Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush

As a middle class Englishwoman Moodie did not particularly enjoy "the bush", as she called it. She and her husband moved to Belleville in 1840, which she referred to as "the clearings". Here she described urban life, including religion, art, and education, especially as compared to relative lack of these things in "the bush". She studied the Family Compact and became sympathetic to the moderate reformers led by Robert Baldwin, while remaining critical of radical reformers such as William Lyon Mackenzie. This caused problems for her husband, who shared her views, but, as sheriff of Belleville, had to work with members and supporters of the Family Compact.

Susanna Moodie (1803 - 1885)

00 - Introduction 01 - Belleville 02 - Local Improvements- Sketches of Society 03 - Free Schools--Thoughts on Education 04 - Amusements 05 - Trials of a Travelling Musician 06 - The Singing Master 07 - Camp Meetings 08 - Wearing Mourning for the Dead 09 - Odd Characters 10 - Grace Marks 11 - Michael Macbride 12 - Jeanie Burns 13 - Lost Children 14 - Toronto 15 - Lunatic Asylum 16 - Provincial Agricultural Show 17 - Niagara 18 - Goat Island 19 - Conclusion