ABSTRACT
This letter, written by Mr N. LePrevost in 1840, was sent from Racine, Wisconsin, to relatives on the British island of Guernsey. Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands that became an English possession during in the Middle Ages and saw military action during the Napoleonic Wars. During the war, a steady stream of emigrants left the island for America. Most of them settled in what became Guernsey County, Ohio. But some proceeded to other places, including Wisconsin. They had a distinct culture that blended many British and French elements. This letter has many detailed references to the prices of government lands, the treeless prairies, the Erie Canal, and local Indians. LeProvost joined cousins in Cleveland, and noted the ‘trembling fevers’ running in Sandusky. Also included are astute observations about American life and comparisons with Guernsey.
