Cambridge, John (c. 1793) Letter to ’Friend Stainforth’ in the Letterbook of John Cambridge, 1792- 7807. [P.E.I. PARO 2984/4.) This evocative picture of the island ’3 landscape in the very early days of settlement comes from a letter written by John Cambridge (apparent/y writing from Murray Harbour} to Ann Stainforth {then in England), the mother—in—law of Peter McGowan, Cambridge’s business partner — ’Friend’ is the form of address to a fellow Quaker. Mrs. Stainforth and her daughter (Mrs. McGowan) were about to set out from England to join Cambridge and McGowan on the island, and the description comes from a passage intended to give them advance warning of some of the problems of living in the midst of the wilderness. For further comment on John Cambridge see the introduction to ’Cambridge 1796 '. REFERENCE: Bradley, J. (1 996) Letter-Books of John and Mary Cambridge of Prince Edward Island 7792— 1812. The Stationery Cupboard, Devizes, England. From a letter to ’Friend Stainforth’, undated but 0. 77.93- 7 794: ’Wilderness Let me Intreat you Both to prepare your Minds Not to see Numberless Green fields but W00d$'- Groves upon Groves of Wilderness Woods with Here and there a Mean House in a Small opening Erected on the Edge of a River — Cold and healthy Winters Pleasant Summers (with Mosquitoes) in Some places troublesome to Strangers the first Summer or two — But thy Experience has long told thee we are not to seek a Paradise on Earth [pp. 77-78] 55