1859. Henry Lumsden Forbes. 15 Chanonry, Old Aberdeen.
Volume of transcribed letters, mostly to his parents.
Manuscript notebook, 32cm by 20cm. Marbled boards, worn leather spine.
Binding of boards is delicate but internally secure.
About 16 pages of manuscript notes but well over half of the notebook is unused with pages blank.
I have researched a Henry Lumsden Forbes who was born in Aberdeen about 10 years before the date of this item. This may well be him, as the work seems to be that of a young boy. As an adult he became a coffee planter.
The Chanonry is part of medieval Aberdeen, close to the cathedral. Properties within the Chanonry were homes for the clergy.
15 Chanonry still exists as a substantial Georgian property.
I'm not sure why these 'letters' were transcribed. In fact I think that it may be more of a writing exercise set by his parents, similar to a diary There is a suggestion that he was paid for these 'letters', as one of the entries mention that he hasn't been paid recently.
Also his parents do seem to be at home, as he sometimes indicates that he will see them later in the day. A few letters are to other persons, such as his aunt and are from a different address, 'Manar'.
Much of what he writes is repetitive, frequently commenting on the weather, but sometimes even this has interest with references to skating and the snow.
Other examples of the contents include that he hopes to go to the market at Old Aberdeen if they are given a half holiday from school.
He seems to do a lot of shooting (10 years old!), including in his garden.
At first the entries are fairly frequent but eventually they are well spaced. He refers in one to not having written a letter for 6 months.
It's an unusual document as there is no real indication of why these writings were collated in this notebook. Also no indication of why they ended after 16 pages.
But they do provide an insight into the thoughts of one boy living, in what seem to be very privileged circumstances, as a Mid Victorian, in Old Aberdeen.
(B2)