positive dignity march about at the landing & require you to enter your name & tell your business & then you leave to put a cross again—yr name indicating that you have left British soil. The whole was not a burlesque that I could not help letting them know what I thought. We just passed Fort Schlosser, Chippewa, Navy Island, Black Rock & saw the store House where the Caroline was set adrift & the course she was driven to the current to the falls.”