1843 Season
Dec “P.E. Island – The people of this Province labour under great disadvantages at this season of the year, in consequence of the irregularity of the Mails. The second Nov. Mail had not arrived at Charlottetown on the 20th Dec., it had been detained on this side of the strait, the couriers being unable to [?] in consequence of the quantity of floating ice towards the two Capes, Tormentine and Traverse.” (NS 09/01/1843 p11#3)
Dec 6 We have had a week of very boisterous weather, with hard frosts and considerable falls of snow. The Western Courier returned on Monday without the New Brunswick mail; after waiting for it three days. We learn that the harbours to the Northwest are all closed up. Our’s is still open, but nearly deserted. — Pictou Observer, Dec. 6 (PEI 9 Dec p2 c4)
Dec 16 No Foreign news. – An English mail, we understand, is lying at Cape Tormentine; but until the ice in the strait shall either become stronger, or be dispersed, there will be no possibility of its reaching us. (PEI 16 Dec p2 c4)
Dec 23 Still no mails. – From our commencement we have been altogether unfortunate with respect to news; as not a single mail has been received for more than a month past. We observe the ice in the Hillsborough, opposite to the town, is fast breaking up, and large open lagunes are beginning to appear. Whether the ice and lolly in the strait will speedily be so affected as to admit of the courier’s crossing for the mails, we do not pretend to say; but we hope it may. (PEI 23 Dec p2 c4)
Dec 23 The schooner “Nelson” from St. John’s, Newfoundland arrived in Georgetown on Tuesday last, in 11 days. The schooner “Brothers” from Halifax has got into the harbour and lies in the entrance of York River. (PEI 23 Dec p3 c2)
Jan 6 The Schooner “Mayflower” left St. John’s, Newfoundland on Christmas Day, and arrived off this harbour on Saturday last, and succeeded in getting into Canso Cove, under the Warran Farm, on Sunday. (PEI 6 Jan p3 c3)
Feb 24 Yesterday morning about two o’clock, the courier arrived in town with the January English mail, which had been brought to Cape Tormentine on the Sunday evening previous. The crossing of the Strait, we understand, is at present very difficult and dangerous. (PEI 24 Feb p2 c5)
Feb 24 Reward – Left in a boat upon the ice, near Black Point, in the straits of Northumberland, on the 24 of February, a trunk, which with the boat it is conjectured may have been drifted ashore, either upon the Nova Scotian or the Prince Edward Island side of the Gulf. (PEI 10 Mar p3 c2)
Apr “The Season- we have had a few days of spring weather, and the snow and ice in the Basin, and many of the Lakes has not yet broken up – and snow, in some instances to the depth of several feet yet lies in the woods, particularly to the Eastward of Halifax.” (NS 17/04/1843 p126 #4)
Apr First Arrivals from Sea. Yesterday afternoon, between three and four o’clock, two vessels, with all sails set made their appearance round the point; the wind being light and the tide ebbing, they did not anchor opposite the port, until about five o’clock. They proved to be the new ship “Great Britain”, Captain Swinburn, 24 days from London, with a general cargo for Montreal, and the bark “Glenburnie”. The “Great Britain” was about one mile ahead of the “Glenburnie”. We learn that the “Great Britain” had to pass through a quantity of ice between Gaspé and Anticosti, but saw very little on this side. (QG #6024 19/04/1843 P3 C3b)
Apr 8 “The schr “Sisters”, from Halifax for Guysborough and Arichat with the Members of Parliament met with large quantities of Ice along the coast and was detained some days in Marie Joseph and at length succeeded in reaching Country Harbour on the 8th inst. when Mr. Marshall left the schr and arrived home on snow shoes this day, 10th April.” – Guysboro Correspondent of the Mech. & Far. (NS 24/04/1843 p134 #3)
Apr 13 Liverpool: SS “Columbia” arrived here from Halifax, a few hours after leaving, fell in with 3 large fields and a great quantity of loose ice. (LL).
Apr 22 Quebec: The “William” arrived here from Portsmouth reports a great quantity of ice in the Gulf and was a few days in getting through it. (LL).
Apr 29 Brig “Wm Rippon” sunk by running foul of an iceberg off St. Paul’s Is. (SCL)
Apr 29 “The barque reported as sunk in the ice off St. Paul’s was the brig “William Rippon”, 28 days from Sutherland, for Quebec and was sunk in the ice 29th April, off Cape North. (NS 22/05/1843 p167 #1)