The Diary of David Ross - Excerpts -
,1 une 20 - Endeavoured to persuade Reith to return home - incoherent stories, eat no meat 3 day - white face and oh! the eye, the eye.
July 6 — Dr. McLean told me if I did not remove him [Reith] from Webbers he would surely die.
July 8 - Hired Gig and with Capt. Paton brought him home - exceeding weak - obliged to lift him in and out of Gig.
Lrlyfl - Returned to town with Paton and Gig.
July 22 - [Reith] in same state - eat none - drunk without intermission. The first of Cunard’s Liners the Britannia Steamship brought out mail in 12 1/2 days.
August 4 - Can scarcely get my hand put to anything from the invasion of visitors to Reith - very poorly, bleached in face, swelling in limbs to great height, advised him to make will, said it was done before leaving old country. Dr. said kick the bucket unless a speedy reaction. Very weak, indeed perfectly powerless - carried out and in bed.
August 2 - Dr. Dalrymple [sic] says today that McR. will not recover. Outer coat of stomach completely wasted. I was not 1 hour constantly in bed last night — raving.
August 10 - Much worse this morning, tongue bad.
August 11 - Fainted twice today. Speech failed. Nobody to bed. Can’t get a moment. Wrote his brother.
August 12 - Called for Dr. last night - incoherence of speech - shaved him and washed. Visited by the Dr. this afternoon - says he will not trouble us long. Curious feature in his case — neither pulse nor appearance ........ indicative of anything serious — told by him to make any arrangements of his affairs. Visit from Mr. McIntosh and Lady. McR. kissed his hand in token of last farewell. Bob Stewart out to know if it were possible for him to pay Webber.
D--m him. Still weaker. Painted, voice scarcely heard.
-l41—
August 14 - Poor Reith died at half past 10 o’clock this evening without a struggle or pain.
Angus; 15 - Jn. Ferguson making coffin - went to town to get five pounds from Stamper - coffin & mortuary 22/6 [22 shillings and Sixpence] - inscription of coffin Reith died 14 August aged 44 yrs. For grog and other necessaries for funeral. Inserted in paper.
August 16 - Body began to decay - stench - mounting put on today - coffined — discharge of matter from body.
August 12 - Buried church along the road - respectibility of funerals — lunch to country people.
Nevember 22 - Gone to town to hear the second preaching of new Minister of Scotch Kirk.
December 25 - Christmas. Only Sandy McGregor called. All others get drunk elsewhere at this time. Only come here when they can get none at other places.
18.41
January 10 — Schooner came from Newfoundland and landed inside harbour today, the like at this season of year never before occurred. Fresh weather every day just now. The ice breaking up. All open opposite Braddock’s.
January 18 - In town paying land tax - firewood in town scarce. Hauling marsh mud.
February 5 - Fine day. Saw eclipse of the moon most distinctly this evening — shadow approached upon her on the east and left on the west.
February 20 - Fine day — great quantity of travellers on ice - upwards of 150 sleighs with loads saw at one time on the River.
Mareh 24 - Poor creatures in town. Hardly a stick of firewood.
April 1!! - Went to town today being entirely out of hay - purchased 5 cwt at 5/ per cwt - great scarcity of fodder throughout the Island — those settlements