| Description | Manuscript letters from J.Laidlaw Maxwell Sr. to his parents, sister Kate, and [brother and brother-in-law] Richie and Robert [Moffat]; relating to his travel to China and missionary work in Formosa and Hong Kong; includes manuscript letters from Mary Maxwell [nee Goodall] to the parents of J. Laidlaw Maxwell [and one letter to her own mother, Mrs. Goodall]; includes correspondence segregated out of main sequence and into small bundles, some of which are headed by manuscript notes from a later date [possibly written by J. Preston Maxwell and Marjorie Steen]; contains manuscript copy correspondence, extracts and partial letters
Correspondence with or of others: Caroline [G.] Thomas, Carstairs Douglas, [W. H. Pedder, H. b M. Consul for Amoy], Bun [Chinese pastor], Matheson, Burns, members of the [Chusan] medical association [Birmingham Medical Missionary Society], and members of a [church or missionary society] in Edinburgh
Locations from which letters were written include; "The Polmaise", the "Chusan" schooner, Amoy, [Pechunia], Bay-pay, Takow, Chung Chow, Taiwan, [Kihiboey], [Iro]-chow, Peking, Taiwanfoo, [Petaou], Pi-thau, and Hong Kong
Sequences: /1-/2 'Bun's letter to my grandfather and grandmother'; includes letter written in Chinese and English translation, nd; /3-/8 'Father's first visit to the Savages. The fire at [Takow]. The charge of child murder'; includes correspondence of Maxwell, Maxwell's parents, Mary Maxwell and Matheson, Dec 1865-Nov 1868; /9-/10 'Father's first visit to Formosa.'; includes correspondence from Maxwell to the members of the [Chusan] medical association [Birmingham Medical Missionary Society], Nov 1864; /11-/12 'Father's first letter from Formosa'; includes letter from Maxwell to this parents written from "Chusan" schooner, Oct 1864; /13-/17 Correspondence of Maxwell and Burns, Apr 1864-Apr 1866; /18 Partial letter from Maxwell [to is parents], nd; /96 Letter from Maxwell to his parents, written from [Formosa], May 1867; includes page '(3)'; relating to Maxwell's engagement to Mary Goodall, which was previously segregated from main sequence |