Creator
John Muir
Recipient
Louie [Muir]
Preview
Transcription
To Mrs. MuirSitka, On board the California,Aug. 10th, 188010:30 P.M. of your time.My own dear Louie;I'm now about as far from you as I will be this year---onlythis wee sail to the North and then to thee, my lassie. And I'm not away at all you know, for only they who do not love may ever be apart. There is no true separation for those whose hearts and souls are together. So much for love and philosophy. And now I must trace you my way since leaving Nanaimo.We sailed smoothly through the thousand evergreen isles, and arrived at Fort Wrangele at 4:30 A.M. on the 8th. Left Wrangele at noon of the same day and arrived here on the 9th at 6 A.M. Spent the day in friendly greetings and saunterings. Found Mr. Vanderbilt and his wife and Johnnie and, not every way least, though last, little Annie, who is grown in stature and grace and beauty since last I kissed her.Today Mr. Vanderbilt kindly took myself and Mr. Magee and three other fellow passengers on an excursion on his steamer up Peril Strait, about fifty miles.(You can find it on one of the charts that I forgot to bring).We returned to the California about half-past nine, completing my way thus far.And now for my future plans. The California sails tomorrow afternoon some time for Fort Wrangele and I mean to return on her and from there set out onmy canoe trip. I do not expect to be detained at Wrangele inasmuch as I saw Mr.[S. Hall] Young, who promised to have a canoe and crew ready. I mean to keep close along the mainland, exploring the deep inlets in turn, at least as far north as the Taku, then push across to Cross Sound and follow the northern shore,examining the glaciers that crowd into the deep inlet that puts back northward from near the south extremity of the Sound, where I was last year. Thence I mean to return eastward along the southern shore of the Sound to Chatham Strait,turn southward down the west shore of the Strait to Peril Strait, and follow this Strait to Sitka, where I shall take the California. Possibly, however, I may, should I not be pushed for time, return to Wrangele. Mr. Magee will, I think, go with me, though very unwilling to do so.Aug. 11th, at noonI have just returned from a visit to the Jamestown. The Commander, Beardslee, paid me a visit here last evening, and invited me aboard his ship. Had a pleasant chat, and an invitation to make the Jamestown my home while here.I also found my friend Koshoto, the Chief of the Hoonas, the man who,I told you, had entertained Mr. Young and me so well last year on Gross Sound, and who made so good a speech. He is here trading, and seemed greatly pleased to learn that I was going to pay him another visit; said that meeting me was like meeting his own brother who was dead, his heart felt good, etc....I have been learning all about the death of the brave and good old Toyatte. I think that Dr. Corliss, one of the Wrangele missi onaries, made amistake in reference to the seizure of some whisky, which caused the beginning of the trouble.Heaven bless you, my wife. I will write again from Fort Wrangel tomorrow. Love to mother and father. Remember me to Mrs. Hatch---hope she is recovering health in the invigoratingair of the Sierras. For a little while again,Farewell,John Muir.Everybody enquires first on seeing me, "Have you brought your wife?" and then,"Have you a photograph?" and then pass condemnation for coming alone!My hair [is] frizzly, evenly all over like the hair of certain[dogs -- some trick you played on it. It will not down.The mail is about to close, and I must write to mother.Affectionately your husband,John MuirHow eagerly I shall look for news when I reach Fort Wrangele next month.6
Location
Sitka [Alaska] On board the "California"
Date Original
1880 Aug 10
Source
Original letter dimensions: 33 x 21.5 cm.
Resource Identifier
muir04_0279-trans.tif
File Identifier
Reel 04, Image 0279
Copyright Status
Copyrighted
Copyright Statement
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, see http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections/Fees-and-Forms-.html
Owning Institution
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Copyright Holder
Muir-Hanna Trust
Copyright Date
1984
Page Number
Page 1
Keywords
John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle
