about him, indeed he s been a fireman and run after der Machine
in time past. The other denizens of this place are a drunken English-
man, Wing, a down-easter, a painter, and a carpenter. Whist playing
one night, walk and ride on the Ferry boat with George on another.
Wrote to M. Mosquitoes to a horrible extent by night. Thunder
and lightning, frogs croaking
16. Thursday. To New York and Appletons in the afternoon, calling
in at The American Hotel and seeing Charley by the way. More disagree-
ables with Appleton. Bah!
17. Friday. Drawing still. In the Evening George coming in, tells
me he has had letters from England, that old John Harris is dying. And
also that Conworth s sister is dying! I know he fancied he loved her
and that the fancy was of years continuance yet, oh yet he played
whist with us in the Evening verily tis strange. The words sounded
sadly in my ears yet I never saw her more than once. But tis always
a sad thing to hear of a young girl s dying.
18. Saturday. Drawing still. Evening with Wing to the Pork store.
Left them and called in at The American Hotel
19. Saturday. Letter writing all day, to my mother, Naomi, and
to M. In the evening, with Joe and George, had a sail with Wing,
his boss (who accompanied us; about the bay, Communipaw wards,
&c. very pleasant.
20. Monday. Drawing till evening then with Wing and
| Page |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume One: page seventeen |
| Description: | Regarding the other boarders in his new boardinghouse, a disagreement with Appleton, and letters George Bolton received from home stating that John Harris and Conworth's sister are dying. |
| Date: | 1849-08-15 |
| Subject: | Appleton; Bilton, Mary; Bolton, George; Boardinghouses; Conworth, Sarah (Bolton); Firemen; Gunn, Charles; Gunn, Samuel, Mrs.; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Haun, Ben; Harris, John; Gunn, Naomi; West; Wing, Jabez |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, [New York]; [Jersey City, New Jersey] |
| Coverage (Street): | The American Hotel |
| Scan Date: | 2011-02-07 |
| Volume |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume One |
| Description: | Details Gunn's first year living in the United States, including his experiences with boarding house living in Jersey City and New York City, looking for work as an artist and a writer, publishing his first book ""Mose Among the Britishers"" and brief visits to Philadelphia and Boston. |
| Subject: | Boardinghouses; Books and reading; Drawing; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Publishers and publishing; Theater; Travel |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, New York; Jersey City, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts |
| Note: | Thomas Butler Gunn was born February 15, 1826, in Banbury, England, and came to New York in 1849. During the Civil War he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune and the New York Evening Post. He returned to England in 1863, and died in Birmingham in April 1903. The collection includes twenty-two volumes of his diaries, including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and various other items inserted by Gunn. Diary entries date from July 7, 1849, to April 7, 1863, and include his experiences with the New York publishing and literary world, his descriptions of boarding houses, his travels throughout the United States, and his experiences traveling with the Federal army as a Civil War correspondent. |
| Publisher: | Missouri History Museum |
| Rights: | Copyright 2011 Missouri History Museum. |
| Source: | Page images, transcriptions, and metadata of the Thomas Butler Gunn diaries have been provided by the Missouri History Museum. |
