Excerpts from LePailleur’s diary 4
Source: Land of a thousand sorrows (Journal d’un patriote exilé en Australie 1839-1845), published by Éditions Septentrion.
Translated transcript:
(December 19, 1844) The closer I get to Canada, the more I think of my dear Domitilde and my two dear little boys.
(December 22, 1844) The captain has a curious virtue, it is to make all kinds of pain and rheumatism pass, without making any remedy for them; he pats them down and removes their pain with his hand. He did a nice job for Basile Roy, Ed.-P. Rochon, Buisson and Lavoie, who had been beaten with rheumatism for 30 years.
(December 31, 1844) Prévost came very close to going over the shroud while pulling a bucket of water. Without me and J.-M. Thibert, Prévost was lost.
(January 13, 1845) Arriving in New York City, I saw the first Canadian, Barnabé Gosselin and his brother-in-law Goulet; then Mr. Robillard who was sent by Mr. Robert Nelson, doctor from Montréal. Dr. Mackenzie also sent after us to see us and to be helpful to us.
(January 19, 1845) I found my dear Domitilde at the presbytery of Sainte-Philomène around midnight. Great joy for her and for me!