3 letters; 1 envelop; 1 money order receipt
Letters: one sent by a J. Middleton to a Mr. John Doyle Esq. (including the envelop) and two incoming from a Mr. Ignatius Donnelly.
The letter from Middleton to Doyle outlines Middleton's move to Montreal and his views on gardening and farming. He speaks of buying a piece of land, his involvement in the Horticultural Society, and his relationship with James Reid (referred to also as 'The Judge'). He describes various farming and mercantile properties around the Montreal area as well as their owners and what they grew/sold.
The two letters to Baylis for Donnelly were written in November and December, 1899 from Minnesota (The Old Homestead in Hastings and Hotel Waverly in Minneapolis). The November letter makes reference to the money order ($1.25) for the purchase of Donnelly's new book (perhaps 'The Cipher in the Plays, and on the Tombstone', 1899 which he offers to sign for Baylis. The letter discusses various theories about historical figures (Francis Bacon, Queen Elizabeth, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex) and Donnelly tries to answer some questions which Baylis might have sent in a previous letter. The December letter encloses the promised signature which Donnelly suggests Baylis can insert into the book he already has.
